Wilmington Staff member, Robert Smith, has embarked on a paddle excursion to Charleston, SC. (He had planned a 200 mile trip starting at Lake Waccamaw, but had a change of plans due a death in his family.) Robert’s mission is to raise awareness in the region about the human impact on the Waccamaw River, Winyah Bay and the salt marshes and barrier islands of NC and SC. He is an ACA certified instructor at the Open Water (L4) level and owns Watersmyth Kayaking. Here are a few entries from his blog:
Due to the delay I must shorten the trip and begin in Georgetown SC on Monday the 12th. This new starting point will allow me to paddle the second half of the original route, from Winyah Bay to James Island County Park in Charleston and still attend the East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival.
Trek to Charleston -Night 1
Melissa reporting in:
Mother Nature has reminded Robert just how much he doesn’t know!
He had high reviews for the staff at East Bay Park in Georgetown, SC. But tonight on Cedar Island is another story. He said he’d not see another boat or soul for hours. And as he landed and started setting up camp huge mosquitos descended. He was very nearly sucked to a dry husk before he managed to put on a storm cag to try and gain some protection as he got the tent up. At our last phone conversation he feared they would realize they could all team up and pick up the tent and carry him off like a giant burrito. He said there were so many hitting the tent that it sounded like rain! He pulled as many supplies as he could near the zipper so he could just dart a hand out for what he needed. Not sure this in the man alone communing with nature that he’d hoped for!
Last position: Latitude:33.13423 Longitude:-79.2472
He said yesterday morning when breaking down his camp, he had to shake the bug parts out of his tent and there were blood splatters everywhere from smacking the beasts! All around his stove there was singed mosquito carnage.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sullivan’s Island
After a cool foggy morning and a day of wind, Robert’s position tonight:
Latitude:33.03826 Longitude:-79.56093
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Charleston!
Robert landed in Charleston this morning to attend the East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival.
Latitude:32.72916 Longitude:-79.99465