Paddle Day 72: Rivers, Sounds and Canals

Crossing the Pamlico

Another long day of kayaking, seeing wildlife (dead - wilddead?) and reconnecting with hosts I met in NJ.

Rotarians folding my IKEA bags

It was sad to be leaving Bellhaven as I had such a good time there.  Two Rotarians came to see me off, and did the most awesome job of folding my IKEA bags.  They had never been so flat!

Easy kayaking as I came down the Pungo River, crossed the Pamlico, headed up a creek and then a canal.  I've started making pit stops on these long legs, and at the one this day, as I pulled up on a little sandy beach, I saw an otter.  Unfortunately, quite dead.

Dead otter

I'm enjoying paddling along these unpopulated stretches.  I play a little game of trying to find campsites.  When I kayak up in the arctic,  along the tundra, it's tough to find campsites as much of the ground is marsh-like and too soggy to camp.  The trick to finding a good campsite there is to look for the innukshuks, the tall piles of rocks that look like sculptures.  These mean you can usually find a safe spot to land and a dry spot to camp.  Here in N.C. there seems to be a similar system to find dry spots to camp in the marshes.  There are signs that often mark decent landings with high land that would make a good campsite.  These signs say "No Hunting" or "No Fishing".  But they don't say "No Camping".

The "innukshuks" of North Carolina

As I approached my destination at Hobucken, I saw a power boat approaching.  It was Clair and Kay!  I had met them back in New Jersey when I couldn't make it to my planned destination and pulled onto a floating dock.  Clair helped me land, told me about a short cut for the next day, came out to check on me in the high winds, and set me up to stay with his friend in Maryland.  Now I would be staying with him and his wife Kay in Oriental.  This was the first time I was picked up by hosts in a power boat to be taken back to their house!

Clair and Kay escorting me to the boat ramp

Clair arranged for my kayak to stay at R. E Mayo, and the guys there even carried it inside the ice house to keep it safe over night.  Such service!

R.E.Mayo guys carrying my kayak to the ice house for safe keeping

Home safe and happy with Clair and Kay!

Paddle Day: 72                                                       
Date: Dec 5, 2014

Start: Bellhaven, NC                                         
End: Hobucken, NC
Distance: 21.5 miles                                                   
Paddle, hike, bike distance: 997.6 miles
Motor portaged: 251 miles
Total distance: 1248.6 miles
Max speed:  5.2 mph                                               
Moving ave.: 3.7 mph
Kayak storage:  R.E. Mayo                                
Hosts: Clair and Kaye Hofmann