If you have been out with us, you have seen a few different types of boats. The three types that most Mice paddle are recreational, sit-on-top, and touring.
Sit on tops are easy to pick out of a crowd. There is no cockpit, just a molded seat that you sit in and on. Hopefully, there are holes in the bottom of the boat, making it self bailing. A good sit on top for the type of paddling we do is the Ocean Kayak Scrambler or Scrambler XT. It is rock solid stable, and tracks pretty well. (When a boat tracks well, it goes straight well.) Chris Hoyland has the lime-green Scrambler and loves it. There are other sit on tops around also. Sit on top boats are easy to get in and out of, and never need bailing. if you happen to fall out of one, just flip it back over and climb in! You may find yourself sitting in a little bit of water in your seat- no big deal, unless the water is cold! You are also more exposed to the elements, and may find your season shortened a little.
Recreational boats are basically entry level sit-in kayaks. They have a large cockpit and great stability, and are the least expensive of the sit-in boats. They are often light enough to carry by yourself, and very "user friendly." Bill Larson and Cheri Lewis both have recreational boats. If you don't want a huge investment, but want your own kayak, this may be the way to go. Just remember that the longer the boat, the easier it is to go straight.
Touring kayaks are made for paddling longer distances with ease. The cut through the water easier than the recreational boats or sit-on-tops. The cockpit is generally less roomy, and relatively tougher to get in and out of. Rudders are common, and really help with turning the boat, as most of these kayaks track quite straight. Jerry Schneider and Jeanine St. Romain have touring boats. The Perception Carolina is the most popular, and you will often see more than one at a River Mice paddle. For the paddling that we do, the only real disadvantages to the touring boats are slightly lower stability (still solid), slightly tougher ingress and egress, and expense. A Carolina will run you around $1000 when the bill is totaled.
WHERE TO BUY
Wild River Outfitters- Virginia Beach Boulevard and Rosemont.
http://www.wildriveroutfitters.com
Appamattox River Company- Oyster Point Road, Newport News
http://www.paddleva.com
Southeast Expeditions- Sunset Beach, eastern shore
http://www.sekayak.com
Cool and Eclectic Furniture- Shore Drive or Laskin Road, Virginia Beach
They sell Ocean Kayak sit-on-tops, believe it or not!
Monday, July 25, 2005
River Mice August Paddles
MOGUL RIVER MICE
AUGUST PADDLES
Sunday, July 31st (DATE CHANGE)
WEST NECK MARINA to PRINCESS ANNE ROAD
10am meet at the Princess Anne Road dock, about a mile east of the Municipal Center in Virginia Beach. We will set a shuttle and make this a one-way paddle.
This is the second leg of the Virginia Beach Scenic Waterway (of 4 legs). By the end of the season we hope to have paddled from Munden Park to the Lesner Bridge. This paddle starts out on a wide creek, then enters a narrow tree-lined channel. If you want to feel isolated, this is the paddle for you. This paddle is about six miles long, so it will be a challenge best met by non-beginners.
Saturday, August 6th
Lafayette River, Norfolk- PARTY AT JOHN SCHONK’S PLACE
Bring your boat to John’s house, which is right on the river. Make a short paddle or two to explore the various creeks that branch off the river, and enjoy a Mogul summer party in the process. Jerry will be bringing his "contraption" to help us get in and out of the water if we need it.
Tuesday, August 16th
PORTSMOUTH CITY PARK EVENING PADDLE
6:00pm
This was one of our best paddles last summer. Put in on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River for a relaxing paddle along the backyards of Portsmouth and Chesapeake. Plenty of wildlife, too!
Put in is at Portsmouth City Park. Take the Victory Boulevard exit of I-264, turn north towards the shopping center, and continue up to Portsmouth Boulevard. Turn left, and go for about a mile to the light at City Park Avenue. Turn right, and follow it into the park. Pass the golf course clubhouse on the left, and look for us on the right at the small craft ramp. If you get to the boat ramp, you’ve gone too far.
This is a beginner-intermediate paddle. It has an easy pace, but the open water of the Western Branch could be just a wee bit intimidating to a first-timer.
Saturday, August 27th
PRINCESS ANNE ROAD TO VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD
11:00am
Join us for the third leg of the Virginia Beach Scenic Waterway- West Neck Creek through the heart of the Beach. We will put in at the city dock near the Municipal Center, and paddle around Oceana to the city dock on Virginia Beach Boulevard behind the Pep Boys. We’re trying to do the whole waterway this season, and this is the one leg that we haven’t done even a part of. So come out to explore some new turf!
Put in is about a mile east of the Municipal Center on Princess Anne Road. It is at the bridge about half a mile east of Holland Road on the north side. We will need to set a shuttle, as this is a one-way paddle.
This is an intermediate paddle- about five miles worth. It would be best if you have been out with us once or twice before.
September 9-11
5th ANNUAL KIPTOPEKE CAMPING WEEKEND
Come join us at Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore for a weekend of campng and paddling and comraderie as only Mogul can do it. Kiptopeke is a great campground, and the sunsets on the Bay can’t be beat. It is only 40 miles from Downtown Norfolk, but it feels a world away. We will paddle around a barrier island, or some other great location along the shore, and may head out Sunday also.
There will be a few more paddles before the season runs out. Come join us!
As always, if you email Jeff ahead of time, we will wait for you. PFD’s (life vests) are mandatory, and a boat helps also. If you don’t have one, there are always a few rigs we can set you up with. Just let us know!
Email Jeff Harper at jmharper@cox.net for more info. Also check out the River Mice blog at http://mogulrivermice.blogspot.com .
Hope to see you on the water!
AUGUST PADDLES
Sunday, July 31st (DATE CHANGE)
WEST NECK MARINA to PRINCESS ANNE ROAD
10am meet at the Princess Anne Road dock, about a mile east of the Municipal Center in Virginia Beach. We will set a shuttle and make this a one-way paddle.
This is the second leg of the Virginia Beach Scenic Waterway (of 4 legs). By the end of the season we hope to have paddled from Munden Park to the Lesner Bridge. This paddle starts out on a wide creek, then enters a narrow tree-lined channel. If you want to feel isolated, this is the paddle for you. This paddle is about six miles long, so it will be a challenge best met by non-beginners.
Saturday, August 6th
Lafayette River, Norfolk- PARTY AT JOHN SCHONK’S PLACE
Bring your boat to John’s house, which is right on the river. Make a short paddle or two to explore the various creeks that branch off the river, and enjoy a Mogul summer party in the process. Jerry will be bringing his "contraption" to help us get in and out of the water if we need it.
Tuesday, August 16th
PORTSMOUTH CITY PARK EVENING PADDLE
6:00pm
This was one of our best paddles last summer. Put in on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River for a relaxing paddle along the backyards of Portsmouth and Chesapeake. Plenty of wildlife, too!
Put in is at Portsmouth City Park. Take the Victory Boulevard exit of I-264, turn north towards the shopping center, and continue up to Portsmouth Boulevard. Turn left, and go for about a mile to the light at City Park Avenue. Turn right, and follow it into the park. Pass the golf course clubhouse on the left, and look for us on the right at the small craft ramp. If you get to the boat ramp, you’ve gone too far.
This is a beginner-intermediate paddle. It has an easy pace, but the open water of the Western Branch could be just a wee bit intimidating to a first-timer.
Saturday, August 27th
PRINCESS ANNE ROAD TO VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD
11:00am
Join us for the third leg of the Virginia Beach Scenic Waterway- West Neck Creek through the heart of the Beach. We will put in at the city dock near the Municipal Center, and paddle around Oceana to the city dock on Virginia Beach Boulevard behind the Pep Boys. We’re trying to do the whole waterway this season, and this is the one leg that we haven’t done even a part of. So come out to explore some new turf!
Put in is about a mile east of the Municipal Center on Princess Anne Road. It is at the bridge about half a mile east of Holland Road on the north side. We will need to set a shuttle, as this is a one-way paddle.
This is an intermediate paddle- about five miles worth. It would be best if you have been out with us once or twice before.
September 9-11
5th ANNUAL KIPTOPEKE CAMPING WEEKEND
Come join us at Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore for a weekend of campng and paddling and comraderie as only Mogul can do it. Kiptopeke is a great campground, and the sunsets on the Bay can’t be beat. It is only 40 miles from Downtown Norfolk, but it feels a world away. We will paddle around a barrier island, or some other great location along the shore, and may head out Sunday also.
There will be a few more paddles before the season runs out. Come join us!
As always, if you email Jeff ahead of time, we will wait for you. PFD’s (life vests) are mandatory, and a boat helps also. If you don’t have one, there are always a few rigs we can set you up with. Just let us know!
Email Jeff Harper at jmharper@cox.net for more info. Also check out the River Mice blog at http://mogulrivermice.blogspot.com .
Hope to see you on the water!
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Owl's Creek Evening, 7-19-05
ELEVEN Mice came out after work on Tuesday the 19th to paddle Owl's Creek. This was the second evening/night paddle of the season, and we had a great time. Pictured are Jerry, John, Christie, Catherine, Jeanine, Jim's wife, Jim, Charlene, Chris, and already in his boat, Jim H.
The evening paddles are nice because things are a little quieter, and the wildlife seems to come out just before sunset. It is a great way to relax after a stressful day at work. The pace of these paddles is a little slower, and you have a chance to soak in everything around you. We will be doing one in August and September- stay tuned!
Off to Rudee Inlet!
It was high tide when eleven of us headed out towards the Rudee Inlet Bridge and the backyards of Croatan. In the foreground you can see Christie, showing good form after only being in a kayak for 5 minutes!
Beginners are welcome on many of our paddles. With enough notice, we can usually outfit you with a boat, paddle, and PFD so you can see what you have been missing. Owl's Creek is a good beginner spot because of the low (and slow) power boat traffic, and short distances to interesting places.
After the round trip to Croatan, we stopped at the Owl's Creek ramp for a break, and to see which direction some far-off lightning was going to go. Once we figured it would be safe to go back in the water, we set out again into the night...
Creature of the Night
Yes, we were out at night! It can get a little creepy, since you have to navigate by shadows, and there are some strange creatures hanging around Owl's Creek. If you are very quiet, and a jet isn't flying overhead, you can hear fish, turtles, and who knows what else! John felt completely at ease on the water.
Look What I Caught!
You may hear fellow mice talking about how the fish were jumping, and how some almost get inside the boats? This little fish got into a boat during the Owl's Creek paddle. How long before it grows to a foot long or more in the telling?
Monday, July 18, 2005
On the North Branch- Aftermath
After 2-1/2 hours and 4-1/2 miles of paddling, Jerry feels good, but looks a little spent. Dehydration is a big concern on these 90-90 days, so bring plenty of water with you!
It was a nice paddle at a new put-in. Hot, but we were able to catch enough breeze and clouds to cool off a little bit. We kept a wary eye on the clouds, but were able to stay safe, and away from the thunderstorms that drenched parts of the area.
This paddle was not scheduled. It was just a quick, last minute gathering set up on the Micemail list. If you feel like paddling, just send out an email. You never know what will happen!
On the North Branch- Jerry Before
Near the start of the paddle we were hydrated, happy, and looking forward to fun on the water. Just look at Jerry here, with a smile on his face and paddle at the ready. The fish were even happy to see us, as some big ones jumped out of the water in front of us.
On the North Branch
On July 16th, four Mice braved the heat and humidity and heat to paddle the North Branch of the Lafayette River. Jeff, Jerry, Jim and Chris put in at Lakewood Park in Norfolk, and paddled both ways along the river.
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