Lake Keowee

Our next door neighbors own a beautiful lakefront home on Lake Keowee, SC.  It's located near Clemson, in the foothills, to give a location reference.  It's been two years since we have been to Keowee.  Doug and Brenda bought a different house, gutted it, and moved in all in the last year.  It's absolutely gorgeous, and I know why they go there every weekend!

The lake itself is huge.  Deep.  Clean.  Refreshing.  Green/blueish water.  You don't smell like a lake when you get out, haha.  There are several waterfalls and some unbelievable houses.  We cruised around, made some swim stops, and several brave souls jumped from some pretty high boulders (I am NOT on the list of jumpers, by the way!)  But you may not believe one name on that list!  You just wait!

We went to dinner at a place called The Lighthouse, restaurant on the lake...basically a T Bones.  Griffin showed off his cornhole skills.

Saturday we tried to get on Lake Jocassee.  It's even more beautiful than Keowee.  There is only one boat landing (that I know of) and they only allow a certain number of boats out there at a time.  When we arrived, they we already turning boats down for the day.  Booo!  So, we pulled the boat back to Doug and Brenda's house and got on Keowee.  It did not disappoint.  We enjoyed dreaming of a life living in those huge lakefront houses, white sandy beaches, and clear, clean water.  The kids napped on the boat some, but mostly we all just played in the water!

Brian started the day with a long paddle out and back

Griffin started the day with a nap.  Haha.  This was after riding around for just a little while.  The sound of the engine soothed him right to sleep.

Brenda, our awesome hostess, her nephew, Nolan, and his sweet girlfriend, Michelle.  She's a wedding/engagement photographer and I loved talking with her!  She could teach me so much!  She complimented me on my pictures, which was very appreciated! 

We watched people jump off this rock.  Some were ambitious.  They did dives, flips and twists.  Others were petrified, and took them a long while to get up the nerve.  I was perfectly fine sitting in the boat, waiting and watching.  Then....

Daddy jumped!

We all cheered him on.  Michelle jumped too!  Then...wait for it...

Miss Priss decides she wants to jump.  This is no joke.  I wouldn't have jumped from up there!

Dirty Dancing Try Outs, lol.

Who needs toys when there are beer bottles?

Nolan and Michelle

Relaxation right here!

Crashed.

Those eyes.

So, the first jump wasn't enough of a thrill for these guys.  So up, up, up they climbed.

And down, down, down they went

No, thanks!  I'll be in the boat watching!

A little siesta on the boat ride back home...

What?

Oh, Lake Wylie represented.

He looks like a little man here!  All washed up and ready for dinner!

The "sandbar" of Lake Keowee

There are some really gorgeous houses on the lake

Picture from my short run that morning...

Here are a couple of non-Keowee related "bonus" pictures of the kids, and a video of Payton swimming.  She's doing much better, but this was all she would let me record.

That wraps up our Lake Keowee trip for 2014.  Thanks to our neighbors and good friends, Doug and Brenda for having us!