{"id":5224,"date":"2021-04-25T11:01:31","date_gmt":"2021-04-25T15:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?p=5224"},"modified":"2021-04-25T11:08:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T15:08:53","slug":"two-days-of-exploration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?p=5224","title":{"rendered":"Two Days of Exploration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_wide.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5229\" width=\"600\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_wide.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_wide-300x116.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_wide-1024x395.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_wide-150x58.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_wide-768x296.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you been wondering where I&#8217;ve been? Well, I&#8217;ve been deep in the swamp, exploring places that are so remote and treacherous, that no one before me has returned to tell about it. The first day, I had to backtrack because I couldn&#8217;t get through all of the fallen trees and there was no clear path. When I returned and overlaid my track onto the satellite imagery, I realized that I had taken a wrong turn and was heading into the woods. In going off course, I explored some ground that I may not have otherwise explored, so it wasn&#8217;t a wasted trip. However, I set out the next day to correct my routing error and pursue my original goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01-1024x760.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5228\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?attachment_id=5228\" class=\"wp-image-5228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01-1024x760.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01-150x111.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01-768x570.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_01.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5227\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?attachment_id=5227\" class=\"wp-image-5227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_02.jpg 1196w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5226\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?attachment_id=5226\" class=\"wp-image-5226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_03.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5225\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?attachment_id=5225\" class=\"wp-image-5225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-23_explore_04.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On day 2, I took an entirely different track. I did connect to my old track, so there would be no gaps in my exploration, but once I had established the condition of that route, I resumed my northward track with the goal of connecting back to Hunters creek near my new sinking hole, from which I had been exploring on foot and encountering really deep mud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore03-300x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore03-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore03-1024x852.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore03-150x125.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore03-768x639.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore03.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Along the way, I found a marshy wooded area that was fraught with uncertain footing. I never knew when I was going to find firm (enough) ground and when I would just sink up to my thigh. I&#8217;ll be returning there, someday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore02-297x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore02-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore02-1015x1024.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore02-768x775.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore02.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The trip on day 2 was physically exhausting. I had to hack my way through fallen trees and drag my boat through really deep mud where there wasn&#8217;t enough water to paddle, or I just didn&#8217;t want to get into my boat because I was coated in mud. At some point, I realized that I had to break through to the other side because I just couldn&#8217;t bear to turn back. When I was getting close to my destination, the mud was getting really deep. I had to use my boat to hold myself up, or I&#8217;d sink way too deep to be able to make any progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore04-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore04-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore04-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore04-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore04-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_explore04.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I shot as much video as I could, but there were times when it was all I could do, just to make forward progress. I shot a full immersion video right before I backtracked to the cut-through and made a beeline for the creek so I could wash up and dry off. It was a warm day, but I had been wet for hours and my core temperature was dropping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_afterglow-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_afterglow-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_afterglow-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_afterglow-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_afterglow.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I got rained on a few times, but once I got to my cleanup spot, I put up a tarp, heated some water on my camp stove, grabbed a snack and got into some dry clothes. I still had some time left, so I hung out for a while, cleaned my boat, and relished my adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I had about 4km (2.5 miles) to paddle back to where I started, but the winds were calm and paddling on the open water is like a walk in the park, compared to what I had been through. I was paddling against the incoming tide, but I&#8217;m pretty sure I didn&#8217;t notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\">Oh, and one last thing &#8230; I created a map from day 2 of my adventure, using Google Earth. Here is a link: <a href=\"\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2021-04-24_exploring.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you been wondering where I&#8217;ve been? Well, I&#8217;ve been deep in the swamp, exploring places that are so remote and treacherous, that no one before me has returned to tell about it. The first day, I had to backtrack because I couldn&#8217;t get through all of the fallen trees and there was no clear &hellip; <a class=\"read-excerpt\" href=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?p=5224\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&raquo;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,7,9],"tags":[146,36],"class_list":["post-5224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deepmud","category-exploring","category-mudding","tag-muddy-jeans","tag-struggling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5224"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5244,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5224\/revisions\/5244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}