Eight Mice made it out to Lotus Garden Park on Sandbridge Road for a great paddle. The weather was near perfect, sunny, and moderate temperatures. The group hustled their boats across the busy road, deciding to do the loop in reverse.
Wes, Sandy, Jerry, George, Jeff, Chris, Karl and Juliet did the five mile loop at a relaxed pace. The north part of Ashevile Creek, past Hells Point Golf Course, down the channel to Back Bay, a little bit of open water, and back into Asheville Creek.
The last part of the paddle was a real adventure, as the lotus plants had the last 1/4 mile of the creek choked off. The pace slowed to a crawl as everyone picked their way through the forest of plants and seaweed.
This is always one of our favorite paddles, with a neat variety of scenery, and a good length.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Upcoming Paddles, Late August into September
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
WESTERN BRANCH/STERNS CREEK
Portsmouth City Park
Tuesday, August 26th
6:00pm
This will be a relaxed paddle that will last as long as the daylight. Sterns Creek boasts a surprising amount of wildlife. This will be paced for beginners, but the occasional boat wake or the wind in the Western Branch could get tricky.
KIPTOPEKE '08
September 12-14 (NEW DATE)
Kiptopeke State Park, Eastern Shore
This is a different weekend than usual- hopefully it doesn't put a kink in your plans. Kiptopeke is kind of the start of the end of summer, so we are trying to put that off for a couple of weeks.
This is one of the most mellow camping events on the Mogul Schedule. Show up, set up, watch the sunset over the bay, and paddle if you want. We will head out sometime Saturday morning to paddle, and if weather and our otherwise busy schedules cooperate, we will attempt a short paddle Sunday.
Don't feel like you have to paddle, either. Bring your bicycle, head up to Cape Charles or some other scenic locale, or just relax all day!
We usually handle meals on our own this weekend, sharing if you have extra. Otherwise, it is bring your own everything! If you don't feel like camping, come up and join us for the day! Kiptopeke is only 40 miles away, but it feels a lot farther than that. The Kiptopeke Inn is a mile away from the campground for those who prefer motel accommodations.
RIVER MICE PADDLE- PRINCESS ANNE/WEST NECK CREEK
Sunday, September 21
Dozier's Bridge Put-in, Princess Anne Road
10:00am
We will paddle south along the creek, and either return, or if things look good, set a shuttle to enjoy spectacular West Neck Creek. Bring a lunch- we will try to stop somewhere along the way.
WESTERN BRANCH/STERNS CREEK
Portsmouth City Park
Tuesday, August 26th
6:00pm
This will be a relaxed paddle that will last as long as the daylight. Sterns Creek boasts a surprising amount of wildlife. This will be paced for beginners, but the occasional boat wake or the wind in the Western Branch could get tricky.
KIPTOPEKE '08
September 12-14 (NEW DATE)
Kiptopeke State Park, Eastern Shore
This is a different weekend than usual- hopefully it doesn't put a kink in your plans. Kiptopeke is kind of the start of the end of summer, so we are trying to put that off for a couple of weeks.
This is one of the most mellow camping events on the Mogul Schedule. Show up, set up, watch the sunset over the bay, and paddle if you want. We will head out sometime Saturday morning to paddle, and if weather and our otherwise busy schedules cooperate, we will attempt a short paddle Sunday.
Don't feel like you have to paddle, either. Bring your bicycle, head up to Cape Charles or some other scenic locale, or just relax all day!
We usually handle meals on our own this weekend, sharing if you have extra. Otherwise, it is bring your own everything! If you don't feel like camping, come up and join us for the day! Kiptopeke is only 40 miles away, but it feels a lot farther than that. The Kiptopeke Inn is a mile away from the campground for those who prefer motel accommodations.
RIVER MICE PADDLE- PRINCESS ANNE/WEST NECK CREEK
Sunday, September 21
Dozier's Bridge Put-in, Princess Anne Road
10:00am
We will paddle south along the creek, and either return, or if things look good, set a shuttle to enjoy spectacular West Neck Creek. Bring a lunch- we will try to stop somewhere along the way.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Greenbrier Challenge 2008
On August 2nd, seven Mice took part in the Greenbrier Challenge, a bike ride in West Virginia to benefit the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia. Mogul Member Chris Polinchock puts in a lot of work to make this event go, and it is a lot of fun!
Dennis, Debbie, Chris, Jeff, Barbara, Brad and Jerry all rode at least part of the Greenbrier River trail. Brad, Barbara and Jerry did the entire 52-mile course!
Shown here is the Clover Lick depot, the northernmost point of the ride, and end of the first leg. Volunteers at the tent had refreshments and snacks, and a shuttle was available to take people back to the start.
Dennis, Debbie, Chris, Jeff, Barbara, Brad and Jerry all rode at least part of the Greenbrier River trail. Brad, Barbara and Jerry did the entire 52-mile course!
Shown here is the Clover Lick depot, the northernmost point of the ride, and end of the first leg. Volunteers at the tent had refreshments and snacks, and a shuttle was available to take people back to the start.
Stormy Start
If you stayed at the park Friday night, you might have wondered if the event would ever get going. The light show started at midnight, with a lot of lightning, but very little thunder. The thunder and the rain followed at 3:30am, and continued until about 8:30am. It poured for most of this time, but thanks to general drought conditions, most of the rain soaked into the ground, and there were very few puddles on the trail.
This picture is from the campsite within the park as the clouds cleared out. It turned onto a nice day, with high temperatures around 80 degrees. Only the very first (read hardcore) riders felt any rain.
Of course, this picture also shows some of the great scenery visible from the park, and is representative of views all along the trail.
This picture is from the campsite within the park as the clouds cleared out. It turned onto a nice day, with high temperatures around 80 degrees. Only the very first (read hardcore) riders felt any rain.
Of course, this picture also shows some of the great scenery visible from the park, and is representative of views all along the trail.
Are We Going Uphill or Downhill?
Debbie, Barbara and Jerry take a break at the halfway point of the third leg of the ride, a ten mile segment between Marlinton and Seebert/Watoga.
The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted railroad roadbed. This means that it has gentle curves, and no steep sections. The trail generally runs downhill from north to south, at no more than a 1% grade. about four miles of the trail at Marlinton is paved asphalt, and the rest of the trail is well-packed gravel, with little to no potholes or surprises. For comparison, the trail is smoother and much less hilly than the Newport News Park loop trail.
You need a bike with fat tires, but not necessarily a mountain bike. Debbie used her hybrid bike, with tires in-between a mountain bike and a road bike. Also required for the challenge, and recommended otherwise is a bike helmet.
The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted railroad roadbed. This means that it has gentle curves, and no steep sections. The trail generally runs downhill from north to south, at no more than a 1% grade. about four miles of the trail at Marlinton is paved asphalt, and the rest of the trail is well-packed gravel, with little to no potholes or surprises. For comparison, the trail is smoother and much less hilly than the Newport News Park loop trail.
You need a bike with fat tires, but not necessarily a mountain bike. Debbie used her hybrid bike, with tires in-between a mountain bike and a road bike. Also required for the challenge, and recommended otherwise is a bike helmet.
On the Bridge
There was some spectacular scenery on the trail, including three beautiful bridges across the Greenbrier River, and a 500-foot long tunnel! Here, Jeff, Debbie and Jerry take a break on the bridge just north of Watoga, near the southern end of the ride.
The ride is not a competition, and you can ride at your own pace. The first two legs were 16 miles long, and were generally ridden in the morning. The two ten-mile legs were done after lunch. Our group did a little as the first 16-mile leg, or as much as the entire 52 miles.
See You Next Year?
Chris and Jeff were guests of Jerry in his camper. Just to the left of the picture, other participants pitched their tents in the grass field. The other Moguls chose to stay in one of the local bed-and-breakfast inns located about a mile away in the town of Marlinton.
The Greenbrier Challenge is a well run event that is a lot of fun. CAWV is a great organization that does a lot of good, and several disabled riders took part in the challenge, using "hand bikes" or other adaptive devices to help them ride the trail. If you have been to Chris P's Canadian Thanksgiving dinners, you are familiar with both the organization and Chris' cooking. Yes, lunch and dinner are included on Saturday!
This year's group is planning on going back next year. Will you join us?
END GREENBRIER CHALLENGE
The Greenbrier Challenge is a well run event that is a lot of fun. CAWV is a great organization that does a lot of good, and several disabled riders took part in the challenge, using "hand bikes" or other adaptive devices to help them ride the trail. If you have been to Chris P's Canadian Thanksgiving dinners, you are familiar with both the organization and Chris' cooking. Yes, lunch and dinner are included on Saturday!
This year's group is planning on going back next year. Will you join us?
END GREENBRIER CHALLENGE
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