Managed to get out on the water while staying at Edisto Island.

[Doug SC]

We spent last week at the beach on Edisto Island with extended family. I didn't do the amount of kayaking I had planned but did get out the day before we left. It was rain, thunderstorms and high winds near 30 knots for the first 4 days.

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I got an early start as the beach parking fills quickly at the southern tip of the island where I would launch. I paddled the mile across the mouth of the South Edisto River with the flood tide against both wind and river current. It was lumpy. I enjoy lumpy water. I headed to a marsh creek near Pine Island. The old timers call it Rattlesnake Island and paddled up it until it became too narrow, and I had to back paddle to finally turn the 17' kayak around.

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I then paddled upriver past the island to some large oyster banks of ancient shells. I took a photo of a loan Oyster catcher on the edge of the shall bank.

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I considered paddling up to the Ashepoo River but wanted to be back by 1 or 2pm so decided not to.
Looking up the South Edisto River before turning back.

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Looking back at Edisto Island in the distance.

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I paddled back to Pine Island to find some shade and eat an early lunch.

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This is where I ate lunch and collected the ciggers(red bugs) that would keep me scratching the next few days. I knew that was a possibly but was drawn in by the siren call of the shade. I paddled over a stingray as I came ashore, and it took off as the bow hit it.

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I paddled along the marina behind Edisto Island before taking out back at the beach and this was the only sailboat I saw. They were from St. Augustine, Fl. I often get complements about the kayak and when both putting in and taking out they put a smile on my face as I headed home.

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I believe every vehicle looks better with a boat attached

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[Charles Brennan]

Doug, I am interested in the rationale for loading your kayak on your vehicle, in an upright position.

1) Wouldn't loaded on inverted, be a more aerodynamic and efficient method, for transport?
2) Wouldn't getting any rainwater into the cockpit be a problem?
3) have I been overdoing it all these years, by insisting on fore and aft tie down restraints in addition to the transverse restraints?

Always willing to learn from someone else,
Charles Brennan

[Doug SC]

CB, good questions.

1. I do carry my canoes upside down, but not my long sea kayaks. I don't know if they would be more aerodynamic upside down or not or if it would make a significant savings in gas. I am a bit leery of putting downward pressure on the thin fiberglass decks of some of the manufactured kayaks and feel the hull is better suited for that. I know voodoo thinking without numbers, but it has worked well this way for many years.

2. I have a tight-fitting cockpit cover that stays on both while traveling and in storage. I only had to drive 4 miles to where I put in and the speed limit was 35mph with clear skies, so I didn't bother putting it on. When I got back to the house I took it off and rinsed it. It went home covered.

3. Yes, almost all the time I tie two lines one each angled back to attachment points on each side fender under the hood near the windshield. I also have two lines at the back angled forward to attachment points on either side at the back. This puts the lines in opposition and helps prevent motion both forward and bank and side to side. I don't just tie one line front and back. Again the 4-mile trip to house at 35 mph and then take off to rinse. It went home tied in opposition to all four corners.

You do pay close attention to things and I like that.

[Wolverine]

We stopped at Edisto last February while returning from Florida. My wife had never been. My father had business in Charleston back in the late 60s and we spent the 3 summer months at a beach house on Edisto. Those homes are long gone and I was amazed at how the area is built up.

[Doug SC]

Yes, the coast of Carolina is going the way of Florida minus the high-rise condos. Edisto was a sleepy town as was much of the SC coast years ago. I have a friend whose father built a house on Edisto Island many years ago when it wasn't the first choice for many beach goers. Money has changed the place for sure. One nice thing is there is about a hundred miles of undeveloped barrier islands and marsh still in SC. It is tied up in wildlife refuge and state lands with no road access to them.