Pocotaligo River - February 5, 2005
Submitted by Pam Reutebuch on March 7, 2006 - 10:28pm.
By Kate Whitaker
Distance Paddled: 7.5 - 8 miles
What a wonderful name for a river. How could anyone resist paddling it? In fact, it turns out that a lot of us couldn't resist, so we had a good group of 12 paddlers show up at the Park & Ride on the Sumter Highway, Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 9 am.
There was Pam and I, Jeffrey, Sean, Linda, Lee, Ann and Carol. But the fun thing about this trip was the large number of "newbies" (first-timers with Palmetto Paddlers): Tim, Al, Charlotte, Gary. Our 13th paddler gathered all our bad luck onto himself which made us luckier but was the pits for him. Got a call at the meeting place that Greg, our 13th, had forgotten to include a hat with his gear. So he stopped at the Dollar General to pick one up for himself, very efficiently locking his keys in his new truck - so he wouldn't lose them, I suppose. Well, he didn't lose them, but he also didn't get to go on the trip. We stopped to visit with him while he waited for AAA as we passed the store in our caravan to the river. Too bad Greg, we certainly missed you and hope your mis-adventure came out okay!
The rest of us consolidated boats and cars at the meeting place and car Hwy 50) and none at the take-out on Hwy 35 - It was strictly road-side parking there. Plus it was pleasant to while away the hour drive chatting with other paddlers. Walkie talkies were used to keep the group in touch on the road trip, which proved to be helpful, especially on the way back in Manning in our quest for the after-paddle BBQ place (yum!)
At the put-in, the river was just gorgeous, black, inky water and wide and obstruction-free - very inviting. We lost no time unloading boats and gear and running the shuttle. Some folks explored the up-river while we waited for the shuttle people to return and then we all got on the water about 11:15. The weather was a perfect 60-65 degrees, even warmer in the sunshine and the water level was great - the CFS (cubic feet per second) at Kingstree on the Black River read about 800 and the gage height was about 7.5+.
The paddling was perfect, with enough steering challenge to be interesting but nothing threatening and no pull-overs though there were a couple of limbo trees that got our attention. No one had any problems and the trip was a good length - about 7 or 8 miles, depending on whose GPS one chooses to believe. We found a nice sunny, dry spot for lunch, about 3 minutes beyond a spot we were going to settle for.
On the Pocotaligo, Pam discovered the 3 minute rule - a better lunch spot is always about 3 minutes AFTER the spot you think will do. And it works! Not sure how it will come out on other rivers; Pam will have to keep us advised as she advances her research.
We spotted a raccoon on the waterway and some woodpeckers. Lots of Spanish moss hung on the trees and, of course Tupelo and Cypress. The Resurrection Fern was particularly beautiful on this trip, thanks, I guess, to the recent rainfall.
The only problem with this stretch of river is finding your way. On the GPS the Black River right along here looks like a plate of worms - or maybe a ball of yarn that the kitten has been into. Difficult to stay on one strand. But both times we have done it, following the major water flow every time brought us to the take-out.
As almost always, it was too soon that we spotted the bridge and the take-out. The old landing here is closed so we took out above the bridge on the left side and hiked over the rocks carrying boats and gear. Everyone was very helpful and willing to help and 'many hands make light work' (according to my mom) and soon we had the boats lined up along the highway waiting for the shuttle to be run. We were all loaded and ready to go about 3 or 4 o'clock and most everybody took off for home.
Six of us agreed to head for Manning and a barbeque place Jeffrey had heard about and after a few false starts, we did find D & H Barbeque. Lots of good food and some very hot barbeque sauce (thought not hot enough for Lee who brought his own 'holy water') was the perfect ending to a great day. Jeffrey had some trouble with the pineapple (watch it Carol!) but was able to get it under control and enjoy the Old Testament Barbeque. We headed back to the Park & Ride to re-load the boats on our own cars and took off into the night.
Great fun and a special welcome to the new folks that adventured with us. Hope to see them on the water and at our meetings again soon. This is a trip Pam and I both are happy to recommend.
View Photo Album
Distance Paddled: 7.5 - 8 miles
What a wonderful name for a river. How could anyone resist paddling it? In fact, it turns out that a lot of us couldn't resist, so we had a good group of 12 paddlers show up at the Park & Ride on the Sumter Highway, Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 9 am.
There was Pam and I, Jeffrey, Sean, Linda, Lee, Ann and Carol. But the fun thing about this trip was the large number of "newbies" (first-timers with Palmetto Paddlers): Tim, Al, Charlotte, Gary. Our 13th paddler gathered all our bad luck onto himself which made us luckier but was the pits for him. Got a call at the meeting place that Greg, our 13th, had forgotten to include a hat with his gear. So he stopped at the Dollar General to pick one up for himself, very efficiently locking his keys in his new truck - so he wouldn't lose them, I suppose. Well, he didn't lose them, but he also didn't get to go on the trip. We stopped to visit with him while he waited for AAA as we passed the store in our caravan to the river. Too bad Greg, we certainly missed you and hope your mis-adventure came out okay!
The rest of us consolidated boats and cars at the meeting place and car Hwy 50) and none at the take-out on Hwy 35 - It was strictly road-side parking there. Plus it was pleasant to while away the hour drive chatting with other paddlers. Walkie talkies were used to keep the group in touch on the road trip, which proved to be helpful, especially on the way back in Manning in our quest for the after-paddle BBQ place (yum!)
At the put-in, the river was just gorgeous, black, inky water and wide and obstruction-free - very inviting. We lost no time unloading boats and gear and running the shuttle. Some folks explored the up-river while we waited for the shuttle people to return and then we all got on the water about 11:15. The weather was a perfect 60-65 degrees, even warmer in the sunshine and the water level was great - the CFS (cubic feet per second) at Kingstree on the Black River read about 800 and the gage height was about 7.5+.The paddling was perfect, with enough steering challenge to be interesting but nothing threatening and no pull-overs though there were a couple of limbo trees that got our attention. No one had any problems and the trip was a good length - about 7 or 8 miles, depending on whose GPS one chooses to believe. We found a nice sunny, dry spot for lunch, about 3 minutes beyond a spot we were going to settle for. On the Pocotaligo, Pam discovered the 3 minute rule - a better lunch spot is always about 3 minutes AFTER the spot you think will do. And it works! Not sure how it will come out on other rivers; Pam will have to keep us advised as she advances her research.
We spotted a raccoon on the waterway and some woodpeckers. Lots of Spanish moss hung on the trees and, of course Tupelo and Cypress. The Resurrection Fern was particularly beautiful on this trip, thanks, I guess, to the recent rainfall.The only problem with this stretch of river is finding your way. On the GPS the Black River right along here looks like a plate of worms - or maybe a ball of yarn that the kitten has been into. Difficult to stay on one strand. But both times we have done it, following the major water flow every time brought us to the take-out.
As almost always, it was too soon that we spotted the bridge and the take-out. The old landing here is closed so we took out above the bridge on the left side and hiked over the rocks carrying boats and gear. Everyone was very helpful and willing to help and 'many hands make light work' (according to my mom) and soon we had the boats lined up along the highway waiting for the shuttle to be run. We were all loaded and ready to go about 3 or 4 o'clock and most everybody took off for home.Six of us agreed to head for Manning and a barbeque place Jeffrey had heard about and after a few false starts, we did find D & H Barbeque. Lots of good food and some very hot barbeque sauce (thought not hot enough for Lee who brought his own 'holy water') was the perfect ending to a great day. Jeffrey had some trouble with the pineapple (watch it Carol!) but was able to get it under control and enjoy the Old Testament Barbeque. We headed back to the Park & Ride to re-load the boats on our own cars and took off into the night.
Great fun and a special welcome to the new folks that adventured with us. Hope to see them on the water and at our meetings again soon. This is a trip Pam and I both are happy to recommend.
View Photo Album
