Cedar Creek - April 9, 2006
Submitted by Pam Reutebuch on March 6, 2006 - 9:59pm.
By Kate Whitaker
Water Level: Cedar Creek - Congaree National Park near Gadsden, SC - Around 6 ft.
6 Boats, 7 Folks
Cedar Creek - Hide and Seek
We got off to a great start on a cool, overcast Saturday morning. Everyone negotiated the detour to the landing (Bannister’s Bridge was out of commission, apparently) and were even a little early. Eleven o'clock was a nice, easy put-in time; we were having a later start than usual, since there was no shuttle to run and we hoped to be out on the river for the predicted, sunny afternoon. Paddlers were Claire and Neil White, Pam Reutebuch, Dave Alewine and Tillman and Beth Cuttino and Kate Whitaker.
As some of us wheeled our boats to the landing, we discovered lots of activity on the path and John Torrence busily leading a group of eagle scouts wannabees in path repair just past the creek bridge. After John said hello and met everybody, he went back to work (too bad, John) and we launched into the full little creek.
The water was almost up to the highest step and was flooding inland on either side of the road. I didn't take time then to think about how high it was, though later I realized it was a sign I should have paid more attention to. We were a happy little crew, glad to be on the water even though the skies still looked threatening. We drifted along with the current, Kate getting used to paddling the bow of a canoe with long-time friend Dave who was continuing to learn the characteristics of his fairly new fiberglass canoe. Neil, Claire's son, visiting from Australia by way of England, Europe and Jamaica, was doing fine in his recreational kayak, kindly lent by Tom. As John promised, we had no pullovers this day, though we did have some scooch-overs and limbo trees and scoot-arounds; there was plenty of water. This was a treat for me because I was used to doing this stretch in low and very low water of 2 to 2 1/2 feet (thanks to the five-year drought). About a half hour into the trip, we came to another minor blockage, and took the easy way around, gliding off the path to the right. We had a great time, everyone taking turns leading through the trees.
We found a semi-dry spot and pulled out for some lunch. Claire had brought some of her native tucker to share, damper, some with vegemite and some spread with jam. Damper is an unleavened bread common to the Australian bush which is dense and nourishing and an acquired taste. Reminded me of the bannock that the trappers/hunters in this country carried in the wilderness and hikers still often carry. Claire promises the damper is better when roasted wrapped around sticks over an open fire and we are looking forward to that on our next overnight adventure.
Soon, we were back on the water picking our way through the trees. What! Wait a minute! Through the trees?? Lower Cedar Creek doesn’t run through the trees – it is a defined creek with banks and everything! I was caught unprepared as I had not even turned on my GPS for this easy, obvious trip. Still, Tillman had his GPS going and we looked to be dead-on the creek so we
paddled a little further while I got my GPS going and felt more and more sure we were on a wrong path. I had downloaded my tracks from many previous trips into my GPS the night before and while it showed we were on the creek, it also showed we were NOT on the Cedar Creek track already laid down. And, come to think of it, where were the trail markers?
Eventually, I admitted that we weren't "right" and we turned around and wended our way back through the trees. After one little side jaunt, we got back to the Cedar Creek and found where we had gotten off of it; at the obstruction where we passed through on the right side. The creek went off to the left and we had continued on to the right. And, sure enough, there were the trail markers. Examination of the map showed that we were actually traveling Tupelo Gut. Not a very attractive name for a beautiful little place and charming side trail, when the water is high. I don’t think anyone was worried, even when I admitted that I wasn't sure where we were except that we weren't on Cedar Creek. I felt stupid that I hadn't paid attention to the obvious signs, or lack of them (the high water at the landing and the trail signs). And that I had the proper equipment but hadn't used them (the GPS and map). The day was too pretty and the paddle pleasant and I was just going along and everyone was happy. Another lesson on how easy it is to get complacent and how the river is always waiting for opportunities to teach its lessons.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, quiet and easy and pretty. Pam spotted two snakes in a tree. We called them Brown Water Snakes and without our experts, we made do with that ID. We took pictures. Tillman offered his high-end carbon paddle to Claire for a while and now is she sorry as she had a hard time going back to her much heavier one and before she had been happy! We stopped once more and had another snack break. And paddled upstream back to the landing. A beautiful trip and a learning adventure for all.
The Cuttinos had to take off for another engagement, but the rest of us enjoyed some Mexican food and each other’s company for a while longer as another day came to a close.
View Photo Album
Water Level: Cedar Creek - Congaree National Park near Gadsden, SC - Around 6 ft.
6 Boats, 7 Folks
Cedar Creek - Hide and Seek
We got off to a great start on a cool, overcast Saturday morning. Everyone negotiated the detour to the landing (Bannister’s Bridge was out of commission, apparently) and were even a little early. Eleven o'clock was a nice, easy put-in time; we were having a later start than usual, since there was no shuttle to run and we hoped to be out on the river for the predicted, sunny afternoon. Paddlers were Claire and Neil White, Pam Reutebuch, Dave Alewine and Tillman and Beth Cuttino and Kate Whitaker.
As some of us wheeled our boats to the landing, we discovered lots of activity on the path and John Torrence busily leading a group of eagle scouts wannabees in path repair just past the creek bridge. After John said hello and met everybody, he went back to work (too bad, John) and we launched into the full little creek. The water was almost up to the highest step and was flooding inland on either side of the road. I didn't take time then to think about how high it was, though later I realized it was a sign I should have paid more attention to. We were a happy little crew, glad to be on the water even though the skies still looked threatening. We drifted along with the current, Kate getting used to paddling the bow of a canoe with long-time friend Dave who was continuing to learn the characteristics of his fairly new fiberglass canoe. Neil, Claire's son, visiting from Australia by way of England, Europe and Jamaica, was doing fine in his recreational kayak, kindly lent by Tom. As John promised, we had no pullovers this day, though we did have some scooch-overs and limbo trees and scoot-arounds; there was plenty of water. This was a treat for me because I was used to doing this stretch in low and very low water of 2 to 2 1/2 feet (thanks to the five-year drought). About a half hour into the trip, we came to another minor blockage, and took the easy way around, gliding off the path to the right. We had a great time, everyone taking turns leading through the trees.
We found a semi-dry spot and pulled out for some lunch. Claire had brought some of her native tucker to share, damper, some with vegemite and some spread with jam. Damper is an unleavened bread common to the Australian bush which is dense and nourishing and an acquired taste. Reminded me of the bannock that the trappers/hunters in this country carried in the wilderness and hikers still often carry. Claire promises the damper is better when roasted wrapped around sticks over an open fire and we are looking forward to that on our next overnight adventure. Soon, we were back on the water picking our way through the trees. What! Wait a minute! Through the trees?? Lower Cedar Creek doesn’t run through the trees – it is a defined creek with banks and everything! I was caught unprepared as I had not even turned on my GPS for this easy, obvious trip. Still, Tillman had his GPS going and we looked to be dead-on the creek so we
paddled a little further while I got my GPS going and felt more and more sure we were on a wrong path. I had downloaded my tracks from many previous trips into my GPS the night before and while it showed we were on the creek, it also showed we were NOT on the Cedar Creek track already laid down. And, come to think of it, where were the trail markers? Eventually, I admitted that we weren't "right" and we turned around and wended our way back through the trees. After one little side jaunt, we got back to the Cedar Creek and found where we had gotten off of it; at the obstruction where we passed through on the right side. The creek went off to the left and we had continued on to the right. And, sure enough, there were the trail markers. Examination of the map showed that we were actually traveling Tupelo Gut. Not a very attractive name for a beautiful little place and charming side trail, when the water is high. I don’t think anyone was worried, even when I admitted that I wasn't sure where we were except that we weren't on Cedar Creek. I felt stupid that I hadn't paid attention to the obvious signs, or lack of them (the high water at the landing and the trail signs). And that I had the proper equipment but hadn't used them (the GPS and map). The day was too pretty and the paddle pleasant and I was just going along and everyone was happy. Another lesson on how easy it is to get complacent and how the river is always waiting for opportunities to teach its lessons.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, quiet and easy and pretty. Pam spotted two snakes in a tree. We called them Brown Water Snakes and without our experts, we made do with that ID. We took pictures. Tillman offered his high-end carbon paddle to Claire for a while and now is she sorry as she had a hard time going back to her much heavier one and before she had been happy! We stopped once more and had another snack break. And paddled upstream back to the landing. A beautiful trip and a learning adventure for all. The Cuttinos had to take off for another engagement, but the rest of us enjoyed some Mexican food and each other’s company for a while longer as another day came to a close.
View Photo Album
