I live near Charleston SC, and there are a lot of blackwater rivers in the
area. I am interested in paddling these rivers but I have several rookie
questions:

1. I read and hear a lot about the speed of touring kayaks. How fast can
they be reasonable be paddle for long stretches (ie. is going up river
against a current a problem)?

2. How do tidal surges on lowland river affect ones ability to return to a
launch site up the river? Must one wait for the next tidal surge to go back
up the river (note: the launch point near my house is never completely dry,
just lower a low tide)?

3. Does one generally plan their lowcontry river outings based on the
tides? or as an alternative??? Does one most always launch up river and
arrange for pickup down river?

I'm about 8 miles up the river from the main bay area surrounding
Charleston, but these question apply to many of the rivers in the local area
(Edisto, Santee Cooper, etc). I don't want to get stuck down the river with
a paddle.

Thanks for your help and forgive my ignorance.

JD Washington

How fast can
they be reasonable be paddle for long stretches
You can cover a minimum AVERGAGE of two miles per hour.
But there are so many factors to consider that this number is not really
too useful. I use this number to plan outings on water that is not tidal.

is going up river
against a current a problem)?
It depends on how strong the current is.

Must one wait for the next tidal surge to go back
up the river
There isnt any reason why you can't start back at slack tide.

Does one most always launch up river and
arrange for pickup down river?
We always rode the tide out, ate lunch, then rode the incoming tide back.
Of course the tide is not always rising or falling according to ones
convienience.

My experience has been on the lower Bay of Fundy where tidal range is
more extreme than anywhere else.

You have to study and be aware of tides in your area and there are
probably local tidal flow charts for your area. You need to be aware of
these and have a sense of what currents and flows will be.
I am sure that the effect of tides on river current is much less in SC
than in Fundy but studying these and being knowlegeable about the tides
and how they effect an area is part of the fun of being on the water.

This site may be of use to you http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/sitesel.html







Jay D. Washington wrote:
I live near Charleston SC, and there are a lot of blackwater rivers in the
area. I am interested in paddling these rivers but I have several rookie
questions:

1. I read and hear a lot about the speed of touring kayaks. How fast can
they be reasonable be paddle for long stretches (ie. is going up river
against a current a problem)?

2. How do tidal surges on lowland river affect ones ability to return to a
launch site up the river? Must one wait for the next tidal surge to go back
up the river (note: the launch point near my house is never completely dry,
just lower a low tide)?

3. Does one generally plan their lowcontry river outings based on the
tides? or as an alternative??? Does one most always launch up river and
arrange for pickup down river?

I'm about 8 miles up the river from the main bay area surrounding
Charleston, but these question apply to many of the rivers in the local area
(Edisto, Santee Cooper, etc). I don't want to get stuck down the river with
a paddle.

Thanks for your help and forgive my ignorance.

JD Washington

On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 20:58:39 -0500, "Jay D. Washington"
wrote:

I live near Charleston SC, and there are a lot of blackwater rivers in the
area. I am interested in paddling these rivers but I have several rookie

This past summer I spent a week down your way I had my new folding
kayak with me. I only got two days of paddling in, aside from ocean
paddling, so I may nor be of much help.

I paddled Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. I started at low tide and
paddled upstream until I ran out of water to paddle. Then I paddled
back past the put in spot and out towards the harbor a-ways. It was a
nice half day trip. If I did this a few times and with the aid of a
tide chart, I would be able to farther and farther upstream and be
able to have the rising tide push me upstream and the falling tide
take me back out. It that point, I guess the important thing would be
not to get stuck upstream *after* the tide has already gone down.

Just a short walk from the Shem Creek put in is a kayak store.
Coastal kayak or Carolina kayak, they have a great reputation.
I belive they have some class you can take and so forth.
But while you are there, they have a great chart/map of the area.
It's well worth the $12 or $15 they charge for it.

In the mean time go to the Charleston County Park
And Recreation Commission web site:
http://www.ccprc.com/

And click on boat landings and map for some good info.
I was there in July, it was HOT, real hot and sunny,
I couldn't even drink water fast enough, but you may be use to the
heat down there.

One last tip, go to www.folbot.com and go to the forum, a few of the
members are from that area and they were helpful to me, they might be
helpful to you too.

Good luck and let us know how you are making out down there
questions:

1. I read and hear a lot about the speed of touring kayaks. How fast can
they be reasonable be paddle for long stretches (ie. is going up river
against a current a problem)?

I can paddle at 4 mph in my folding kayak, if the water is moving at 2
mph, I move at 2 mph against the tide and 6 miles with it.

2. How do tidal surges on lowland river affect ones ability to return to a
launch site up the river? Must one wait for the next tidal surge to go back
up the river (note: the launch point near my house is never completely dry,
just lower a low tide)?

3. Does one generally plan their lowcontry river outings based on the
tides? or as an alternative??? Does one most always launch up river and
arrange for pickup down river?

You can go with the tide up and with the tide back down and end up in
the starting spot.

I'm about 8 miles up the river from the main bay area surrounding
Charleston, but these question apply to many of the rivers in the local area
(Edisto, Santee Cooper, etc). I don't want to get stuck down the river with
a paddle.

I was more afraid of being stuck up stream in the marsh with the tide
going out ahead of me.

Thanks for your help and forgive my ignorance.

Nothing to forgive, have fun and be safe.



George

On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 20:58:39 -0500, "Jay D. Washington"
wrote:

I live near Charleston SC, and there are a lot of blackwater rivers in the
area. I am interested in paddling these rivers but I have several rookie
questions:

1. I read and hear a lot about the speed of touring kayaks. How fast can
they be reasonable be paddle for long stretches (ie. is going up river
against a current a problem)?

2. How do tidal surges on lowland river affect ones ability to return to a
launch site up the river? Must one wait for the next tidal surge to go back
up the river (note: the launch point near my house is never completely dry,
just lower a low tide)?

3. Does one generally plan their lowcontry river outings based on the
tides? or as an alternative??? Does one most always launch up river and
arrange for pickup down river?

I'm about 8 miles up the river from the main bay area surrounding
Charleston, but these question apply to many of the rivers in the local area
(Edisto, Santee Cooper, etc). I don't want to get stuck down the river with
a paddle.

Thanks for your help and forgive my ignorance.

JD Washington

Jay,
I live on James Island. Which rivers were you planning on paddling
around here? It's my nature to paddle with tides whenever I can but
it's usually possible to paddle against the tide for some ways
depending on your strength, skills and just how strong that current
is. There are lots of great places to paddle around Charleston.

You can email me at

John

I paddle in the tide waters of North Carolina and have paddled the
places you mention. Like an earlier poster stated, the important thing
is not to get stuck high and dry. I paddle the Intra Costal Waterway
many times and find that I may go 1-1.5 mph slower against the tide. As
long as the depth holds, I do not worry about it. Normally, I plan my
route to flow with the tide back home. The Cooper river can be quite
daunting during tide changes. If you find yourself fighting a strong
tide, keep close to the shore to avoid the brunt of the current.

George wrote:
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 20:58:39 -0500, "Jay D. Washington"
wrote:


I live near Charleston SC, and there are a lot of blackwater rivers in the
area. I am interested in paddling these rivers but I have several rookie


This past summer I spent a week down your way I had my new folding
kayak with me. I only got two days of paddling in, aside from ocean
paddling, so I may nor be of much help.

I paddled Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. I started at low tide and
paddled upstream until I ran out of water to paddle. Then I paddled
back past the put in spot and out towards the harbor a-ways. It was a
nice half day trip. If I did this a few times and with the aid of a
tide chart, I would be able to farther and farther upstream and be
able to have the rising tide push me upstream and the falling tide
take me back out. It that point, I guess the important thing would be
not to get stuck upstream *after* the tide has already gone down.

Just a short walk from the Shem Creek put in is a kayak store.
Coastal kayak or Carolina kayak, they have a great reputation.
I belive they have some class you can take and so forth.
But while you are there, they have a great chart/map of the area.
It's well worth the $12 or $15 they charge for it.

In the mean time go to the Charleston County Park
And Recreation Commission web site:
http://www.ccprc.com/

And click on boat landings and map for some good info.
I was there in July, it was HOT, real hot and sunny,
I couldn't even drink water fast enough, but you may be use to the
heat down there.

One last tip, go to www.folbot.com and go to the forum, a few of the
members are from that area and they were helpful to me, they might be
helpful to you too.

Good luck and let us know how you are making out down there

questions:

1. I read and hear a lot about the speed of touring kayaks. How fast can
they be reasonable be paddle for long stretches (ie. is going up river
against a current a problem)?


I can paddle at 4 mph in my folding kayak, if the water is moving at 2
mph, I move at 2 mph against the tide and 6 miles with it.

2. How do tidal surges on lowland river affect ones ability to return to a
launch site up the river? Must one wait for the next tidal surge to go back
up the river (note: the launch point near my house is never completely dry,
just lower a low tide)?

3. Does one generally plan their lowcontry river outings based on the
tides? or as an alternative??? Does one most always launch up river and
arrange for pickup down river?


You can go with the tide up and with the tide back down and end up in
the starting spot.

I'm about 8 miles up the river from the main bay area surrounding
Charleston, but these question apply to many of the rivers in the local area
(Edisto, Santee Cooper, etc). I don't want to get stuck down the river with
a paddle.


I was more afraid of being stuck up stream in the marsh with the tide
going out ahead of me.

Thanks for your help and forgive my ignorance.


Nothing to forgive, have fun and be safe.



George