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.