Freddy's and the Lynches River County Park

 

Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers

    I started this blog with the intention of us not going to fast food chains, but today I found there will be exceptions. In cases where I haven't heard of the chain before, we might stop, like today's entry Freddy's. This was completely new to Otis and I and after looking them up on google maps, it is a nationwide chain with a lot of locations. This was meant to be a quick stop on our way to Lynches River County Park and everything worked out well. Went through the drive thru, ordered a double burger meal and for a double burger, fries and a Pepsi it came to around $12, which I think is around the standard for a fast food meal these days. We then parked and ate at the outdoor tables in the front. The burger was quality and topped just how I like it with two long pickle slices, onion, mustard and cheese. The fries were different than any other fast food place I have been to. They are cut really thin, to me were reminiscent of potato sticks and a couple bites even tasted like them. I wouldn't say the fries were my favorite, something different is nice every once in awhile and I would say they are worth a try. Otis enjoyed some fries and a good portion of the patty. Again we hit a good location, with good service and good food. I know we are going to hit a bad place sometime. I would definitely recommend Freddy's. We did not try their frozen custard, maybe next time. 

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

1104 Pamplico Hwy

Florence, SC 29505

Lynches River County Park

    From Feddy's it is only an 18 minute drive to Lynches River County Park. This is a spot Otis and I have been to a few times before and offers not just nice trails, but a variety of other things for the outdoor enthusiast. There is a newly built campground, a portion of the trail system is a boardwalk running through a Tupelo-Cypress riverside, a small environmental education center with really cool tree walk and in the summer there is a pool and climbing wall. We were there for the trail and completed the larger loop on the trail map to the left including the boardwalk. The trail system does extend farther that what is on the map and connects over to the camping and swimming pool area if you are looking for a longer hike.  

    On the boardwalk the air was filled with the calls of Northern Parulas, a species of bird that is a neotropical migrant, one that nests in a northern location in the summer and migrates south to the tropics in the winter. Most Parulas spending their winters much further south from the tip of Florida throughout Caribbean islands to Central America. Sorry no photos of Parulas for this post, although a number of them were calling, all were way up in the tree tops, making a decent photo impossible for me. Otis enjoys the boardwalks, watching and looking off the sides. This was our first trip with high water here. Every other time there was dry land below the boardwalk. 

    This was a very peaceful walk over the river. Along the boardwalk we only passed by two other people and they were just on an outshoot of the boardwalk that overlooks the main river channel. Since there is an education center there is a chance that you can run into larger groups and some weekdays you can run into the grounds crew using leaf blowers to clean off the boardwalk. I am just adding that so you know if you visit, it can be very peaceful, but if you go at the wrong time, it can be crowded or noisy. 

    At the end of the boardwalk right before getting on the main loop trail I found a small mixed species flock. A mixed species flock is a flock of birds of different species that move through the forest together feeding. A lot of times these species have different specialized foraging methods so they are not directly competing for food with one another and moving along in a group adds safety for all of them. In this particular mixed species flock there was the Yellow-throated Warbler above, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Yellow-throated Warbler may stay in this area, where the Yellow-rumped and Ruby-crowned will soon be on their way north to nest. This particular Yellow-throat looked to be collecting nesting material after I took this photo, so it may have found where it is going to stay for the summer. 

    The loop portion of the trail was flat and pretty easy to walk with only a few sections with larger roots on the trail. 

Along the loop there were a few trees in bloom including this Flowering Dogwood. 

    Azaleas were also in bloom along the loop. I am not the best with plant identification and with multiple Azalea species in South Carolina, I could not tell you what species this is. The flowers added to the beautiful spring colors emerging along the trailside and coupled nicely with the bird songs coming from the trees. 

    Along a section of the loop there were multiple education stations. If you look closely at the board, you may spot the lizard below.

    Green Anoles are the most commonly seen lizard in South Carolina. Often basking in the sun they will scurry away if you come close. If you watch them basking in the spring, you may get to see males present their dewlap. This is a brightly colored flap of skin they can protrude that may do one of two things. It could attract females or it could be telling other males to stay away. The next photo to show the dewlap, I took recently, but was not from Lynches River County Park. 

    Male Green Anole displaying its dewlap. The last I will say in this post about all reptiles and amphibians is that you should always respect and leave them alone. There is no reason to try to pick them up and if you are respectful and move slowly and quietly around them, often you can get a good look. Green Anoles specifically have another reason you should not try to handle them. When grabbed they have a mechanism that allows them to drop their tail. The tail when lost violently whips around. This is a defense mechanism for the Anole, the dropped tail gives a predator a distraction while the Anole can escape. A portion of the tail will grow back, but will not be the same as it was. 

     In all this was another nice walk with Otis with a multitude of things to see along the trail. If you are in the area or looking for a day trip, Lynches River Park does have a lot to offer. There is no admission fee for day use of the park, but things like camping, the pool and rock wall do have fees when they are open.   

    Lastly, I would like to mention one of the biggest highlights of the park. It is the tree walk. Otis is not allowed on it, so I didn't even try to go on it for this trip. I have walked it before, it is free, but I believe it is only open when the Ed Center is. If you are planning to go to the park and specifically want to go on the tree walk, I think I would suggest calling ahead to make sure it is open. There was at least one occasion where I tried to go on it and for some reason it was closed. Adults are allowed on it and I think children do have to be accompanied to use it. 

Lynches River County Park

5094 County Park Rd

Coward, SC 29530