Written by Maryann Zeliznak – Dear Armchair Travelers, The Horse Creek Water Trail is now open! All ye canoers and kayakers gather up your gear. Go meander the many “S” curves. Go with the flow. Just do it.

‘Twas strange to put in amid the blocks of long abandoned Graniteville factories. One never knows where Mother Nature may poke out her head. The many cracks in the cement parking lot sported many weeds. The hay day of the BRICK plants were long gone, long before the train wreck. This was the opposite of “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Aiken County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, with the assistance of The CSRA Canoe & Kayak Club of Augusta, has made this water trail possible.

On the most perfect autumn day of 2014, my friend Dave and I got stoked. Kayakers have a burning desire. The 2.5 miles of the Upper Segment beckoned to us. We had some fear of low spots and getting stuck on the sandy creek bottom, but luckily that never happened. Horse Creek had a fairly swift current, thus requiring us only to steer and maneuver, rather than have to power our craft. The current kept us alert and on our toes. It was a bit of an obstacle course, switching from side to side of the moving water; trying to avoid downed trees or getting an eye poked out by overhanging branches. Think of the annoying car continually changing lanes on the highway. We had to continually change lanes; to stay in the fast, deeper lane. It took some getting used to. I was actually amazed that we never top-sized.

Right from the beginning, I could picture the factory workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s walking from their row houses to work each day. I could picture them walking across the narrow bridges over the creeks and brooks. I could picture their clothes and them carrying their lunch pails.

Paddling the Horse Creek Water Trail was like going back in time. Nary a house or structure could be seen along the way. Time and civilization weren’t apparent. It was peaceful. We were like Huck and Tom off on an afternoon adventure. Although the water was too nippy for foot dangling, I could see them waving to us from the eroding banks, sucking on a blade of grass, as they whiled away their afternoon.

We saw hawks and herons in the distance, as they continually fled our approach. We appreciated the mixture of green and autumn colors in the canopy covering the creek. We gauged our water distance progression by the distant sound of cars. We could almost tell at what point in the trek we were. We noticed the sun popping in and out, battling the overcast trying to maintain dominance.

No, this wasn’t the famous Nantahala River water course, but this will do just fine for any local enthusiasts. We were surely invigorated. Enough action and fear is provided to get your juices flowing. Not man vs. flowing water. Not man vs. the forces of nature. It’s human awe and respect for both.

As we approached the Pond Segment, another 1.5 miles, the canopy unveiled itself to a very open flow, marshy area. Think mini Everglades. The current minimized as the new dawn appeared. Picture a serene clearing. Total quiet. Smile. Take it all in. The sun had come out. It was warm on the face and peaceful in the heart.

Then – WHOA, OMG, it was like the Poseidon tidal waves of Hades conjured up their wrath. Fear swept over me as I struggled with the ups and downs of the water, lifting us and lowering us, and immediately put on my life vest. The wind kept pushing us back. It was a fighting force. This was not going to be easy. I was so glad we were in the tandem kayak, as two people expending paddling energy worked to our advantage; rather than paddling solo. The length of Langley Pond seemed endless. Even the width had to be 1000 feet. We could not even see the dam in the distance. We were being lifted and lowered and pounded with wind, heading into oblivion. We knew what was out there, we just were unable to see it. We were sitting ducks, on a water roller coaster with paddles for webbed feet. I, myself, was over-whelmed. Dave kept his cool. I think he was more up for the challenge.

At my urging, we took several breaks along the Pond Segment by grasping onto branches for a couple of minutes. I needed those minutes to muster up more umph. We didn’t even hug the scenic coastline, as we opted for the shortest distance, which roughly bobbed us through what seemed like the wide open sea. It never dawned on us to check the weather report for the wind factor of the day. No rain meant it was full steam ahead.

Now we know better. I can’t even remember the last time I got such a good upper body workout. It got to the point that I wasn’t even looking where we were going, as I had flattened my body as parallel to the kayak as possible to lessen our wind resistance. Picture Lance Armstrong hunched over his handle bars. On this course, there were no pot holes, road blocks, etc. to concern us; thus I could paddle forcefully, yet blindly.

For sure we will joyfully experience the Horse Creek Water Trail again, but on a less windy day. Maybe then I can keep my eyes open, sans the perfect storm, and boldly experience the total bliss of Aiken County scenery. Maybe then I won’t need two strong guys from Parks & Recreation to come pull me out of my kayak.

Go for it! It’s two hours and twenty-five minutes of time (your life) well spent. Life is good.

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Maryann Zeliznak, a native of northern New Jersey, ten years in West Palm Beach, now on the SC/GA border, with a cabin near Asheville. Always the nature lover, the cabin has a view of Mt. Pisgah. Been canoeing, rafting and kayaking all my life. Have had a love of writing since middle school. Several published articles and short stories as well as a short history book on Vernon, NJ used in teaching 6th grade local history. Mostly I write for my own enjoyment and that of my friends.