The 2009 Palmetto Swamp Fox Adventure Race was held in McClellanville again this year. Steve Morone of Kando Adventures said that this year was a record turnout. The course takes racers on a 10 to 12 hour trip, 55-60 miles through Francis Marion National Forest. Racers compete in various groups and will Kayak, Bike ant Trek through different portions of the race. Congratulations not just to the the winners, but what a feat to just compete in this outstanding event.
Get ready, it is almost time for the 33rd Annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival. As usual, there will be great food, entertainment, a silent auction and hand crafted gifts from a variety of vendors. Don’t forget the Blessing of the Fleet that is always the highlight.
My brother and I made this for the Post and Courier contest, but didn’t make the cut. We used the Cape Romain Lighthouse and beaches for out settings. It was fun even though we didn’t win.
I found this on YouTube. Todd Sumlin of the Charlotte Observer posted it.
A hard working McClellanville commercial fisherman. I’ll never understand how anybody can support restaurants that serve imported shrimp. They are farmed with no regulations (environmental or others) so they impound wetlands to raise them and they pump them full of antibiotics. Let restaurants know that you want local shrimp.
Last weekend my brother and some friends took the kids camping at McConnells Landing on the Santee River. It located on road forest road 204F on the FMNF Map. There are no facilities other than fire pits and a boat landing, but we were introducing the kids to roughing it like we did.
The site is great for camping. There is a large hill that overlooks the Santee River and across the river from the Santee Delta. We spotted lots of wildlife, heard owls, cooked on the fire, looked for warewolves (there was a full moon) and enjoyed the cold.
It is a nice hike along the river to the old Battery Warren, but we arrived at the landing too late in the afternoon to make the hike all the way there.
When we arrived there was an obvious path from the parking lot to the top of the hill. I don’t recommend driving up the hill though, although it is convenient, you are not allowed to leave the forest service roads with a vehicle. We found this out and got these souvenir warning tickets from a friendly warden.
The girls don’t look that excited in this picture of the morning, but they were ready to stay another night.
Enjoy the Forest now. This is camping season; the weather is cold and deer season is over.
For more information on camping in the Francis Marion National Forest, check out the FMNF website.
When the weather turns cold the fishing doesn’t stop. For me the hard part is finding time to get out on the water since it gets dark at 6:00, it doesn’t leave time for afternoon trips. I have managed to get out a few times. All reports are that trout fishing is great when you find the schools. A sunny day with high tide starting to fall, fish over oyster rocks. They will bite gulp shrimp under a cork, or throw a grub.
When the water is cold, the reds school up. On the last trip, we saw a school about 1/4 mile long. They are very sluggish though. They only thing they would bite was live minnows. Even if you have mud minnows it is hard to get them to bite.
Volunteers are needed for clean up of the Francis Marion National Forest, as part of Palmetto Pride Clean Up Day. Interested participants are asked to meet at 5821 Hwy 17 N in Awendaw at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center. Registration is from 8-9 am on February 7, 2009.
There has been good news about the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge and Francis Marion National Forest lately. We all could use some good news for a change. There are a lot of folks working hard to protect the area and they should be commended. Here are some articles that were recently published in the Post and Courier.
A recent article in the Post and Courier: Banner Year for Sea Turtles
“The Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, which usually holds the most nests in the state, had its second best season with 1,431 nests.” Click here for more
Another recent Post and Courier Article: Two Deals to Protect Wildlife Habitat
“The Nature Conservancy has announced two deals protecting 2,260 acres of delicate forest and wetland habitats near the Francis Marion National Forest, the Santee Coastal Reserve and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. “ Click here for more
The 2009 Palmetto Swamp Fox Adventure Race was held in McClellanville again this year. Steve Morone of Kando Adventures said that this year was a record turnout. The course takes racers on a 10 to 12 hour trip, 55-60 miles through Francis Marion National Forest. Racers compete in various groups and will Kayak, Bike ant Trek through different portions of the race. Congratulations not just to the the winners, but what a feat to just compete in this outstanding event.
Get ready, it is almost time for the 33rd Annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival. As usual, there will be great food, entertainment, a silent auction and hand crafted gifts from a variety of vendors. Don’t forget the Blessing of the Fleet that is always the highlight.
Last weekend my brother and some friends took the kids camping at McConnells Landing on the Santee River. It located on road forest road 204F on the 
the hike all the way there.
