We made the trip and got back in one piece, I think.
The famous paddlers on this trip are Harry McDonald (Harry) , O.R. Vanorman (Van) , Al Dasen (Al , Michstrip on the forum) , Joel Hunt ( Joe , Swampy on the forum) and my self.
I left the house and when I got up to SR 46 and about half way over to I-95 someone had kahuned (Hit) three, large, wild hogs on the road way, I looked for parts of the vehicle and did not see any, the hogs were a lost cause. What a way to start a trip.
Arrived at Folkston and decide to get a whopper at Burger King and then go over to Traders Hill and wait for swampy to arrive. It was cool out and something hot would taste good while waiting for him. Got the burger and went over to the hill ... as I pulled in the camping area I saw a guy and instantly knew it was swampy , no , not the vehicle, pirogue, or the Lazy Gator sign told me that but what did tell me was there he is making a pot of coffee on a Zip Stove.
We said our howdy's and set up camp, I offered to share my burger with him but all he wanted was a cup of hot coffee.
Swampy hung his hammock and since I drive a Dodge I just set up my bed in the back of the truck, Something that Chevy, truck, owners don't do...Ya Know.
After supper and night fell the ole moon came up as bright as a street light and the temperature started to fall as the moon got higher. We decide to hit the sack and check out our camping gear for the trip. It got rather cool that night and one person packed a 40 degree bag and not there 20 degree bag for the trip, won't say who. :roll:
In the morning after a breakfast of oatmeal bars, cocoa, hot tea and coffee we looked the place over, basically killing some time before going into town and getting a motel room for the night since the temp was going to go way down.
Went into town and had a real breakfast of grits,
sausage and eggs the went shopping for a blanket ($5.00 at the dollar store) then got a room at the Day's Inn.
About mid afternoon Al arrived when he saw my truck and pirogue sitting out by the road to let them know which motel. Right after Al arrived I noticed Harry and Van drive by, we waited about 30 minutes and when they did not come back I drove over to traders Hill and they were setting up camp. Like Swampy and I they wanted to try out there camping gear before going on the river.
Swampy, Al and myself sat around the motel room talking about boats then Harry and Van dropped by for a visit and later then went back to the hill for the night.
Dec 8. This morning there is ICE on the vehicles and it is COLD. Harry & Van joined us for breakfast at the Family Restaurant and we had plenty to eat, Grits, eggs, sausage, toast, biscuits & gravy with plenty of hot coffee.
Off to Steve's at the Canoe Country Outpost for the ride over to the St.Mary's River and to drop the boats in for the paddle.
Stave took us over to the St.George area and we got everything loaded and ready for the trip. Said our good buy's & Thanks to Steve and off we go down river. (GPS for this location is 30 46.415 North and 82 01.642 West.)
Harry & Van are paddling together in a Grumman Canoe, Al is in one of the stripers he makes while Swampy and I are each paddling our own pirogues.
This part of the river is narrow & shallow with a lot of sand bars and trees down across and into the river. We had a lot of obstructions to go around or under which made the paddling slow but a lot of fun. The bottoms of the boats are taking a beating and it will be interesting to see how the epoxy & graphite mix on the bottom of my pirogue holds up.
The weather was just perfect a little cool but with a clear sky and plenty of sunlight to keep you just a little warm.
The river is shaded with Birch, Oak, Pine and other trees so we needed to stop at 3 PM to set up camp, relax, have supper before dark.
Harry had his lantern but when he took the cylinder off to repack it all of the gas leaked out. We did have that full moon and even a great campfire at night.
We set up camp at ( 30 33.472) and had made it about 1/8 Th. of the total trip. At this rate we are looking at 8 days for a 3 day run.
Al was using his tent while swampy and I each were using the hammocks , Harry& Van were Cowboy camping. Cowboy camping is when you put your bedroll out on a ground cloth and then sleep on the ground , now that is a very fast way to set up camp. The night was cool but not cold , just comfortable..
I fixed some bean soup and then a loaf of cornbread in the backpacker to go with it, swampy and I shared the soup with the cornbread on the side while the rest nibbled on slices of cornbread with what they cooked for supper. Hot soup and hot fresh cornbread on a cool night, what could be better, and it does get better.
Swampy got busy and before we knew what was happening I had a birthday cake, complements of Chef Swampy & it even gets better the next day of the trip.
NO JACK, swampy did not give me your present but he did give me a bottle of Crown Royal. What can I say Swampy has style.
The famous paddlers on this trip are Harry McDonald (Harry) , O.R. Vanorman (Van) , Al Dasen (Al , Michstrip on the forum) , Joel Hunt ( Joe , Swampy on the forum) and my self.
I left the house and when I got up to SR 46 and about half way over to I-95 someone had kahuned (Hit) three, large, wild hogs on the road way, I looked for parts of the vehicle and did not see any, the hogs were a lost cause. What a way to start a trip.
Arrived at Folkston and decide to get a whopper at Burger King and then go over to Traders Hill and wait for swampy to arrive. It was cool out and something hot would taste good while waiting for him. Got the burger and went over to the hill ... as I pulled in the camping area I saw a guy and instantly knew it was swampy , no , not the vehicle, pirogue, or the Lazy Gator sign told me that but what did tell me was there he is making a pot of coffee on a Zip Stove.
We said our howdy's and set up camp, I offered to share my burger with him but all he wanted was a cup of hot coffee.
Swampy hung his hammock and since I drive a Dodge I just set up my bed in the back of the truck, Something that Chevy, truck, owners don't do...Ya Know.
After supper and night fell the ole moon came up as bright as a street light and the temperature started to fall as the moon got higher. We decide to hit the sack and check out our camping gear for the trip. It got rather cool that night and one person packed a 40 degree bag and not there 20 degree bag for the trip, won't say who. :roll:
In the morning after a breakfast of oatmeal bars, cocoa, hot tea and coffee we looked the place over, basically killing some time before going into town and getting a motel room for the night since the temp was going to go way down.
Went into town and had a real breakfast of grits,
sausage and eggs the went shopping for a blanket ($5.00 at the dollar store) then got a room at the Day's Inn. About mid afternoon Al arrived when he saw my truck and pirogue sitting out by the road to let them know which motel. Right after Al arrived I noticed Harry and Van drive by, we waited about 30 minutes and when they did not come back I drove over to traders Hill and they were setting up camp. Like Swampy and I they wanted to try out there camping gear before going on the river.
Swampy, Al and myself sat around the motel room talking about boats then Harry and Van dropped by for a visit and later then went back to the hill for the night.
Dec 8. This morning there is ICE on the vehicles and it is COLD. Harry & Van joined us for breakfast at the Family Restaurant and we had plenty to eat, Grits, eggs, sausage, toast, biscuits & gravy with plenty of hot coffee.
Off to Steve's at the Canoe Country Outpost for the ride over to the St.Mary's River and to drop the boats in for the paddle.
Stave took us over to the St.George area and we got everything loaded and ready for the trip. Said our good buy's & Thanks to Steve and off we go down river. (GPS for this location is 30 46.415 North and 82 01.642 West.)
Harry & Van are paddling together in a Grumman Canoe, Al is in one of the stripers he makes while Swampy and I are each paddling our own pirogues.
This part of the river is narrow & shallow with a lot of sand bars and trees down across and into the river. We had a lot of obstructions to go around or under which made the paddling slow but a lot of fun. The bottoms of the boats are taking a beating and it will be interesting to see how the epoxy & graphite mix on the bottom of my pirogue holds up.
The weather was just perfect a little cool but with a clear sky and plenty of sunlight to keep you just a little warm.
The river is shaded with Birch, Oak, Pine and other trees so we needed to stop at 3 PM to set up camp, relax, have supper before dark.
Harry had his lantern but when he took the cylinder off to repack it all of the gas leaked out. We did have that full moon and even a great campfire at night.
We set up camp at ( 30 33.472) and had made it about 1/8 Th. of the total trip. At this rate we are looking at 8 days for a 3 day run.
Al was using his tent while swampy and I each were using the hammocks , Harry& Van were Cowboy camping. Cowboy camping is when you put your bedroll out on a ground cloth and then sleep on the ground , now that is a very fast way to set up camp. The night was cool but not cold , just comfortable..
I fixed some bean soup and then a loaf of cornbread in the backpacker to go with it, swampy and I shared the soup with the cornbread on the side while the rest nibbled on slices of cornbread with what they cooked for supper. Hot soup and hot fresh cornbread on a cool night, what could be better, and it does get better.
Swampy got busy and before we knew what was happening I had a birthday cake, complements of Chef Swampy & it even gets better the next day of the trip.
NO JACK, swampy did not give me your present but he did give me a bottle of Crown Royal. What can I say Swampy has style.