April 27th, 2011 at the Congaree National Park

Seemed like a nice day for a relaxing paddle out at my favorite floodplain.

Well, the mosquitos are relentless this time of year.
I think they were eating the bug spray I was applying.
Luckily, there was a downpour that lasted about 10 minutes or so that knocked them out of the air temporarily.

I saw five feral pigs, three water snakes, two owls, a wild turkey and a few ducklings on this trip.

I made it downstream five miles from the Cedar Creek landing before I came across the tire and rim and decided to head back with the following haul:



That's my third tire and rim of 2011.

SYOTR!

The Rocks April 17, 2011

I haven't been out to clean up along the Saluda at the Rocks in awhile so I decided to head out there this morning after breakfast.

I spent about 50 minutes out there and collected the following 30 gallon sack of trash:



Mostly the usual debris; beer bottles and cans, plastic water bottles, cigarette packaging, styrofoam cups, etc.
I did find a pair of matching flip flops and a t shirt which I dropped off at the charity on the way home.

I've also been out to the swamp a few times since my last posting and haven't collected very much.
A few random plastic bottles and a few bobbers is all.
But with the warmer weather; I expect to find a lot more trash in the coming months.

SYOTR!

Fool's Flood 4/1/2011

All the rain the last two days brought flood conditions to the swamp.
I put on with the water level at 7'!
The high water level provided for front door parking.



I saw a great heron, eight ducks, a couple of turtles and two feral pigs.

The high water flushed a bunch of trash out of the numerous cuts and gaps.
Here is what I collected on my twelve mile paddle today.

March 29th @ The Swamp

Well back to my favorite floodplain for another paddle on a very chilly morning (35F).

Put in at Cedar Creek Landing and proceeded to head downstream.
Water level was about 5' 6".

Got downstream about three miles and realized that I'd forgotten my lunch.
Turned around and paddled back to the landing to retrieve my lunch.

Rather than head back the way that I had just come from; I decided to paddle upstream toward Bannister Bridge.

After four miles of paddling upstream; I turned around and enjoyed the leisurely float back to Cedar Creek Landing.

I saw two wild turkeys, a few ducks, a few anoles and the dragonflies are out in force.

I'm happy to say that I found a tiny amount of litter today; as evidenced by this photo.



Three plastic soda bottles, two worm tubs, a plastic bag and a wad of fishing line.

GPS recorded 14 miles of paddling.

SYOTR

Sat. March 26th - "The Rocks" at the Saluda River

I hadn't been out to "The Rocks" along the Saluda River @ Riverbanks Zoo in awhile so I decided to head out there this morning.

I managed to pick up ~50 gallons of assorted debris in about an hour.

Mostly the usual litter: plastic soda/ water bottles, beer cans, beer bottles, fast food packaging waste, cigarette boxes, etc.
I also picked up two used diapers and a bunch of styrofoam bits.

I have no photo to post as I didn't feel like dumping and sorting through a bunch of trash today.

I did manage to pick out most of the recyclables however.

I also paddled at the Congaree National Park on Friday and collected two soda bottles and a lighter.
Maybe my efforts there are starting to pay off???

St. Paddy's Day Paddle

Another trip to my favorite floodplain; the Congaree National Park.

I put in at the Cedar Creek landing and headed toward the Congaree River.

The pollen was so thick you could see it in the shafts of light filtering through the towering trees.

I saw about a dozen ducks; a dozen turtles, a kingfisher, an egret and a feral hog.

I turned around at mile 6 and headed back to the landing.

I forgot my camera but collected the following litter:

1 lb. propane canister
Birkenstock shoe
Flip flop
eight 20oz. glass bottles
fourteen plastic bottles
two bobbers
fishing line and hook
and about 1 gallon (volume) of styrofoam bits and pieces

March 11, 2011 Yak Attack!

Another gorgeous day for a paddle out at my favorite floodplain; the Congaree National Park.


I put in at the Cedar Creek landing and headed toward the Congaree River.
Water Levels were right around 5' making many cuts and guts available for exploration.

I paddled at total of 13 miles according to the GPS.

I saw three great heron, three owls, four ducks and heard a group of feral pigs crashing through the brush but did not see them.

The higher water levels pushed the "swamp" to give up the litter booty.
Here is what I collected today during my travels.



Photographed at the Cedar Creek Landing.

Xtra Terrestrial Trash

It had been awhile since I'd been out to the "Rocks" along the Saluda River @ Riverbanks zoo.
This is a very popular area in Columbia for kayakers as Millrace Rapids and Pop Up Hole both offer park and play fun.
Unfortunately, the "Rock People" also like the area as the police cannot be troubled to walk the 100 yards down to their encampment; so they are free to do as they please.

This is what I collected during the hour that I was out there.
The litter took up slightly over 30 gallons of volume and the moving blankets and carpet foam? took up another 30 gallons.

Cedar Creek Landing toward the Congaree River

It was a beautiful day for paddling so I took off toward the Congaree River once I put in at Cedar Creek Landing.

I saw a river otter, three ducks, and a few hawks and turtles.

At mile 4.5 downstream, I came across a tire and rim stuck in a blown down tree.
Paddling upstream with a tire and rim strapped to the back of your yak is a great way to keep yourself in peak paddling condition.

Here is a picture of the litter that no longer resides in our National Park.

Congaree National Park

Cedar Creek Landing to the Congaree River and back.
12.5 miles on the GPS.

I saw a whitetail deer, two great heron, four owls, fifteen turtles, seventeen ducks and five river otters on my paddle today.

Here is a photo of the garbage that is no longer inhabiting the waterways of our National Park:

Valentine's Day 2011 @ Congaree National Park

Put in at Cedar Creek Landing at Congaree National Park and headed toward the Congaree river which is 6.25 miles downstream.



Temps climbed to 71F today.

I decided to turn around at mile 6 and head back to the Cedar Creek Landing.

I saw 13 ducks, eight turtles, 2 white tail deer, a great heron and two river otters that frolicked near my boat as I floated past.










This is the haul for today photographed at the Cedar Creek Landing.
Unfortunately, this is fairly typical of the garbage that floats in the waterways of our National Park.

Congaree Creek 2/11/2011

12 st. put in to the Congaree River r/t.
I'm really enjoying this run.
No portages (lately) and a fairly quick trip.
Eight miles total.

I put on under sunny skies and ~38F.


Down to the river in under 1 1/2 hours.

Saw twelve ducks, two turtles and two whitetail deer this trip.

I ran into DNR Agent D at the Old State Rd. bridge who took this haul from me.


That's a 5 gallon water cooler, a 5 gallon kerosene container with about a liter of fuel left in it.
Plus a pink plastic tub with 1 1/2 gallons of motor oil in in along with a dozen or so plastic soda bottles and a bunch of styrofoam bits.

Here is a picture of the litter that rode home with me.

Year of the Rabbit

In honor of the Year of the Rabbit; I decided to do some yakkin' on Congaree Creek today.
I put on about 9:30am at the 12th st. landing; the temp was ~61F with a light wind.

It rained last night so the creek was flowing pretty good.
It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to get down to the Congaree River which is slightly over four miles from the landing.
Only one portage right before the US 77 bridge at mile 3 from 12th st.

Today turned out to be idyllic after the couple of grey days we've had.



I saw eleven turtles, seven deer and a great heron today.
Plus a couple of kingfishers.

Less garbage than I expected with the rains and I am thankful for that.

I finally took down this tent that is on the left in the picture.
I first noticed this tent last Sept. but did not disturb it as it was possibly someones' home.
After four months I decided it was time to check it out as the tent had collapsed.
I removed three propane bottles, the can opener and the five cans of Chef Boy R Dee.
I wonder what happened to whomever was living there...



The rest is the usual human debris: plastic soda bottles, bobbers, and a couple of beer cans.

I took out under sunny skies and 63F.

All in all, just a fabulous day outdoors in scenic South Carolina; and one I won't soon forget.

Congaree National Park 1/21/2011

I hadn't been out to the "Swamp" in awhile so I decided to go today.
It was ~40F when I put in and about 48F when I took out.
I put in at the Cedar Creek Landing and paddled downstream toward the Congaree River (~6.25 miles away).


I saw a whitetail deer, 28 ducks (mostly mallards), three turtles, a beaver and a great heron on this trip. It turned out to be a beautiful day.


There wasn't much litter until I got closer to the river. I turned around at mile 6 and started back upstream with my haul for the day.


The usual plastic soda bottles along with some bobbers, random styrofoam bits, a plastic kids shovel, a lighter, two worm tubs, a few glass bottles and a styrofoam bait bin.

Congaree Creek 1/19/2011

Today I decided to make the run from 12 st. to the river and back.
It was about 48F when I put in and about 60F when I took out.
The creek was flowing pretty good so I made the four mile run to the river in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
This is where the Congaree Creek meets the Congaree River.


I saw two whitetail deer, a turtle, a few kingfishers and two beaver.


As I suspected, the rain overnight washed a bunch of debris downstream.
The two gallon jugs of motor oil are full. The rest is the usual litter; except for the partial phonebook and the four spent shotgun shells.

Congaree Creek 1/16/2011

The snow was still clinging on in spots but I was ready for my first water borne litter patrol of 2011.
It was ~37F when I put on and ~52F when I took out.
I paddled from 12 st ext upstream three miles to the 321 bridge and back.





This is a picture of the tire and rim that I herded downstream for about two miles.
Anyone who has paddled this section knows how it twists and turns. It was quite a workout to keep it out of the blowdowns along the banks.
This is all of the litter that I collected on a short three miles from 321 to 12st ext.



I also saw a dozen ducks, four deer and a great heron on this trip.

Congaree National Park

An incredible November day at Congaree National Park. Admission is free; the experience: priceless.