Updates

09/04/2006 - Savannah River We put-in on the Savannah River at the Furys Ferry Boat Ramp and paddled to the the SCE&G boat ramp on Stevens Creek. The water was high and we were able to cut through to Deep Step and paddle down Deep Step, avoiding the wide river. Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Terns, Wood Ducks, Mallards, Canada Geese, Anhingas, Cormorants, Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets were among the wildlife seen along the way.	Click for pictures
05/27/2006 - Augusta Canal We paddled the Augusta Canal down to 15th Street. The morning started off nice but heated up by noon. We saw lots of snakes, including one Cottonmouth. Elderberry, Pickerel Weed, and Water Hyacinth were in bloom. Kingfishers, Wood Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Cormorants, and an Anhinga were among the birds seen.	Click for pictures
03/5/2006 - Aiken State Natural Area - Level: 6.2 at Denmark We paddled the South Edisto River through Aiken State Natural Area. From the put-in we paddled up to the park boundary and then back down to the cabin. The water level was just high enough that some water was flowing out into the swamp. We did not have to lift-over any downed trees.	Click for pictures
02/10-12/2006 - Okefenokee Swamp Stephen Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp was our destination for the weekend. We started out by paddling to Billys Island where a gray Fox wanted to join us for lunch. Then we hiked the short trail, passing 3 deer that seemed only slightly disturbed by our presence. The water was high and we were able to explore side routes normally inaccessible. Lots of alligators were out sunning on logs and peat blow-ups. On Saturday we paddled the Brown (Canoes only) Trail to the Sill in a steady rain. This was a beautiful, narrow, winding route through scattered cypress and gums and old cypress stumps grown over with Itea, Titi, and Fetterbush. There was no solid ground until we got to the Sill. We saw otters, raccoons, White Ibis, Pileated woodpeckers, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, Anhingas, Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers. Lots of Vine Wicky was blooming as well as some Highbush Blueberry and one Golden Club.	Click for pictures
12/07/2005 - Savannah River We put-in and took-out at the North Augusta boat ramp and paddled up the Savannah River to the Hammond Hills Rapid. Along the way we explored some of the islands, found a GeoCache, paddled into the old quarry, and attempted to paddle up Raes Creek. So much water was being released from the Augusta canal that the current in Raes Creek was very swift, much swifter than the river. By staying along the sides of the creek out of the main current, we were able to make it up to within sight of the railroad trestle.	Click for pictures
06/04/2005 - Turkey-Stevens Creek - Level: 5.3 We put-in at Keys Bridge on Turkey Creek with the water level at 5.3 and took out at Highway 23 on Stevens Creek with the water level dropping to 4.3. The smaller shoals were under water but there were good waves and no rocks exposed in the larger shoals. There were two places where trees were down across the creek. The first place we were able to paddle around on the left. The second place was a large two trunked cypress that was very difficult to get around. The cypress was just above the water level such that we could not go under it and it was too big to go over.	Click for pictures
03/20/2005 - Lake Olmstead Clean-up We paddled around Lake Olmstead picking up trash for the Riverkeepers Clean-up. It was a nice afternoon for picking up trash and there was plenty to pick-up.	Click for pictures
03/18/2005 - Turkey-Stevens Creek - Level: 3.5 We put-in at Keys Bridge on Turkey Creek and paddled down to Highway 23 on Stevens Creek. This was an excellent level for this section with very few rocks exposed. Bluets and Spring Beauty were blooming.	Click for pictures
02/06/2005 - Augusta Canal We paddled the Augusta Canal from the headwaters at the Columbia County Pavilion down to Lake Olmstead. It was a nice afternoon with the temperature in the 60s. Our variously colored watercraft made a very colorful flotilla. Lots of turtles were out sunning and seemed reluctant to drop back into the cold water. We also saw Wood Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Cormorants, Kingfishers, a fish sunning above a log, and an opossum. The red maples were blooming and Mistletoe still had berries.	Click for pictures
11/19-21/2004 - Okefenokee Swamp Stephen Foster State Park in the Okefenokee Swamp was our destination for a long week-end. We explored Billys Lake by canoe, getting out on the lake early each morning before the motor boats and wind. A hike and lunch on Billys Island was enjoyed on Saturday. We found Sunflowers and Spatterdock blooming and saw lots of alligators, a few snakes and turtles, Wood Storks, White Ibis, lots of deer, and an armadillo. As usual, the Okefenokee is a great place to see and get fairly close to lots of wildlife.	Click for pictures
08/28/2004 - Little River We went for an evening paddle up the Little River cutoff from the Savannah River. We put-in at the Riverside Park boat ramp off Hardy-Macmanus Road and paddled up the Little River and back. Above Euchee Creek, there was a strong current flowing down Little River against us for about a mile. Then the current suddenly ended and we had practically no current the rest of the way, including the whole way back. We paddled on up to Little Keokee Creek and then up it until a dam blocked the creek. Just before the turn back to the boat ramp, a beaver made a huge splash in the darkness ahead of us. It was a gorgeous evening with a Full Moon. Cardinal Flower, a purple Lobelia, Virgins Bower, and Mistflower were blooming.	Click for pictures
08/22/2004 - Aiken State Natural Area - Level: 8.7 at Cope We paddled the South Edisto River at Aiken State Natural area. There was still a lot of debris in the river making some places tricky to get through. There were no lift overs. Despite the intense fishing efforts of some of our party, the fish in the river were safe. Macbridea and Cardinal Flower were blooming.	Click for pictures
08/07/2004 - Stevens Creek(Lake) We canoed the lake part of Stevens Creek down to Sportsman's Corner. We put-in at the end of Forest Service road 680C which was badly washed, requiring high ground clearance vehicles. There was a steep bank to the water, with no level place near the water to get in the canoe. In the process of getting in, one canoe floated away to the other side of the creek leaving its paddler sitting in a mudpie. We had lunch up a side creek where we were joined by snowy egrets chowing down on the thousands of small fish in the creek. Little Blue Herons, Great Egrets, and a hawk (probably a red-shoulder) also stopped by while we ate lunch. Back on the creek, a curious little otter checked us out momentarily before disappearing. We also saw a Mississippi Kite, Anhingas, and Wood Ducks. This six mile currentless run with numerous side-trips and a leisurely lunch took about 5 hours. The water level (which on this whole section is dependent on dams) was a little low but presented no problems. From the water lines on the trees, it had been about 2 feet higher just recently.	Click for pictures
07/24/2004 - Little River We went for an evening paddle up the Little River cutoff from the Savannah River. We put-in at the Columbia County boat ramp off Hardy-Macmanus Road, paddled up to the Savannah River and then back. Going up we came to a small stream with a strong current going up it (the wrong way), whereas Little River had no perceptible current. We followed the current up the little stream until it finally faded out into thick grass. Along the way we saw a solitary Wood Stork, lots of deer, and went over two small beaver dams. When we could go no further, rather than paddle back upstream, we portaged the 100 yards through the woods to Little River (practice for Boundary Waters next year). The current was also going upstream into Euchee Creek. Above Euchee Creek, the current was flowing down Little River and against us. We were shocked to find a golf course at the bridge across Little River. Above there, a fog lay just above the water up to about eye level of a canoer. In the fading light on the way back down Little River, we saw one muskrat chasing another. Then a third muskrat jumped on the chaser. Fur and water flew for a couple of seconds before each went different ways. Then we began to see beavers swimming in the river and hear them chewing in the darkness.	Click for pictures
07/17/2004 - Savannah River We got an early start and paddled the Savannah River between the Stevens Creek Dam and the Old Augusta Lock and Dam. Wildlife was plentiful, including Deer, Beaver, Anhingas, Wood Ducks, Purple Martins, and Barn Swallows. There were lots of Black Buzzards, including one inside an old shack and a pair perched above the dam. A large snake skin (about 6 feet long) had us watching for the former owner. Swamp Mallow was abundant and in full bloom. This is a gorgeous section of river, even though it is only a mile long. There are about seven islands that we weaved between and kept sneaking up on Wood Ducks and Anhingas. The water was clear enough that the bottom could be seen in most places except the deepest.	Click for pictures
07/04/2004 - Turkey-Stevens Creek - Level: 2.5 We put-in at Keys Bridge on Turkey Creek and paddled down to Highway 23 on Stevens Creek. At this level, there were clear paths through all the shoals but there were lots of rocks outside of those paths. It was a gorgeous paddle through all the lush greenery.	Click for pictures
06/26/2004 - Augusta Canal Moonlight We paddled the Augusta Canal down to Lake Olmstead. It was a gorgeous evening with a beautiful sunset. Elderberry, Jewelweed, Devil's Walking Stick, Pickerelweed, and Water Hyacinth were blooming. We saw a lot of Gar in Lake Warren and jumping fish in Lake Olmstead. The current in the canal seemed to be swifter than usual causing us to almost made the whole trip before dark.	Click for pictures
06/19/2004 - Aiken State Natural Area - Level: 8.1 at Cope We paddled the South Edisto River at Aiken State Natural area. There were no lift overs but a lot of limbs and trees are still down in the river, requiring a lot of precise manuevering. We visited the Heron Nesting Colony upstream of the Park and found that all the Great Blue Herons had left. Two Great Egrets were in the tops of the trees near the same nests.	Click for pictures
06/05/2004 - Aiken State Natural Area - Level: 7.1 at Cope We paddled the South Edisto River through Aiken State Natural area. Even though the water level was low, enough cutting had been done so that there were no lift overs. A lot of limbs and trees are still down in the river, requiring a lot of precise manuevering.	Click for pictures
05/29/2004 - Augusta Canal We paddled the Augusta Canal down to Lake Olmstead. It was overcast with a light, misty fog lifting off the water. Rocky Shoals Spider-lily, Elderberry, Swamp Dogwood, Jewelweed, Pickerelweed, and Blue Flag were blooming. We saw a lot of beavers, but none of them slapped their tails. Just as darkness fell, the cloud cover cleared away revealing a bright moon. In Lake Olmstead, jumping fish startled us in the darkness. As we loaded up, fireworks lit up the night sky.	Click for pictures
05/22/2004 - Aiken State Natural Area - Level: 7.6 at Cope We paddled the South Edisto River through Aiken State Natural area. At this water level there were no lift-overs but the large oak tree was close. A lot of cutting had been done to clear the river of the Ice Storm debris. However, many obstacles are still in the river requiring a lot of manuevering.	Click for pictures
3/26/2004 - Aiken State Natural Area - Level: 8.3 at Cope We started at Aiken State Natural Area's Put-in and paddled the South Edisto River upstream to above the park boundary and then paddled down to the group camp. We spent the night there and then paddled down to Cabin Lake. At this water level there were no lift-overs. However, there were lots of trees down in the river, probably from the Ice Storm. The large pine just below the take-out dock, which has been cut into numerous sections, is still blocking the river. However, at this level, we were able to get around the pine in a cut-through just before it. A Bald Eagle has been reported at Cabin Lake, but we were not lucky enough to see it. We did see lots of Louisianna Waterthrushes and heard lots of Barred Owls and saw two of them.	Click for pictures
02/22/2004 - Okefenokee Swamp We canoed the Okefenokee Swamp from Kingfisher Landing to Maul Hammack to Big Water to Stephen Foster State Park. The rattling of Sandhill Cranes were heard as they flew over and alligators bellowed at Maul Hammock. Golden Club was in bloom.	Click for pictures