Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Lake Hartwell - Stephens County Rec Area

                                                Lake Hartwell    Tugaloo River

          This is the second landing on the lake as we go downstream on the Tugaloo River. Stephens County Rec Area is not real big, a few picnic   tables and one boat ramp. It cost three dollars to use the area.  This picture is looking north paddling up toward the Walker Creek access. Gracie and I had a hot day this day. No boats around to cause us any concern so we just paddled all over that part of the lake. As we paddled we  headed up stream and over lapped some of the lake that we had paddled last year. We finally came to a bridge and stopped and talked to a grandpa who was fishing with his two grand sons. He was retired and was spending the summer with the boys fishing. They had caught a mess of bream and were going too have a fish fry for supper. What a good lazy southern summer day! Stopped a couple of times to take a quick dip in the water as we headed back to the boat ramp.
          As we got closer to the ramp we could see people swimming in front of the ramp and just hanging out in the water. The thought came to mind---you might be a redneck if you go swimming at the lake and your beach is the boat ramp!!!!!!!!!!!
           Another one of my favorite questions- "Have you been canoeing?"  OK, I have just paddled to the boat ramp, you have had to move out of my way, there is no motor on the canoe, just me and the dog---AND YOU ASK Have you been canoeing?  Don't really know how to answer the question. Yes seems to obvious, but any other answer is bound to be too tart!
          Have a wonderful day. We are known, not by the bumps in our life, but how we react to them!


          On the water or in the woods.


          Turtle














      




         

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Lake Hartwell - Walker Creek Access

          One of the most popular lakes in upstate of SC is Lake Hartwell, because of this I have always stayed off of the lake. Yes, I am a chicken! The speed boats, pontoons, jet skis, and all the crazies driving these different types of water craft have little or no respect for the humble canoe. But, one day a couple of years ago I bought  a map of Lake Hartwell and opened it up. Well, well, well, It is much different looking then what you see as you pass over it on I-85. In the spirit of Lewis and Clark, Gracie and Turtle have begun exploring the nooks and cranny's of Lake Hartwell. This is a big lake,will take more than a day to see all this lake has to offer.
          One day last year we drove all the way to GA and put in at the Walker Creek Access, according to my map this is the farthest north access point on the Tugaloo River. It is deep enough to back boat trailers into the water, even with the current flowing at a steady clip. The canoe was easy enough to put in and after loading it up and heading downstream it floated easy with the current. Wasn't long before we were on the flat water and no current, this is where I like to paddle. Just slow and easy, enjoying the shore line and looking for critters and stuff that may be laying around on the shore. The only thing of interest was a coyote standing and watching us float by, as we got closer to him he would walk ahead and stay away from us. Finally he just loped off into the woods leaving paw prints in the sand. We went under one bridge and paddled until we saw the railroad trestle and then the Hwy 123 bridge. The lake started getting wide and the boat traffic began to pick up so we turned around and headed back up stream. Very few houses on this part of the lake and the ones we saw were older homes and not in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range.
          Paddling back to the boat landing became a challenge when we encountered the water flowing with reckless abandon toward the lake. Side note-easier to go with the flow than against it!  When we got to the landing I just kept paddling up stream to see how far we could go, current so strong we did not even get out of sight of landing. Floated back to landing, took canoe out, and loaded truck. A car was parked in the lot with two older ladies watching what I was doing, Being the nice guy that I am I say "Hi", they respond with a similar greeting and then ask one of my favorite boat ramp questions--Are you ready for the question? And the question is-------Is that your dog?-------They have just watched the dog, Gracie, get out of the canoe, walk to the truck and wait for me to open the door. When I open the door she slowly puts her front paws on the seat and looks back at me, saying "Will you lift me up, I'm rather tired! it's rough laying around in a canoe all day." I help her into the truck, she walks to the far seat and lays down absolutely spent.  I have yet to come up with a good answer, all I can say is "Yes, that's my friend Gracie."  Oh well!
          It's been a good summer, I'm way behind on the up dates of my out doors life. Easier to do than to sit down and write. Have been to Hartwell two times, Jocassee two times, and taken one short  hike with out sharing with the World Wide Web. Will try to catch up and do better.

          Water or Woods

          Turtle