The Tree Angels of Charleston, S.C.

Riding into Charleston, S.C., I'm reminded of Savannah, GA. It's the drapery of the tree moss and distinctive smell that reminds me of that ol' southern city. I haven't visited Savannah since the early 2000s, but visiting Charleston was a slight reminder. I can speak on seeing the Angel Oak Tree, visiting The Battery near the coast as well as seeing antique houses and buildings, but I'll spare the specifics. This town is saturated in history. You can sense it with your eyes, nose, and ears, listening to birds and insects as you walk down driveways and exit back doors. I had the pleasure of running down the back roads of Wadmala Island at seven in the morning. The sun was racing me in the east as I linked my headphones to my phone. There were no sidewalks or low grass to rid myself of possible cars. I was accompanied by dense humidity and random caterpillars hanging from spider webs (one actually landed on my shirt).

I was listening to one of my many playlists when I noticed the shade from the roadside trees. They formed a natural tunnel , barely allowing light to hit the asphalt.  Looking up towards the limbs, I envisioned the arms of angels protecting me from the morning heat. It was such a refreshing feeling. There were no gas stations or fast food places for miles (nearly 30 minutes away). No street lights or stop lights. There were one to two story houses with cars parked in front and near the sides.  I saw a few small swamps topped with wet greenery, surrounded by crowds of tall bark as if they were waiting for something to happen. If anything, they were there for the baptism of the morning dew as Saturday made it's presence.

Running is one of my favorite things to do. The veins in my feet and the brown on my shoes are testament to my cardio craving. If they say other wise, then they are lying like my eyes staring at a buffet table. The heat and I are not good friends. Summer is approaching, which means two things--I'll either be running on the treadmill or waiting until late in the day to do my standard 3 to 4 miles. The bugs are not something I'm looking forward to, but if it means dealing with them as I sweat off unwanted weight, then bring on the mosquitoes and gnats! I've ran in Florida, Atlanta, Virginia, and North Carolina, from brick-paved streets to questionable roads subject to hiding an alligator or two. The calming of Charleston early in the morning was the equivalent to a cup of lemonade on a shaded front porch, reading a book. I got to experience my cocoon in a different environment that was quite accommodating, considering that I was a visitor.

If you get the chance, head to Charleston and check out the sites. I was down the street from the only tea plantation in America. I was deprived of a just visit due to closing hours. There are many things to see and I barely scratched the surface. I advise you to utilize a couple of days, if not more, to consume the scenery. It's amazing. I use to think the city life was for me, but the more I live near the southeast,  the more it feeds my veins with black nights of vast woods and highway trees dusted with pollen. Other than eating good potato salad, macaroni and cheese with juicy ham slices in the company of family on Easter Sunday, being sheltered by the considerate branches of Charleston was warming, reminding me of God's creation and most importantly, His guaranteed protection. The back roads of Wadamala Island are long and curvy, but like life, we're promised to be shaded from the harsh weather overhead if we just keep driving , or in my case, running, towards your destination.