Tag Archives: paddle

This weekend: A proper September sendoff

The Scuppernong. Photo courtesy Mike Dunn

Say goodbye to September with a coastal paddle, a Piedmont adventure race, or a day in the mountains with your heads, thoughtfully, in the clouds.

Coast

Perhaps we’ve mentioned this a time or three before; if so, forgive us. But one of our favorite paddles in the state is on the Scuppernong River upstream from Columbia. Wide and open as the river is at Columbia, shortly before giving it up to Bull Bay and the Albemarle Sound, the river just upstream, where it becomes part of Pettigrew State Park, is close and intimate. Perfect for a fall canoe trip. read more

This weekend: Hot times in NC

Lumber River

A cool bike ride in the mountains or a leisurely day on the water in the Piedmont and coastal plain: Those are but three of your options this weekend in North Carolina.

Coast

What better place to spend a muggy, 90-degree day than on a river? And not just an hour or two of the day, but at least half of it. read more

This weekend: Paddle, hike, RunRunRunRunRun

Lake Waccamaw (photo courtesy N.C. State Parks)

The second weekend of summer is perfect for paddling a Carolina Bay, for a taking a high-country hike and for running five races in one.

Coast

Summer is ideal for paddling. But it you don’t have your own canoe or kayak, a leisurely day on the water takes on potential hassles. First, you have to find a place to rent a boat (which we’ve made easy with this handy list). Then you have to get the boat to decent place to paddle (again, we’ve got help with that). And you have to watch the clock to make sure you get the boat back on time (sorry, no help there). read more

Self-shuttle the Neuse

I love to paddle rivers. But I don’t always have a party to paddle with. That’s a problem for three reasons:

  1. Paddling with others is more fun;
  2. It’s safer, and;
  3. From a purely selfish standpoint, paddling with a party makes setting up a shuttle a whole lot easier.

Usually.
Like most folks, I’m excited about the near completion of Raleigh’s Neuse River Trail, a 27.5-mile greenway following its namesake river from the base of Falls dam south to the Johnston County line. (The missing link, a 3/4-mile stretch below Horseshoe Farm Park is scheduled to open early next year). And, like most folks, I’m excited for the cycling/running/walking potential the greenway offers. read more

This weekend: Paddle through history or into the night

Moores Creek. Photo courtesy National Park Service

This weekend in North Carolina you can paddle into the Revolutionary past, you can paddle at night, or you can go camping a mile up.

Coast

Like a paddle with a little history? Thursday’s Moores Creek Kayaking History Adventure paddle on Moores Creek, which meanders through the Moores Creek National Battlefield, is just the ticket. The 88-acre park “commemorates the battle between Patriots and Loyalist militia on February 27, 1776,” according to the Halyburton Park (Wilmington) program guide.  “This battle was the first major victory for the Patriots that lead to Cornwallis’ withdrawal from North Carolina.  Join us and paddle this historic creek and watch history come alive after your kayaking adventure with a ranger-lead tour of the battlefield.” Fives mile roundtrip. read more