Roanoke Paddle Club

Roanoke Paddle Club Adventures

Winter Paddling & Camping in Goose Creek State Park

Read the Trip Log below for details of the
Goose Creek paddle

NEXT PADDLE CLUB MEETING

Sept 4, 2008 Thurs. – 7:00 p.m.

State Employees Credit Union

Hwy 17

Williamston, NC 27892

Contact: Bill Webb

Phone: 252-792-3963

Email:

NEXT PLANNED TRIP

At this time no scheduled trip has been planned. But if you are interested in paddling this weekend call Bill at 792-3963 and we'll see what we can work out. Or, if you have a particular destination you would like to go to, call and let's arrange it! This is great paddling weather! So let's get on the water.

Love to paddle? Own, rent or borrow a canoe, kayak or anything else powered by paddle? Join us and explore the Roanoke, Cashie and other great eastern North Carolina and Virginia waters. Our biggest challenge is that there are so many beautiful creeks and other great spots--all within a day's drive--that we just don't have enough weekends to try them all!

Never paddled before? Don't be intimidated. We've got beginners as well as experienced paddlers among us and our goal is to have a great time, enjoy the scenery and be safe. (See Hunter's Trip Logs below each trip in the schedule.)

We encourage every paddler to WEAR a reliable pfd that fits and carry a change of clothes in a dry bag. Learn all you can about paddling and safety so you can relax and enjoy this great sport. It's simple, it's inexpensive and it's lots of fun!

Webmaster note: Keep checking this web site for other details including trip schedules, trip comments, changes in schedules, and other paddling news. And many thanks to Bill and Hunter for all their work to get and keep this growing club going!

You don't have to live in the area or be a member to paddle with this group.
Check here often for info about special trips and other events.

READ ABOUT OUR LATEST ADVENTURE

Weekend at the Crystal Coast
Date:	08–16–08
Trip Miles:	undetermined
Trip Time:	the entire weekend
Put In:	Different spots along the coast
Take Out:	same as above
Trip Log:	In August, we try to make a trip to the coast for a weekend of paddling. The last couple of years we've been lucky enough to be invited by Bill Webb to spend a couple of nights at his Emerald Isle beach house. So when the opportunity came this year we jumped at the chance. A small group of dedicated paddlers left after work on Friday night. We wanted a bright and early start the next day. Victor VanNortwick and son Patrick, Jimmy Elks and myself, and our host Mr. Bill. About 7:15 Saturday morning we unloaded our boats and carried them to the beach in front our Bill's cottage and ready ourselves for a Sea launch. The waves were small but each time we do this it's a challenge. With some difficulty we all got out thru the surf and paddled off shore riding the swells. It's beautiful out there; so serene and peaceful. We went about a mile along the shoreline and then headed back. On the way the porpoises came to investigate who these intruders were. It's always special when you see them. Surfing the waves back to shore is another experience. The waves near the beach twist and turn your kayak till the next waves roll you or cover your boat. With some mishaps we all got ashore and packed up to go to Shell (Sanddollar) Island for our Saturday adventure. Leaving Morehead, we traveled over the bridges to Beaufort. At the last bridge (Grayden Paul Bridge) there's a dirt pulloff where you can leave your vehicle. We pulled in and unloaded the boats as a large group of(15 or 20) kayakers were coming in. We slipped past them and under the bridge. We passed Pivers Island and Radio Island and out into the Beaufort Inlet. We could see Fort Macon and the Coast Guard Station across the water. The weather was overcast and the temperature in the 80's. A very comfortable day to be out in the Sound. After a couple of miles we easily spotted our destination (crowded with all kinds of boats and people). The tide was on it's way out and it exposed more and more of the island. Perfect for shell collectors and waders. We spent a good deal of time here sitting in the cool waters conversing and having fun. You all need to try this. Yes, we did find some sanddollars both alive and dead. Digging in the sand with your hands brought up some live ones. They're very interesting to see with their hairy little feet and they are kind of fuzzy on their top and bottom. They are unique creatures of the sea. Then we started back. We went back the same way we came because the shortcut over to Beaufort Creek was impassable due to the low tide. After loading up we headed to the Captain's Table in Morehead for an all-you-can-eat popcorn shrimp dinner. We all left there with stuffed tummies. Then we sat out on Bill's deck overlooking the Ocean and listened to the Olympics on the TV. It had been a good day! The next morning we cleaned up around the cottage and headed to Swansboro and breakfast. This was rare for us to have two days on the same weekend trip that the weather would allow us to paddle. After eating, we traveled to Shell Rock Landing (a NC Wildlife Landing) just past Hammock's Beach State Park headquarters. We were heading to the far side of Bear Island. The putin was paddler friendily (with sandy beaches where we could launch with ease). We crossed the Intercoastal Waterway and into the marked creek directly across from the landing.We could see Bear Island in the distance. It was 2.2 miles away. At first there were adequate markers to show the way but they became fewer and fewer as we went. But not to worry we could see the island up ahead. We twisted and turned and weaved our way around the sawgrass and reed marshes. We reached the island with ease. We found that there were plenty of other folks there too; that came mostly by motor boats and jet skis. We walked from the back edge of the island to the ocean side and it was a beautiful sight to behold. A whole seashore with no condos, houses, piers or any other man-made structure in sight. Just surf and sand. As we walked along the shore we saw some marker posts and wire baskets that showed us where Sea Turtles eggs had been laid. There was a warning not to disturb. We relaxed a while and then decided it was time to get back to the mainland. The tide was still going out and the current near the island was strong. We had to paddle hard to make progress. We headed up into the waterway between the reeds and attempted to follow what markers we could find. It was here that the labyrinth of the sawgrass islands began. Patrick and I got ahead and turned into a creek with an almost hidden marker. Bill and Victor missed this turn and got lost in the maze. It was a long distance before we saw another marker. We stopped and I blew my emergency whistle that I have attached to my PFD to let Bill and Victor know where we were. But they heard me but couldn't find out how to get to us. About this time the sky darken and a clap of thunder with lightning sounded. Patrick and I decided to see if we could find our way out. The next marker we saw was positioned right between the split in the creek. Which way? Right or left? We guessed and were lucky to find another marker a far distance down the way. We had to choose a number of other times as the creek continued dividing. Finally near the mouth of the creek the markers were closer and more clearly seen. Patrick and I had made it, but where were the others? After 45 minutes we spotted kayak paddles over the sawgrass and Bill and Victor emerged from the creek. Their story was the same as ours. It's not a well marked route. I hope they improve this condition for the trip itself was great. As we finished loading the boats the storm front went by. Fun, adventure, and a little drama; a typical kayak trip. Come with us next time.

Past Paddle Club Adventures

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