Contentnea Creek 5-6-12

Overnight rain storms left us with a full creek and overcast skies as Kim and I set out on Contentnea Creek this morning. The smells of spring filled the air.

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Camping at the Barred Owl Roost camping platform. 4-15-12--4-17-12

We set out from Robersons Marina with a beautiful sky above us and the wind at our backs. The Barred Owl Roost is about a six mile paddle up several of the creeks that comprise the Roanoke River basin. Nature seemed to greet us with open arms. Bald eagles, owls, otter, deer, snakes, and a wide variety of local song birds were all spotted over the three day two night camping trip. The platform earned its name as night fell and the owls started talking.

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Barred Owl Roost camping part two. Snakes!

Kim and I saw quite a few snakes on the camping trip.

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Hidden Lake 3-31-12

Kim and I had a true adventure camping on the Hidden Lake camping platform in the Palmetto Pear-Tree Nature Preserve. Upon arriving in the preserve I was attacked by a sneaky mud hole and got the car stuck. Luckily for us no sneaky mud hole can match wits with my better half and resident Tar River Otter photographer, Kim. The paddle to the platform was more difficult than anticipated. Many fallen trees tested our resolve and tempers as we made our way. Upon reaching the lake we were awed by the beauty of the place but with storm clouds brewin we had to hastily set up camp. A good thing we made haste for as soon as we got set up the sky opened up on us. Oh the dreadful wind and rain! We made it through the night and the following morning was a real reward. A mostly cloudy sky looked down on us as we explored the watery wonderworld of the inner banks of North Carolina.We learned a lot on this trip.

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Tranters Creek 3-25-12

Overnight thunderstorms ruined our camping plans but filled the creeks up right nice.

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Smiths Creek, Aurora NC 2-18-12

The mornings paddle down Smiths Creek started with one of my favorite wildlife sightings, a bald eagle. We also saw a group of swans, lazy turtles, and ducks. The wind through the grass and trees was mesmerizing.

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Oyster Point, trailhead for the Neusiok Trail, Newport NC

The day was unfortunately too cold and windy to put the canoe in the water so we decided to hike a bit of the Neusiok Trail that we had never been to.A two and a half mile hike from the parking/camping area to a spot called The Blackjack Shelter. It was a lovely walk full of amazing views of the Newport River and the surrounding wilderness. There is a camping area right on the river, or if your in the mood for a little more privacy, The Neusiok Trail runs through The Croatan National Forest so you can camp anywhere you please. We intend to do just that when the weather warms up just a little.

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