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.