Was cruising along pretty good when I hit my 1st portage. I was expecting 3-4 today so I was not surprised. It was a fairly easy portage, little mud, 20 yard kayak carry, little more mud and on my way. Next up I got to Elder Lake which is named after Jim Elder. He was one of the many people that helped get the area preserved and eventually made into a National Park. This was a beautiful area and I will gladly return here sometime. At the 1:17 mark in the video you will see what is known as the Elder Cypress Tree. You will see a line cut around it called a Girdle. Ax Men would cut a ring (girdle) around the tree and that would start a process that would kill the tree and they could then cut it down and float it out to the river. This process could take up to a year! Shortly after exiting the lake I came across portage #2. It was a small blockage but there was no simple way around it. I paddled up a small ditch and hoped out to scout it out. The only way around this blockage was to exit the creek and carry all my gear about 40 yards thru thick brush and then slide down a slippery and muddy bank back into the water. This whole process took me about 45 mins. Portage (sort of) #3. This was a big, big tree. There was about 3 feet of clearance on the far left end but it was blocked up with logs and debris. So I got out and scouted it out. I seriously almost lost both my boots in that mud. After coming to the conclusion that there was no way to carry my gear over the log I focused my attention on the left side. Got out my saw and cleared some branches, vines and logs. I managed to clear just enough space for me to lean forward and get under the log. But not without my head scrapping the bottom of the log and everything that might have been living on the log falling down the back of my shirt. The next 2 blockages I came to were pretty much the same. Now way around (steep muddy banks) and very little water if any going over the log. So I got up some speed and try to run over them. I came to complete stop both times and had to do the old butt scoot to get over them. The 2nd one I had to break my saw out and cut away and small knot to give me an extra 2 inches. Both of these trees took alot time and energy. A lot. But I wasn't finished there! Next up came a very nice strainer. There were several fallen trees criss crossing at the same location. No way around or under. There was a small section right down the middle I could shoot thru but there was also a log coming out from the left that meant I couldn't hit it straight on. I had to come at an angle which means if I didn't hit it just right I would be pinned against the tree and most certainly flipped over. First attempt did not go well but I managed to get turned around and paddle back out in time. Second attempt I went much slower and was able to hit it just right. Had enough yet? I had. I started to look for places to camp because I was worn out. But then came the sign for Mazyck's Cut which is the path to the main river. So I knew I only had about 1000 feet to go before the river. What could go wrong in 1000 feet? Well a few mins later I was on my hands and knees crawling under a tree while pulling my kayak behind me in about 3 inches of water. At least it was sand instead of mud.
Congaree River at last!! Now only 3 more hours before the good camping spot! Hit Mott Sandbar shortly after 7 pm. Blooded, exhausted and with a huge friction blister forming on my big toe. A result of the boots and mud/water. Set up camp and went about making a fire. There had been some recent flooding along the river so all the tender was fairly wet. So I did something that would make @SteveWallis proud. (what? never heard of him? shame...search KZitem) I used a jet boil as a blow torch and got the fire going. After a while I made some dinner, lasagna in meat sauce. Sounds fancy right? It was actually pretty good for a freeze dried product. No complaints. Between 9 pm and 9:30 pm the Barred Owls put on a show. I had about 6 of them in the area having a very lively conversation with each other. Pretty cool.
Woke up to a mist covered river and a wonderful 68 degree temp! Made a fire and some breakfast, eggs & bacon wraps. Not very good for a freeze dried product. After breakfast I went back to the hammock and knocked out another hour of sleep. About 10 am I took down the camp and started towards Bates Landing.
Total distance about 18 miles.
On the creek I saw 2 Barred Owls, several large Water Snakes, Green Bell Frog, Anhinga, couple King Fishers and some Wood Ducks. On the river I saw what I think was a DeKalb Snake, 2 Heron, Wood Duck, Anhinga, Bald Eagle and an Alligator.
Edit: a couple of the segments towards then end just showed up as black screen. Sorry.
Негізгі бет Kayaking Cedar Creek to the Congaree River
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