This is the category for those who have paddled the Waccamaw River in sections as opposed to straight through. Sectional finishers have paddled it's entirety - from the Dam to the Bay. It could be over years or in varying order. The goal is not to challenge or disprove anyone's claims, merely to register finishers who have paddled the full distance of the Waccamaw River.
Known Finishers :
Year |
Name |
Elapsed Time |
Moving Time |
Watercraft |
Dates |
2015 |
John Long * |
||||
2024 |
Hastings Hensel * |
Perception Acadia 12, Prodigy 12, Carolina 155 |
|||
2024 |
Robyn Deerchaser * |
Index:
* - Kayak
** - Canoe
*** - Paddleboard
@ - Solo Supported
@@ - Solo Unsupported
♦ - Unconfirmed
* - Kayak
** - Canoe
*** - Paddleboard
@ - Solo Supported
@@ - Solo Unsupported
♦ - Unconfirmed
"The attraction to water is innate within us. It is a primal thing that has its roots in our biology and works it's way into the psychology of most of us. The water takes us home. We require clean water to survive, and we crave the healing presence of water to soothe the soul.
Oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams all work their magic upon us. Some people enjoy the quiet solitude of a babbling brook… others enjoy tearing across the water on fast machines.
The Waccamaw river has strolled its winding way through this part of the Carolinas since ancient times - shaping the land and serving as a source of life for the flora and fauna of this area. As a tidal river it has it's deep rhythms. Not known for rapids and running, it quietly seeks the sea as it passes through the Piney woods, Tupelo swamps, majestic Live Oaks and endless stands of Cypress trees.
I have come to know the Waccamaw River through messing about upon it in a small boat, namely the modern kayak. While canoes and kayaks are ancient vehicles on their own, it is the modern versions of these crafts that bring a reachable experience to the modern-day paddler in a way that was previously unobtainable when such crafts were made of Birch-bark and twigs. In a modern kayak one can travel long distances comfortably, or just spend a lazy day in the sun floating with the gentle pull of the current.
The river experience varies depending on your location along it's path. The upper reaches of the river can be as removed from civilization as one can get along the Atlantic coast. The lower reaches are strongly tidal, wide, and echo the development of the early American settlers. Ancient ruins, modern yachts, commercial barges and everything in between can be seen on different sections on any given day.
For me every place along the river has it's special aura, but I prefer the upper third of the river. Here the river often winds into oxbows and backwaters that beg your boat to poke through a stand of trees and find a hidden lake or quiet corners lure you to take a moment of rest by the river on a beach of some of the finest white sand you will find on the continent.
The senses awake, and you are stolen into another world…
It is the silence of the morning mist rising off the water. It is the Spanish Moss in the breeze. It is the call of the King Fisher, the splash of an animal crossing the river. It is the gurgle of water bubbling past a tree in the river. It is the earthy smell of moss and the rustling of leaves. It is your heart beating fast when you see that gator. It is the smile of your friend paddling next to you. It is the ache in the arms from a long day’s voyage. It is the longing to get back on the Waccamaw after you have been away for more time than you would have liked. "
- David Thebeau
Waccamaw River Source-to-Sea
Proudly powered by Weebly