This trip will start at 10:00 at Lawton Park on Prestwood Drive in Hartsville, SC. We will paddle about 15 minutes up the lake to a cypress swamp which will lead us to a clear, deep creek. The creek is very shady with lots of twists and turns. There is a good place to take out for lunch. There is plenty of water, no downed trees (as of last week), and no poison ivy hanging over the water. We will be going upstream, but there is very little current. On this trip last year we paddled about 11 miles. There is a good spot to swim at the lunch stop. This trip is suitable for any level paddler and any type boat. We will pass Kalmia Gardens on one side and Segars-McKinnon Heritage Preserve on the other.

Bring lunch, plenty of fluids, sun screen, insect spray, hat, and decent footwear. Not to mention Bruce's list!

At the put-in, we will have to carry our boats about 50 feet and there is some grass, weeds and cypress knees at the water. This put-in saves us a lot of travel time on the lake.

DIRECTIONS: The landing is about 1 1/2 hours from Columbia. If you come on I-20, get off at the Hwy 15 exit towards Bishopville (north). Go through Bishopville and take Hwy 15 Business to Hartsville. Just before the bridge over Prestwood Lake, there is a stop light. Take the last turn to the left (Prestwood Drive) BEFOREe the bridge. Go about 1 block and you will see tennis courts on the right and then a large paved parking lot for Lawton Park. Turn in to this parking lot. If you get to the Prestwood Country Club, you missed the turn.

Let me know by e-mail your name and telephone number if you want to join us.