Overall trip length from the Landsford Canal State Park put in to the take out on Highway 9 at Fort Lawn, SC was 7.98 miles. That included some backtracking to check on different paddlers. The total trip time was about 4 hours including the stop for lunch and time to view the Rock Shoals Spider Lilies.

The paddlers were Louis Drucker, Linda Gray, Frances McClary, Cathy Jones, Moon Park, Elona Rhame, Helen McFadden, Bill Sinclair, Kathy Sheppard, Andy Miller, Margaret Kosco and Mike Hollis.

The lilies were spectacular again this year and everyone marveled at the acres and acres of them. The water was low but everyone managed to paddle around, and over the rocks. Several of us added a short but slippery hike to the trip, but we soon hit the smooth flat water below the rock garden just as the clouds disappeared and everything was wonderful all the way to the take out. The rock garden was pretty hard to deal with. And some of the group fared a little better than others. There were several jesting "How much further?" requests. The river below the park has only one house on it and in at least a hundred yards wide most of the way. So we had an unspoiled view and time the talk with each other as slowly paddle along. Everyone arrived at the landing in great spirits. But no one wanted to go rock hopping again.

Mike Hollis