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The Mysteries of Jocassee

You just never know…

There’s a special kind of joy that fills me every time I make the drive to Devil’s Fork State Park. Each day, each season, offers a new perspective of the clear blue water and the mountains tumbling around it. Who will I meet today? What brings them here? Have they visited before? Is the lake low? What does the weather look like? Which boat am I on? Today’s passengers are from Maryland. They’re moving to South Carolina to be closer to their children. They are ready for adventure and so am I. From the moment we pull away from the dock, they feel like new old friends, soaking in the majesty of this magical place. They’re outdoorsy types—curious about the plants, animals, history, and mysteries of Jocassee. They want to swim, leap from rocks, and splash beneath waterfalls………And that’s exactly what we do! But you just never know… As we begin our fourth hour, a rumble of thunder rolls through the hills. We’d already talked about what to do in case of lightning, and luckily, we find shelter in a protected cove. Rain begins to fall gently, and everyone tucks under the boat’s cover. I watch their faces as they gaze out at the mist rising from the lake and the mountain valleys. Like me, they are completely mesmerized by the raw, wild beauty of this place. The skies eventually clear and we make our way back to the dock. That’s the beauty of our Jocassee tours: you just never know what’s ahead once the boat pulls away from the dock.

~Andy Douglas, JLT guide.