Old Sheldon Church Ruins and the Angel Oak

Our last two stops of the day, one was planned (the Angel Oak) and one was a last minute surprise (Old Sheldon Church ruins).  The Sheldon Church ruins were just outside of Beaufort, so that's where we went next...

Hidden away down a country road is this, a small glimpse into the past...

This church was built in the 1700's and was then burned during the Revolutionary War...the strong brick walls still stood, so it was rebuilt.  In the 1800's it was burned again, this time it was left to fade away.  All but the brick walls and columns have gone...

It was so quiet while we were out there.  A few other people mingled around, we met the nicest couple from Australia, but there really were no sounds other than the wind in the trees...

We took our time, walking around the grounds and taking it all in...

Near the front of the church we were all standing together when this tiny little baby bird hopped over.  The little thing hopped right up onto one of the kids' shoes!  We didn't want to hurt it, so when it hopped off we backed away far enough that the momma bird felt safe in coming down from the nearby tree.  We watched as she led it hop-hop-hopping back up the branches (it was a cedar tree).  I guess that was a flying lesson gone bad, hahaha ;).

We didn't even notice it when we came in, but there was an old fashioned water pump thing near the entrance.  A few of the kids had to give it a try, of course :)...

While we were standing there, I got to noticing something strange about several of the trees.  They were filled in with brick or wooden slats.  Very odd...  The Australian couple were there with us and none of us could figure out why the trees were filled in like that.  Any of you know?  The kids think maybe there used to be secret passages ;)...

When we left the ruins, we headed off to find the Angel Oak.  I adore Live Oaks and this one is the grandaddy of them all...

It is said to be the oldest thing standing east of the Rockies.  I believe it, it is simply massive...

The branches on The Tree (as it's called by the locals) do that wonderful thing that only the oldest of the old Live Oaks do.  They curve down, some even going underground before popping back up to rest upon the surface.  This forms an enclosed area around the trunk of the tree...a magical space...for a child (or anyone with an imagination and sense of wonder) there is no better place to spend an afternoon...