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‘Miserable’? Depends upon your perspective
Two days ago, the weekend forecast for across the land (“the land” being North Carolina) called for mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 70s. Perfect weather for just about every outdoor pursuit. Today, the word “miserable” is in the forecast for Saturday. (WRAL.com: “ … We should have a miserable day with wind and rain playing a prominent role in the forecast. .. .” It’s a meteorologist’s prerogative,…
Continue Reading +This weekend: Forecast for fun
Test a kayak, try a new wildlife refuge, tread (quickly) some stellar trail. There’s lots to do in North Carolina this coming spring weekend. Coast Been thinking about getting into flatwater paddling but confounded by the various boat options? Rec kayaks, touring kayaks, sea kayaks, sit-on-tops, inflatables … . Where’s a budding paddler to start? If you’re in Wilmington Saturday you can start at Smith Creek Park, where from 10…
Continue Reading +90 Second Escape: Mount Rogers
Monday — never an easy time for the outdoors enthusiast. After a weekend of adventure, returning to the humdrum work-a-day world can make one melancholy. To help ease the transition, every Monday we feature a 90 Second Escape — essentially, a 90-second video or slide show of a place you’d probably rather be: a trail, a park, a greenway, a lake … anywhere as long as it’s not under a…
Continue Reading +Hike into a season in bloom
Through March in the Piedmont we’d seen only scant evidence of spring: first-responder wildflowers including trout lilies (which can appear as early as late February), bluets and a sorrel or two. Spring was kept in the deep freeze in March, was good news if you were otherwise occupied during the month and couldn’t get out. Finally, though, come April the situation is changing. Sunny skies, warm weather and spring are…
Continue Reading +This weekend: Walk/Run/Bike (and Hike/Paddle)
Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70s — that’s the statewide forecast for this weekend. Our forecast? You’ll be out making the most of it. Coast You’ve got some paddling experience under your belt, on lakes, maybe a local river or two with a minimal current. You like the idea of paddling bigger water — the sounds and inlets — and while you’re confident in your skills, you’d still…
Continue Reading +Ten places for a spring paddle
Last Thursday on a trip down east was my first day on the water and it put me of a mind to spend more time paddling. The quiet, save for the birdsong and the occasional gal-lump of a turtle inelegantly abandoning sunny log for murky water. The wildlife, including an alligator that was even more distracted by the sun and warmth. The emergence of spring, with the pastel buds of…
Continue Reading +90 Second Escape: Paddling Milltail Creek
Monday — never an easy time for the outdoors enthusiast. After a weekend of adventure, returning to the humdrum work-a-day world can make one melancholy. To help ease the transition, every Monday we feature a 90 Second Escape — essentially, a 90-second video or slide show of a place you’d probably rather be: a trail, a park, a greenway, a lake … anywhere as long as it’s not under a…
Continue Reading +Let the paddling season begin
The sun was unimpeded in chasing off the morning chill, a gentle breeze played in the marsh grass and my swamp kayak rocked ever-so-slightly in the near-still water. Fifteen feet off my starboard bow, an alligator dozed. I watched for several minutes, expecting him to blink. He never did. Apparently, he, too, was savoring the delayed start to spring. My opening day on the water for the 2014 paddling season,…
Continue Reading +This weekend: Branch out
It’s a great weekend for a run — or to climb a tree. Coast The sun and warmth may be late in arriving, but it’s getting to Wilmington just in time for this weekend’s Azalea Festival. And that’s especially good news if you’re a runner and like to participate in one of the festival’s keynote events, the Azalea Festival 5K/10K/Fun Walk on Saturday. The races start at 8 a.m. from…
Continue Reading +90 Second Escape: The Beach
Monday — never an easy time for the outdoors enthusiast. After a weekend of adventure, returning to the humdrum work-a-day world can make one melancholy. To help ease the transition, every Monday we feature a 90 Second Escape — essentially, a 90-second video or slide show of a place you’d probably rather be: a trail, a park, a greenway, a lake … anywhere as long as it’s not under a…
Continue Reading +