SC Bound.. Well maybe.........

[Bulldog9]

Looks like I am moving to South Carolina next summer, based out of Shaw Air Force Base.

I have family in Charleston and have spent a bunch of time in Columbia, but know nothing about SC otherwise. Anyone in the WG family know the area around Shaw well?  I dont mind up to a 30 minute commute, and may live on Post (Base in AF terms), but would love to be in a nice area, not a packed in sub division, 2 car garage is a must.

Appreciate any input.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Hot, Hot, Hot and unbearably humid. 

[twowheeladdict]

Definitely want to find a place with as much elevation as possible.  Looks like northwest of the base.  Personally I don't like living west of where I work because of the sun in the eyes when commuting. 

Definitely not a motorcycle enthusiasts dream location. 

[cliffrod]

I'm just north of Spartanburg, about 5 miles from I-26 & I-85 interchange and about 1hr 45 min from the VA in Columbia near Shaw.  There's still some open places to be found but they keep growing houses everywhere instead of soybeans or peaches or cattle anymore.    I-77 towards Charlotte is no different.  If it's convenient to the interstates and bigger cities, it's filling up.   

If I was buying down there, I would ask about any impact from recent flooding (and tornadoes in general).  There was some huge flooding in 2015 and many places at & below the fall time were hammered.  I would also ask about am & pm traffic as a gauge to the area.  I was down there sort of near Shaw a couple yrs ago to buy a parts washer.  Way out in the sticks n-ne of Columbia.  or so I thought.  The traffic around rush hour between 5:30-6:30PM was unbelievable,  so that "out in the sticks" perspective was very misguided.   It's becoming the same way around here. 
 
No matter, we like it here in the northern part of SC very much.  And it's not as flat and straight as further south.  If you're ever up this way, feel welcome to connect.

[guzzisteve]

My brother in law raised a family there wrenching on the SR-71, Nice area I thought, he sold out & moved to Columbia, still wenches for the Post Office at 65yrs old. You don't need to wear a helmet there. Nice if so inclined, I never wore one in IL, now 15yrs wearing one. I like going to SC & take it off.

[Bulldog9]

Thanks for the input. I've been in and out of Columbia (Jackson) for various schools over the last 20 years, and yes, it is miserably hot in the summer with the Pine pollen in the air is terrible. As soon as it is 'official' we will take a drive down to get the lay of the land. I've only had two duty stations with great riding out my back door (Fort Carson Colorado, JBLM Washington) so am used to a 2-3 hour ride to get to the good stuff.

[Dilliw]

I'm from Columbia and know the area well.  I might know some folks in Sumter that could be helpful as well.  Lots of commuters from the Columbia area and that's an option.

Manchester OHV trail is fun so you might consider picking up an enduro.  The land between Lower Richland area and Sumter is actually rolling and pretty.  You could do worse!

[Markcarovilli]

Fort Jackson basic training, summer time, miserable......

 God I couldn’t wait to get out of there, never perspired so much in my life.

Mark

[wrbix]

Hot, Hot, Hot and unbearably humid. 

Yep.....but as they say “it’s not the heat it’s the stupidity”.
Lived in Chester, SC for thirty years...that area was a great place to start a medical practice but got out upon retirement.
Charleston is one of my world’s fav places, but the rest of the state meh.
Found that the best most people can say is “it’s about halfway between the beach and the mountains”.

[Cam3512]

“Rush hour traffic” is relative.  If you’re coming from NJ/NY or the DC/NOVA area, it can’t possibly be worse.  Right behind ya buddy in about 13 months.

Cam

[wrbix]

Lived in Rock Hill myself.  You can do a lot worse. Chester is about the same but SC is changing and fast.

It’s still “halfway between the beach and the mountains” and still hot and humid....none of that will EVER change.....and everyone’s second introductory question “Have you found a church home yet?” was still extant a couple of years ago.
It is what it is.....and what it WAS.

[wrbix]

Lived in Rock Hill myself.  You can do a lot worse. Chester is about the same but SC is changing and fast.

“Lived in”.....did you escape?

[Dilliw]

“Lived in”.....did you escape?

I've been in Aiken for the last two years but will be moving to Austin at the end of the month.  Will probably end up in Fort Mill Rock Hill area in a few years.  Uber ride to an international / hub airport  is hard to come by.

[Bulldog9]

I'm from Columbia and know the area well.  I might know some folks in Sumter that could be helpful as well.  Lots of commuters from the Columbia area and that's an option.

Manchester OHV trail is fun so you might consider picking up an enduro.  The land between Lower Richland area and Sumter is actually rolling and pretty.  You could do worse!

Thanks, I will likely reach out once I have my orders, and of course will likely change 10 times. Columbia is meh, would prefer a quianter small town with some charm.

I definitely want to get on the OHV routes, and dirt/gravel, is primarily why I bought and modified the Stornello (TT). Too many years on rides where the roads proved unfreindly to my 600lb Sport Touring rigs, though I will say that the Norge handles 2-300 miles of dirt, gravel and unpaved roads on Vancouver Island fairly well, even if I had to knock on a few doors to ask if I could use a hose to spray the mud out of the front wheel and oil cooler. I wanted the classic look of a V7 and V85/GS ish capability.








I won't be there long, at least 1 year, as I will likely be promoted late next year. They may move me right away in January, or the next summer, and as I'll be in ARCENT HQ, will likely be 'abroad' a lot, but want to be able to relax and enjoy when home.

[Bulldog9]

Bahahahaaa......... ... As I was typing the last message, they gave me a call to say they need me to go to Rock Island.............  I'm friends with my assignment officer, and am promised NO Korea ;-)

[screamday]

The wife and I have lived in West Columbia, SC for close to 30 years now. We like it. Is it hot in the summer.....yes. But, since we basically moved here from St. Petersburg, FL, we like having some seasonal changes. The spring, fall and winter riding is great.....even though I have not ridden much this year. We are about 45 minutes from Shaw AFB. I have family in Sumter who have lived there almost 35 years, my niece, nephew and their mother. They all live close to the "downtown" area of Sumter. There are a really lot of nice neighborhoods close to downtown which can have anything from modern homes with plenty of yard space to historical registry homes with smallish to medium size yards.  The area seems to keep growing with lots of new restaurants, hotels and bars\Craft brewery's. I can't give a detailed description of the area as we only go there a couple of times a year (heading there for Thanksgiving this week), but it is nice there.

Also, Lake Marion is not far from Sumter. My niece has a nice little weekend home on the lake. I think their place on the lake is about 40 - 45 minutes from where they live in town.

Good luck on what ever you decide!

[guzzisteve]

Bahahahaaa............ As I was typing the last message, they gave me a call to say they need me to go to Rock Island.............  I'm friends with my assignment officer, and am promised NO Korea ;-)

It's winter time there right now. You may run into Guzzi folks there, Dale Rossman's family. Old time original Guzzi dealer. Bill H ran into his wife Loretta working at a convenient store/ gas station. I bought 2 bikes there in 80's.

[twowheeladdict]

Thanks, I will likely reach out once I have my orders, and of course will likely change 10 times. Columbia is meh, would prefer a quianter small town with some charm.

I definitely want to get on the OHV routes, and dirt/gravel, is primarily why I bought and modified the Stornello (TT). Too many years on rides where the roads proved unfreindly to my 600lb Sport Touring rigs, though I will say that the Norge handles 2-300 miles of dirt, gravel and unpaved roads on Vancouver Island fairly well, even if I had to knock on a few doors to ask if I could use a hose to spray the mud out of the front wheel and oil cooler. I wanted the classic look of a V7 and V85/GS ish capability.








I won't be there long, at least 1 year, as I will likely be promoted late next year. They may move me right away in January, or the next summer, and as I'll be in ARCENT HQ, will likely be 'abroad' a lot, but want to be able to relax and enjoy when home.

That is the beauty of the V7 platform.  I wanted something different so I converted my Carbon into a Cafe.  If I get bored with that I can convert into a scrambler.  Or go back to a standard, or even a full up tourer. 

[Indypikes]

The Camden area is nice. Some decent roads in the area and easy access to the mountains. Moto Guzzi dealer in Charlotte I believe.

Nice winters, reasonably priced real estate, low taxes, great BBQ.....you could do a lot worse.

Good Luck!

[twowheeladdict]

The Camden area is nice. Some decent roads in the area and easy access to the mountains. Moto Guzzi dealer in Charlotte I believe.

Nice winters, reasonably priced real estate, low taxes, great BBQ.....you could do a lot worse.

Good Luck!

Like Rock Island, IL maybe? 

Riding "The Great River Road" along the Mississippi to find the source was a fun ride. 

[Dilliw]

Thanks, I will likely reach out once I have my orders, and of course will likely change 10 times. Columbia is meh, would prefer a quianter small town with some charm.

I definitely want to get on the OHV routes, and dirt/gravel, is primarily why I bought and modified the Stornello (TT). Too many years on rides where the roads proved unfreindly to my 600lb Sport Touring rigs, though I will say that the Norge handles 2-300 miles of dirt, gravel and unpaved roads on Vancouver Island fairly well, even if I had to knock on a few doors to ask if I could use a hose to spray the mud out of the front wheel and oil cooler. I wanted the classic look of a V7 and V85/GS ish capability.









I won't be there long, at least 1 year, as I will likely be promoted late next year. They may move me right away in January, or the next summer, and as I'll be in ARCENT HQ, will likely be 'abroad' a lot, but want to be able to relax and enjoy when home.

If Columbia is meh then definitely look at Sumter.  You should be able to find something there.

Manchester OHV is all sand and not much elevation.  You will need tires!

[Wildroamer]

Personally I don't like living west of where I work because of the sun in the eyes when commuting.

Now THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is a demonstration of how to prioritize the bike(s) in your life!
🍻

[Bulldog9]

Like Rock Island, IL maybe? 

Riding "The Great River Road" along the Mississippi to find the source was a fun ride.

Yes, thats the place. Im good buddies with the guy in the job now, I got permission to call him to talk about the job, and we both agreed it is not for me given my strengths and background. Looks like I have Rock Island shut off, and SC is back on top. Should find out by mid-January.

My branch is very small, and the domino effect of filling positions is very prominent. It's not uncommon to have orders and the day before you sign in they redirect you. I had a buddy once who was coming back from Germany, had all his household goods packed up and shipped. When he landed in the US he had a phone call from the chief's office to call immediately. He was told that they needed to send him back to Germany. Unfortunately all of his household goods were in transit. So he took his three weeks of leave went back to Germany, lived in temporary housing on the Army's dime thankfully and had to wait 3 months to get all of his household goods.

I'm not thrilled about living in South Carolina, but like that I'm only two hours from my dad in Wilmington North Carolina and close to family who live in Charleston, and still on the East coast. I am excited about the job. ARCENT is the Army organization that has operational responsibility for the CENTCOM area of operation (Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa, and the Greater Middle East).

[Lannis]

Well, about 9-1/2 hours on the blue highways from your new posting to Moto Grappa, and there's a bunch of different nice routes, so that's a sort of backhanded bonus for the move ... !!

Lannis