Moonlight Kayaking - Saturday - September 10, 2011

RV-Dreams - Carolina Clan,    Day 3 - Part 2

Click any photo to enlarge

After our morning hike and visit with the British, we spent the rest of the afternoon just visiting at our campsite and taking a rest.  We all needed to be rested, ready and on the water by 6pm for our Moonlight Kayak Trip!!!

About 5:30, the clan began to get it together and launch their kayaks.

This is Paul and Jill adding some air to their kayak.  At this point they have no idea the seats have been reversed by Sweet Laura ;o))

One by one we launched our kayaks.

The last couple to launch were Jill and Paul.  Just before they put the kayak in the water, Paul checked to see if the seats were facing the right direction.  Oh darn, he figured it out ;o((  Sweet Laura was a little disappointed, but that disappointment was short lived.  Jill was in the kayak and Paul was getting in when the boat flipped over and the two of them were in the lake.  No one was hurt other than their pride. 

Of course they were soaked, so Jill ran back to the RV and changed into dry clothes. While she was gone, Bruce and Laura (AKA The Captain and Tenniel) gave Jill and Paul a new nickname…

“Dunkin Donuts!!”

 

One false move around the Carolina Clan and

you will be RENAMED :o))

Once everyone was safely launched, the clan paddled across the lake to meet Ranger Mark at the State Park Boat Beach. From there, we would paddle down to the Cypress Groves in the tail of the lake and then back to the campground.  The entire paddle is a little over 4 miles.

Everybody gathered around to wait for Ranger Mark.

Gail and Rick

Tricia and Dan

Evin and Steve

   

                     Kris and Ray              Laura and Bruce

Amanda and Brandon  -  Tricia’s Son and DIL

Kathy  - Tricia’s Sister

Gin

Syl

Roamin’ P. Duck

Uh Oh….   I think there’s been a ducknapping!!!

I heard rumors that “George” might be with us also;o))

Around 7pm, once Ranger Mark had given us some information and instructions, we headed down the lake.

We paddled through a cove.

 

As we came out of the cove,

this was the beautiful view of the cypress trees!!

We stopped here for a rest and to get more instructions and information from Ranger Mark.

If you enlarge the above picture, you will see Gin (waving) in the middle of the photo.  Right behind her you can see Ranger Mark's Dad tying glow sticks in the tree. We all had a glow sticks tied on the front and back of our kayaks and they tied them all along the route so we could find our way out!!  That was a good idea ;o))

Ranger Mark gave us information about Cheraw State Park and what to expect as we headed farther into the Cypress Trees.  He explained that we may hear and see some Beaver.  They live in the Cypress Groves.

We saw the Wood Duck boxes and the Osprey Nest.

As you can see from the picture below, the sun was setting and

we could now see the moon as the night got darker!!

Just before we headed deep into the DARK, 

Gail turned on her Droid and played Dueling Banjos,

the theme song from Deliverance… 

Thanks Gail, we all feel much better now ;o((

The deeper we went…the darker it got, 

but what fun weaving amongst the Cypress Trees. 

Hearing Beavers smacking their tails to let us know

they weren’t happy:o((

Learning what Cypress Knees are as our Kayaks went

 over and around them in the dark waters;o((

Finally, we got to the end of the trail and it was DARK!!

It may have been a full moon,

but amongst the Cypress Trees,

the moonlight didn’t shine very bright!

When Nancy took photos without the flash, the slow shutter speed

made for some interesting effects.

Doesn’t Syl look like she’s part of a parade float ;o))

We all gather together and waited for everyone

to get to the turn around point. 

It was eerie, but beautiful. 

 

The quiet was broken by a loud noise, followed by a holler from Gin.  Apparently, one of the beavers thought Gin’s paddle, sitting in the water, was another Beaver.  The REAL Beaver came real close to jumping in her kayak ;o((

Once everyone had arrived, we needed to reverse direction and find our way out in the dark. 

It is a good thing the leaders knew where they were going or I think several of us would have spent the night out there;o))

The Moonlight Kayak Paddle was FANTASTIC !!! 

This was a first for Nancy and I, paddling in the dark. 

What a beautiful night! 

Everyone had a great time and there were

a lot of tired people when we finished around 9:30. 

No campfire tonight – just a good night’s sleep!!

But first, a quick look around the rig and campsite to make sure “George” isn’t here….