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Ever Paddle the Length of a River?

4/15/2021

 
Here was my justification ... weekend getaway, marginal paddling experience, tagging along with some good buds, always up for a micro-adventure. 

That's how I joined Brandon Jones and Greg Nance of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (CRF) on a 3-day self-supported expedition to kayak the entirety of the 75-mile Wateree River.
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Campsite on day #1 of Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
The idea was to paddle the most remote river section of the 5000-square mile Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Our goal was to document water quality, analyze navigability, understand the wildlife, and intimately experience the river firsthand which hadn’t been done by the organization, at this scale, in the last 10 years.
Brandon Jones is THE Riverkeeper for the CRF. He is laser focused on water quality, advocacy, and protection. Essentially, he is the science behind ensuring safe drinking water for 2.5 million people in the basin. If you live in the basin, you need to buy him a beer. A beer that has most likely been made from the water that he is keeping clean.
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Brandon Jones, the Riverkeeper for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River
Brandon Jones and his newly found pet snail
​Greg Nance is a deeply verse waterman who has guided and managed literally thousands of river trips, owns his own rafting outfitter, and is the Engagement Manager for CRF. You should also buy him a beer. He has more river knowledge than entire historical societies.
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Greg Nance, the Engagement Manager for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River
Greg Nance is all smiles on the right
​I was in awe of their collective paddling experience, prowess, and authoritative river voices. Clearly, I was the weak link, but it made me feel better about those that are protecting our waterways on a daily basis. 
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Campsite fire - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
I stick out like a sore thumb
Here's my build up to the trip:
  • 1 month out – “Heck yeah, sounds awesome. I’m in!”
  • 1 week out – “Hey guys, wait a sec, I definitely need some help … what are you packing?!”
  • 3 days out – “I’m not so sure about this after all”
  • 2 days out – “The chances of an alligator attack are super small right?”
  • 7 hours out - “Ok cool, see you in a few hours”
By far, one of the sexiest parts of these types of trips is the last-minute logistical scramble. We met at 5am at The Boathouse, to pull straws on kayak selection and make final arrangements. Via headlamps, we exchanged trailer hitches and excitement as we loaded gear, boats, and good vibes. 
We drove south a few hours into the depths of rural SC to set our take-out vehicle 2 miles upstream of the Congaree River on the banks of the Congaree National Park. We then yanked a 180-degree turn and drove my car an hour North to our put in location at the Wateree Dam. Stoke was high, excitement was rising, storms were building. 
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Towing 3 kayaks in preparation to Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Bate's Landing - Our eventual take out
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Towing 3 kayaks in preparation to Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Setting shuttle at Bates Landing
​We arrived at the put-in and the proverbial gear dump ensued. After an intense 15-minute game of hide and go seek with everyone’s gear, the thunderstorm showed up to the party fashionably late. Turns out, I parked directly underneath powerlines that were anxiously awaiting the lightnings arrival as well. 
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Gear prep at Wateree Dam - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Lugoff Landing downriver of the Wateree Dam
Sparks were literally raining down all around us and some of the loudest thunder I’ve ever heard was booming fractions of seconds later. It was borderline outrageous. I’d like to consider myself a “grown-ass-man”, but in this moment, I felt small, scared, and utterly powerless.
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Probably not ideal paddling conditions
With that being said, we had 75+ river miles ahead of us and our proverbial clock had started ticking many hours ago. Weather apps are great resources, but as we all know, it’s a bit of a gamble playing that game. We saw a gap on the radar, reminded ourselves of the importance of the trip.
​
Now was our chance to launch. I don’t remember who yelled it over the thundering booms, but “Go time boys!!” is all it took for us to mobilize and find ourselves on the water in a matter of moments. 
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Fortunately I had a poncho and duct tape in the car
The Wateree Dam was releasing at a steady 12,000cfs (cubic feet per second or roughly 2 MPH), well above average, so we knew we would have some current to our advantage. The disadvantage reared it’s ugly head when warm rain was met with cold river water resulting in heavy fog at our exact eye level. This meant our visibility was just slightly further than the bow (front) of our kayaks. Add the only shoals and rapids along the entire stretch of river and the intensity of the situation remained highly elevated.
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Both eerie and exciting all at once
Fortunately, after about 4 miles of paddling, the driving rain subdued, the fog began to lift, and the sun finally peaked through the clouds. We began to see the beginnings of what would keep us smiling from ear to ear for the rest of the trip. This beautiful stretch of river was now in full view and offered amazing landscapes around each oxbow turn. 
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Railroad bridge over the Wateree River just outside of Camden, SC. Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Railroad bridge just outside Camden, SC
I’ll let the pictures do most of the heavy lifting from here, as we were constantly spotting wildlife, potential campsites, landmarks, and amazing views over the next 70+ miles.
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Snake has burrowed a hole in a tree - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Snake's treehouse
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling along Spanish Moss - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Spanish Moss all around
Human Powered Movement - Journal - One of many abandoned riverboats - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
One of many abandoned riverboats - "Indigo Queen"
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Riverside Campsite - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Night #1 Campsite
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Riverside campsite - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Night #1 clothes line
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Morning campsite coffee - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
River Breakfast - Summit Coffee
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Riverside food - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
River Lunch - don't ask
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Fireside beers - Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
River Dinner - Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Riverside lunch stop - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Random playset at our lunch spot on Day #2
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
75+ miles of endless green tunnel views
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Wildflowers - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Wildflowers (and butterflies) galore
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Mackey's Tavern - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Mackey's Tavern - Location unknown
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Abandoned riverboat - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Young gator soaking up the sun
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Tree Frog - Dwarf Palm - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Tree frog on a Dwarf Palm branch
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Santee Cooper Coal Fire Plant - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Wateree Station - Site of Catawba Riverkeeper's successful coal ash settlement to remove toxic materials from the riverbanks
Human Powered Movement - Journal - The Palmetto Trail - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
The Palmetto Trail intersection
Human Powered Movement - Journal - The Palmetto Trail - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Lunch on The Palmetto Trail
Human Powered Movement - Journal - The Palmetto Trail - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Presenting The Palmetto Trail with a bouquet of Wateree River nature
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Campsite - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Night #2 fire
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Gators jumped into the water when we approached ... mushrooms did not
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Swampy scenery throughout
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Giving my noble steed a rest
I think we can all agree that there is something pretty dang cool about accomplishing something to its fullest.

This feeling can come from non-physical victories like reading a book from cover to cover, planting, growing, and eating your own garden veggies, paying off your car or student loans.

Shockingly, I thrive on this feeling through physical accomplishments like climbing to the top of a mountain, covering Every Single Street of your city or neighborhood (exactly 1 year ago, to the day, of this trip), or in this case, paddled the length of river.  
Human Powered Movement - Journal - Finished - Paddling the entire length of the Wateree River with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation
Arriving back at Bates Landing
My point is, it doesn’t matter how big or small the victory is, and yes, there will be some less-than-ideal situations that inevitably occur (like a stolen catalytic converter out of Greg's truck ... story for another time), but the feeling you get from accomplishing something can and does stick with you well after the challenge has been completed.

Find what works for you, don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, just go do it. I'll cheers to that!
Picture
Final Trip Stats:
  • Distance - 78.25 miles
  • Time - 19 hours and 31 minutes
  • Elevation change - Negative 170 feet
  • Alligator sightings - 6 (or maybe 8)
  • Bald Eagle sightings - 4
  • ​Calories consumed, paddle strokes taken, oxbow turns, smiles and laughs - countless
Strava Link -Day #1
Strava Link - Day #2
Strava Link - Day #3
Picture

Journal - Ever Paddle the Length of a River?

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    Human Powered Journal

    Writings and musings of an active lifestyle

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    Adam Bratton is the Founder and Head Enabler at Human Powered Movement.

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