By Kate Whitaker

For a last minute pick-up event, this was a well-attended trip. The notice was sent out Thursday for a Saturday, Mother's Day trip and we had 11 people sign up. Actually we had 15 sign up but got our signals crossed with four members who tried to meet us at a different Hardees. Sorry we missed them but they wrote and got more definite information this week and planned to do the trip this weekend. Hope they had as great a time as we did and that their GPS was dependable.

Jerry and Pat (our photography friends) met us at the landing and the rest: Ed and Colleen, Sean, Carol, Heinze and Meredith, Roy and Larry and 3 year old son Reed from John's Island (Larry spoke to our group about lowcountry trips one meeting last year) met at the Hardees at Moncks Corner. The landing at Wadboo Creek wasn't very far and soon we were on the water. The first part of our trip we paddled the charming little creek upstream for a while and encountered some beautiful spider lilies as well as a father and son in kayaks that turned out to be Lowcountry Paddlers. After a chat, we turned and went downstream and out to the old rice fields. The water conditions were perfect (there is some tidal influence) and we were able to explore lots of small canals lined with Pickerel Weed and alive with red winged black birds. There were a number of osprey nests with protective parents complaining about our approach but we got to hear and see some nestlings. Sean, of course, found a few of his reptilian friends to greet and even held a beautiful brown water snake. After the creature became calm, your author couldn't resist a turn at holding it but everyone else seemed more than satisfied to watch!

Larry and son (who was just beginning to get a little restless) took off to get back to the landing while the rest of us found some dry land for a lunch break but had to work to reach it (and avoid some very comfortable snakes curled up nearby). But Ed and Sean were very helpful and soon we were all ensconced in a shady spot watching the OTHER reptiles of the area (alligators) float lazily by while we chatted and ate and relaxed. Also, a red-bellied snake paid us a short visit but didn't seem inclined to linger. Jerry and Pat were eager to concentrate on the many photo opts the area offered so they explored on their own in the afternoon.

The rest of us, after a nice long, after-lunch paddle and exploration (and one person falling out of their boat on a turn-around - oops better check the depth where you are actually going to step!!!!) headed on back to the landing. It was probably the hottest day of the year so far so I'm not convinced that our one boat upset wasn't halfway on purpose-he did look cooler afterwards-if a little redder from some embarrassment! Some of us were ready to load up when we reached the landing but Ed, Colleen, Roy and Carol took off back upstream, for some more adventuring. And Jerry and Pat report that the food at Browns Barbeque near the bridge at Monck's Corner was excellent! A beautiful way to spend the day and usher in the summer paddling season.

Directions and information to this excellent paddling site are at http://www.gobcweb.com.