I want to, I just don’t have time.
Too often we put off a good time because we don’t have a good grasp of time. Between work, the yard, that jar of pennies that needs marshaling into sleeves … . Who has the time?
We’re not suggesting you’d rather spend an afternoon arranging metal portraits of Abe Lincoln, but isn’t that something you could do in the evening during some binge TV?
Truth is, you likely have the time — you just need some direction regarding how to best use it. You need someone who’s likewise strapped and has refused to say no to adventure.
You need Quick Escapes.
Quick Escapes is a new, occasional GetGoingNC feature that helps you find time in your busy schedule for adventure by streamlining the process. We propose an adventure you don’t think you have time for, then show you that you do.

This week’s Quick Escape: The 90-minute Self-Shuttle River Trip

Challenge River paddles are great. Unfortunately, we’re of a mindset that we a shuttle buddy to do them. That can involve numerous emails, texts and phone calls to figure out schedules and logistics, not to mention the possibility the whole thing could be scuttled by Shuttle Buddy remembering at the last minute a conflicting spousal obligation. In fact, while certain moving water should not be paddled solo, there are plenty of safe, slow-moving waterways in the Triangle and to the east that can be paddled by your lonesome.

Solution To varying degrees, many of these rivers lend themselves to a self-supported shuttle. Find a stretch of water you’re interested in paddling, pull up Google Maps, drop pins at both the put-in and take-out, then check out the recommended shuttle route. Google will show you the best routes by car, by foot, by bike, and give you distances as well as estimated travel times. Note: Google is sometimes unclear on the notion of what constitutes a “safe” route for biking or walking; be sure to double check the recommended route: if GM suggests you bike on a stretch of interstate highway, for instance, you might consider plan B.

Quick Escape’s recommended solution: Neuse River One of the best candidates for the self-shuttle is the Neuse River through Raleigh. The Neuse runs about 28 miles through town, from the base of Falls Lake Dam to the Johnston County line. For several years, the City of Raleigh has maintained five canoe accesses along the river; in the past year, the city has opened all but about a half-mile of the Neuse River Greenway Trail, a paved greenway that parallels the river for that entire 28 miles (and continues another five miles to Clayton). The greenway makes an excellent shuttle route, either by foot (running or walking) or by bike.

Access points Here are the distances and locations of the city’s five Neuse River access points. Plan your shuttle accordingly.

0.0 miles         Falls Dam
10.5         Buffaloe Road
14.0         Milburnie Dam
16.0         Anderson Point
17.5         Poole Road

Today’s trip In the interest of time (we are trying to squeeze in a Quick Escape, remember) we opted for the two-mile Milburnie to Anderson Point trip. Here’s how that trip unfolded, on the clock.

0:00 — Arrive at put-in. Unload boat, paddle, pfd and water bottle. Store under pedestrian bridge. Lock your boat to the bridge with a bicycle cable lock. The worry is less about someone stealing your boat; unless they happen to be prowling with a roof rack and tie-down straps, that’s unlikely. Rather, you don’t want a prankster casting off your craft absent the captain (you).
0:05 — Leave put-in to set up shuttle.
0:13 — Arrive at Anderson Point take-out. Get pack containing: car keys, wallet, cell phone, snack. Recommended: use a trail pack made for running, either around the waist or a low-profile backpack type.
0:30 — Arrive back at put-in. In my case, I elected to run, covering the 2.1 miles of greenway in a little over 17 minutes. Google estimates the walking time at 42 minutes, the cycling time at 11 minutes. In contrast, the less-direct 4.2-mile car shuttle is estimated to take 7 minutes.
0:33 — Launch.
1:16 — Take out. Total paddle time: 42 minutes, 54 seconds. I did minimal paddling, relying mostly on the 2+ mph current. A relaxed pace that allowed for plenty of ogling and picture taking.
1:32 — Boat racked, car loaded; ready to leave.

Elapsed time 1 hour, 32 minutes

Obviously, this does not include the time it takes to plan the trip, pack, travel to the put-in, drive home from the take-out and unpack — which could easily take another hour and a half. Do these trips often enough, get in the mindset of planning your trips and efficiently executing them, and you’ll economize that part of your trip as well.

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Got an idea for a Quick Escape, or one you’d like us to figure out? Drop us a line at joe@getgoingnc.com.

The post Quick Escapes: Your Guide to Timeless Adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

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.

But I’m also excited because the greenway offers a great shuttle option for paddling the Neuse. With the greenway paralleling the river, there’s no more direct shuttle option. If you’re a runner/paddler, you get your daily run in with your paddle trip. If you’re a cyclist, you get a nice ride in as well.

Along the 27.5-mile stretch, the city of Raleigh has five official canoe/kayak access points. That is, accesses designed specifically for putting in and taking out. Accesses with parking and designed for easy access and egress from the river. There are also two unofficial access points that offer adequate, safe parking and manageable access for your canoe or kayak.

The arrangement of seven access points allows for all sorts of trip permutations.

Say you’re neither a runner nor a cyclist, but you do like a good walk. Put in at the Millburnie Dam Access and take out at the Poole Road Access for a 3.5-mile paddle and shuttle walk (which can be knocked out in an hour at a brisk pace). Training for a marathon? The 9.1-mile shuttle run from the Auburn Knightdale Road Access downstream to Covered Bridge Road gets your moderate training run out of the way, then gives you time for a nice, long, mellow paddle. And cyclists can get in an 18-mile ride heading from the Buffaloe Road Access down to Covered Bridge Road. (In planning your greenway shuttle, just remember that missing 3/4-mile link below Horseshoe Farm Park.)
Below are the specifics on each canoe/kayak access and the pertinent info you need to set-up a greenway shuttle. We’ve also included an interactive Google map showing the greenway and access points to further assist in setting a people-powered shuttle. And, of course, you can use this information to plan a monotrip: a bike ride, a run, a hike.

Note: the Neuse is a dammed river that is usually runnable, even in summer. To make sure, though, check the U.S. Geological Survey gauge at the dam here, then consult Paul Ferguson’s “Paddling Eastern North Carolina” to find out whether the gauge bodes well for a trip.

Neuse River Trail paddle access
Click on map for an interactive version

View Neuse River Canoe Access & Shuttles in a larger map

1. Falls Dam Access
Location: 12098 Falls of the Neuse Road. From I-540 take Falls of the Neuse Road Exit 14. Go 3 miles and just before crossing over the Neuse River turn right on a marked paved road that ends at the access point.
River section: 10.5 miles
Bike shuttle: 10.5 miles
Car shuttle: 10.9 miles
Paddle: Long stretch with a few riffles. Rentals and shuttle available through nearby Paddle Creek.
Greenway: Popular stretch backing up to the Bedford at Falls River neighborhood on the north end. Ends near Buffaloe Road Athletic Park. Note: a 3/4-mile stretch of this stretch between the WRAL Soccer Complex and Horseshoe Farm Park is under construction with an expected completion of early 2014.

2. Buffaloe Road Access
Location: 4901 Elizabeth Drive. From I-440/Beltline take U.S. 64 East Exit 11B. Go 2 miles and turn right on Buffaloe Road. Travel 3.6 miles and just before crossing the river turn right on Elizabeth Drive, which ends at the access point.
River section: 3.5 miles
Bike shuttle: 3.5 miles
Car shuttle: 5.8 miles
Paddle: Includes a long backwater stretch from the Milburnie Dam. Oh, yeah, the dam: a 10-foot dam is 3.5 miles downstream. Portage on either side is iffy; the city does not maintain portage walkways. A good candidate for an out-and-back trip.
Greenway: The backwater stretches make for some mellow passages past standing water.

3. Milburnie Dam Access
Location: 1101 Old Milburnie Road. From I-440/Beltline take U.S. 64 East Exit 13B. Go 2.7 miles and just after crossing the bridge over the river turn left on Old Milburnie Road. Travel 0.2 miles and turn left on Loch Raven Parkway. Travel 100 yards and turn right onto a gravel road which leads to the river access downstream of the dam.
River section: 2.0 miles
Bike shuttle: 2.0 miles
Car shuttle: 2.5 miles
Paddle: Class I rapid shortly into the trip and a Class II at certain water levels just above the takeout at Anderson Point.
Greenway: Includes stretch of original Neuse River Trail, which opened in the mid 1990s. Access, on east side of river, is linked by footbridge to west side of river.

4. Anderson Point Access
Location: 20 Anderson Point Drive. From I-440/Beltline take U.S. 64 East Exit 13B. Go 2.1 miles on New Bern Ave. Turn right on N. Rogers Lane. Continue until you reach a stop sign; go right to stay on N. Rogers Lane. Turn Left on Robbins Drive. Take the first right on Anderson Point Drive. Turn left into a small parking lot before crossing the bridge over HWY 64 into Anderson Point Park. At the end of the parking lot is a gravel road leading to the river access.
River section: 1.5 miles
Bike shuttle: 1.5 miles
Car shuttle: 3.0 miles
Paddle: Short run.
Greenway: Pay attention to signs in Anderson Point Park; passage can be tricky. Will pass over Crabtree Creek and future connection with Crabtree Creek Greenway.

5. Poole Road Access
Location: 6501 Poole Road. From I-440/Beltline take the Poole Road East Exit 15. Travel 2.4 miles and turn left on the gravel road best before crossing over the river.
River section: 3.1 miles
Bike shuttle: 3.1 miles
Car shuttle: 5.1 miles
Paddle: A riffle or two, overall easy passage.
Greenway: Short stretch with a bit more up and down than the rest of the trail

6. Auburn Knightdale Road Access
Location: Unofficial access where Auburn Knightdale Road crosses the Neuse. From U.S. 70 just east of I-40 go left on Auburn Knightdale Road. Go 3.2 miles; access parking is on the right, before crossing the river.
River section: 10.0 miles (approximately)
Bike shuttle: 9.1 miles
Car shuttle: 16.8 miles
Paddle: Long stretch that departs development and meanders through farm and pastureland.
Greenway: Includes the lone stretch of the 27.5-mile Neuse River Trail that departs from the river’s banks, taking an upland route through pasture.

7. Covered Bridge Road
Location: Unofficial access where Covered Bridge Road crosses the Neuse. From U.S. 70 in Clayton go north on Shotwell Road. After less than a mile, go right on Covered Bridge Road. River access is just past the river, on the right.

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The post Self-shuttle the Neuse appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

When I wrote “Backpacking North Carolina” and “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina,” I focused on loop trips and hikes whenever possible. The reason? Simple: Shuttles are a pain.

For the traditional shuttle you need two cars; you can’t do a point-to-point solo. If there are just two of you, you both have to drive. That’s not only a waste of gas, it eliminates catch-up time on the drive (not that you won’t be talking on the trail). Setting up a shuttle also eats into valuable hiking time. And what if something happens to the shuttle car or driver? In November, four of us were hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail west of Mount Pisgah. As the trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of our party suddenly decided he was through. He flagged a passing car and before we knew it he disappeared down the road — to his/our shuttle car at trails’ end. Now what?

Backpacker Chris David is a fan of the key-swap shuttle. Get a group of people interested in doing a point-to-point. Divide the group into two: One group drives to one end of the route and starts, the other drives to the opposite end. When they cross paths somewhere near the middle, they swap keys.

Several years ago, my friend Alan Nechemias and I decided to use our bikes to set up a shuttle on a trip in Virginia. It worked, but it was winter, which required us to bring heavy clothing for both biking and hiking. We had to camouflage our bikes, and the whole time we were hiking I was sure we hadn’t hidden them well enough. Someone, no doubt, was absconding with our rides. (They weren’t.)

In 2007, Bruce Wisely completed the entire 1,000-mile(ish) Mountains-to-Sea Trail (to date, only 27 people have hiked the statewide trail from end to end). The trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway is especially challenging since there’s precious little camping allowed on the this stretch, most of which is on National Park Service land. Thus, Bruce used a bike shuttle to link him to his car at day’s end.

“I’d be biking on the Parkway at 4:30 in the morning with a little light on my helmet, bombing down some of those hills,” he chuckled, a chuckle made possible by the passage of time. He said a couple of longer tunnels along the parkway were especially interesting.

Yesterday, I headed up to the mountains to hike and map a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Blowing Rock-Boone area. Initially, I was planning to follow Bruce’s example and use a bike shuttle. Then I consulted the forecast: cold (and some snow) early in the week, rain possible toward the end. My already tepid enthusiasm for mixing mediums cooled further. Then I had what seemed like a brainstorm: I’m training for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 12M & 50K Challenge,  why not just run the shuttle? The MST parallels the parkway along this stretch; it’s the perfect shuttle option.

Why not run the shuttle? Well, as my legs are telling me after Day 1 of the shuttle-run approach, running five to 10 miles for four days in a row is challenge enough. Running five to 10 miles after hiking around 20 — not such a smart idea.

So, I find myself exploring yet another shuttle option: pleading.

Anyone wanna hike with me this week on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Boone — anyone with a car? Short of that, anyone interested in swapping, say, breakfast for helping me set up a shuttle?

Anyone?

Anyone?

The post Shuttle Diplomacy appeared first on GetGoing NC!.