Although Apollo loves the mountains, he was ready for a fresh change of scenery and decided to cruise on down to Congaree National Park in South Carolina to snap off a couple pictures.
Congaree National Park is (still, I think) the youngest ‘national park’ in the National Park System. In 2003, it’s status was upgraded from ‘national monument’ to ‘national park,’ which Apollo thinks sounds “more badder asser” than monument. While most folks still call it a swamp, it’s not a swamp swamp in the true sense of the word. The Congaree ‘swamp’ is actually a floodplain from the Congaree River. Several times a year, the entire park naturally floods. Apollo wishes he lived closer, so he could more easily kayak the entire park instead of hike it. Imagine the creepy crawlies Apollo could play with…
Congaree is also home to some of the largest trees on this side of the country. Unfortunately, Apollo was pressed for time on his trip to get an up close hump of the Giant Loblolly Pines, some almost 180ft tall. That is Momma blankin’ tall!
If you’ve never been to Congaree, you should probably consider going. They got miles of awesome backcountry hiking and a sweet boardwalk trail loop that takes you to some of the good stuff inside the park. If that’s not cool enough, they even offer FREE guided ranger canoe trips on the weekends, but I think you need to make reservations ahead of time. Rad.
Apollo arrives in style to Congaree National Park.
Apollo was eager to hit the boardwalk trail and hop in some swamp water.
Yeah so even though Congaree is not an actual swamp swamp, it looks like a swamp, and swamp is a cool sounding word, so Apollo is sticking with Congaree Swamp.
Apollo so tried finding wildlife to mess with. Congaree is said to have wild boar, deer, and mosquitoes. All Apollo saw was mosquitoes.
Apollo's balls can take the pounding of any cypress tree root.
Apollo was thirsty for more Congaree Swamp awesomeness.
Apollo swears this looks like the Delicate Arch of Arches National Park near Moab.
This is where the mosquitoes apparently hang out.
Apollo in the goop.
Congaree National Park kicks ass.
Apollo met some nice older ladies that made fun of him on 'the dead tree.' As a payback, Apollo shocked the balls off the lady upon shaking her hand.
Congaree Swamp has a lot of awesome trees.
Apollo appreciates the high and dry boardwalk. Thanks National Park Service. Thanks taxpayers.
Apollo wants to thank Harry R.E. Hampton for his contributions to Congaree National Park. Without this dude, Apollo would be here taking pictures of a subdivision full of assholes. Thanks Harry!
On our way out of the swamp, Apollo wanted to steal this persons pink bicycle. Tom was first on the scene to capture the drama.
Apollo never actually stole the bike. Not because he couldn't reach the pedals, or because it was locked and he couldn't guess the combination, but because he has higher morals than that.
Apollo needs a ride more his size...
After Apollo left the swamp, he told the rangers of his insane encounter with the killer mob of mosquitoes. He convinced the head cheese rangers at Congaree to blast the Mosquitometer all the way up to Warzone.
Where was Apollo when we needed him in the 70′s?
It’s never too late for good company -We’re glad to have Apollo on our side. We’ll count on his future support.