Annual drive offers scenic view

JACKSON -- The 2009 Audubon Coach and Carriage Drive at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary, which was held Friday, provided an opportunity to view indigenous flora and fauna while enjoying one of the area's most idyllic backdrops.

The event was sponsored by the Aiken Driving Club and the Four-in-Hand Club. The day's festivities featured a lunch presented by the Green Boundary Club, hosted by Jack Wetzel and Jacqueline Ohrstrom.

"This event is wonderful," said Norman Brunswig, Audubon South Carolina executive director. "The best thing for Silver Bluff, Audubon and conservation is for people to value this place. This group of people have come to appreciate this place (the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary) not just as a wildlife resource and a beautiful aesthetic, but as a wonderful place to do the thing that they love most, which is to drive in natural settings. I think these sand roads and beautiful piney woods are evocative of the centuries when carriages were the means of transportation. We think it's perfect. We're delighted that they come and have a good time."

Four-in-hands, pairs and singles took part in the carriage drive that went along the trail system that totals 8.8 miles.

"This is such a pretty venue, and I love supporting it because it's such a great place to drive," said Sandy Nicolaisen, who participated in the drive, is a member of the Aiken Driving Club and was accompanied by her Cairn Terrier Toby, who was the carriage dog.

Among the other activities that were ongoing during the carriage drive included raptor demonstrations, led biologist and wildlife rehabilitator Larry Eldridge. There were birding and natural history tours as well as archaeological displays.

The Savannah Archeological Research Program has been involved with Audubon for more than 20 years, said Rob Moon, with USC's Savannah Archaeological Research Program.

"We're here to talk to anyone about the archaeological area," said Christopher Moore with the program. "We have artifacts and the different types of stones that were used to make arrowheads."