Lake Jocassee

The past 15 years we have driven past Jocassee Gorges entrance located in North and South Carolina. Many times we pulled off to view the seasonal colors at Upper Whitewater Falls, but never traveled into the area.

Adventurous friends asked last week to join them for a Driving Tour and Sunset Picnic on Jumping-Off-Rock within the gorge available from Jocassee Lake Tours Company. Concerns about the chilly weather, we bundled up with jackets and layers of warm clothing.

Jumping-Off-Rock, an iconic viewpoint above Lake Jocassee in northern Pickens County, can now be accessed all year round. We stopped at several overlooks along the 9-mile ride to one of the most beautiful views of Lake Jocassee and the Blue Ridge Mountains with few signs of human development.

National Geographic Magazine identified Jocassee Gorges as one the top 50 of "The World's Last Great Places." Visitors can grasp a true sense of the vast extent of undisturbed countryside.

Several non-governmental organization‘s connected the 200,000 acres to protect 60 species of rare plants including Oconee Bells. Designating Jocassee Gorges as an internationally important bird area, there is a fund raising campaign underway to build an observation tower on the highest mountain.

While we only saw wild turkeys the article went on to explain falcons, bald eagles, black bears, bobcats, and the highest number of salamanders found anywhere in the world reside in these hills.

As you can see from our photo, Lake Jocassee 9000 acres and a 385 foot deep reservoir offered a stunning sunset. The lake was named after the Cherokee Princess Jocassee ("Place Of The Lost One"), who, legend has it, drowned herself upon learning of her lover's death.

Ironically, Duke Energy flooded the valley in 1974 and constructed a hydroelectric power station impounding the waters of the Whitewater, Thompson, Horsepasture and Toxaway Rivers.

If you’re in the area, JocasseeLakeTours.com has a variety of boating and hiking opportunities on the lake from morning to sunset. Next time I think we will try the monthly full moon relaxing pontoon ride to enjoy the pristine wilderness with waterfalls from of the Appalachian Mountain Rivers that feed the lake. Guided kayak and adventure tours are also available most of the year. We also found information on the dnr.sc.gov website as well.

While neighbors spoke of the beauty and wilderness only twenty minutes away, I wish we had explored this scenic expanse sooner.

RCI

As one of the 3.8 million timeshare members, with 35K exchange options in 108 countries I recently contacted their corporate office with a few questions about our RCI coupon credit due to a cancellation the first weekend in September. 

This was our second attempt to visit Edisto, South Carolina. Last year it was Hurricane Matthew and this time Hurricane Irma blew away hopes of seeing the natural environment after the governor of South Carolina declared a mandatory evacuation the night before our September 9th arrival.

In 2006 we purchased a two bedroom lock-off on eBay for $26. The seller had paid the $900 annual fee and we were responsible for $350 in transaction / closing fees. I understood very little about RCI, Resorts Condominium International, now owned by Wyndham Resorts Worldwide with an annual $99 fee available only to timeshare owners.

One ponders how RCI decides the trading value of the week like we own at Vacation Villages. Some years it's 39 points, the following year could be 37. With questions about my coupon credit the customer service rep passed me on to a supervisor.

She told me point values are reviewed every year or two based on amenities, unit size, access, membership ratings/reviews and returning owners contribute to the resorts supply and demand. Each resort has a point system based the time of year and an exchange fee of $239. This has gone up from the $169 we paid in 2006.

RCI offers a Hold service for a unit, about 24 hours. If one has not confirmed / paid for the unit, your points are refunded and the week returned to inventory. Our preference is a 1 or 2 bedroom unit with a full kitchen and a balcony. This photo was taken on Fairfield Lake at the Wyndham Resort in Sapphire Valley, NC.   

We haven't attempted to use RCI's services to book a cruise, car rental, special hotel deals, guided vacations, theme park and attractions. I am curious about the destination activities & Last-Minute Vacations starting at $199 per week (no points required).

Out of curiosity I looked up prepay full size auto rental on a pending trip next spring. I found RCI was $50+ per week less than other quotes like Expedia. While not a huge savings, it still adds up.

Other timeshare companies include Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Wyndham, Interval International, and Diamond Resorts. While we have enjoyed quite the variety of 2.5 - 5.0 star resorts each is a new adventure that keeps planning another journey using our RCI membership.