We biked 109 miles today from Savannah into South Carolina, ending in Charleston. The highlight of the day was visiting the Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island, a southern live oak considered to be one of the oldest trees in America. Some estimate it to be 400-500 years old and others 1500 years old. Either way, it’s been around for a long time!
Ever since we entered the Deep South back in Louisiana, we have been in awe of the majestic trees that have lined our path. The southern live oaks covered in Spanish moss have been our favorites. These trees tend to be wider than they are tall (the Angel Oak, for instance, is 66 feet high with a limb spread of 187 feet and a trunk circumference of 28 feet!). This allows them to better withstand the hurricanes and strong winds that ravage the coastal states and uproot many other trees. Unlike other types of trees, the limbs of the southern live oak plunge toward the ground before shooting upward, creating a spectacular array of branches. As we passed among these trees, I couldn’t help but think what wisdom they would share “if these trees could talk” and I remembered a quote by Joanne Raptis: “Be like a tree. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique natural beautify. Keep growing.”