Lake Wateree State Recreational Area 3_11_2011 to 3_13_2011 (3 days)

Directions from Work

881 State Park Rd.

Winnsboro, SC 29180

Phone: (803) 482-6401

Fax: (803) 482-6126

Total Miles ~43 miles
Total Travel Time ~ 47 min.

   

• I-20 E
• SC 277 N
• I-77 N
• Exit 41 to Winnsboro
• Left on US 21
• Right on Hwy 101
• Left on State Park Rd.

Tools used on the trip

My Picnic Table

• Mini Hachette/hammer~cut firewood and stake tarp down
• Amsteel rope ~tarp tie offs
• Wood Gas Stove~cooking and campfire
• Ski mask~mornings and sleeping at night
• 0 degree sleeping bag~sleeping
• Waist backpack~Trail hiking
• 5 in1 whistle
• FireSteel~starting campfire and stoves
• (3) Flashlights and a headlamp~for nighttime and early morning
• Camouflage gloves~cooking, morning warmth and gathering wood
• Survival Knife
• Aluminum tent stakes
• Lighter~to burn end of ropes and start campfires
  
• Vaseline cotton balls~tender
• (2) Soft Shackle Carabiner~ used to hang Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock
• Camp stool~campfire & Trail seat
• Titanium plate & spork, salt-n-pepper shaker
• Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock~sleeping, napping and relaxing
• Toothpaste & toothbrush
• Deodorant
• Sponge~washing dishes
• Camouflage hat
• Aluminum cup~cocoa sipping
• Rain fly & Tarp
• 6 pack of AA & AAA batteries
• 2 days change of cloths

Food Supply

 

• (2) Instant cocoa
• Instant rice
• 1 MRE’s (“Meals Ready to Eat”)
• 1 bag of peppermint candy
• Nekot Cookies (2 pack)
• Marshmallows (Chocolate and Vanilla swirl)
• PAM cooking spray
• Can of Mandarin oranges
• Can of Pineapples
• Can of Corn Beef Hash
• Bacon Spam

Paths Hiked

Me

If you want a map of the park so that you can follow the trails that I have hiked, follow this map link. Or you would like more information about the park, camping or fishing, visit the Park Website.


Cost per night to Camp = $21.00
Park Entrance Fee = $0.00

Saturday

• Campsite to start of Desportes Island Trail  ~ .4 miles
• Desportes Trail Loop ~ .7 miles
• Desportes Trail Start to Campsite ~ 0.4 miles
• Total hiked~ 1.5 miles

Total Hikes Miles for the Trip ~  1.5 miles

TIMELINE

Day 1, Friday, Feb. 18, 2011

2:30 pm ~WEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I am free from work! On to Lake Wateree! 
3:23 pm ~ I arrive at Lake Wateree State Recreational area. I am headed to the Visitors Center to check in.

Park Visitors Office/ Bait Shop

3:29 pm ~ I am all checked in. I am at my site. Site #25. Now its time to hang my Warbonnet Blackbird hammock. Video 1   Video 2   Video 3

My Site Number

My Car and Site

Hammock spread out

One side of hammock up

 4:00 pm ~As I get the hammock up. I am spoken to by my next door neighbor. His name was Richard. He was retired military. He said that he was from North Augusta and that he worked in electronics when he was in the military. I informed him that I worked in computer electronics in Columbia. Richard then proceeded to ask me if that my tent that I was setting up. I informed him that it was a hammock. He looked at me and with a serious look on his face said, " And you are going to sleep in that?" As I respond yes to him, he follows with a, "You are a Brave Man!" As we laugh about it for a few moments, he departs and lets me know that if there is anything that I need while I was there, he would be next door and glad to help.

Hammock up and ready

My Complete Hammock Shelter

6:09 pm ~ As I sit back and take a look at my hammock site, I have the feeling that this is going to be a nice weekend. The park, weather and hammock site seems to all be awesome. As stated by the lady in the front office that checked me out, seems like this weekend is going to be packed. There were kids everywhere.

Kids on the Camp Loop

6:14 pm ~ The camping area of the park has what they call "Comfort Stations." There were 2 of them. I was told that these "Comfort Stations" have bathrooms with showers. As I head to see one of these stations, its kind of cool and convenient.   Video 4

6:40 pm ~ As I return to my site, I reflect on the detour I took from the comfort center. I decided to take a walk around the camp loop. I saw loots of neat campers, RV's and different size tents. Some huge like a cabin, some small like a room, but I was the only hammock camper out there. Makes me feel like a pioneer.

Tents at Campground

Camp Loop Rd.

Campground Wilderness

In the picture below, I also saw these folks camping as I was on my way to my camp. They are the Special Military Active Retired Travel Club (S.M.A.R.T.). They are a recreational vehicle (RV) social club for active, retired, and honorably discharged military veterans (and spouses), including reservists and National Guard, from all the uniformed services. You can read more about them at their website.

S.M.A.R.T

RV Campers

RV camper campfire

Festive RV camper

6:50 pm ~ As I rip open my MRE dinner, which included Beef Ravioli, roasted peanuts, an oatmeal cookie, apple pieces in spice sauce, toffee rolls and a lemon lime beverage I am reminded again of the walk I just took around the camp loop. As I was coming back to my campsite from that walk, I ran into another camping neighbor that was walking with her little girl. She was very nice. They saw me picking up sticks as I walked to have for my wood gas stove campfire later. They stopped, said hi, then stated that they noticed me picking up firewood and said that if I needed to use their fire or wood, not to hesitate to use what they have at their site. Wow, folks are really nice when your hammocking. Well, all my Ravioli is warm, time to eat.

Friday nights MRE dinner

7:16 pm ~ Dinner was Yummy!!! My fingers are a little sticky from the applesauce, but that's OK. I decided that what I had in the MRE was a lot. So I decided to just eat the Beef Ravioli in meat sauce, apple pieces in spice sauce and the lemon drink from the MRE. I will place the remainder in my hiking pack and have it as I hike or as part of my lunch at camp tomorrow. As I put everything up for the night, locked away safely in my car, I decide it's time to get comfy in the hammock and call it a night.

10:01 pm ~ I turn over in my hammock. It seems that I have gotten myself a little cockeyed in my hammock with the sleeping bag. I turn over and readjust myself and get back to sleep.

 Day 2, Saturday, March 12, 2011

4:20 am ~ It seems that I cannot go back to sleep. I don't know why, I guess I was just tired of sleeping. I was ready to get up and go do things. Let me see if I can lie back down, it is still a little early.

5:00 am ~ Looks like sleeping is over, I am up now. I proceed to get dressed and head down to the Comfort Center to take care of my "morning business."

5:25 am ~ I am back at camp. I need to change clothes for the day. So I grab some clean cloths and head back to the Comfort Center. It's still pretty dark outside still and in order for me to navigate in the dark, I have my ski mask on for warmth with my headlight. The way I look reminds me of "Black Ops."As I walk from and to my camp in the dark there was a little dog named "Ziggy" around campsite #12 that was the only dog that barked at me in the dark every time I passed his campsite. I can't blame the little fellow, he was protecting his territory. GOOD JOB ZIGGY!

My "BLACK OPS" look

6:23 am ~ I get back to my hammock site and open my hammock up on one side so that it is in "porch mode". It's time to get ready for the day and breakfast. I put my lawn chair back up in the sitting position and get my wood gas stove ready for cooking. For breakfast, I had oatmeal, cocoa, cornbeef hash. I was a little hungry while waiting for the water to boil for the oatmeal so I decided to open up the cornbeef hash and start eating some. I ended up eating half the can while waiting and cooked the other half of the can. Cornbeef hash not good cold, but not that bad either. Because of the morning dew, all the wood I was cooking with was a little wet. That made for some difficulty in keeping the stove lit. As a result of this the stove smoked a lot, but the food did get cooked and was Yummy! Speaking of dew, it's a good thing that I slept with my tarp over me last night because if I didn't, I would have been wet in the hammock when I woke up.

Camp Cornbeef hash

 7:22 am ~ I finished up breakfast. I started to clean up camp. One of the cool things that I could do with my camp was I had what I called and Fishing Shore / Kitchen. It was located right below my camp and it had little mud steps that lead down to the water. I had to be very careful though. Because of the morning dew, the mud was very slippery. I went down here to wash my dishes in the lake. Gotta love convenience!   Video 5

Fishing shore / Kitchen Stairs

As I wash my dishes from breakfast, I turn to head back up the hill and I see something bright out of the corner of my eye. Only a true fisherman could have spotted this. I'll just add that little guy to my collection.

Fishing Lure

7:32 am ~ A boater floated by my campsite. I have seen a few of these guys this morning. As he passed he waved and I waved back. He asked me a question, but I could not understand him. He asked me what "MOS" was I? I was not sure what he meant, so I asked him to elaborate. I believe since everything at my hammock site was camouflage and I was not in a tent or RV but sleeping in a hammock, he must have thought that I was or have been in the military.

One of many Boaters

8:19 am ~ As I sit in my lawn chair and enjoy my campsite view, a boat passes by my site again. I make the decision that I will not be doing any fishing this weekend. I wanted to but getting all fishy was not on my list of things to do this weekend. I would rather enjoy, relax and take in the peace that Lake Wateree has to offer. 

8:56 am ~ I just completed breaking camp down in preparation for my morning hike. I head to the Comfort Center one last time before I head out to hike the Desportes Island Trail.

9:15 am ~ After coming back from the Comfort Center with my jacket on, I decide that it may get a little warm on the trail with my leather jacket on, so I head back to camp to put my jacket in the car. Desportes Island Trail, HERE I COME!!!

9:24 am ~ I reach the Desportes Island Nature Trail.

Trail Sign

The Trail

On the trails that I have hiked so far in my journeys, I have noticed that all trails have some sort of marker that indicates that you are going and are on the right path. It was a little different from the Congaree blazers and a lot farther apart, but this is what the trail markers looked like.

Trail Marker

One of the coolest things I saw as I was on this trail was the direction that some of the trees chose to grow.

Can you find the spider in the web?

As I hike along the trail, I see that the trail pulls off the main section and goes down to another section of the water. I follow it. When I get to the end I see another peaceful spot. I called it the "Gateway of Serenity." I sat here for a while, thinking that this almost looks like a gate to something.

"The Gateway of Serenity"

10:11 am ~ I stop halfway on the trail where there is a bench nicely placed. This will be my break spot. As I have a quick snack of some peanut butter crackers, I reflect on the beauty and peace of Lake Wateree. 

Trail Bench

10:21 am ~ As I get to the part where the trail goes back into a loop, I pass a Nature Trail sign. This part of the trail goes out to the edge of the water and even loops back around some of the swampy area of the trail. Yes, Lake Wateree has a swamp.

Trail Loop

I pull of the main trail and follow a little path that empties out into the water. Its looks like a prime spot that many anglers such as myself have spend a lot of time at. I decide to setup my camp chair and enjoy the view of the Lake.

As I sit out here, staring off into the ripples of the water, I say to myself, nothing else at this time matters. None of the bad stuff, things that I couldn't control is on my mind now. I can't put my finger on it, but its like the water subdues me and clears my memory. The water has a calming effect that is beyond anything that you can purchase or manufacture.

Open Lake View

Personally, as I sit here and think about it, the scenery that is in front and all around me is what life is about. Life is supposed to be about enjoying what mother nature has offered us. Just sitting here, in front of the open water, the boats going by, the water splashing against the shore from the waves sets a certain calmness and serenity over me. I don't have to worry about anybody calling or bothering me, there are no problems or issues. Why can't life be more like this? Why can't life be more like water?

Side Lake View

As I stated earlier, Lake Wateree does have a swamp, not very large but it does exist.

11:27 am ~ As I make it back to camp #25, I pull out my Wood Gas Stove so I can have some noodles for lunch. Time to boil some water!

Boiling some water

12:08 pm ~ As I finish boiling my water for my noodles, I realize that green pine needles burn wonderfully. They are a great way to re-ignite a campfire. Oh well, time to combine hot water with noodles and enjoy my lunch!

Instant Noodles for Lunch

12:37 pm ~ Lunch was good. I head over to my Blackbird to "open the porch." I decide to lie in the hammock and possibly take a nap on the lake.

Relaxing in the Blackbird

2:23 pm ~ I am awaken by the surge of Mother Nature. I get up from my nap and head to the Comfort Center so that I may....."Drain the Lizard."

2:47 pm ~ I return back to camp and decide to sit in my lawn chair and munch on the Toffee rolls, dried peanuts and a oatmeal cookie from my MRE Friday night. Turns out the Toffee rolls are just Tootsie rolls. NEAT! This is just and intermediate snack until dinner as I sit on my back porch in front of the lake.

3:25 pm ~ After sitting in my lounge chair for a while, I felt sleep coming over me again and decide to get back in my Blackbird and take "part 2" of my nap. Figured that I would get a little more rest before I have to get up and cook my last dinner here at Lake Wateree State Recreational Area.

Final Snack before I nap...again

Part 2 of my Saturday Nap

5:09 pm ~ I am up from my nap, and to the Comfort Center I hike. As I return back to camp I pull out my Wood Gas Stove so that I can start on preparing dinner. I think tonight I will prepare my newly created camp dish, Camp Chunk Chicken and Rice.  I will mix up some Lemon Berry Squeeze Hawaiian Punch to wash everything down. For dessert, I will toast some camp swirl marshmallows.

6:00 pm ~ Dinner is done. Time to eat!

Camp Chunk Chicken and Rice

6:11 pm ~ Just finished dinner. The chicken with the rice was a great idea. Time to clean up camp and get the Wood Gas Stove ready for a nice campfire with marshmallows.

6:26 pm ~ My Blackbird is all setup for the night. Got my sleeping bag in and all the additional cold weather clothing is all packed away and ready for tonight. Headed to the Comfort Center to address "Mother Nature" and then its back to camp to start a campfire.   Video 6

6:58 pm ~ Back at camp. I got my campfire started. Time to roast some Marshmallows.

My Wood Gas Campfire

Roasting Marshmallows

7:13 pm ~ Just sitting by the campfire enjoying the lake as the sun goes down. While I take in the experience of my last night here at Lake Wateree I lock in on the sounds of the evening that comes with this beautiful place.  Video 7

8:41 pm ~ The campfire is all done. Seems like I burned the campfire for hours. You kind of lose track of time when you are relaxed and completely enjoying yourself as I did this weekend. I get my night cloths ready for sleeping tonight and head to the Comfort Center to change.

9:36 pm ~ Back from the Comfort Center. I am comfy in my Blackbird with my ski mask, long sleeve shirt, sleeping bag and my plastic camp pillow. The pillow works like a champ as long as you don't blow it up completely. Leaving a little air out of it gives your head a little cushion. I should be a little warmer than last night. To sleep I go.

 Day 3, Sunday, March 13, 2011

6:28 am ~ I am up from a GREAT night's sleep. I slept completely though the night. I LOVE HAMMOCKS AND I LOVE SLEEPING IN MY BLACKBIRD HAMMOCK! I slept like a baby last night. I was very warm. As I put on my shoes and put my jacket on, I search around camp to make sure I have enough wood for my breakfast stove cooking. I am headed to the Comfort Center to change out of these sleeping cloths.

7:35 am ~ I have the stove burning and after spraying some PAM on my camp frying pan, I sliced up and threw on the Bacon SPAM to fry up. Tasted pretty good.

Bacon SPAM

Started and finished the water for the hot cocoa. As a morning treat, I added a can of sliced pears as a topper to a great breakfast. Thought, since I still had a pretty good fire going after cooking breakfast I would have a morning campfire while I started to cleanup camp.

8:02 am ~ Cocoa is all done. Time to start cleaning up camp. Get everything packed away and in the car as I get ready to leave Lake Wateree.

8:34 am ~ As I come back from the Comfort Center for the last time this weekend, I continue to break down camp. I have to be out of the campsite by noon.

10:00 am ~ I make one last round of my cleaned campsite to make sure I have everything and have not left anything. I say my goodbyes to the lake and get in the car and pull away.

 My Final Xtreme-lution

In closing, I would like to say that Lake Wateree State Recreational Area has it own beauty. Because it has only on hiking trail, I cannot compare it to Congaree, but the one trail was everything I expected it to be. The people were nice, the scenery was great and the most important factor, Hammocks are welcome! I definitely look forward to coming back!

I have placed all my pictures in a number of places for readers, friends, co-workers and family of this blog. If you have a Facebook account you view my pictures of the trip on my photos tab if you are a Facebook friend of mine. For those of you viewers who are not a Facebook friend, you can still view my Complete Trip pictures or you can check out my YOUTUBE Channel that will have all the videos from the trip. Just look for the videos that begin with "Lake Wateree State Recreational Area".

If anyone has any questions in reference to any information that I have provided related to this trip, please feel free to type in your comment at the bottom of this blog and hit POST COMMENT. Ask as many questions as you need to know. I can answer any questions to which I have experience in to answer related to this trip. In addition, if you have any tips or tricks of the camping, hiking or hammocking trade, please feel free to share them with me. This is the 1st of many monthly trips that I will be taking. So anything that will make my stay more welcoming or comforting will be more than welcomed from the readers of my blog. Hope you enjoyed March's 2011's camping posting. 

As always, Stay Cool and Stay Outdoors!!!


I am XtremeKatfishn, and I am OUT the DOORS!!!