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Come join
us for one of our monthly paddles!
Check out the
TRIPS
page to find more information on each location and directions on how
to get there.
We also post events on our Yahoo! Groups Calendar,
so be sure to join our mailing list.
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February 16, 2008 |
NE Cape Fear River Paddle
There's a nice section of the N.E. Cape Fear that's a popular
winter trip. It's section 7 in Ferguson's "Paddling Eastern North Carolina".
We'll put in at the bridge on Croomsbridge Road (Pender Co. 1318), and
takeout at Sawpit Landing on Whitestocking Road (Pender Co.1512), a distance
of about 9 miles. The river isn't very big here and this trip is suitable
for all boats, including canoes. I'd recommend a boat of at least 10 feet to
go that distance. To get to the put-in, take Hwy. 53 exit east (towards
Jacksonville) from I-40. Go about 4.5 miles and turn left on Croomsbridge
Rd.. In about 3.5 miles you'll come to the bridge. This trip is planned for
Sat., Feb.16
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February 24th, 2008 |
Alligator Creek / Brunswick River Paddle
Let's try it again! The tide will be right for another swipe
at the Alligator Creek/ Brunswick Marshes paddle on Sunday, 24 Feb. We'll
meet at the Belville Park at 1000 AM. If you don't have the original
message, it's an interesting 6-7 mile paddle through the marshes between the
Cape Fear and Brunswick Rivers as you cross from Wilmington to Leland. Take
the first exit (Belville/Leland) and turn left (south) on Hwy. 133 towards
Southport. The park is about a mile on your left, across from the school.
This paddle is suitable for all boats with an open water section of about
1.5 miles in the Cape Fear.
For more information or
to RSVP, please see our Yahoo! Group
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March 8th, 2008 |
New and Used Gear Sale
Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th St.
Saturday, March 8, 9-11 AM
Looking for a used kayak, surfboard, backpack, or bike? This is a great
opportunity to sell or purchase gear and to save or make a few extra bucks.
Local kayak retailers will have some new and used kayaks, paddles and PFD’s
for purchase. Other items for sale may include backpacks, sleeping bags,
surfboards, bikes, clothes, and anything else used for outdoor recreation.
Vendor fee is $5 for individuals and $15 for businesses. Call Andrea at
Adventure Pathways for
more information or complete a vendor application at
www.adventurepathways.com and mail in with your vendor fee. See you in
March!
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| March 8th, 2008 |
March Watershed Clean-Up To Target Burnt Mill
Creek
Note - this is a Cape Fear Riverwatch event -
contact them directly for details.
Cape Fear River Watch invites all to help clean up a stretch of Burnt Mill
Creek near Princess Place Drive and Oakdale Cemetery on Saturday, March 8th
from 9:00am to Noon. Participants should meet at CFRW's headquarters at 617
Surry St. for orientation, carpool and convoy. Since getting to this
clean-up site is tricky and involves at least one locked gate, participants
are discouraged from meeting directly at the site.
This clean-up will require both walking and floating participants. If you
have a small canoe or kayak to help get at trash in the creek itself, please
bring it along. In addition to the usual gloves, tools and trash bags, CFRW
will bring a few small kayaks for participants to use on a first come, first
served basis, but more are always welcome. If you're not comfortable picking
trash from a small boat, fear not - there will be plenty of garbage on the
banks of the creek as well.
These monthly watershed clean-ups are among the most rewarding activities
Cape Fear River Watch offers. 3 hours working side-by-side with likeminded
individuals and you can look on a previously neglected watershed and know
for certain that you have made at least one little corner of the world a
better place. You can't buy that feeling of accomplishment at Wal-Mart.
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| March 9th, 2008 |
Black River (section 5 from Paul Ferguson's "Paddling Eastern
NC"
Let's try a trip a bit farther afield. It's on the Black River from Ivanhoe
to Beatty's Bridge. It's about 7 miles, quite sheltered, and suitable for
all boats. Probably a good current to push us along. It's a lovely
blackwater river and fairly primitive. To get there take Hwy. 421N from the
Holmes bridge (over the NE Cape Fear on the north side of Wilmington) for 21
miles, then turn left on Hwy 53W at Ward's Corner. Go 6 miles to Atkinson.
In Atkinson turn right on Beatty's Bridge Road (N Rankin St.). Go 6 miles,
turn right on Ivanhoe Rd. Go 3.8 miles, Wildlife ramp is on the left. That's
the put-in. For those who are uncomfortable setting off "up-country",
Michael will be at the truck stop at the foot of the Holmes Bridge from
0900-0915 and we can caravan. Otherwise we will meet at 1000 at the put-in
at Ivanhoe. Plan on about 45 minutes driving time from Wilmington.
Click Here to RSVP or for questions
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| March 15th, 2008 |
Leave No Trace Awareness (10AM to 11AM)
Leave No Trace is a national and international program designed to assist
outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts
when they recreate outdoors. This class will introduce you to the principles
of Leave No Trace and how you can minimize your impacts when recreating in
the Frontcountry. The workshop is taught by Stephanie Avery, a LNT Master
Educator. Pre-registration required. Call Halyburton Park at 794-6001 to
register. FREE
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| March 29th, 2008 |
Section 2 of Shelter Creek
as described in Ferguson's "Paddling Eastern North Carolina" (an invaluable
resource-I recommend a copy to everyone). It's about 6 miles on a fairly
small creek with some possible obstructions. A good trip for canoes, I'd
leave the long skinny kayak at home. Estimated time is 4 hours. This trip is
planned for Sat., March 29 with a rain date of Sun., March 30. Directions
from Wilmington: Take I40 to the Burgaw exit (Hwy 53). Go east on 53 6 miles
and turn right on Shaw Hwy. Go 2 miles and turn left on Old Maple Hill road.
Go 5.5 miles to 2nd bridge. That's the put-in. We'll meet there at 1000 AM.
Click
Here to RSVP or for questions |
April 5th, 2008 |
This event has been cancelled. Kayak Demo Day!
Sharing and borrowing is what this is all about. Bring some gear for others
to share.
Come to borrow some others' stuff. Be a borrower or lender, and you can
still try out a bunch of boats, paddles, PFD's, and chat up a storm with all
interested parties.
Great Outdoors Provisions will bring a few boats and a sales rep to talk up
their stuff.
Directions: get on to River Rd. from Shipyard, Independence or Sanders. Head
south till you see the park. It's about 8 miles below Shipyard, 5.5 from
Independence Blvd. and about a mile south of Sanders.
10 AM - noon.
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| April 18 - 20 2008 |
East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival, Charleston SC
Immerse yourself in a full weekend of the history, technique, hands-on
experience and FUN of canoeing and kayaking. The East Coast Canoe & Kayak
Festival will include lectures, on-water classes and demonstrations directed
to the novice as well as the experienced paddlers.
http://www.ccprc.com/index.asp?nid=472 |
| April 26th 2008 |
Black River - Section 5
Let's try it again! Section 5 of the Black River was originally planned for
9 March, when we did sections 3 & 4 instead because of good current flow. No
bait and switch this time! We'll try for Sat., April 26 with Sun., the 27th
as rain date. Refer to the March 9 announcement on the CFPA calendar. All
particulars (meet time, directions, etc.) are the same.
For
questions or RSVP. |
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May 10th 2008 |
4th Annual Wrightsville Beach Sea Kayak Challenge
Saturday, May 10th:
In this kayak race participants paddle from the Salt Marsh Kayak rental
facility (soundside across from the Blockade Runner Hotel) out Masonboro
Inlet to Crystal Pier and back. The race is 6 miles long and is designed for
intermediate to advanced paddlers looking to test their inlet navigation and
oceanside kayaking skills. The race benefits the Cape Fear Community College
Boat Building School, and CFCC will be raffling off a beautiful wooden
kayak. All racers get one free ticket and the raffle is open to the public.
*You do not need
to compete to enter for the raffle. Click
here for more information on the raffle.
*Mandatory competitor meeting Saturday, May 10th 11:00am at 275 Waynick
Blvd. Entry deadline: Thursday May 8th, 2007 at 5pm or $10 late fee will
apply. Click here
for more event information.
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| May 17th, 2008 |
Black River - Section 6
Well, Section 5 of the Black River was so nice let's go ahead and
run section 6. This trip is a bit longer at 12.9 miles but I think everyone
would agree that the last one was too short! This is a beautiful section
that contains the oldest living trees known in eastern North America.
Saturday, May 17, is the planned date with no rain date. We'll meet at the
put-in, Beatty's Bridge, at 1000 AM. As before, I'll be at the truck stop on
Hwy 421 at the foot of the Holmes Bridge from 0900-0915 if someone needs to
caravan. To reach the put-in follow Hwy 421N 21 miles and turn left on Hwy
53W at Ward's Corner. Go 6 miles to Atkinson. In Atkinson turn right on
Beatty's Bridge Road (N Rankin St.). Go about 6.5 miles and you'll come to
the bridge. Put-in is on the far side.
Click Here
with questions or to RSVP |
| May 31, 2008 |
Island Creek Paddle
Rices Creek is an easy
paddle, quiet, and typically without motorboats; 3.8 miles each way. Plan
for being on the water for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
Directions: cross the CF bridge and take 17South for ~8 miles, L) on to to
Governors Rd. SE. Go about 2 miles down and turn L) on Gordon Lewis Dr. SE.
Go straight when the road bends, and drive to the water's edge. GPS
coordinates, -78.06876, 34.14684
This event is being
organized and hosted by the Adventurer's Meet-up Group and has not been
organized by the CFPA.
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| May 31, 2008 |
Cape Fear Riverwatch Paddle/Fundraiser
- Eagle Island Kayak Paddle
When: Sat, May 31,
2pm – 8pm
Where: 844 Appleton Way NE, Leland (map)
Description: At the future site of Leland's Environmental Education
Center Gates open at 2pm. Guided paddle down Sturgeon Creek and back at 3pm.
Band and food from 5-7pm
For more details
please visit http://www.cfrw.us/
This event is
being organized and hosted by the Cape Fear Riverwatch and is not organized
by the CFPA.
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June 11, 2008
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Rescue Clinic at Legion Stadium Pool
(session 1)
This course will cover essential rescue skills for the beginning novice to
intermediate paddler. We will start with a brief overview of essential gear
(PFD, paddle float, bilge pump, boat design and how it affects flotation)
followed by on-water demonstration and practice of both self- and
assisted-rescues (wet-exit, paddle float re-entry, scramble or cowboy
re-entry, re-enter and roll, T-rescue, Eskimo Rescue and the Hand of God).
Paddlers will learn how to get themselves or their paddling partner back
into their boat after a capsize. Course will take place at the Legion
Stadium Pool on Carolina Beach Road from 6 pm to 8 pm. Cost is $15 for Cape Fear Paddler
members, $20 for non-members. Registration deadlines are June 5 and August
7.
Click Here for a list of required and recommended
gear to bring
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| June 14, 2008 |
Island Creek to Castle Hayne Park
A
little over 6 miles, about evenly divided between the creek and river down
Island Creek to the N.E. Cape Fear River, then down to the Castle Hayne
Wildlife Ramp. The N.E. Cape Fear is fairly wide and tree-bordered, so wind
shouldn't be a big problem. The creek is great. We'll meet at the put-in at
1000 on Sat., June 14, with no rain date. To get there take the Castle Hayne
exit from I40 and go 4 miles east on Holly Shelter RD. (county RD. 1002).
You'll come to a small bridge over a creek; that's the put-in. It's pretty
tight so after unloading please move your vehicle down the road shoulder.
This trip will take 2-2.5 hours.
Click Here
with questions or to RSVP
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July 19th, 2008 |
This should be an interesting trip for many of us. We'll put in at
Wilmington's "Dram Tree Park" at the foot of Castle St., next to the Cape
Fear Memorial Bridge and paddle downstream with the tide to NHC's River Road
Park. This will take us past the State Port and along the east bank of the
river, a distance of 7-8 miles. A nice blend of urban/industrial and
relatively unspoiled riverbank. I'd leave the canoe at home for this one;
it's possible to have a bit of SW wind with some chop this time of year.
Plan on meeting at 1000 AM on Sat. July 19. A shuttle is involved but it's
not too bad. Bring water and if your boat is under 10 feet, know that you
can handle the distance.
Click
Here with questions or RSVP: |
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August 14, 2008 |
Rescue Clinic at Legion Stadium Pool
(session 2)
This course will cover essential rescue skills for the beginning novice to
intermediate paddler. We will start with a brief overview of essential gear
(PFD, paddle float, bilge pump, boat design and how it affects flotation)
followed by on-water demonstration and practice of both self- and
assisted-rescues (wet-exit, paddle float re-entry, scramble or cowboy
re-entry, re-enter and roll, T-rescue, Eskimo Rescue and the Hand of God).
Paddlers will learn how to get themselves or their paddling partner back
into their boat after a capsize. Course will take place at the Legion
Stadium Pool on Carolina Beach Road. Cost is $15 for Cape Fear Paddler
members, $20 for non-members. Registration deadlines are June 5 and August
7.
Click Here for a list of required and recommended
gear to bring |
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Have an
event to add to the calendar? A cool trip idea or suggestion?
CLICK HERE |
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