Bikepacking the Low Country | Day 1 of 3 | Grinding Sand

Bikepacking the Low Country day 1 of 3. Jay, Eddie, & Will take on the sand and swamp of the Palmetto Trail in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Overview //
Trail Start: Poinsett State Park
Trail End: Awendaw Passage Trail Head at the Buck Hall Recreation Area and Boat Landing
Distance: 150 miles
Bike packing rigs: Trek Farley [Eddie], RSD Mayor [Jay] & Breezer Repack [Will]
Day 1 Route Description //
The trip started out on "The Knot" mountain bike trail in Poinsett State Park. This trail is featured in an annual mountain bike race that is part of the Southern Classic. This was the most mountain bike trail of the whole ride.
After The Knot, we headed out into the high sandhills region. The going here was tough with lots of loose and deep sand. This section was a struggle for Will with skinny tires.
We continued along Lake Marion for a while until we came to a part of the trail that was closed. The trail used to access old route 301 - a road that parallels the I-95 crossing of Lake Marion, but the DOT has closed it to foot/bike traffic now.
To get across without having to use I-95, we contacted "Let's Go Charter Services" to meet us at Polly's Landing and ferry us and our three bikes across the lake.
We camped our first night at Taylor's Landing.
This video should be considered for entertainment purposes only, any action you take based on the content of this video is strictly "at your own risk".
#simplymountainbiking #SMB #mountainbiking

[@josaxtvc]

I like that you show the good and bad parts. Too many videos make the entire trip seem like a magical adventure the whole time. Also fat bikes rock for bikepacking!

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Levi - Thank you for the feedback. Trying to keep it real :). We agree - fat bikes rock!

[@jonjon9135]

Sparkle berry swamp😍😍😍 thanks for sharing🇦🇺🤙

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thanks for watching! - Jay

[@kevinwhited984]

I really enjoy watching your bikepacking videos, keep them coming.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thanks, will do! -Eddie

[@SirBikesAlot]

Good stuff. Editing is great! It's always fun to see what other people are bikepacking in their backyards and how the terrain is different from one's own area.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thanks for joining us on the journey! Keep getting out there! - Jay

[@karlr6810]

Cool video...sorry you ended not feeling the best at that stop. Good to know I'm not alone feeling nauseous at times when riding. Thanks for sharing.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thanks! That was so weird. It was sudden - and I had nothing on my stomach to even throw up. Maybe it was the heat, exertion, and the thought of food I was about to eat... It left as soon as it arrived though. Strange! - Eddie

[@mswarrior932]

Good fat video!! Loved it!! 🚴

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thanks! - Jay

[@mswarrior932]

@@SimplyMountainBiking anytime bro!! Anytime!!!🚴

[@Sturmer69]

great vid, looking forward to the rest... greetz from the real low countries... The Netherlands.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Mart - greetings to you, thanks for tuning in! - Jay

[@epagent6091]

Grate video gents! Can't wait til the next one.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@EP Agent - more to come :). Thanks for tuning in!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Awesome! it's like bikepacking in Florida!

[@adamtedder1012]

Exactly!

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thanks for the feedback! It certainly was some deep sand! - Jay

[@williamwade7059]

Love this stuff,

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thank you William. - Jay

[@alexmarchica5264]

Wow you guys are a blast to watch. Who was the legend who ferry'd ya'll across the water? Seems like a nice guy.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

That was Captain Jim of "Let's Go" charter services. He was a great guy! -Eddie

[@nathancox4217]

So good!

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Nathan - Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :). - Jay

[@scottywentzky]

Really enjoy your trip videos! I live in Rock Hill, SC and have been researching a route similar to what you did following the Palmetto Trail. Can’t wait for the rest of the videos for this trip.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Hey Scott - that's great! Glad you are enjoying the trips. If you ride the route, you'll have to let us know your experience. - Jay

[@scottywentzky]

@@SimplyMountainBiking Will do for sure. Hoping to do it this Spring or Fall.

[@paulsslightlyactivelife]

Looks like a truly challenging route. Well done guys.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Paul - thanks for checking it out and for the comment. The deep sand was definitely taxing on the legs! - Jay

[@davejussel2607]

Well done guys, I’m jealous for sure. More Bikepacking vids please

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Thank you Dave. More to come, stay tuned! - Jay

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

Great video! Nice editing and looks like an epic trip! New sub!

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Daniel - Happy to hear you enjoyed the video. It was a great trip! Thank you for the support - Jay

[@adamtedder1012]

Thanks for more. This is great! You guys are beast on the fatties.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Adam - you are welcome :). Glad you enjoyed it. We love some fat bikes! - Jay

[@patricksparks8660]

I’ve been looking at doing this route... thanks for showing what it is and not all perfect. Looking at some routes in and around southern WV too. Keep it rubber side down🤘

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@Patrick - glad you found it helpful. Hope you can get out there soon! - Jay

[@irishman3375]

I would have loved to joined you, let me know next time you do a ride in the South, I wanna go. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

You're welcome! - Eddie

[@r.l.8291]

Enjoy your backpacking videos. Inspires me to do the same.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@R.L. - Thank you for the feedback. Get out there! - Jay

[@r.l.8291]

@@SimplyMountainBiking I almost there, just need some bags!

[@mooreoutdoor9841]

That truly looked nasty! Hope the next two days were better.

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

There were some tough moments, but we enjoyed it! - Jay

[@JamesRobertMTB]

Putting that fat bike to work dude !!

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

The fat bikes are definitely work horses! - Jay

[@Naturally_Fly]

Man y’all were in my back yard. I’m in Charleston and ride Francis Marion NF all the time. I’ve been wanting to do a BikePacking trip on the Palmetto Trail but had heard that the route was not well kept up. I would’ve love to have join yall

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Oh awesome! Hope we cross paths sometime. - Jay

[@irishman3375]

I think they need to put out an invitation for a group ride in the South, that would make for great film ??

[@Naturally_Fly]

@@irishman3375 That would be fun, I know there is a group ride in GA the Cycling Sasquatch Ride. He is only limiting it to 50 riders though this year.

[@irishman3375]

@@Naturally_Fly found this, got my first ride coming, Pisgah NF 1 nighter, bikepacking.com/routes/looking-glass-loop/

[@michaelw2155]

I'm planning on hitting The Palmetto Trail from Spartanburg to the Coast this May. Do y'all post your ride files?

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Hi, Michael. I'd be happy to share the .gpx or .kml file of the route as we rode it. Direct message us on reddit (u/simplymountainbike) and I'll get them to you. - Eddie

[@irishman3375]

let get a group together and do that ride, I'm in if you are open to complete strangers riding with yah?

[@jessereade5298]

All that and no garmin

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

It was fun navigating with paper maps this time! - Eddie

[@kencrossman3634]

Old school , using Maps this time What looks happened to the Wahoo element ? You wouldn’t leave home without it when you did Iron Mtn ? 🥴🥴

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Yes - the Elemnt was there! We printed the Palmetto Trail maps on nice waterproof paper - their maps are so nice! It was fun having "old-style" paper maps to use this route. - Eddie

[@kencrossman3634]

@@SimplyMountainBiking That is really cool Enjoy your vids, looking forward to seeing the rest of your trip in SC Will looked about dead on that skinny tire Mtn Bike , I was hurting for him

[@john50054]

Perhaps more appropriately: "Sands Souci."

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Love it! - Eddie

[@Sawood09]

Are you able to share the contact info for the boat capt that got you across the lake? Im headed here next week

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Yep! Call Capt. Jim at 305-432-6776 or email [e-mail]. Have fun! - Eddie

[@Sawood09]

@@SimplyMountainBiking He picked you up at Polly's, where did he take you to?

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

@@Sawood09 He took us all the way down to Taylor's Landing and Ferguson road. - Eddie

[@chrisgilling543]

If your buddy is getting leg cramps, he needs to get some sodium in his food

[@SimplyMountainBiking]

Yes indeed. Thank for the tip! - Jay