Compliments of Chris P:
Crab Cakes
Steamed Clams
Linguini with Clam Sauce
and a Vegetable Chutney
Not your usual camping fare, but fitting after a day on the water!
The Seventh Annual Kiptopeke outing was a success, food and all.
Come join us next year!
END KIPTOPEKE
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Scotts Creek Paddle, 8/16/2007
Seven Mice met on a Sunday afternoon to paddle the backyards of Portsmouth, putting in across from IC Norcom High School. Jeanine, Jim, Peggy, Chris, Jeff, and a pair of Jerrys headed down three branches of Scotts Creek, and even got out into the Elizabeth River for a little while. This finger of the creek goes between the Shea terrace and Sugar Hill neighborhoods.
In the Shadow of the Big Ships
While Scouus Creek has its pastoral spots, and plenty of wildlife, it is an urban paddle, and a good look at the "port" in Portsmouth. Here, Chris and Peggy are along the back side of the Naval Hospital, and are dwarfed by a couple ships docked at onr of the private repair yards in the area.
Chris and Jerry Catch Up
As much as Mice paddles are a chance to get some exercise and see some great sights from a unique vantage point, our paddles are very much a social event. There are plenty of chances to have some long conversations with your friends. Here, Chris and Jerry share home improvement stories.
Aloha!
That's Jim lending a little aloha spirit to the paddle. Usually the bright colors are on the boats!
We paddled for about two hours and about five miles, and enjoyed the varied backyards that Portsmouth had to offer.
END SCOTTS CREEK
We paddled for about two hours and about five miles, and enjoyed the varied backyards that Portsmouth had to offer.
END SCOTTS CREEK
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Bennett's Creek Evening Paddle- July 26
The second evening paddle of the summer was on Bennetts Creek in Suffolk. Five Mice made the trip west- Jim, Jerry, Jeanine, Jeff and Wayne, Jim's co-worker.
Put in was at the city boat ramp in Bennett's Creek Park, located a half-mile off Shoulders Hill Road. there was a small "Boater's Beach" that we used next to the concrete ramp.
Bennetts Creek is a wide, meandering waterway that ends when it meets the Nansemond River and the James River. There are a lot of large farmhouses along the creek, as well as some empty land. The sprawling subdivisions of Suffolk haven't reached the banks of the creek yet.
Here, from left, are Jerry, Wayne, Jeanine and Jim.
Put in was at the city boat ramp in Bennett's Creek Park, located a half-mile off Shoulders Hill Road. there was a small "Boater's Beach" that we used next to the concrete ramp.
Bennetts Creek is a wide, meandering waterway that ends when it meets the Nansemond River and the James River. There are a lot of large farmhouses along the creek, as well as some empty land. The sprawling subdivisions of Suffolk haven't reached the banks of the creek yet.
Here, from left, are Jerry, Wayne, Jeanine and Jim.
Jeanine is Ready to Go
We stopped at the Creekside Restaurant near the route 17 bridge for a little break and a cold beverage. It was a beautiful evening, and we were able to sit on the deck. Things were a little rushed, though, as the restaurant was swamped with business, and we could see the sun getting lower and lower.
Put in after our break happened very quickly, about two minutes from walking back to our boats to being on the creek again. Then it was a sprint back to Bennetts Creek Park for takeout.
Put in after our break happened very quickly, about two minutes from walking back to our boats to being on the creek again. Then it was a sprint back to Bennetts Creek Park for takeout.
They Aren't Going Anywhere!
We got back to the put-in a little late, and consequently had to load up in the dark. This was not a night paddle, but an evening paddle!
Here, Jim checks out the tie-downs for two kayaks in the bed of Wayne's truck. Jerry pitches in with some advice.
Here, Jim checks out the tie-downs for two kayaks in the bed of Wayne's truck. Jerry pitches in with some advice.
Moonrise Over Bennetts Creek
Bennett's Creek is a great place to paddle after work, and seems far from the suburbia you have to drive through to get there. You get some great views, and some great paddling down the wide meandering creek. The quiet of early evening only adds to the pleasure.
END BENNETTS CREEK
END BENNETTS CREEK
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Drum Point, July 21
The River Mice tried out a new put-in on Saturday the 21st. The Drum Point city boat ramp is located on Back Bay, at the end of Mill Landing Road.
The group had a choice Saturday morning- paddle in the Back bay, or head up nearby Nanney's Creek. Since the winds werepretty strong from the north, and a few whitecaps were seen on the bay, the creek won out.
Jim and Jerry show off their new acquisitions- sleek blue boats!
The group had a choice Saturday morning- paddle in the Back bay, or head up nearby Nanney's Creek. Since the winds werepretty strong from the north, and a few whitecaps were seen on the bay, the creek won out.
Jim and Jerry show off their new acquisitions- sleek blue boats!
Through the Cypress Trees
The group paddled through some great scenery, including this small stand of cypress trees.
A Boat She Can Afford
Chris eyes the first boat she would consider swapping her green Scrambler sit-on-top for. This little piece of art was near the half-way point of the creek.
It's Karl!
Yes, Karl. He has joined us on a few paddles so far, and adds to the friendly banter that takes place during every Mice paddle. His kayak is somewhere in between the smaller cockpit touring boats and the sit-on tops. It has a very large cockpit opening, and is perfect for paddling the creeks of our area.
Rough Take Out
Jim rides the waves into the Drum Point ramp at the end of our paddle. With the wind out of the north, conditions were quite choppy for the first and last 200 yards of the paddle.
The sailboat on the right of the picture was attempting to put in as we were attempting to take out, and flipped over in the process, delaying the trip into the ramp for half the group.
The group covered 4.6 miles in about 2-1/2 hours, a nice relaxed paddle through some great scenery.
END DRUM POINT
The sailboat on the right of the picture was attempting to put in as we were attempting to take out, and flipped over in the process, delaying the trip into the ramp for half the group.
The group covered 4.6 miles in about 2-1/2 hours, a nice relaxed paddle through some great scenery.
END DRUM POINT
Mogul Invades Deep Creek!
The River Mice started July in Chesapeake, paddling the waterways around the Deep Creek locks. Jerry set things up with the Ruritan Club, and twelve paddlers met in the back parking lot in the late morning.
Jerry, George, Bev, Jeanine, Jim, Brad, Barb, Jeff, Chris, Betsy, Connie and Ed put in for a fun midday Sunday event.
Not only is paddling a great physical activity, and a chance to see some of the best nature has to offer in our area, it is a chance to chat with friends, and even catch up with people who have been away for a while.
Jerry, George, Bev, Jeanine, Jim, Brad, Barb, Jeff, Chris, Betsy, Connie and Ed put in for a fun midday Sunday event.
Not only is paddling a great physical activity, and a chance to see some of the best nature has to offer in our area, it is a chance to chat with friends, and even catch up with people who have been away for a while.
Father Jerry Leads the Way
Well, it was a Sunday...
Jerry showed off his new headgear as the group headed west from the locks, under the route 17 bridge, and through the backyards of the Deep Creek neighborhood.
The Mice have been blessed with some great weather so far this season, save a couple of rainouts. Perhaps the "Padre's" influence helped us this day. Warm and sunny, with a slight breeze.
It was another successful paddle, about 2-12 hours long.
END DEEP CREEK LOCKS
Jerry showed off his new headgear as the group headed west from the locks, under the route 17 bridge, and through the backyards of the Deep Creek neighborhood.
The Mice have been blessed with some great weather so far this season, save a couple of rainouts. Perhaps the "Padre's" influence helped us this day. Warm and sunny, with a slight breeze.
It was another successful paddle, about 2-12 hours long.
END DEEP CREEK LOCKS
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Upcoming Paddles- June 26, 2007
It is a busy time for the River Mice- three paddling opportunities in the next week.
The next paddle will be on Thursday, June 28th, the Owl's Creek Evening Paddle
7:00pm
Meet at the Owl's Creek boatramp on General Booth Boulevard at 7 for this relaxing, fun paddle. Both High Tide and Monnrise are predicted for 7:16pm this day. We will paddle around lake Rudee and among the backyards of Croatan. Once it gets dark we will check out one of the isolated creeks, and see what we can see. If you remember the fireflies from past paddles, it is something you won't forget!
Bring a flashlight that can be attached to your boat. This paddle is beginner/intermediate. Owl's Creek is a nice place to paddle around. It is a no-wake zone, and is protected from wind and waves. The trip over to Croatan can get a little choppy as we pass under the Rudee Inlet bridge, and paddling in the dark may not be your cup of tea.
Keep an eye on the weather. Hopefully any pop-up storms will go through well before our put-in time. We will go if possible, but will stay away from any lightning.
Next up is the Deep Creek Locks this Sunday, July 1st, at 10:30am. We will meet at Deep Creek Locks Park. Take highway 17 south from the Deep Creek exit of I-64. Turn left onto Luray Street and enter the park. If you do the "S" curve over the canal, you have gone too far.
We will head over towards the Southern Branch and the High Rise Bridge, and will explore whatever side creeks we find. Bring along some lunch, and we will try to find a beach to pull up on for a picnic.
This is probably an intermediate paddle, though a secure beginner will do okay. There may be some powerboats, which mean wakes to avoid and turn into.
Finally, don't forget the Mogul July 4th party at John Schonk's house. It runs from 2pm until who knows when. last year at John's, we had sixteen boats in the water, putting in from John's backyard. We will paddle the Lafayette River, and some of the creeks that flow into it.
This paddle can be whatever you want, for as long (or short) as you want. The river is quite wide, so it resembles an open water paddle a little bit. Powerboat wakes make for some interesting chop. Beginners will have plenty of support.
John lives at 1004 Covington Lane in the Larchmont section of Norfolk. Check out this link for details and directions.
http://johnschonk.com/mogul
As always, email if you are joining us, and we will wait for you. If not, we will charge ahead. Spare boats are available if you give enough notice, and are willing to do a little hauling.
Hope to see you on the water!
Jeff
The next paddle will be on Thursday, June 28th, the Owl's Creek Evening Paddle
7:00pm
Meet at the Owl's Creek boatramp on General Booth Boulevard at 7 for this relaxing, fun paddle. Both High Tide and Monnrise are predicted for 7:16pm this day. We will paddle around lake Rudee and among the backyards of Croatan. Once it gets dark we will check out one of the isolated creeks, and see what we can see. If you remember the fireflies from past paddles, it is something you won't forget!
Bring a flashlight that can be attached to your boat. This paddle is beginner/intermediate. Owl's Creek is a nice place to paddle around. It is a no-wake zone, and is protected from wind and waves. The trip over to Croatan can get a little choppy as we pass under the Rudee Inlet bridge, and paddling in the dark may not be your cup of tea.
Keep an eye on the weather. Hopefully any pop-up storms will go through well before our put-in time. We will go if possible, but will stay away from any lightning.
Next up is the Deep Creek Locks this Sunday, July 1st, at 10:30am. We will meet at Deep Creek Locks Park. Take highway 17 south from the Deep Creek exit of I-64. Turn left onto Luray Street and enter the park. If you do the "S" curve over the canal, you have gone too far.
We will head over towards the Southern Branch and the High Rise Bridge, and will explore whatever side creeks we find. Bring along some lunch, and we will try to find a beach to pull up on for a picnic.
This is probably an intermediate paddle, though a secure beginner will do okay. There may be some powerboats, which mean wakes to avoid and turn into.
Finally, don't forget the Mogul July 4th party at John Schonk's house. It runs from 2pm until who knows when. last year at John's, we had sixteen boats in the water, putting in from John's backyard. We will paddle the Lafayette River, and some of the creeks that flow into it.
This paddle can be whatever you want, for as long (or short) as you want. The river is quite wide, so it resembles an open water paddle a little bit. Powerboat wakes make for some interesting chop. Beginners will have plenty of support.
John lives at 1004 Covington Lane in the Larchmont section of Norfolk. Check out this link for details and directions.
http://johnschonk.com/mogul
As always, email if you are joining us, and we will wait for you. If not, we will charge ahead. Spare boats are available if you give enough notice, and are willing to do a little hauling.
Hope to see you on the water!
Jeff
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Lynnhaven Inlet Paddle 6/16/07
Six Moguls and a guest met at the Virginia Beach City boat ramp at the Lesner Bridge, and put in for a great paddle. Jeanine, Chris, Jeff, Jim, Bobbie, Dennis and Debbie paddled towards the Bayville Country Club, then headed out among the islands just south of the bridge, before winding up at Bubbas for lunch and some refreshments on the deck.
From Bubbas it was a short but eventful paddle back to the put-in. The group got a lesson in tidal current, having to work hard to avoid being swept towards the bridge and Chesapeake Bay. Jim was so distracted by the current that he paddled into a piling fifteen feet from Bubbas ramp, flipping over and earning a teabag award nomination!
It was a perfect day for a paddle- warm, but not too hot, with a slight breeze, and plenty of sun! Come join us for the next perfect paddle!
From Bubbas it was a short but eventful paddle back to the put-in. The group got a lesson in tidal current, having to work hard to avoid being swept towards the bridge and Chesapeake Bay. Jim was so distracted by the current that he paddled into a piling fifteen feet from Bubbas ramp, flipping over and earning a teabag award nomination!
It was a perfect day for a paddle- warm, but not too hot, with a slight breeze, and plenty of sun! Come join us for the next perfect paddle!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Virginia Beach Scenic Waterway
This is a map of the Virginia Beach Scenic Waterway. Did you know that you can paddle from Munden Point and south all the way to the bay at Lynnhaven Inlet? The River Mice did it over four different days. Look at earlier entries in this blog for the story.
The West neck Creek paddle on June 3rd will go from Princess Anne Road south to the West Neck Marina, or possibly longer.
The West neck Creek paddle on June 3rd will go from Princess Anne Road south to the West Neck Marina, or possibly longer.
June Paddles
These are the upcoming paddles:
Saturday, May 19th
Wild River Outfitters Demo Day
Seashore State Park 64th Street Narrows
9am-4pm
For those who are looking for a kayak of their own, a great way to start is to check out some boats here. A $5 fee (plus the state park parking fee) lets you try any of over a hundred different kayaks and canoes. It is always good to "test paddle" a boat, whether you buy it that weekend from Wild River or somewhere else. More info at this link:
http://www.wildriveroutfitters.com/usage/demoday.htm
Sunday, June 3rd
West Neck Creek
We have tried this one a couple of times, but our enjoyment of this beautiful paddle always seems to be dampened by rain, so we will try again. It starts with a narrow channel, then gradually widens into a winding creek with lots of wildlife.
Meet at 10am at the Princess Anne Road put-in between Holland Road and Sandbridge Road (pictured). If the weather looks good, we will set a shuttle and paddle between 4 and 7 miles. If not, we will figure something out to get some paddling in.
This is an intermediate paddle- the water is calm, but the distance could be on the long side, and there are limited places to pull over and rest. There may be some obstacles to get around in the water.
Saturday, June 16th
Deep Creek Locks
Jerry Found this put-in during his travels, and secured permission for us to access a new stretch of water in the Deep Creek Section of Chesapeake. Depending on the wind, and our mood, we can paddle east, towards the southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, or west, up a winding creek. More info to come on this paddle.
Thursday, June 28th
Owl's Creek Evening Paddle
7:00pm
Meet at the Owl's Creek boatramp on General Booth Boulevard at 7 for this relaxing, fun paddle. Both High Tide and Monnrise are predicted for 7:16pm this day. We will paddle around lake Rudee and among the backyards of Croatan. Once it gets dark we will check out one of the isolated creeks, and see what we can see. If you remember the fireflies from past paddles, it is something you won't forget!
Bring a flashlight that can be attached to your boat. This paddle is beginner/intermediate. Owl's Creek is a nice place to paddle around. It is a no-wake zone, and is protected from wind and waves. The trip over to Croatan can get a little choppy as we pass under the Rudee Inlet bridge, and paddling in the dark may not be your cup of tea.
See you on the water!
Saturday, May 19th
Wild River Outfitters Demo Day
Seashore State Park 64th Street Narrows
9am-4pm
For those who are looking for a kayak of their own, a great way to start is to check out some boats here. A $5 fee (plus the state park parking fee) lets you try any of over a hundred different kayaks and canoes. It is always good to "test paddle" a boat, whether you buy it that weekend from Wild River or somewhere else. More info at this link:
http://www.wildriveroutfitters.com/usage/demoday.htm
Sunday, June 3rd
West Neck Creek
We have tried this one a couple of times, but our enjoyment of this beautiful paddle always seems to be dampened by rain, so we will try again. It starts with a narrow channel, then gradually widens into a winding creek with lots of wildlife.
Meet at 10am at the Princess Anne Road put-in between Holland Road and Sandbridge Road (pictured). If the weather looks good, we will set a shuttle and paddle between 4 and 7 miles. If not, we will figure something out to get some paddling in.
This is an intermediate paddle- the water is calm, but the distance could be on the long side, and there are limited places to pull over and rest. There may be some obstacles to get around in the water.
Saturday, June 16th
Deep Creek Locks
Jerry Found this put-in during his travels, and secured permission for us to access a new stretch of water in the Deep Creek Section of Chesapeake. Depending on the wind, and our mood, we can paddle east, towards the southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, or west, up a winding creek. More info to come on this paddle.
Thursday, June 28th
Owl's Creek Evening Paddle
7:00pm
Meet at the Owl's Creek boatramp on General Booth Boulevard at 7 for this relaxing, fun paddle. Both High Tide and Monnrise are predicted for 7:16pm this day. We will paddle around lake Rudee and among the backyards of Croatan. Once it gets dark we will check out one of the isolated creeks, and see what we can see. If you remember the fireflies from past paddles, it is something you won't forget!
Bring a flashlight that can be attached to your boat. This paddle is beginner/intermediate. Owl's Creek is a nice place to paddle around. It is a no-wake zone, and is protected from wind and waves. The trip over to Croatan can get a little choppy as we pass under the Rudee Inlet bridge, and paddling in the dark may not be your cup of tea.
See you on the water!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Kiptopeke Weekend 2006
The weekend after Labor Day, the River Mice gathered for the sixth annual Kiptopeke weekend at Kiptopeke State Park on the eastern shore. Located just three miles past the toll plaza of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, it is an ideal retreat close to home.
Camp was set up under the trees at the spacious campground. Most of our sites backed up against each other, making for a nice community feel.
The highlight of the weekend is the Saturday paddle. This year, conditions were ideal to paddle around Raccoon Island, a close-in barrier island. A large group headed out, including Bill and Cheri, Ed and Connie, George and Bev, Jeff and Chris, Jerry and Jeanine, and Peggy and Jim. Debbie and Joe arrived early in the morning, and decided to get acquainted with their new camper instead of paddling.
No matter where you are, the bridge-tunnel isn't far away. It is off to the left of this picture.
Among the Barrier Islands
Saturday's paddle had ideal conditions for exploring the barrier islands. The tide was up, and the wind was down. Those far-off islands were more inviting than ever, and most of the group took the bait. After traveling most of the way around Raccoon Island, our intrepid paddlers took off for the far point of Fishermans Island, a mile away across open water.
The trip out and back took most of an hour, with no chance for rest. Fishermans Island is completely closed to human visitors. Finally, it was time to take out in the mud. The tide had dropped about 3-4 feet since put-in. Then it was back to camp for showers, dinner, and another night around the fire.
Touring the Concrete Ships
On Sunday the group took advantage of the beautiful weather and paddled out to the concrete ships that serve as a breakwater. Yes, concrete ships. They were an experiment during world war II, when steel was in high demand. Concrete was used for the ship's hull, and yes, it floated! When the Little Creek-Cape Charles ferry terminal moved to this location, the owner purchased the ships, floated them into place, and sank them to serve as a breakwater. Now, they are one of the sights of Kiptopeke.
It was another great weekend of paddling and friendship. The weather was near perfect- not too hot, with little wind. All in all, Kiptopeke was as it should be, a perfect way to start the end of summer!
END KIPTOPEKE
Monday, August 07, 2006
Schonkathon '06
this was the scene as Moguls of all stripes gathered at John's house for a pool party on August 5th. Since John lives on the Lafayette River, the party was also a good excuse for a paddle.
Only half of the boats that got in the river are in this picture. NINETEEN boats and 21 people in all paddled across the river to explore the backyards of the creeks of Larchmont and the Riverfront neighborhood. It was a record turnout for a paddle, and several new people were introduced to the fun of flatwater paddling.
Oh, and there was this great spread of food, and a pool, and lots of good friends, but since this is a paddling blog...
Checking the Put-in
Jerry and Vonnie take a walk down the pier to identify possible put-in spots. In the end, paddlers descended a ladder and took a few steps over to a small patch of sand in order to get started. it took about 30 minutes to get the whole crew in the water.
It was a beautiful day for a paddle and a party. The heat wave finally broke, giving us a "cool" 86 degree day with lower humidity.
Lovin' it!
Teresa decided to check out the River Mice way of life, and from the smile on her face, you have to say she loves it! She is in a Jazz, a short sit-on-top model that is perfect for checking out the paddling scene. It's a little turny for some mice paddles, but just right for a social paddle like this one.
Hope you can be like Teresa and join us for a paddle soon!
How'm I Doing?
We've seen Ed on the water a couple of times, but this was the first time we got to paddle with Connie. She did great, and seemed to be enjoying herself on Crab Creek.
3 People, Two Boats
Jan and her friends take a photo break halfway through the paddle. Her friends (whose names I can't remember, but will edit in if someone lets me know,) are in a tandem boat, and seem to be getting along fine.
The pool party started at 2pm, and lasted until about 11. Some folks just couldn't get enough of the company and the awesome weather.
George's Big Splash
The highlight of the party, aside from the perfect weather, was George's entry into the water. With years of experience in whitewater, he made it look easy. He also made the fully-clothed back-flop into the pool look easy!
Thanks to John and Jan for putting on an awesome party!
END SCHONKATHON '06
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Heat Wave on the Hague!
August 3rd, 2006 was the hottest day of the year, with temperatures topping out at 102 or 103 degrees. This thermometer reading was at 6:05pm, a few minutes before six mice put in at the Hague for our second evening paddle of the season.
Yes, you can put in at Ghent! We started in front of the Chrysler Museum, close to the footbridge. It was oppressively hot on land, but once we got on the water, things cooled off a bit. It was still hot, but not nearly bad enough to stay home. There was actually a nice breeze that helped alot.
On the Elizabeth River
Our Paddle took us down the Hague, past the PETA building, and into the Elizabeth River, where we turned left. We passed the battleship Wisconsin, Nauticus and the new cruise terminal, Town Point Park and Waterside before stopping just before the Berkeley Bridge. In this picture, the bridge had just closed after opening for a rather tall tug. Jim and Peggy think the opening was for our little group!
Note how relaxed Peggy is.
Sunset Paddling
After we turned around, we were treated to the setting sun and some neat colors in front of Waterside. This view looks towards the Waterside Marina, and just left of center, the Huntington Tugboat Museum. The Portsmouth Naval Hospital is in the distance.
Turning around put is against the wind, making the paddle just a little more pleasant. Despite the haze, the sun did get in our eyes a little, though!
Fun on the Water
Does this look like a group of people who just spent an hour and a half in misery? Of course not! Peggy, Jerry, Jeanine, Chris and Jeff have smiles on their faces after another great paddle. Photographer Jim was smiling too.
After the paddle, everyone gathered at Chris's condo nearby for some delicious snacks and beverages, as well as some great conversation. The flank steak and bean dip were delicious! Thanks for hosting us Chris!
END HAGUE PADDLE
Princess Anne Road Paddle- Dark Skies
Six Mice showed up July 20th at the Princess Anne Road put-in, hoping to get a paddle in before the skies cut loose. They got their wish, paddling down Upper West Neck Creek for about 45 minutes before hearing some distant thunder and deciding to turn back.
This picture actually shows the skies AFTER the paddle. It started to drizzle when the boats were tied back up and we were ready to leave.
Rainy Day Paddlers
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
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Hague Paddle- RESCHEDULED
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
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
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Lotus Garden Loop
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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!
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
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
Saturday, July 01, 2006
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!
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!
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