As if doing three events isn't cross training enough, we had a fun Saturday of Mother's Day weekend going kayaking. I certainly feel it in my shoulders and upper back today so I must have used some muscles that needed using. We went with a Landings group to Palmetto Bluff near Bluffton, SC. The place is uber upscale and surprisingly is bigger than Manhattan. For you Food Network fans, this is where Tyler Florence got married. We had a guide/naturalist, Patty, who took us by boat to a small hammock, Page Island. From there we launched and did a 5.5 mile paddle. For the uninitiated, a hammock is a small island in the middle of salt water, tidal marsh that is always dry, even during unusually high tides (although would be covered with water during a hurricane surge). Joe and I used a tandem kayak for the first time and we didn't have one argument on how the other was paddling :-). It had been recommended that spouses don't use a tandem together but I'd say we had a very happy and successful outing. Joe says he is pretty sore today, just a little evidence that he is still recovering from having his chest cracked open in January.
We paddled and paddled and periodically stopped close together to hear a short lecture from Patty about the tidal environment or the natural history of the Indians that lived in the area. Enjoy vicariously a day in the LowCountry.
Patti the guide/naturalist is in the foreground in a green shirt.
Hearing Patti talk about the Indians' shell midden. Shell middens are big mounds of seafood shells left by the Indians near their huts. They are considered archeologically significant because they give insight into the life of the natives.
Low Country view from village at Palmetto Bluff, SC
The tidal marsh is an active eco-system with oyster beds, shrimp, gray heron, egret, wood storks, and lots of dolphin. We saw many dolphin feeding while the tide was coming in. Unfortunately we didn't get any dolphin pix, rats. Hubby Joe is in the foreground of a picture with a blue life vest on.
Iron Girl is one week from Sunday. Yikes!
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