Things To Do (or not) in Augusta

So, let's get the trivialities out of the way.....it's hot in Augusta! The "feels like" heat index has been over 100 for more than 10 days, and today, the Fourth of July, is no exception. Today at 5 pm, is is 97 degrees and feels like 107. The forecast is for 98 tomorrow and 100 or over everyday until mid-July. Whew! Tomorrow we're moving north to Columbia, SC, where the temps are expected to be 2 degrees cooler. We can't wait! We're spending a great deal of time in air conditioned cars/stores/motorhomes these days.

Sunday, the 3rd, got us out of bed a little early with discomfort in my chest. Having gone on for some time we decided to have the situation checked out and went the the ER Room at University Hospital in Augusta. This is a huge medical complex, with buildings specializing in cardiovascular to childrens issues. The area is so focused on health that it has signs directing a driver to the Medical District. Seemed like just the ticket.

This health issue is exactly the same as I experienced in Daytona Beach, Florida, where a visit pronounced me to be in good shape and provided a handful of pain pills. Efficient, but not thorough. This visit was almost too thorough! About 7 hours in the ER this time got us a diagnosis of Bronchitis with a handful of antibiotics, and a clean bill of cardiac health. It was a long process, but seemingly all the bases were covered, from blood work to pacemaker review to breathing. We're happy the diagnosis didn't result in a hospital stay and are hopeful for a full recovery.

We needed to get Rx's filled and take a last look around town, so we drove downtown. One of our things to do in Augusta was to visit the Augusta National Golf Course where the Masters Tournament is played each April when the Azaleas are in full bloom! The flowers must be a spectacular sight as they encircle the entire facility, because we were only able to find one small gated opening in the Azalea hedgerow (20' high if it was an inch!) that had a card reader and a very small sign that said "Members Only". There must have been other entrances that we missed. Our trek netted only a photo of a construction area (yes, they were working on the holiday!) and a peep at the edge of one of the greens!

We thought for awhile about coming back next year so we could get a good view of the course, but after checking out prices for the few available remaining tickets for the 2017 Masters (Four days....$11,000, but that's for two people!). Not counting parking, food.....you get it. Television is a lot cheaper.

Returning to the Historic Downtown district, we spied the famous Haunted Pillar.

The last surviving column from an 1830 Farmer's Market that was destroyed by a Tornado in 1878, the pillar stands at the corner of 5th and Broad, coincidently in front of a now defunct bar. Legend has it that a preacher denied the opportunity to preach there in the early years threatened that a great wind would destroy the place except for one pillar, and whoever tried to move the pillar would be struck dead. Hmmm. Augustans wisely decided not to rebuild the Market, and to leave the pillar where it stands today!

A quick stop at the market for some birthday ice cream for Sasha (she's two today! Light a sparkler in her honor, will you?), and a leisurely trip back to the motorhome convinced us that we shouldn't venture out for the local fireworks shows this evening. We will be able to see some, and hear a lot in this area, so we'll grill a couple steaks, fix some mushrooms and fresh corn on the cob, watch the Boston Pops on tv and.....go to bed!