Rainy Day Paddlers

Rainy Day Paddlers, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Jim, Barb, Brad, Jeanine, and Chris pose for the camera before the group disbanded for the day. Despite the paddle being cut short due to potential bad weather, they enjoyed the paddle.

Princess Anne Road seems to be the River Mice's jinxed paddle. For the second year in a row, the paddle was affected by rain. Hopefully the next time we try will be better- the West Neck Creek is really a beautiful paddle!

END PRINCESS ANNE ROAD

Hague Paddle- RESCHEDULED

Hague Paddle- RESCHEDULED, originally uploaded by jmharper.

We were rained out of an evening paddle once again, so we are trying next week!

Thursday, August 3rd, 6:15pm, THE HAGUE, in Norfolk. We will meet on
the north side of the Hague, along Mowbray Arch, between the Chrysler Museum
and the footbridge. This is a relaxed, after-work social paddle. We will
explore the Hague, and perhaps venture into the Elizabeth River for a little
while.

Chris Hoyland will host some snacks and beverages afterwards at her place, a
block north of the Chrysler Museum.

Then on Saturday, August 5th, it is the 2nd annual John Schonk party. Among other things, you can paddle the Lafayette River in Norfolk. Bring your boat, or borrow one for a while.

Air Power Park Paddle

Air Power Park Paddle, originally uploaded by jmharper.

On June 24th, four daring mice snuck into Air Power Park to paddle the Back River from a dock located inside the park. Actually, we got permission from park personnel, but had to heave our boats over the fence and drag them about 50 yards to get them to the dock for put-in. Here, Jeff, jeanine and Chris do all the heavy lifting, while Jerry snaps a few pictures.

With the jets and rockets nearby, this was definitely one of the most unique put-ins we have ever used!

On the Back River

On the Back River, originally uploaded by jmharper.

This wasn't the paddle for you if you wanted to get away from it all. we did see herons, muskrats, and surprisingly, orioles! But a look at the top right of this photo will tell you that we were never far away from the rest of the world in Hampton.

The Back River is more of a creek and a drainage channel when you head south from the park. Aside from the roads, there is always a decent buffer of trees and grasses between the water and development.

Scenic Hampton

Scenic Hampton, originally uploaded by jmharper.

On this paddle, you get some interesting views, from the rockets of Air Power Park to the Hampton Coliseum. The lakes of the coliseum are separated from our creek by a spillway, so we couldn't get in there. Perhaps if the tide had been a little higher we might have been able to get a little closer.

Of course, the highways were a constant companion on this paddle, from LaSalle Avenue to the interstates. Road noise was never far away.

Pagoda Lunch

Pagoda Lunch, originally uploaded by jmharper.

If you look hard as you travel on I-64 at the 664 interchange, you just might see this little pagoda on a spit of land in the middle of a lake under the power lines. This was Jerry's goal for the paddle, to figure out what this pagoda was.

Apparently, it was built by a group of friends to be a hangout for beer drinking and other pursuits. We could see a fair amount of beer-related trash nearby. At any rate, it was a nice spot to sit down and have lunch. And just enough beach to pull up our kayaks.

Concrete Nature

Concrete Nature, originally uploaded by jmharper.

If you don't mind a little concrete, and a little noise, Air Power Park is a great place to put in. Next time, we may head the other way, towards Langley Air Force Base and the York River.

END AIR POWER PARK

Lotus Garden Loop

Lotus Garden Loop, originally uploaded by jmharper.

On Saturday, July 8th, five mice met at Lotus Garden Park for a sunny paddle. The loop has some of the most varied scenery of any of our paddles. We started out with a narrow, tree lined creek up to the Hells Point golf course. after a right turn, we headed down a slowly widening canal for a couple of miles. in this picture, Marcial, Ginny, Jim and Chris have made it almost to the Back Bay.

After a short stretch along the edge of Back Bay, we entered a winding, open creek for the mile and a half paddle back to put-in.

Boats at the Ready

Boats at the Ready, originally uploaded by jmharper.

That's a Scrambler, a Zoar Sport, a pair of Tsunamis, and one of Jim's many boats. They come in many different shapes and lengths. The lime green boat is a sit-on-top model, very stable and easy to get in and out of. It has holes in the bottom, so the boat can self-bail.

The other boats are the conventional sit-in models. The middle three boats are recreational touring kayaks. They are very stable, and quite comfortable, but get through the water more quickly than the sit-on-top. Jim's boat is a little longer and narrower than the others, and is closer to a true sea kayak. You lose a little stability, but gain speed.

Whatever boat you have, you are welcome to join us on a paddle!

Hazardous Put-in

Hazardous Put-in, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The Lotus Garden Loop is just that- a loop. You paddle around in one direction, and return to where you started. Well, almost where you started.

At Lotus Garden Park, Sandbridge Road crosses the creek with a couple of small pipe culverts. Even at low tide, you can't paddle through them. So you have to walk across the road at put-in or take out. Our group decided to cross for the put-in. Of course, Sandbridge Road on a summer Saturday is quite busy, so it took a while to get all five boats across.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle, originally uploaded by jmharper.

During our brief trip into Back bay, we saw one of the coolest things you can see while paddling- a Bald eagle. In this picture, the top of the tree behind sort of muddles the view of it's head, but you can definitely see the head and beak, pointing to the left.

Bald eagles are still somewhat rare, but you can see one in our area if you are lucky. this one seemed kind of non-chalant, flying back a tree or two when we pulled up close. For some of us, it was our first bald eagle sighting!

Follow the Creek

Follow the Creek, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Here Jim and Ginny head through an opening in the reeds, close to the take-out. The final portion of this paddle was a winding creek for about a mile and a half. Reeds and cypress were the predominant scene.

After 2-1/2 hours, we pulled back into the Lotus Garden Park, and called it a day. A beautiful day and a great paddle!

END LOTUS GARDEN

Mice on the Shenandoah!

Mice on the Shenandoah!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

It really isn't a River Mice event, because the water was moving faster than a tidal current, but many mice joined George for Canoe and Steak Day on the Shenandoah River near Luray. He set up a rental house for two nights just up the hill from the river, and set up the paddle with the outfitters. Four kayaks and four canoes made their way down eight miles of the river.

Here Peggy and Jim are lining themselves up to go through a "hole" in a ledge that spans across the river just underneath the water surface. Perhaps they are thinking of the steak dinner awaiting them at the end of the day...

Our Hosts

Our Hosts, originally uploaded by jmharper.

George and Bev are shown here lazily floating down the river. In fact they always look like they are lazily floating down the river, because both are quite experienced paddlers. They were able to pick out the many obstacles in the river, caused by the low water level, and make it through with nary a scratch.

The low water conditions made getting down the river quite a challenge. It really tested your river reading skills to make it through what was normally a class 1 rapid, but instead was a little bit of water and some rocks. It was a lot of fun, as the challenge came without the risks of running rougher whitewater.

It's Shorn and Nancy!

It's Shorn and Nancy!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Shorn and Nancy braved the campground at the outfitters, rather than staying at the house. They seemed to be none the worse for wear!

Yes, they are Mogul members, and occasional Mice. thankfully for us, they don't paddle like they ski, or they would have finished three hours ahead of us, and would have started over again from the put-in!

Taking a Load Off

Taking a Load Off, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Jerry takes a seat in his canoe, probably resting his feet. He spent quite a bit of time standing in his boat, scouting the river ahead. It takes balance, and experience to stand in a moving canoe!

Even though the water was low, everyone had a great time on the river. Thanks to George for putting it all together!

END SHENANDOAH

Tentative July Mice Schedule

Stay tuned for details!

Saturday, July 8th- West Neck Creek.
---This is the paddle that soaked us last year. Rain from start to finish. We will actually try to see something this time!

Thursday, July 13th- The Hague.
---An easy social paddle on the Hague in Ghent, with a possible venture into the Elizabeth River, hosted by Chris. Snacks and beverages afterwards at her place.

Sunday, July 23rd- Lotus Garden Loop.
---We missed this one last year. Put in off of Sandbridge Road, and paddle a five mile loop through some varied scenery. A fun paddle!

All paddles are subject to change- an email will confirm them.

See you on the water!

Owl's Creek Night Paddle

Owl's Creek Night Paddle, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The third time was the charm! After two cancellations for rainy weather, seven Mice met after work at the Owl's Creek boat ramp near the Virginia Marine Science Museum. Jim, Ed, John, Jan, Ginny, Marcial and Jeff hit the water in mid June at about 7:30 pm for a nice relaxing two-hour paddle.

Here Ed models the standard paddling set-up. Boat, paddle, PFD (mandatory), and a desire to enjoy yourself on the water. Note the night addition of the flashlight. Our eyes will adjust to the increasing darkness, but the lights are so others can see us. Power boat traffic was minimal, as it usually is at Owl's Creek. It is one place where the power boaters seem to respect the no wake zone.

Sunset's On Its Way

Sunset's On Its Way, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Well, this time the fireflies weren't as numerous, but the sunset was great. Sunset on a kayak is a unique experience. Kind of like the pie and chips in the insurance commercial. Sunset? Kayaking? Sunset while kayaking! Everybody likes sunset while kayaking.

John and Jan are beaming in anticipation of the sunset to come, and perhaps a tasty libation at one of the Rudee Inlet watering holes afterwards! Jan was also enjoying her new boat!

That's My House Back There!

That's My House Back There!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

One of the many interesting aspects of any paddle at Owl's Creek is the trip under the Rudee Inlet Bridge and into Lake Wesley, otherwise known as Croatan's backyard. Lots of massive houses, some of which don't seem to make sense.

We learned a little something about each other by staking a claim to "our" favorite house along the lake. Here, Ginny seems to prefer the one with the large deck, or was it the one with the lighthouse, or the one with the huge yacht?

Rudee Inlet at Night

Rudee Inlet at Night, originally uploaded by jmharper.

This is one of the few "night" pictures that came out. Maybe you can get an idea of what we saw.

The best way to experience it though, is to join us! Every paddle brings something a little different. We missed the moon this time, since moonrise wasn't until early morning, but that just made the dark a little darker!

Hope you can make it to our next paddle!

END OWLS CREEK NIGHT PADDLE

Air Power Park Paddle- TIME CHANGE

Hello Mice!

I hope some of you were considering joining us at Air Power Park this weekend- it should be a great paddle over some new territory. Jerry plans to take us up the Back River towards the Hampton Coliseum, and if there is time, down towards Langley AFB and the bay.

Air Power Park is at the intersection of Mercury Boulevard and LaSalle Avenue, and is best approached from the west. Taking the Mercury Boulevard exit off I-64 and heading east for about a mile and a half is probably the best option. Meet in the main parking lot.

The original scheduled put in of 1pm does not work with the tides (low tide is at 2:30), so the paddle is ***RESCHEDULED TO 10AM***. Pack a lunch, we will stop somewhere along the way to relax and eat.

Hope to see you this Saturday, June 24th, at Air Power Park in Hampton, 10AM!

Jeff

June Mice Paddles

Ready to paddle? Here's what's coming up:

JUNE 8 (Thu)- OWL'S CREEK NIGHT PADDLE
This was one of our most popular paddles last year. Meet at the Owl's Creek boat ramp near the Marine Science Museum in Virginia Beach at 7pm, put in at 7:30. We will paddle for a while in the light, then after sunset, we will explore some of the side creeks under the light of a nearly full moon. You will never forget the fireflies! Bring a flashlight.

JUNE 11(Sun)- LYNNHAVEN INLET
Meet at the City boat ramp on the west side of the Lesner bridge at 10am for a traditional early season "social" paddle. We explore creeks and inlets at a relaxed pace, then adjourn to Bubba's restaurant for a late lunch and refreshing beverage. The perfect way to unwind after Harborfest!

JUNE 24(Sat)- AIR POWER PARK
A most unique put-in, found by Jerry Schneider during one of his investigations. Meet at 1pm at the park- we will put-in at a dock inside the park, and paddle up the Back River, through marshes, and under the I-64/664 interchange. Lots of nature in the middle of the city!

Times, and very occasionally dates are subject to change. Check your email before a paddle to get the most up-to-date info.

Future paddles will include putting in at the Chrysler Museum, and paddling our favorite leg of the Virginia beach Scenic Waterway, the West Neck Creek. (We will try to see it without pouring rain!) We will also be heading back to Merchant's Millpond for a daytrip.

As always, if you email me ahead of time, we will wait for you. If you don't, we won't. PFD's are mandatory, paddles are helpful. Turn off your cell phone and enjoy your friends and the scenery.

If you don't have a boat and want to try one out, let me know ahead of time. Many of us have extra boats and gear, but we need a little advance notice to load it up.

Keep an eye on the River Mice blog for what the Mice have been doing. It has been updated with some of our activities this season.
http://mogulrivermice.blogspot.com

See you on the water!

Jeff Harper

Jerry's Trip to the Dismal Swamp

Jerry's Trip to the Dismal Swamp, originally uploaded by jmharper.

On Saturday the 20th, Jerry joined the CASK group for a paddle to Lake Drummond, in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp. Put in was at the Ballahack Road boat ramp on the Dismal Swamp canal, the same place the Paddle for the Border went from.

A "Take-Out Trolley!"

A "Take-Out Trolley!", originally uploaded by jmharper.

To get into Lake Drummond, you have to portage around the dam at the end of the feeder ditch. Jerry was naturally attracted to this contraption, a trolley to help pull your boat up the bank!

Another Overnight Trip Location?

Another Overnight Trip Location?, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Flush toilets, some electric... What else do we need? Jerry thinks this would make a great overnight trip location. Keep your eyes open- it could happen!

END JERRY'S DISMAL SWAMP

Ready to Paddle for the Border!

Ready to Paddle for the Border!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

On May 6th, four Mice made the early morning trip to Chesapeake and the Dismal Swamp canal for the "Paddle for the Border", an event put on by the City of Chesapeake. Jan, John, Jim and Jeff met over 200 other paddlers at the put in for the trip to the North Carolina Welcome Center, 2 miles south of the state line.

The weather was iffy right up until the start. It was still raining during the drive to the put-in, but once our boats were on the water, we didn't feel a single drop of rain! By the end of the paddle, the sun was out, and a beautiful Saturday was opening up.

A Crowded Put-In

A Crowded Put-In, originally uploaded by jmharper.

We put in at the Dismal Swamp Canal boat ramp at the end of Ballahack Road. It sits on what is now old route 17- the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. US 17 is now a beautiful and fast four lane highway that parallels the canal to the east. The old road is a multi-use trail- perfect for a bicycle ride!

Perhaps a pedal/paddle day is in our future?

Check out the variety of boats, and the nice carpet laid out for us!

Armada on the Canal

Armada on the Canal, originally uploaded by jmharper.

This was probably the STRAIGHTEST paddle the Mice have ever done. Take a look at a map. There is a grand total of ONE small turn on the canal between Chesapeake and North Carolina. Just a little jog to the left. Otherwise, just keep the rudder straight, and paddle for 7-1/2 miles!

This event was full- two hundred boats and 238 people on the water. It was great to see the huge variety of boats on the water, from Jazz sit-on-tops to a very nice looking rowboat.

A Great Morning's Paddle

A Great Morning's Paddle, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The City of Chesapeake and the North carolina State parks Division put together a great event. John and Jan are smiling over the swag they picked up. John is modeling the t-shirt and cap that all participants received. They also got a hot dog lunch at the take-out, and "valet" service for their boats. Volunteers from the local judicial system carried boats to staging areas, and delivered them to their car afterwards. A great paddle!

END PADDLE FOR BORDER

MERCHANTS MILLPOND, April 8-9, 2006

Looking for Alligators, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The first River Mice paddle of 2006 was a big one, and a good one. Six mice saw the weather forecast (rain!) and decided to go down to North Carolina for an overnight paddle anyway. Jerry led the group, and was joined by Jeff, Chris, Jim, Jeanine, and George.

The rain wound up dominating events, but didn't keep the group from enjoying what paddling they could, and the rest of the experience. Mice have done rain before! (See the West Neck Creek paddle last August.)

The Secret to Paddle Camping

The Secret to Paddle Camping, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Thank you George, for coming along, and for bringing your canoe! Camping with kayaks means you are very limited in what you can bring along. A canoe means hauling capacity, and being able to bring a few things you otherwise couldn't.

The scenery at Merchant's Millpond was amazing, with cypress trees everywhere! It felt more like the bayou, or the Okeefenokee Swamp, than North Carolina! The trees were so thick in most places that colored floats marked the trail between the ramp and the campsites.

Waiting for the Rain to End

Waiting for the Rain to End, originally uploaded by jmharper.

We got back from our exploration paddle just before it started pouring. Thanks to George's forethought, we had a small canopy to gather under. We were hoping the rain would stop and we could have a fire, but the rain never really stopped.

It poured for 11-1/2 hours overnight, from 5:30pm to 5am, confining everyone to their tents for the duration. With all the rain, there was surprisingly little mud the next day, and very little leakage into our tents.

Breaking Down Camp

Breaking Down Camp, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Even when you are limited in space, you can bring along a few comforts, like a stove to cook breakfast, a table to eat it off, and a tent with a little elbow room.

Sunday morning was sunny, but cold, as the same front that brought us all the rain also dropped the temperatures by at least twenty degrees.

No Way it All Fits On One Boat!

No Way it All Fits On One Boat!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

After camp is broken down, everything is hauled back down to the boats for packing. It may seem like putting the toothpaste back in the tube, but if you have a system like Jerry does, it should all fit back inside the front and rear hatches.

Note the luggage trolley that makes gear hauling much easier.

Oh Yes it Does!

Oh Yes it Does!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Here is Jerry's fully loaded boat, ready for put in. Jeanine is verification that yes, everything fit!

The Merchants Millpond overnight was quite an experience. Most of the paddlers want to try it again, to apply some lessons learned, and hopefully get some more paddling on this most interesting and different lake.

Keep your eyes open for a DAY PADDLE here in June. We will only pack lunches and cameras.

END MILLPOND

It's almost time to Paddle!

It's almost time to Paddle!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The weather is getting warmer, and it is time to think about loading those boats up and getting on the water. Time to think about where you want to paddle- an old favorite, or a new put in?

Our first paddle is coming up in a month. It is the re-scheduled Merchant's Millpond Overnighter. Save April 8-9, 2006 on your calendar, and hope the weather is better than the last time we tried this. We will paddle to a primitive campsite in the middle of the park, carrying everything with us.

Don't be afraid if you are new to this, we will have some experienced people along on the trip to help you load up and go! If you are interested, contact Jerry, or leave a comment on this blog. And...

See you on the water!

Giveback Weekend- Our First Project

Our First Project, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Over the last weekend in February, sixteen Moguls, many of them River Mice, volunteered their labor to help First Landing State Park clean up and get ready to open.

Our first project was to clean up an indian gravesite, located near the trailheads and visitor center. In 1997, remains of 64 Chesapeake indians, disturbed by nearby development, were re-interred inside the park.

Indian Gravesite

Indian Gravesite, originally uploaded by jmharper.

This was our first project, completed. Weeds were pulled, bushes trimmed, and mulch spread. The site is ringed by dogwood trees, and the only plant allowed inside these trees was a reddish vine with small leaves. It was a challenge leaving it in place while pulling everything else out!

There was talk of the club adopting this site- keep your eyes and ears open.

Relaxing after a day of Work

Relaxing after a day of Work, originally uploaded by jmharper.

One of the "perks" of volunteering at the park was two nights in cabins at the park. Like many Mogul events, meals were shared, and great company was enjoyed.

Jocularity was the word one evening. Here, Debbie was debating the merits of broadband internet access with Chris (not pictured). They stumbled over the definition of "wireless".

Rake that Straw!

Rake that Straw!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

How does pine straw get off the road? With a bunch of hard work, or in Bobbie's case, a lot of blowing. She operated the park's only leaf blower, and "cleaned up" after the raking crews. Raking was good in the sense that we could easily see what we had accomplished!

The Road Crew

The Road Crew, originally uploaded by jmharper.

A bunch of tired Moguls survey their handiwork. over parts of two days, we raked pine straw off of most of the roads in the campground area. In some places, the road was completely covered with a couple of inches of the stuff!

How many Mice can you find in this picture?

One Last Task!

One Last Task!, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The combined crew ended the weekend by folding a couple hundred brochures. This picture brings back memories of old newsletter folding parties.

Aside from the tasks mentioned, the group also assembled and stained two wooden benches, and cut up a truckload of scrap lumber for disposal. All in all, it was a fun and fulfilling weekend in the park. Thanks to Jeanine for setting it up!



END Giveback Weekend

Fall Follies 2005

Fall Follies 2005, originally uploaded by jmharper.

When you see burning furniture, you know it is Fall Follies time! It isn't a paddle, but many Mice come to this annual event, held at Newport News Park the weekend before Thanksgiving. This is not roughing it, unless you call sleeping in a tent on an air mattress under an electric blanket roughing it!

The Follies has been a Mogul tradition for over ten years, and is usually the biggest camping event of the year. It is pretty much the final outdoor event before the holidays and ski season. It is also a great chance to relax and enjoy the comany of your fellow campers.

Ready for the Bike Ride

Ready for the Bike Ride, originally uploaded by jmharper.

As this is a paddling blog, it probably should at least cover a group of people using their own physical power to travel a scenic route, even if it isn't on a kayak!

One of the highlights of the Fall Follies bike ride through Newport News Park, the Yorktown Battlefield National Park, and historic Yorktown. This is a very traditional ride, with several mandatory stops along the way. This time, the weather was perfect for the daring riders, including Jeff, Jim, Bobbie, Debbie, Chriis, Jim and Chris.

George Washington (blanked) Here

George Washington (blanked) Here, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The first traditional stop on the Fall Follies bicycle ride is Washington's Headquarters, just inside the battlefield park.

Mogul historians have uncovered the truth about this spot. He didn't lead his army from here, but he did take care of some urgent "personal" business down at the creek behind this sign. Various Moguls have reenacted this momentous event throughout the years.

The group also makes it a point to stop on top of the bridge over route 17, and to NEVER follow Jim and Bobbie, except for this year. In addition to the traditional historical spots, Jim and Bobbie led some rapidly tiring cyclists to Yellowstone National Park this year on their way to Yorktown.

The Cornwallis Tree

The Cornwallis Tree, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Legend has it that when the American and French troops had Lord Cornwallis surrounded at the end of the battle of Yorktown, he climbed this tree, and refused to come down until the troops apologized for calling him names.

Traditionally, Mogul has reenacted Cornwallis' fateful climb. Several riders would climb up and sit on the large limb until they were photographed. After years of such abuse, the limb now needs support, so Chris, Chris and Jim lend a hand with some historic preservation.

The Destination

The Destination, originally uploaded by jmharper.

The Yorktown Pub has been around for a while, and is a cozy, neighborhood kind of place that happens to serve people from all over, including a certain campground on the other side of the battlefield. The pub is on the scenic Yorktown waterfront, in the shadow of the Coleman Bridge. The chowder comes highly recommended, as does the St. George Golden Ale, brewed up in Hampton.

This year, the group was joined by John, who ventured out just a couple of weeks after heart surgery. It was great to see him out and about!After a tasty lunch, most of the group trudges back up the steep hill to start the ride back to camp.

Seeing the Sights

Seeing the Sights, originally uploaded by jmharper.

Some folks decide to stay at the Pub until the big football games, like Michigan- Ohio State, are over. Then it is time to wander back along the route as it gets dark.

When one is confident in their ability to pedal back to the campsite at dusk after several beers, one stops to see some of the sights along the way. Here, Chris and Debbie check out George Washington's personal cannon. Yes, it really is that big!

It Wouldn't be Fall Follies Without...

It Wouldn't be Fall Follies Without..., originally uploaded by jmharper.

Jerry burning stuff. From radio cabinets to chairs, from wood to wicker, one of the highlights of Fall Follies is seeing what Jerry will add to the fire to make it burn brighter.

Thanks to Jeanine for organizing (and founding) the Fall Follies each year. One of the best events going!



END Fall Follies

Put-in at Cherrystone Creek

Put-in at Cherrystone Creek, originally uploaded by jmharper.

One of the benefits of a sit-inside kayak is that you can extend your season. Two mice did just that, venturing back to the Eastern Shore in late October for a paddle on Cherrystone Creek. Jerry and Jeff found this put in just upstream from the Cherrystone campground near Cape Charles.

It turned out to be a beautiful day for a paddle, with the temperature in the mid-60's, and very little wind. Looking at all of the open water, the lack of wind was a real blessing! A friendly dog even joined us, and found a good stick to fetch!

Follow the Creek Wherever It Goes

Follow the Creek Wherever It Goes, originally uploaded by jmharper.

There are numerous small creeks that branch off of the very wide Cherrystone Creek. We wound up following Eyrehall Creek for quite a while. It started about 20 yards wide at a dock and boathouse, and wound up pretty close to US-13 at about 8 feet wide. As with many small creeks, there were a lot of twists and turns, so while you may have paddled a long way, you might not have wound up very far away.

This nice scene was about two-thirds of the way up Eyrehall Creek.

Any Place to Stretch Your Legs

Any Place to Stretch Your Legs, originally uploaded by jmharper.

One of the things abouit paddling is that you always want to stretch your legs, and your seat can get kind of sore. It isn't always easy to find a place to pull over, so when you see something, you go for it. Here, we found a very small sandbar. Not much room, but if all you want to do is stand up, what the heck!

This sandbar presented a unique hazard. In arriving, we scared off a couple of swans, and a large flock of terns, just hanging out on this small spit of land. When birds are just standing around, what do they do? Well, lets just say we watched our step on this particular sandbar!



END Cherrystone