On the Water

Don’t mind me as I get a little artsy in this edition. I spent a few days on the water last week and after too many days in the office in front of a computer, it was just what the doctor ordered.

 

Do you feel that breeze? The sun was so hot out on Lake Marion that I imagined I might never feel a breeze again. Paddle over there, to the shade. Was that a Kingfisher I just startled?

Remember, Terry and Jim said to hold your paddle in the shape of field goal. Don’t clinch the paddle so tight. Push your shoulders down, away from your ears. Breathe. Relax.

Hey, the group is leaving you behind. Let them go. I am going with the flow. Who cares if the flow is pushing me backwards. My mind wanders. The fish jump. I wonder what kind of fish that was. Must’ve been big, look at the ripples.

I smell fuel from the boats racing across the water. Do birds and fish smell that too? Are they used to it or do they curse it every time the water goes choppy.

Whoops and hollers as the jet skis go by. My pace is slower but it sure does sound like fun. Maybe they’re racing back to grab a snack from the tackle shop. I saw a grape Fanta that has my name on it when I get off the water.

The group stopped for a snack and some fellowship along the shoreline. I caught up to them, glided over like a not-so-coordinated Anhinga. Do you have sunscreen and extra water? Sure. The benefits of paddling communally: someone always has what you need.

 

A different day, another glorious paddle.

No searching for the breeze today, the weather is near perfect on this wide stretch of the Edisto River. Our guide, Kaley, was ready to hit the water when we arrived. The boats lined up on the shore, noses pointed towards the water.

One swift push and we were in, the current taking us away. Paddling is a misnomer for what we were doing. Even though we were in kayaks, we merely had to steer and float.

Dragonflies lighting and taking off. What is their favorite insect? I’ll have to look that up. Greens and blues zipping past my ears. How many miles do they travel in a day on the river?

Modest river houses dot the banks. “Hey! Can you get that stick off of my buoy?”, he calls from the shore. “Yessir, happy to help,” I call. There is no one on the water today. The advantage of a Wednesday.

I need to bring the kids here to Givhans Ferry and rent some tubes from the outfitter. They’ll fuss at me for making them paddle the narrower and more difficult South Fork of the Edisto at Aiken State Park. We’ve been down that stretch so many times and I never dreamed that closer to the ocean was an easy vastness connected to it. But what’s the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” They are all the better for it.

What? We’re stopping for lunch? I don’t feel like I’ve worked at all and now I’m being rewarded with a break on a sandy expanse of beach. The conversation and company are easy. There has not been a prettier day in South Carolina. Ever. A Northern Perula calls above us—how do you pronounce it? Pear-a-la? Per-UL-a? I’ll look it up later (famous last words).

What do you think would happen if you went to a park and put your phone away? Stepped away from your desk and your daily life and connected with people outside your normal sphere of influence. Blocked out the noise and listened to the birds. Felt the water on your wrists and on your toes.

You’ve heard the scientists and outdoor enthusiasts preach it—being outside lowers your blood pressure. But when you experience it, there’s nothing in the world like it.

JER

 

 

 

Opportunities: If you would like to paddle but do not feel comfortable doing it on your own, our team is here to help. Visit our programming page to learn more about paddling opportunities or to sign up for a Kayaking 101 program. Trained Rangers are just waiting to take you out so you can write your own story.

If you want to give it a try on your own, many parks offer kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals on flat water, like lakes and ponds. Click here to learn more about our paddling at State Parks. 

 

Note: At the time of publication, following a weekend of heavy rainfall and related damage, river access at Givhans Ferry’s River House is not operational. This situation may impact outfitters’ and park staff’s ability to provide river access at this location. Please check the Park Advisory section of the website for the most up-to-date information.