Get Your Gear On and Enjoy Columbia’s Rivers

 

Summers here in Columbia, SC wouldn’t be the same without the three rivers we have running through it. Whether you enjoy just taking a stroll through Riverfront Park, sunning yourself on the rocks like a lizard, lounging lazily in a giant tube, or boating, The Broad, Saluda, and Congaree add to the character of our city in a pretty terrific way.

Oh hai, outdoorsy person!

When I talked to the nice folks at Get Your Gear On to set up a kayak trip, I was surprised at the many options that were available. You can check them out right here. I went with the Rocky Shoals Spider Lily Paddle.

There are very few things I enjoy as much as violently kicking my friends out of their comfort zones. This sounds sadistic, I know. But it isn’t. How on earth can you discover everything you might enjoy if you don’t try new things…even if you think you might hate them?

Take my friend Erin. She hates the outdoors unless by “outdoors” you’re referring to a restaurant patio with wine service. Naturally, I coerced her into taking this kayak trip with me. The day of our trip, she posted this on facebook:

 

 

Caption: I sense she has doubts about this…

As we rode over to the drop-in site, Hartley (our guide for the trip and the person tasked with the dubious pleasure of keeping us from clumsily killing and/or maiming ourselves) talked to us about the spider lilies we would be seeing that day.

The Rocky Shoals Spider Lily is an endangered aquatic plant that grows predominantly in the Southeast. It’s rather needy. Without a a swift, shallow current and ample sunlight, it’ll die. Man-made changes to river and stream channels have caused their populations to dwindle to the point of being considered a Federal Species of Concern (much like the elusive Southern Gentleman). Every night, a new blossom opens, but it only lasts for one day.

Caption: Don’t get attached, mkay?

I was excited to see the Spider Lily colonies. Erin was peeved with me for talking her into this.

Caption: Beneath that smile lies a seething rage.

Could she be won over? What would happen to the clumsiest person I know (me), the

least outdoorsy person I know (her), and this poor schmuck who was stuck with us for

the next hour and a half (Hartley)? And why does this sound like a reality show I’d

totally watch?

Caption: THIS is what we didn’t want to happen (Thanks Google Image Search)!

We managed to get into the water without incident. I’ve paddled a few times in the past,

and was happy with how easily controllable my kayak was. This was Erin’s first go at it.

Our guide was extremely patient with us and super-knowledgeable about our river

systems and conservation efforts that are striving to protect them.

This trip had a nice mix of light rapids and long stretches of slow water to keep

everything relaxed and laid-back. As we paddled through colonies of spider lilies, I felt

the stress of my busy week float away. Our rivers really are quite lovely, and I don’t

know why I don’t spend more time on them. Even Erin, the greatest doubter I could

have possibly found had a great time. When I asked her how she felt about the whole

thing, she (surprisingly) said, “I was very surprised at how easy and comfortable the trip

was and I’m really looking forward to my next kayaking trip!”

If this sounds awesome to you (and it should), give the awesome guys at Get Your Gear

On (link:http://www.getyourgearon.com) a call at (803) 799-0999 and set up a river

trip of your own! Should your interest become more than passing, they also sell/

consign kayaks and lots of other outdoorsy things that you should definitely take

a look at.

Our rivers are awesome. So get out there on them!