A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
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These past couple of weeks have been difficult with the loss of our brother-in-law. I’m trying to catch up on several posts. I was able to take a few kayaking trips during that time, mostly as a way to cope with stress. One of those trips was a full moon kayaking trip on the Saluda … Read More “Moonlight on the Saluda” »
A few summers ago several of my friends and I started doing what we called “Water Wednesdays.” We would pick a different venue each week and try to get out on the water. Since then several of my paddling friends have retired and in this time of social distancing, it seemed like a good time … Read More “Social Distancing on Water Wednesdays” »
The Second Saturday of August meant time for another adventure with my friends from Lowcountry Unfiltered. Matt and I bounced a few ideas around before settling on The Jungle, a section of Lake Moultrie featured as part of the Berkeley County Blueways. It was a new venue for us, and turned out to be a … Read More “Exploring The Jungle of Lake Moultrie” »
The border between Georgia and South Carolina is made up completely by water. Most of it is the Savannah River and the lakes formed by damming said river. However, there is a small section formed by the Tugaloo and Chattooga Rivers. I’ve paddled most of these bodies – the Savannah, Clark Hill Reservoir, Lake Russell, … Read More “Border Lakes along Georgia and South Carolina” »
Here it is mid-July and I haven’t written anything on this site since late May. I seem to have lost my motivation. I actually thought about abandoning this 15-year project completely, but I’ve got too much invested in it. Part of my problem is the “can’t get caught up” syndrome. I get behind on posts … Read More “Paddling in the Time of COVID” »
Our Second Saturday paddle for March turned out to be the First Saturday this year. With all of the Coronavirus scare, that was probably a good thing (though kayaking is an excellent way to socially distance). For this trip we decided to check out a new stretch of the Edisto River. We would put in on Penny Creek and take out at the historic Willtown Bluff. Along the way we would see the remains of old rice plantations and some beautiful scenery.
For many years I drove over the bridge over the South Tyger River at Berry Shoals, looking longingly at the old steel trestle bridge downstream and the twin lakes of Berry Shoals Pond and Silver Lake. I wanted to explore the area. However, I was always in route to one of my schools or on some other school district business, so I never got a chance to explore…until now. Sadly, my explorations were cut short, all for want of a hat.
A couple of my Facebook friends regularly paddle Stumpy Pond on the Catawba River. They regularly post photos of historic ruins and lovely scenery, It’s been on my list of places I want to visit. Fellow explorer Alan Russell and I finally got a chance to do just that this week, but this unusual September … Read More “A Hot Sample of Stumpy Pond” »
As a teenager I’d read a South Carolina Wildlife article about Capers Island, a barrier island on the coast. The place fascinated me, a wild, undeveloped island accessible only by boat. On this paddling trip with Lowcountry Unfiltered I was to learn that there are TWO Capers Islands in South Carolina, and the one we visited had some unusual human-created features.
The ghost town of Ferguson has been on my mind quite a lot lately. I’ve written a couple of articles about it and my blog posts about the town continue to be the most popular. I’m involved with a project dealing with Lake Marion and Ferguson that I’m not at liberty to discuss online, but … Read More “Return to Ferguson” »