Today's paddle.

[Callalily]

I like paddling in the spring while the water is high. That way you can paddle into the backwater, which isn't available later on in the season.

We spotted four turtles today too! A bonus!

[Adsos Letter]

1. Reminds me of Congaree National Park.

Looks like fun!

[Callalily]

5. Thanks! It was fun.

[alfredo]

2. Beautiful

[Callalily]

6. Thanks! It was fun.

[alfredo]

7. That's what it's all about.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Wonderful photos!

Is that an Eastern Painted Turtle? We had one when I was a kid for awhile, my Dad's friend rescued him. But my Dad eventually made us let him go, a stream in an artist's colony. I like to think he's still there.

[Callalily]

4. I don't know anything about

turtles, so can't really say what type of turtle this is.

We saw four during our paddle, which is a lot this time of year!

[mnhtnbb]

8. This is a useful tool for turtle identification

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Turtles

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Thank you! That's very helpful!

I'm quite fond of turtles. When I was in school I worked summers at an amusement park and they were freaked out at the snapping turtles in the "river" where we ran the swan boats, so my Dad and I relocated several to a much safer place where they were welcome.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. That's what I think it is, though bigger than the one I knew

And it sounds like you had a wonderful time, what a great place! I've been canoeing and kayaking - even white water rafting once - but it wasn't in such an enchanting place, most of my experiences have been on Lake Champlain.

Eastern Painted Turtle: