We set out today on our first caching trip to catch up on the many caches that have been placed in the MB area since we left in January. Our first 3 caches were Earthcaches that were where we had placed traditional caches before we left. At all of these 3 caches we had to take pictures and answer questions regarding the geological features of the sites. The first was at Hog Inlet Marsh which is at the Russell Burgess Nature Park which is a salt marsh. Salt marsh life started long ago, about 15,000 years ago when the last Ice Age glaciers melted. Various lakes were created by the meltdown. Then thousands of years later they completely drained into the sea through outlets in moraine dams. As the waters flooded the coastal uplands they moved the shoreline inland through a process termed "marine transgression." The drowned coastal streams and river valleys are now our present day coves, embayments, and salt marshes. In this salty sea soup, the magic of the salt marshes were created. Salt marshes are magical places of renewal. From their death and decay they spring forth life. A primordial soup of the eternal wonderful cycle of life. They are safe havens for biological organisms, algae, marsh plants, young fish, crustaceans, birds and woodland animals. Switchgrass shoots slow water movement, trapping and accumulating sediments. This specially enhanced sedimentation, coupled with the increasing volume of below-ground roots, allow the elevation of developing marshes to keep up with a rising sea. As salt marsh plants die and decompose, they create organic detritus. This varying abundant food source is found in the muds of the salt marsh bottoms and are essential for salt marsh dwellers survival. The classic life cycle and food chain in action. We got our information and we were off to the next cache.
The next cache was at Frinks Neck Park which is buried way back in Cherry Grove and overlooks Waites Island which is a barrier island. Barrier islands rise from the seafloor, are chopped by inlets, and retreat toward the mainland. Even the calmest of seas are constantly moving water, sand, and mud toward and away from the shore, and establishing new shorelines. Waites Island is an undeveloped barrier island located at the northern end of the South Carolina coastline. The 3 mile long island is bounded by Little River Inlet to the north and Hog Inlet to the south. To catch a glimpse of Waites Island, you can only do so from across the marsh, as the only visitors to the island are researchers. The island is now owned by South Carolina Coastal University and is totally dedicated to the study of biology and coastal erosion.
The next cache was out in the Longs area where we used to live and the site of our first cache placement. It was located at the Waccamaw River Boat Launch along RT 9 near Longs and had to do with the river basin in NC & SC. The headwaters of the Waccamaw River originate in North Carolina just north of Lake Waccamaw. It drains roughly 804,400 acres of Bladen, Columbus, and Brunswick Counties there before crossing over into Horry and Georgetown Counties in South Carolina. There it encompasses 5 watersheds and 765 square miles. The black waters of the Waccamaw River Basin incorporate the Lower Coastal Plains of the both states. The Waccamaw River flows across the South Carolina state line from North Carolina then joins the Great Pee Dee River as it forms Winyah Bay and drains into the Atlantic Ocean. Water Quality tests on the Waccamaw have shown adequate oxygen levels for the variety of fish, alligator and other wildlife that call the Waccamaw River Basin home. However, tests have shown levels of toxins that exceed levels for human consumption. This has prompted warning signs to be posted where fishermen launch so that no one consumes too much of chemical levels that have been registered in fish tested along it’s watersheds. They warn you not to eat bowfin or largemouth bass at all.
Our next cache was located near the former site of Gator Hole golf course along a walking path, next cache was a library cache in NMB, next was a cache in front of a computer store, next was a cache in front of a store in Barefoot Landing Shopping Center, next was a magnetic keyholder near Colonial Mall, next was a light pole cache near Wally World, then it was another light pole cache in front of the Dollar Store, then we went to Briarcliffe Acres a very exclusive housing development off of RT 17 and a cache hidden behind a tree in the woods and lastly was a cache near the Welcome to NMB sign in the woods.
We then drove back to the house and had lunch and Mom took a walk and sat at the beach for awhile and I worked on a cache Ed and I are going to do. When Mom came back she worked on our cache logs and I downloaded the pictures for the Earthcaches. After we were done with those I worked on catching up on the blog and by that time it was dinner time. We ate and watched TV for awhile and I went to bed. Well time to say until next time we love you all. Mom & Dad
Picture List:1-Waccamaw River, 2-Waites Island, 3-Hog Inlet Sea Marsh.
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