Carol and I meet up with String and Jim at the launch near Hwy 121 to put in on the Saluda River. The water was the highest I have seen there. This section is at the top of Lake Murray and runs between the Dam on Lake Greenwood and Lake Murray. It was a leisurely 8 mile paddle, and the last 4 miles was more like lake with a tiny bit of current. I learned what I have been calling a Hibiscus is called Mallow. They must be closely related because the flower structure sure is very similar. There were also Morning Glories blooming. We saw what was probably 2 family groups of Osprey, and also their nests in trees on the river. A family of 4 or 5 raccoons at the waters edge which made a hasty retreat before I could get a photo, Dang it! Of course the ever present Kingfishers and Blue Herons. String was paddling his trusty Tarpon 16, Jim in an Old Town Kayak, and Carol and I in our MRC Explorer 16 tandem canoe. There is a small stand of Tupelo trees in the river that I always like to paddle through. The day was sunny becoming party cloudy with a nice cooling breeze at our back, and we stayed in the shade when we could. It was very comfortable weather.
String and his Tarpon
Jim and his Old Town
The river at the put in
Mallow on the river
Osprey nest
Wild Morning Glory
Becoming the lake
Tupelo stand photo taken on a different paddle trip.