Emphasis on white water paddling.
Drop us an email ...
... we can be reached at the office: Email Us
User login
Paddling
Behind the oar with Paul Ferguson
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 13:54 | by joe
Our recent wet weather — and, ironically, the prospect of drier summer weather — have gotten us to thinking about paddling of late. That thinking raised some questions, and whenever we have questions about paddling, we go to the dean of eastern North Carolina paddling, Paul Ferguson. Paul has been paddling the region's waters for roughly 40 years. He helped scout many of the rivers listed in the region's first guidebook, "A Paddler's Guide to Eastern North Carolina," by Bob Benner and Tom McCloud, which was published in 1987. That book was due for an update in the late '90s, but the authors got into a dispute with the publisher over maps and opted out of the project. Ferguson decided to fill the void, publishing "Paddling Eastern North Carolina" in 2002. He revised and expanded the guide in 2007, boosting the number of miles covered from 2,600 to 3,200.
Three Rivers: A Father's Day treat
Mon, 06/22/2009 - 02:55 | by joe
Whenever I poll the Triangle’s top paddlers about their favorite water in the region, outfitter Banks Dixon has the same reply: The Three Rivers area.
Three Rivers is a coined term you won’t see on a map. It describes the area in eastern Durham County where the Little River enters the Eno River, then, a little farther downstream, the Eno joins the Flat River to become the Neuse River. The Neuse is short-lived at this point, shortly feeding into Falls Lake before emerging out the dam some 24 miles later in Raleigh. It’s all flat water in the Three Rivers area, with lots of creeks, coves and cut-throughs. On a map, it looks more organized than it does from behind an oar. That, I quickly came to appreciate, is one of the charms of Three Rivers: You truly are exploring.
Carolina Kayak Club: A home for flatwater paddlers
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 00:07 | by joe
You can judge a paddle club by its boats: From the recreational to the really cool, the Carolina Kayak Club caters to flatwater paddlers of all kinds.
For years, the only canoe and kayak club in town was the Carolina Canoe Club. Great group, but their emphasis was heavy on whitewater paddling. What if you preferred placid paddling?
Now, you can join the Carolina Kayak Club. According to its Web site, “We are a full service flatwater Kayak and Canoe club from the central North Carolina area dedicated to providing members with the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular paddling destinations available in the region. We are also dedicated to promoting the sport and increasing skills and safety.”
We caught up with CKC President Camille Warren for a game of five questions. (Camille tells us she consulted with the CKC braintrust on the answers.)
TIONC: When did the club form and how did it come about?
Where to paddle? Ask the Carolina Kayak Club
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 03:00 | by joe
Carolina Kayak Club members put in at Beaverdam on Falls Lake.
Monday, we began a five-question conversation with Camille Warren and the new Carolina Kayak Club. Today, we conclude that chat with the new club’s take on why this is a great spot for flatwater paddlers.
TIONC: For folks who may be only vaguely familiar with flatwater paddling in the region, what would you say are its prime attractions?
Carolina Kayak Club August meeting - Tom Potter, Executive Director of the NC Paddle Trails Association
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 23:18 | by CKCPresidentThanks to Joe for the opportunity to introduce Carolina Kayak Club to the outdoor sports community on your blog. Here is some more information about the club.
The Carolina Kayak Club has monthly meetings with presentations of interest to paddlers. Tom Potter, Executive Director of the North Carolina Paddle Trails Association will be joining us for our August meeting.
The mission of the NCPTA is to empower communities in the local development, maintenance and restoration of paddle trails in North Carolina thereby nuturing economically and environmentally sustainable communities. Tom will be talking to us about the work NCPTA is doing at the state and local levels to encourage the creation and maintenance of paddle trails and maps, improve access, and advocate for the paddling community on issues related to paddle trails. This promises to be a very interesting program and I am looking forward to it.
Celebrating river access with ice cream, on the Deep
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:12 | by joeWhen Tom Potter, executive director of the N.C. Paddle Trails Association, was asked to name an area or two in the state where improved access to rivers has had an impact on local economies, I thought he might mention the Deep River as it flows through Moore, Chatham and Lee counties. Potter, the association’s top guy since it formed in 2000, has played a key role not only in helping to identify and map 1,200 miles of paddle trails in the eastern part of the state, but to elevate paddling’s profile statewide. He was talking about those efforts Monday night at the monthly meeting of the Carolina Kayak Club in Raleigh.
The old access to the Deep River at Deep River Park.
The state of North Carolina paddling
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 11:39 | by joe
It was a curious time to walk into a meeting on the virtues of paddling. “... and on August 22nd and 23rd,” president Camille Warren was telling the 30 or so assembled for the Carolina Kayak Club’s August meeting Monday night, “is our Vacation to Hell,” which she went on to describe as a two-day, 40-mile, hot, buggy, exposed paddle around Cedar and Piney Islands.
Hardy group, this Carolina Kayak Club.
Coming up at Carolina Kayak Club
Sun, 08/23/2009 - 12:22 | by CKCPresidentHello everyone,
August and September are busy months for Carolina Kayak Club and I am hoping you will find this post to be an interesting update from the club.
There are a number of exciting things happening. In fact, at this very moment Dawn and her intrepid crew are on their hot muggy buggy Vacation form Hell (and back we hope). If you would like to know where they are RIGHT NOW click here to see their SPOT trail.
Paddling Links
Emphasis on flat water paddling.
The guidebook for regional paddling.