This winter (2025-2026) has been a rough one for us folks in the south. A typical winter in the south means that you can ride pretty much every day. Sadly, due to the weirdly cold and miserable past few months here in South Carolina, my bikes have been sitting in the garage for the majority of the winter.
I began obsessively checking the weather to see when I could plan a day ride since I have been craving time in the saddle. That day was today, the last Saturday in February. The weather was perfect for a ride…65 and mostly sunny.
As an Army Vet and an American history fanatic, I decided it was high time I paid homage and my respects to some of the Revolutionary War memorials in SC. There are plenty of them in North and South Carolina since the Carolinas played such a critical role in the war.
I decided I would visit the memorial at Camden and Cowpens. It was essentially a loop that would end up being just over 400 miles. Exactly what I needed to finish the break-in process of my new Russell Day Long Saddle.
I was up at 6. It was still dark, hovering around 50 degrees and it was overcast, almost to the point where it was foggy. I slugged down a cup of coffee and quickly ate a few grapes and an orange. It was going to be a full day and I was itching to hit the road.
I pulled the RT out of the garage and fired her up. She roared to life…almost as if she was as excited as I was to finally be riding again! Although the weather forecast didn’t call for rain, the air felt damp and cold due to the fog. I turned on the heated grips and the heated seat, mounted the RT, and headed north.
The first part of my ride was interstate for about an hour and a half. I hopped on I-26 and headed towards Columbia. I set the cruise to 85, settled in, and let the RT do its thing. Traffic was light and the RT sailed past slow moving cars as if they were still asleep.
The misty cool air formed into water droplets and it was chilly. The Aerostitch roadcrafter jacket does an amazing job at keeping the damp chill out, but I could still feel it creeping in around my neck and under my helmet. The heated grips felt amazing and I continue to appreciate the comfort and warming ability of my new Russell Day Long. Folks if you’re on the fence on whether or not to get a Russell Day Long saddle I have three words for you…just do it! You will NOT be disappointed!
I took I-26 to I-95 north to Santee, then got off the interstate and started working my way on Highway 261 towards Camden. The roads were wet and the sky was still grey. It was definitely not what the forecast said it would be.
Hwy 261 took me through a lot of pretty farmland. I was surprised to see a few calves in the fields this early, especially considering how cold this winter has been! It felt good having my knees in the breeze again and rolling along!
The clouds began to clear as I got closer to Camden. By the time I pulled into the city limits the glorious sun was as bright as could be, drying the roads and slowly removing the damp chill that seemed to work its way into my bones a couple hours earlier.
Camden is a small town that is rich with historical significance. I pulled into the Revolutionary War Museum/Memorial near the downtown area. It felt good to get off the RT and move around. I was still chilled from the morning ride, and the warm sun felt like a big comfortable hug.
I walked around the site and was thoroughly impressed!
The battle at Camden was not a victory for Americans. In fact, we got our butts whooped pretty firmly by the British. The British flag here indicates that the British had full control of Camden once they routed the Americans.
There are plenty of historically accurate buildings reflecting what life was like during the American Revolution.
There is a lot to see at Camden! I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of American history.
The Camden site is quite interactive and informative. I could have spent all day there! The actual battlefield is about 6 miles up the road from this site, but I still had about a 2hr ride to Cowpens and it was already 11am.
I hopped on Hwy 97 and worked my way northwest towards Cowpens. The riding was perfect! The sun was warm and there was hardly any traffic. I set the cruise on the RT, sat back, and enjoyed the ride!
I rode by several lakes, farms, and rolled through countless small towns. What a beautiful state this is! Especially when spring is right around the corner.
I rolled into Cowpens right around 1230. Like Camden, Cowpens does a good job portraying its role in the Revolutionary War. There are plenty of signs, statues, and flags letting you know you’re someplace special…someplace significant.
The Cowpens National Battlefield Monument/Park is tucked between the town of Cowpens and Gaffney. The park does a really nice job outlining the timeline and the exact locations of the battle as it unfolded.
The biggest difference between the Battle of Camden and the Battle of Cowpens is the outcome. While the British routed the Americans at Camden, the Americans annihilated the British at Cowpens, and it was one of the battles that helped seal the fate of the Brits.
The Cowpens Battlefield has a one mile “battlefield trail” that allows you to physically stand in the positions of both the Americans and the British. So cool!
This is the historical Green River Road…the road where the British and Americans met and fought.
This is a map of the battlefield. The Green River Road is shown here.
Plenty of informative stands and markers along the 1 mile walking loop.
The loop is relaxing, solemn, and quiet. You recognize and feel the heaviness of the battlefield.
This was the original monument honoring the victory and the fallen at the Battle of Cowpens. It was erected in 1856.
One of my favorite parts of the Cowpens Battlefield Memorial Park is the drivable one-way loop that skirts the outer edges of the entire battlefield.
It was mid afternoon by the time I finished checking everything out. I was hungry, and the RT needed gas. I stopped for lunch and filled the RT in Gaffney.
As always, I took the backroads when I started working working my way towards home. I’m glad I did, the riding was amazing! There were plenty of leans and hills, the roads were mostly smooth, the sun was shining, and there was hardly any traffic…what more could a long rider ask for!
Plus there were some interesting sites along the way. For example, an old and unmarked cemetery seemed to pop up out of nowhere. There were no buildings in sight, no signs, just woods and a tiny plot of land with a few random headstones. My guess is that it is likely an old family plot.
Another pleasant surprise is how little traffic there was! It is exceedingly rare to find a desolate and empty road anywhere east of the Mississippi River. Such roads are common out west. I’ve ridden through areas of Utah and Nevada where I wouldn’t see another soul for several miles. That’s not the case in the eastern part of the country.
Except for today…a beautiful Saturday at that!! I had to take a video to show proof…over two minutes of riding at 65mph and not another soul was seen. And the few vehicles I did see along this road were mostly trucks hauling freight. It was perfect!
I kept rolling along the backroads, working my way towards Columbia. It was late afternoon and the sun was low in the sky by the time I reached Monticello Reservoir. I stopped at the boat ramp for a bathroom break and to stretch my legs.
I try my best not to ride in the dark, but there was no way around it this time. The sun setting over the lake was peaceful and beautiful. I didn’t want to rush the moment. I sat down on a picnic bench and watched the sun settle into the horizon. The water was like glass, and the only sound was the sound of a few croaking frogs.
Once the sun disappeared, I fired up the BMW and and continued my way towards Columbia.
The ride from Columbia to my house is pretty boring. I have ridden it so many times and have taken every backroad possible. These days, I just try to “get it over with” by taking I-26. It’s the most direct route and you can make good time if traffic isn’t bad.
Once I reached Columbia I stopped for a short coffee break and filled up the RT one last time. It was well after dark when I hopped on I-26 and headed home. Thankfully the traffic was light, and I pulled the RT into the garage just after 8pm.
It was a great day of riding and I clocked 428 miles total. An easy day for the RT. Suffice to say that the Russell Day Long saddle is now fully broken-in. Just like my previous Russell seat, it’s extremely comfortable and well worth the expense!
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