06/26/11 - Shem Creek Trip

(Tide listing for Charleston, SC)

Low Tide: 10:33 AM EST (0.4 ft)

High Tide: 3:02 PM EST (5.3 ft)
Sunrise: 6:13 AM

Sunset: 8:31 PM
Water Temp: 85F

Charleston Harbor Entrance Currents








Sunday June 26, 2011 - Shem Creek Trip




This trip started out at the boat ramp at Nature Adventures Outfitters on Shem Creek and extended into the Charleston harbor before returning to the starting point for takeout. This was our granddaughter Brooklyne's first kayak trip!! She loves the water and was very excited about the adventure. We reached Shem Creek at low tide and Nature Adventures Outfitters was very busy. They had a group leaving at 9AM and another at 9:30.






Since we didn't check their schedule before leaving home, we had a short wait we arrived at 9AM. We left the landing after the first group had cleared the landing. We took our 2 sit-on-top kayaks for this trip. The launch went well and we paddled out toward the Charleston harbor with Brooklyne helping out in Deanna's kayak.









It was a hot day with the temperatures already in the high 80s at 10AM. Our early start was a great idea and the skies were clear as we paddled out Shem Creek. Almost immediately we paddled up to an empty dock with 2 large pelicans sitting atop the poles there. Brooklyne loved the pelicans and it was a great start to her first yakking experience. We continued on by the shrimp and fishing vessels that were docked along Shem Creek. The wind was not a factor that day. We reached the Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary alone, but the beach was off limits to humans.





It is a nesting area for many birds in the area and there were very young birds of many species along with their avian parents. The beach on the little island was packed with birds. It was a noisy place and the birds seemed to know that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources had established a sanctuary that humans could not violate. As we approached the beach the birds hardly took notice of us at all. There were many baby birds with peach fuzz for feathers, including baby pelicans. The parents were fishing nearby and bring back their catch to feed their young. Brooklyne was in awe of all of the activity surrounding Crab Bank. At the end of this blog is a 2 minute video of some of the activity here.





After we watched the birds for a bit, Deanna and Brooklyne shouted "Dolphins!!" and padded off away from the island. There was a pair of dolphins that came right up beside their boat. I did have the camera out, so I took a little time to get it together. I watched the dolphin swim around them, but I didn't get a picture until after the dolphins moved over a bit.







Some other kaykers came up to join in the dolphin watching. After observing the dolphins for awhile, we took the time to enjoy a chocolate treat that Deanna had brought along. Brooklyne loved the treat and she had a bit of chocolate on her face as a testament to the chocolate goodness.









It was another excellent day on the water at Shem Creek and Brooklyne loved her initial kayaking experience! We rested for awhile under the bridge to await another group of kayakers preparing to launch from the ramp.








This is the video of the birds on Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary!

06/19/11 - Wando River Fishing Trip

Sunday June 19, 2011 - Wando River Fishing Trip

(Tide listing for Big Paradise Island on Wando River)

Low Tide: 4:30 PM (0.0 ft)

High Tide: 11:32 PM (7.6 ft)

Ok, I did a poor job of blogging this one! I didn't take any pictures on this fishing trip, but Deanna did catch a 14" Sea Trout and we had a yummy dinner :)

That's much better than bringing home just pictures ...

06/04/11 - Wadboo Creek Trip

(Tide listing for Pimlico, West Branch, Cooper River)

Low Tide: 8:21 AM EST (0.12 ft)

High Tide: 1:43 PM EST (1.59 ft)
Low Tide: 8:17 PM EST (-0.05 ft)
Sunrise: 6:11 AM

Sunset: 8:25 PM
Water Temp: 82F

Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal river data

SC Fishing Report for SC Rivers



Saturday June 04, 2011 - Wadboo Creek Kayak Trip
This trip on the waters of Wadboo Creek in Berkeley County, SC is a beautiful trip that allows for either open creek access to the Cooper River through old rice fields or a pristine look at the Francis Marion National Forest depending on the direction chosen. The direction chosen is typically a function of the tidal current and time of the trip. Our trip was chosen to be the forest creek version of Wadboo Creek. Our pre-trip planning showed high tide at 1:43 PM, We planned to take advantage of the rising tide on our trip into the Francis Marion National Forest and the falling tide on our way back to the dock. Our friend Linda White accompanied us on this trip.


We had two new boats to try out on this paddle. I had a recently purchased 16 ft Aquaterra Chinook and Deanna had a new 8 ft Pelican Apex 80 DLX sit-on-top to try out. We left the fishing gear at home as we had only one boat with rod holders. It was a hot day by the time we reached the Dennis C. Rembart Landing on Wadboo Creek. The day would peak at 95 degrees, but we were headed into the shade of the forest. The plan was to let the tide push us up into the forest and then bring us back out on the falling tide.

We started the trip at 11AM with Linda in the Potomac sit-inside, Deanna on her new sit-on-top, and me in the new Aquaterra Chinook. It was already hot when we started up the creek (with a paddle). The shade was a welcome relief from what felt like an August day in June. The osprey was on it's nest feeding the little ones when we passed by the electric lines around the first bend in the creek. As we paddled up the creek we were surrounded by huge dragonflys. They looked like small birds and smashed into the water, looking more like little pelicans.


We paddled a mile or so up Wadboo Creek before stopping in the shade for a snack and a tasty beverage. During our stop my 16 ft kayak was sideways in the creek and it stopped almost all of the debris in the water, creating a pond scum effect to my left. The tidal currents were still pushing us up into the national forest and the paddling was easy. There was virtually no wind and the surface of the water was very calm. We paddled about a mile and a half into the forest before we turned around to ride the tides back out and to our takeout spot.


At least we thought the tidal current would take us back out. Somehow the current was still coming our way. So, we paddled on against the current. We stopped to rest along the right side of the creek and I reached up to grab a low hanging branch to tie off on. I almost fell out of my boat flopping back and away from the very large wasp nest hanging the limb I was reaching for. I had been warned that wasps like branches for nesting spots, but this was certainly a wakeup call. Since none of us felt like starting a war with the little winged devils we decided to find a better shade down the creek.

On our journey we saw many water plants in bloom. The photo is just one of the many examples of flora along the banks of the Wadboo Creek. Along the way, Deanna spotted a snake rapidly swimming across the river in front of us. We paddled up to see the little water moccasin resting beside a water lily near the shore. Linda had a tasty treat eating the ripened blackberries that were hanging over the creek. She said they were quite sweet. We saw two more kayakers and warned them about the wasp nest up ahead. Around the corner from the wasp warning we saw another, larger wasp nest. Keep away from the branches!!

At the end of the day we learned a few things. The Aquaterra Chinook handled great and it will definitely be making another trip with us. The little sit-on-top that Deanna took, on the other hand, did not cooperate so well. She announced, "I dub thee pool kayak from this day forth". It did not track well at all and the side to side motion was quite taxing on her. I'm still not sure what happened with the tide, but at the bridge there was a high water mark a foot above the current water level. I think the tides here are just a bit off from the Pimlico tide chart that we had to use. Whatever it was, it couldn't be the excellent tide reading of yours truly. :)