People should tell me this stuff!

    I mean, I'm the famous hiking book auther and everything! Ahem. So I took Paul to see the progress at the new 10,000 Year Park in Cayce and to join me in puzzlement at the signs saying Timmerman Trail. Even though the Timmerman Trail was the only part of the entire park complex with "Trail closed" and "No trespassing" signs, we took our courage in our hands and explored. (Shhhhhh.)
    It turns out that the Timmerman Trail was a paved trail passing through Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve, one of my favorite places but one that I can't normally take people because the trail through it is so very, uh, rustic. It's a little insane, because it starts from a parking area on one side of the busy (or at least speedy) 12th St. Extension (the trail passes underneath the road on its own bridge) and winds around to another access on the other side of 12th St. almost down to I-77. There is a brand new building going up right next to the trail (Thanks, SCANA!) and there's the pedestrian bridge linking this trail to those of the 10,000 Year Park. The bridge is in place, but there still working on the parts at either end of the bridge; that's the Trail closed/ no trespassing part. But none of us scofflaws seemed to have any difficulty with the parts under construction.
    A guy on a bike lapped us twice, which meant that he had to go a mile or more on 12th St. (speed limit 55, no bike lane), which makes him considerably braver than me. It's a nifty trail, in spite of the closed part, and coupled with the new park will be an absolutely terrific amenity. I just wish I'd known about it before.
    I appreciate that this isn't terribly useful information if you live more than 20 miles away, but dang, I'm excited. If anyone living nearer is interested, you can reach the Timmerman Trail by turning on SCANA Parkway from 12th St. Extension (there's only one way to turn at the moment, so it doesn't matter whether you're going north or south; you turn towards the west) and take the first right almost immediately to get to the parking area. If you want to go all slick and park cars at both ends, the other end is past the Lexington County Tennis Center on Saxe-Gotha Drive. I drove past the tennis center and parked where the road is closed, but you could always park at the tennis center.
    I can't wait until the new park is completed! But I'm still a little red-faced that I didn't know that the Timmerman Trail was there already. Oh well.