Today we were up at first light and on our way to the Congaree National Park, our first stop after leaving the rocks of the sandhills and entering into the inner coastal plains. The weather reports threaten thunderstorms and high winds so we must adjust our plans for the afternoon.  In the entrance to the park we met our guide John Rood, archaeologist and former river guide for the Congaree National park.  After a short visit with the rangers at the interpretive center we headed to South Cedar Creek to begin our adventure on the water.  John shared his knowledge about the nature and history of the area from early native americans through spanish conquistadors, revolutionary battles, to modern day conservation efforts as we paddled through the calm, brown tea like water of the flood plains amongst majestic trees laden with Spanish moss as a barred owl swooped overhead and the forest echoed with the symphony of creatures calling out the sounds of early spring.  The park is a magical place and worth the visit.  I canceled my plans to start my 3 day solo journey through the flood plain until after the storm and headed back to Columbia to spend the night indoors at residence of our friend, the ever jolly and welcoming David “Pops” Downie.
Congaree National Park History Information.
Prehistoric foragers hunted the area and fished its waters. The Congaree Indians claimed the floodplain and Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto recounted the intrigue of the area in his journals. Around 1700, the Congarees were decimated by a smallpox epidemic introduced with the arrival of European settlers. Click here for more history of the Congaree.