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Places to
Paddle tm
Serving Paddlers Since 1999
Kayaking - Canoeing - Rafting - Fishing - Surfing
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An
outstanding HD video and automatic photo camera with built-in GPS
for paddlers, bikers, surfers, kite boarders, hang gliders, hikers;
all of us that love the outdoors! I take mine on every adventure.
Al
V
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Ashley
River, Old Dorchester SC USA |
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Copyright
2013 Closewaters LLC- See Terms
of Use
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Our Route Summary
- Submitted
by: Al Vazquez
- Date
Submitted: 6/1999
- Location: Herbert
H Jessen public boat ramp, Dorchester (Town of Summerville) SC northwest
of Charleston SC
- Class: 1
- Typically flat water but with
tidal current
- Distance
Paddled: About 6
miles round trip
- Water: fresh
to brackish, depending on the tide
- Wildlife: fish,
alligators, wild flowers
- Special
Regulations: None known
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Entry
and Exit - Herbert
H Jessen Public Boat Ramp
- Directions:
- From Charleston
- Go
north on South Carolina Route 642 north to Dorchester.
- Just
after the intersection with Route 259, follow signs to
Ashley River access at
Ladson Road to the Herbert Jessen public boat
launch on the west side of Route 642.
- GPS: N 32 deg 56.825' W 080 deg 09.890' (actual)
- Fee: None
- Description:
floating dock, cement ramp, or adjacent dirt beach
- Parking:
adjacent paved
- Facilities:
Two lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier and paved parking
for approximately 40 vehicle/trailers. No restrooms but the Old
Dorchester State Historic Park just up river has
rest rooms, picnic areas and the ruins of a
settlement begun in 1697 including an old fort.
- Security: Relatively
secure location to leave unattended vehicles.
- Special Handicap Access: none
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Where We Paddled and What We Saw
We paddled up the river (to the right) past Old Dorchester on the
right bank, historic homes, natural areas, and finally, newer waterfront
developments.
There are also feeder creeks like the one pictured at left to explore
Numerous wildflowers bloomed along the banks and even on logs in
the middle of the river, like the one pictured above.
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On the way back down the river, we pulled up to the
Old Dorchester Historic site and walked around. Though there isn't
a canoe landing, it was easy to spot the fort and tie the boats to
the bank. The site is on the eastern bank of the river about a quarter
of a mile northwest of the launch point.
The grounds of the settlement are very well maintained. A standing shell
of the town church still stands (see the photo at right). In front of
the old church is the town cemetery with very legible grave markers hundreds
of years old.
We walked inside the walls of the old fort made from "tabby" a
limestone mixture of sea shells.
It's easy to forget to bring walking
shoes on kayaking trips but there
are often great opportunities such as this that you could miss out
on!
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