Nine-mile paddle and festival raise funds for Lynches River
By: Morning News
JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. — About a dozen paddlers hit Lynches River and Mill Creek Sunday afternoon as part of Go Paddle FoRevR — an event conducted by the Friends of the Revolutionary River to raise the profile of the river and its tourism potential.
The paddle was part of a festival at Odell Venters Landing that included a paddle area where participants could paddle kayaks and paddle boards around the landing, food from the grill and games for participants.
Terry Cook with Swamp Fox Kayaking and Rentals guided the paddle from the Johnsonville landing nine miles down Lynches River and Mill Creek to the landing at Snow’s Lake Road.
The event raised money to help support the Revolutionary Rivers in Florence County, which include 60 miles of the Lynches River from Lynches River County Park to the Great Pee Dee and then six miles of the Great Pee Dee River that has documented Revolutionary War significance, said Holly Beaumier, executive director of the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The paddle, which varied from relaxed lakes to challenging obstacles, included information on Francis Marion, history of the river, wildlife encounters and unique plants that call the swamp home.
“The 66-mile trail offers paddlers an unique experience of floating through swampland that was once traversed by Patriots engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Loyalists,” according to the FoRevR website. “The trail also features a series of short excursions and overnight rustic camping opportunities provided by local outfitters. Self-guided driving tours to remote Francis Marion Trail sites also are available.”
SCNow Web Article – Nine-mile paddle and festival raise funds for Lynches River
