On a comfortable, sunny Friday in mid-September, 2022, my good buddy Peter Blackburn and his son William joined Ranger Bob on a planned kayak trip in the estuary around Cedar Point, just east of Swansboro. The water trail was from the Cedar Point campground boat launch in the southwest corner of Croatan National Forest, then into the White Oak River and upstream to the Tideland hiking trail.
Unfortunately, the wind was high, and the Coast Guard had issued a small boat advisory. The wind alone was worrisome and probably would have prevented me from leading the group onto the large, exposed body of water. But in addition, the advisory prevented our boat outfitter from renting Peter and his son their reserved boats. We went to the Barrier Island Kayaks outfitter store on the causeway just east of Swansboro only to find the shop closed. Peter's call to the owner educated us about the advisory. I had my canoe with me on my Jeep roof rack.
In the process of figuring out these changing situations, William proved his brilliance by frequently using his iPhone and Google prowess to find information and alternatives. Peter came up with our Plan B, which was to hike the Cedar Point Tideland Trail. So we did. It was scenic, educational and beautiful. On our way home we stopped at the Bojangles in the village of Cedar Point for a late breakfast / early lunch. Scrumptious!
On an early, cooler morning in September, 2022, Terri and Ranger Bob went to one of the beaches on Bogue Banks to collect miniature sea shells. It was after Labor Day so the credit card payment machines had been removed from the parking lot. The beach was nearly deserted. Terri has an unbelievable talent for spotting microscopically small shells from among all the sand, broken shells and detritus on the beach. Today was no exception. She found her normal quota of about 15 shells. We saved them and headed home fairly early. We stopped at the usual gas station to refill our coffee mugs and get some snacks to tide us over to lunch back at home.
On a blazing hot day in July 2022, Ranger Bob tested his kayak equipment and paddling skills in the down-east black-water of the several connected River Bend marinas, which creeks are a tributary of the Trent River, which is a tributary of the Neuse River, which feeds into the Pamlico Sound, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. For the last several trips I have been having trouble keeping my balance getting into and out of the kayak. This time I fell into the river only while exiting. The fall was a good thing because I was pouring sweat. The cool water was refreshing, and I was just as wet either way.
At this point, I was still getting my “sea legs” and trying to re-acquaint myself with the kayak, since for the last few years most of my paddling had been in my Dagger solo canoe. The kayak seat back was only barely adjustable and was not tall enough or far enough forward to properly support my back, so I was getting a backache in the middle of every trip. The rudder foot pedals were also not long enough to accommodate my long legs, so my position was somewhat cramped.
Between this trip and publishing this article I have sold that kayak over Facebook Marketplace to a nice lady in Little Washington, NC. She is an example of the aphorism not to cuss somebody, because you may be talking to their kinfolk. This lady in a rental cottage on the Pamlico Sound and her landlord is Rosie Poore. Rosie’s older sister Lisa was the last girl I dated in Raleigh before I met my first wife Kimberly.
I will go back when I get my replacement boat. I am getting a Current Designs Solstice GT, which is a sleek, hard-hulled, fast, open ocean-going sea kayak. My Internet research shows that it is the most popular (most units sold) of any manufactured kayak in history. It is also full of cool features which make it expensive. A fellow Twin River Paddle Club member and a new friend who buys used boats and renovates them is selling it to me for 25% of the new price.
The trip was pleasant but fairly short. I went under several bridges and wandered through the waterways of several creeks and harbors throughout my River Bend community. Many of the neighborhoods have canals and docks behind the houses. It was a fairly solitary adventure since I passed only one other group of two teenaged boys in kayaks.
Ho, hum! Another day of beach life by retired Bob and Terri! Another day in paradise! On a pretty, sunny, warm day in mid-August, 2022, Terri and I went to Indian beach on Bogue Banks [called by the Chamber of Commerce types as Emerald Island]. Our last several trips to the beach have been hindered by blazing hot temperatures and high winds. Today was better, with less heat and wind.
Indian Beach has become our favorite one, so far, due to uncrowded parking, a short walk to the beach, clean bathrooms and an uncrowded beach. We have not yet tried Salter Path beach, but it may be the best since it has all the Indian beach attributes, plus free parking that is partly in the shade.
Terri has had good luck at each beach finding teeny, tiny, whole shells that look like conch, scallops, oysters, and other briny denizens. She collects these and at home displays them in nuatiucal-looking glass bottles and shadow box wood frames. Today her hunt went well.
The day ended unfortunately when Terri was knocked down by a wave in chest-deep water, she fell on her foot and broke a bone. We packed up camp and shuffled slowly home. Terri saw a doctor who said she can skip surgery and put her in a walking cast-like boot. We may not be going back to the beach until she heals.
On a cool, rainy, cloudy, windy day in June 2022, Terri and I rode the ferry from the docks in the harbor of Beaufort, NC, out into Taylors Creek toward Shackleford Banks, to Sand Dollar Island. This is a standard tourist run that takes a small boat load of people to Sand Dollar multiple times a day. The island is not much to look at - just a spit of sand with no plants. Its claim to fame is that many sand dollar creatures live in the area and leave their shells on the island. Of course, all the thousands of tourists over the years have picked the island pretty clean of shells, leaving mostly sand and salt water.
We had an enjoyable time searching for shells, including those left by other creatures. Today, Terri sharted her on-going hobby of collecting teeny, tiny shells of different sorts. Back at home, she puts them in shadow box frames and glass jars to display in our sunroom. We had a good time and may go back again.
SOLD. Used Mountain Safety Research Fury tent.
4 season super strong and durable tent.
Rarely used, no damage, like new.
Double walled with interior netting and exterior tarp.
Excellent ventilation with multiple venting options.
Interior height 45 inches.
Floor size 36 square feet + vestibule 9 square feet
4 aluminum pole dome design.
12 MSR aluminum Y stakes
Taped seam bathtub floor.
2 person.
6 pounds 15 ounces.
Built in vestibule for cooking in bad weather or storing dirty, wet gear.
Price new $650.
Sale price $250 or best offer.
Shipped anywhere in continental USA for $50.
Call or text Robert Laney at 336-984-6860 for more information.
For sale used North Face sleeping bag.
High quality down filled.
Mummy shaped with full length side zipper.
Rated to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit with serious high loft.
Fits persons up to 6 feet.
Weight 3 pounds 6 ounces.
Has two small patches where zipper caught on liner but no down lost.
Otherwise in excellent condition and works as good as new.
Has been professionally cleaned.
New price $600.
Sale price $200 or best offer,
Shipped anywhere in continental USA for $40.
Call or text Robert Laney at 336-984-6860 for more information.
Sale Withdrawn. Dagger Reflection 15 canoe
ABS plastic
Length 15 feet.
Width 33 inches.
Weight 80 pounds.
Caribbean green
Wood gunnels, decks, thwarts and seats frames.
3 seats suitable for 1 solo paddler; or 2 adults; or 2 adults + 1 child.
2 end floatation bags installed.
2 ends exterior Kevlar skid plates.
6 knee pads installed.
Multiple D-ring tie downs installed.
2 end ropes floating rescue rope.
Former woven cane seats replaced with woven nylon webbing.
North West River Supplies big water life vest (like new, cost $125)
Small boat anchor
2 Sawyer wood paddles.
Wood and closed cell foam portage yoke
Padded seat
Boat well used but in excellent condition.
Nothing broken, worn through, torn up or badly scratched.
New price $1,400
Sale price $850.
Delivery within 100 miles for $100.
Or pick up at 121 Randomwood Lane, New Bern, NC 28562.
For more information call Bob Laney at 336-984-6860.
SOLD. Length 16 feet
Width 26 inches.
Weight 68 pounds.
Color dark red.
Material high-density resin.
Spray skirt.
Carlisle double-bladed paddle.
2 floating rescue end ropes.
2 waterproof bulkheads.
2 waterproof hatches for storage.
Rudder can be raised or lowered and 2 steering foot pedals operated in the cockpit.
Boat is well used but in excellent condition.
Nothing broken, worn through, torn up or badly scratched.
New price $1,300.
Sale price $500 or best offer.
Delivery up to 100 miles for $100.
Or pick up at 121 Randomwood Lane, New Bern, NC 28562.
For more information call Bob Laney at 336-984-6860.
On the beautiful sunny, but hot, Saturday morning of August 6, 2022, I accepted fellow tennis club member Jon Segal’s gracious invitation to paddle on the Trent River. We launched from a private grass and sand landing in River Bend and went up river to an historic area that now just looks like a swamp pond. But many years ago, boats came up from the ocean, through Pamlico Sound, up the Neuse River and then up the Trent River to pick up loads of rice, hence the name Rice Landing. On most trips I post a GPS location for the route, but am not doing so now to protect the privacy of our landing.
The trip was calm and in general uneventful. Jon set a friendly pace that was conducive to talking about geography, history and other items of local interest. We went a couple miles upstream, although I could not discern a current. Even though some parts of this river adjoin River Bend town, this area is too low lying and swampy to be developed. Hence, most of the route was between natural forests without any development in sight. Upon reaching Rice Landing pond, the entrance from the river was partially blocked by floating grass. Jon was able to glide over the grass without much trouble. My boat is designed more for the open ocean, so it had a deeper draft and sharper keel. I got hung up on the grass and had to use my paddle like a pole and push off from the bottom to move forward. After that struggle I was significantly tired out.
Jon then led us around the pond and into the swamp behind it. We saw a blue heron. We wound through the cypress trees, Spanish moss, grass and black water for a ways. The area in the swamp was calm and shady.
On our way back to the put-in we had to push through the same floating grass blockage. I hit it with considerably more momentum and powered through more quickly. Then we re-traced our route a couple miles down stream on the Trent River. A few times we had a mild problem with motor boats passing us going fairly fast, leaving a large wake which rocked our boats for a few seconds. I learned to take one of two tactics: (1) turn my kayak to face into the oncoming waves; or (2) put one end of my dual bladed paddle in the water in a low brace on the side of my boat away from the approaching waves. Both tactics worked fine.
On our return trip I developed another problem. My seat back was not positioned correctly; the bottom frame was not seated in the groove at the back of the butt seat, so it did not give me proper support. My body was too big, due to a thick life jacket and a big fat belly, for me to turn around and fix the seat. So, for the last mile or so I was in considerable pain from over-stressed back, stomach and arm muscles caused by pulling the paddle from a bad angle.
Back at the take-out sand and grass landing, I encountered my next-to-last problem. After running the nose of the kayak onto the landing, I tried to get up out of the cockpit, stand up and step out. My body fit so tightly (see above regarding thick life jacket and fat belly) that I could not get out. I used my arms braced on the back of the cockpit to do a backwards pushup, but my arms were so tired from paddling that I could come up far enough. After teetering on the edge of the cockpit and being out of balance for about a minute, I slowly rolled over and fell into the river.
The water was nice and cool, and only about knee deep, so there was no danger. Jon and I shared a good laugh. But when I tried to stand up on the river bottom, I ran into my last problem. My life jacket is designed with more floatation material in front. That makes a water accident victim float on their back, so their face is out of the water and able to breathe. Each time I tried to roll over onto my stomach so I could get my feet under me and stand up, the jacket pushed me back. After drifting out to deeper water, I finally stood up and pulled my boat out of the water.
All’s well that ends well. We had a good time. Thanks Jon.