If you read the last post, you know the family was in Florida at the beginning of March.  Here is what was left out of the previous paddling post: bacon, swimming and fishing.  

I recently traveled south to my parent's winter escape on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and my friends at Folbot sent along a few boats for us to paddle, a 13' Yukon and a more nimble 10' Citibot.  Both were paddled extensively by me and my family. 

Sloane and I spent Christmas and New Years with the Whelans and some friends from NYC and Beantown.  It was fantastic, we ate and drank plenty, had serious family time, and hiked - a lot.

If you live in Charleston, and have never been to Capers island, shame on you.  This place is amazing, and it is the only barrier island I know of you are legally allowed to camp on.  I led my old friends from Charleston on an overnight trip at the beginning of December, while I was back for the art exhibit I took part in.  

I recently took part in a group art exhibit at Jericho Arts in Charleston, SC.  I printed and framed four of my favorite images from my personal series - Painted with Light.  If you are in Charleston and missed the opening for "Our Landscapes", don't worry - you can still go check it out.  Here is link for the address.  The gallery is open M-F 9-5 and by appointment.  All the work is available for purchase.  

Last weekend, I managed to persuade my good buddy Frank into joining me for an overnight paddle on the eastern shore of Maryland.  It just so happened to be my birthday, and also one of the coldest bits of weather we have seen this year so far.  We met late friday night at Janes Island State Park, in Crisfield MD.

most of the mccorkle clan gathered at kooser state park recently to celebrate the first birthday of my niece, brenna mae.  since we were all together we decided to do our famous hungarian family tradition of sutni szalonna  (click this link to find out more). basically we cook slab bacon over a fire and eat it for dinner.  if it sounds amazing, that is because it is - and it most likely kicks the ass of your family traditions.  

i recently spent five days and four nights in the adirondacks with one of my old housemates frank and his brother adam - aka "the gills".  frank has been on a few multi-day paddle trips with me in the past, but this was adam's first adventure with us.  actually, it was his first adventure in quite some time.

i attended gualey fest in summersville, wv for the first time a few weekends ago.  it was all i had anticipated and more, a 3 day weekend of paddling bliss, interrupted only by eating, drinking, live music, hammocking and more drinking.

in between the six weddings we're attending this summer and fall - we've managed to carve out some time for adventure.  the pics below are from the first two weeks of september.  

on a 94 degree labor day, sloane and i braved the 99% humidity and hiked the south trail along the gunpowder river.  i thought it was going to be a cake walk, but it turns out i was wrong - it was brutal.  we only hiked 7 miles, but it seemed like 14.  the air was thick and drinking water was scarce (my fault) - but the scenery was superb.  the river, which is dam released from the bottom of pretty boy reservoir, is a constant 55 degrees.  the combination of cold water, humidity and warm air temps created pockets of fog all along the river.  it was awesome.