Nooks and Crannies -- Lake Jocassee Paddling

Driftwood snake!!

          June 8, 2012.  Arrived at Lake Jocassee around 9:00am and backed all the way down the long ramp to the water's edge. The lake level is about 23-24 feet below full pond, gives a lot of shore line in some places and extremely steep banks in others. An easy breeze was blowing causing just a slight ripple to the water. This kind of weather is perfect for those of us in canoes or kayaks, no head wind to battle and a cool wind to refresh us as we paddle. Gracie is in the bow, happy to be out and about, she has already been swimming twice, waiting while I loaded the canoe for the day's trip. We were thirty yards from the ramp when I saw a deer swimming in the lake. "Why did the chicken cross the road?  To get to the other side!" Why does a deer swim across a lake, especially one as wide as this one is? A question I pondered as I watched the deer swimming. Thinking out loud I say the deer was being rebellious! Picture with me the early morning conversation between young deer and Dad Buck. "Son you need to have a purpose in life, you can't just wander all over the woods eating grass and rooting for acorns." Young deer says, "That's all you do, sometimes you're gone for weeks at a time and we don't know where you are!" Dad Buck, "You do as I say and not as I do! What!! you think this is some kinda Walt Disney life we're living?" Young deer says to himself, " I'm gonna swim across the lake and see if the grass really is greener on the other side!" Enter Gracie and I, all we see is a deer swimming across the lake.

Deer swimming across Lake Jocassee

          We get to the far shore and take a quick break. This is the first time I've been in the canoe for a long distance paddle this year, I've got to work the kinks out. Immersing ourselves in the beauty of the surrounding mountains we plan the day. I'll call it a nooks and crannies paddle. We will hug the shore and explore all that it has to offer, something not easily done in a motor powered craft. Gracie is all excited and says, "Whatever!" She lays down and points her nose in the "V" of the bow and I'm left to paddle alone. 

First waterfall.

          A reminder that the lake is between 23 and 24 feet below full pond, most of the images I show will normally be under water. This first waterfall is hidden back in a cove, a nook if you will! 

Stopped for lunch we, are at the tree line.

          I set my chair up under a shady spot and after eating I dozed off, woke up in full sunshine being grilled once again. don't know how long I was napping.  The beauty of an all day canoe trip is no time schedule and no time piece! Went swimming here in the cool water, not cold just right. Paddled around the next point and came face to face with a pair of ducks, we didn't even scare them.

Duck

          Mostly we saw trees and rocks and even a turtle watching us from under the water.

Normally under water!

Another water source.

          This grassy meadow is - you guessed it normally under water - a beautiful cove and my most favorite place on the lake. It is hidden from the main body of water and can't even be seen unless you boat back around the bank, very seldom do I see anyone back there. The water level has been low for several months allowing all these weeds and grasses to grow. We grounded the canoe and walked among the grass finding two small rivulets of water feeding the lake. I knocked on the wood duck nesting box to see if any one was home, no one came to the opening. Peeking under the tin skirt I found a bees nest and slowly backed away before they found me!

Beautiful Cove

Wood duck nesting box.

          We kept paddling sticking our bow into all the nooks and crannies, seeing what new or unusual artifact we could discover. 

Beautiful Lake Jocassee

          Off to my left I see movement, I stop paddling and search the shore sighting in on a deer facing one of the small caves created by the waves. Because the water level is so low she is about half way up the bank standing in front of this opening, which is large enough for her to walk into. She does not see us. I do not want to scare her. All we see is the back of her and I would like to get a picture of her face. If I yell, " Hey! Dear!" she will just think I'm her husband and ignore me. So, I say in a husky voice, "Yo, Bambi!" again "Yo, Bambi!" She shakes her tail and flirtatiously looks back over her shoulder at me! She bats those liquid brown eyes and wiggles both big ears as I snap her picture! See didn't even flinch!

Deer on bank of Lake Jocassee

          The rest of our paddle was uneventful except for the snake I thought I saw, it's picture is at the top. A amazingly life like piece of driftwood when seen from a short distance away. Four more pictures then I close this post. I'm in the middle of the big main part of the lake, I'm taking a picture facing the four points of the compass.

Facing South

Facing East

Facing North

Facing West

          The first time I paddled across the lake I just headed across like I knew what I was doing, I hadn't even been canoeing but two or three times, half way across I realized where I was - in the middle of the deepest lake in SC! I had a panic attack, I laid down the paddle and gripped both sides of the canoe and shook like a wind driven leaf. After a couple of minutes I was able to gain control of myself and relax enough to paddle once again. I have never again experienced the feeling of fear and helplessness that I did that day. Fifteen years I have joyfully and carefully been a canoeist, canoeing will make you whole!

          If you never have the opportunity to paddle this wonderful mountain lake, maybe these four pictures will give a quick look at what it is like. My favorite lake to paddle!


          On the water or in the woods,

          Turtle  and   Gracie

June 21,2011

          What have we been doin'? We have been on the water having a great time! I will have to refer to my little black book to refresh my memory on the places I've been this pass month. My little black is not like the one that comes to mind when you hear that phrase, mine tells- where I've been, who I've been with, and what we've been doin'!  Pretty close to the same thing only no phone numbers. Oh well, depends on how you look at it! Would much rather spend a day in the wild than a minute on the wild side!
          Today is 06/21/2011 the first day of summer, supposed be 98 degrees hot this afternoon, to hot for me. If and when I finish this I may take a quick hike and soak my feet in a cool creek, sit on the bank and say "sure is hot". Now that is what I call livin'!   Was at Lake Jocassee the other day, put in at 6:30am and paddled till 12:30pm. The lake was perfect-no waves, but a light wind and blue sky. Went to the far side and stopped for a swim in just the most perfect cove, the water was kinda' cold and really woke me up.Headed west following the shore, no boats out and about, just Gracie and I and the birds singing.  Chewie-Chewie-Chewie, don't know what kind of bird this is,or even her name but I hear her at the house, in the woods, and on the lake. One happy bird, always singing! If you know what kind leave me a comment.
          Moved on to the special hidden cove I found years ago and looked to see if  the turtle was hanging out- have not seen him this year- maybe he has crawled to the big turtle nest on the heavenly Lake in the great bye and bye.  There has been enough rain to keep the lake full and the small water fall continues to feed the lake here in the small cove. The water runs through green moss and trickles off the rocks leaving behind a dark stain, there is a ray of sunshine filtering its way down past the trees and landing on the sand between the water and forest floor, the water is clear and on a good day small fish dart and cruise under the canoe. We, Gracie and I sit still and listen and hear and soak in the richness of  God's creation.
          Kept going west, continuing to follow the shore line.  Our time was up,so we turned headed east back to the boat ramp. Nonstop to the ramp, directly across the lake, just over an hour of steady stroking. The wind picked up and made for a cooler paddle back to the truck. As we got to within one hundred yards of the ramp the wind stopped and the temp increased about 20 degrees, or so it seemed. Perfect timing!
       

          The second opportunity this month was spent on the other side of Double Springs Mtn.--- My bad!! Every time I say that I cross the lake, I am paddling from the second remote boat ramp to Double Springs Mtn. It is between a mile and a quarter / a mile and a half, depending on how straight you go and where you land. The first trip this month we went to DSMtn and paddled to the left or west, this trip we are paddling to the right or east and following the shore which goes around to the west and then in a north/westerly direction. [ That makes my head hurt-and I know of what I'm talking] Once again we stayed with the shore line and slowly made our way enjoying the green forest, clear water and blue sky. We come to another cove, bigger by far then the previous one, but oh so pretty. There is a song that says," There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart  of God" This cove is that place! We have a lunch with us, a camp chair, and all day! The far end of the cove has a creek flowing into it. You can hear the water rustle as it joins the lake, trees shield it from the heat and grasses protect as it slips into the muddy bottom of the cove. Mountain creek cold and pure diamond clear.  - Makes a man want to strip bare butt naked and do the Whoeethiswateriscolddance!  [ I would never do anything like that ]-
          We had finished lunch when we heard the thunder, loud and close, we just sat still under the trees and watched as the lightening flashed and a hard rain fell. Big plops as it hit the lake, in just a very few minutes the water was dripping through the trees and we got soaked. Two hours later it was over, as we left the cove we passed two wood duck nesting boxes, have not see any ducks nesting this year. Made our way back to the ramp and headed home.


The third trip to Jocassee was in a motor boat!!!! Have never done that before, been to the lake for the past 12 years and first time not in a canoe. A totally different experience! Will write about it later.


        In the woods or on the water,
       
        Turtle