Clint wanted to paddle one day this week and asked if I wanted to join him. After a millisecond of consideration, I said yes. We decided on doing Cedar Creek from Banister Bridge to Cedar Creek Landing. However, we did realize that might prove optimistic as hurricane Helene had put lots of trees horizonal in the woods this last fall. Stopped at the Congree NP ranger station and asked if they knew the state of the creek. The ranger smiled and said they had cleared it last year before the hurricane.
We left my car and trailer at the takeout and meet a young guide with Palmetto Outfitters. He had 8 canoes on a trailer and 3 on top the truck. Spring break for local schools. He came over to admire my canoe. Coincidently I had passed him on the way to Clint’s house. He said he had come down the creek from the bridge after the storm. The water was very high, so he only had a few portages, but the water was much lower than that now.
We decided to stay with our plan but if after 3 hours it looked like we would be hard pressed to take out before dark we would turn around and paddle back up stream.
We both felt a bit foolish for not bringing wheels to roll the canoes on the longer than remembered trail to the water. So, carry them we did.
The put in and take out at the bridge. We weren’t on the water very long before we realized we would be paddling back up stream today.
Clint’s photo
clint’s photo
I ended up sitting on the bottom of the canoe part of the time to get low enough to get under some of the fallen trees. I will bring my short paddle along next time.
Clint’s photo
There were also stretches of open paddling and the varied greens and amber tannins made for some beautiful scenery.
Clints photo
Clint’s photo
The wildlife wasn’t very active, but we did hear a couple of Barred Owls a woodpecker drumming and saw 2 different water snakes. Clint watched two of them fall out of an overhanging limb into the water as he got close. The snakes were harmless.
Good size Brown Water Snake probably a female because of the size’
A small Banded Water Snake. Might be a bit hard to spot. At least the snake hopes so.
We ate lunch at this portage. I left my paddle propped against the tree we tried to get through when I took out. It fell into the water, but I didn’t realize it. When it came time to continue paddling that became obvious. It couldn’t get past the tree either but was out of reach. I tied a line to a piece of wood and tossed it over the paddle. Clint was down stream to fish it out, but it became stuck again I gave him the line and stick. He then managed the recovery. He tried to claim the paddle was his when we got back to the takeout.
We also stopped to take a break at this same spot on the way back I left my hat and Clint retrieved it. I had to check to see if I still had a head to put it on. Thankfully it was still attached. It was a bit of a gymnastic paddle at times but a thoroughly enjoyable day with a friend to share it with
