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.