Stewards of the White Oak River Basin Current Events

Frenchs Creek
Kaley, our newest youngest Stewards from West Va. Top left, her Dad, Wil, a Camp Lejeune MarineResurrection Fern on fallen Red Cedar - top Spanish moss on fallen red cedar.Wild hibiscus , Red Cedar Berries, Scuppernong Grapes, Our Trash haul for the day.

We had a delightful paddle on Frenchs Creek. It was different as is every paddle. This one was remote and wild. We never saw another human. We did see lots of wildlife including an abundance of ospreys and their nests. One small alligator, cormorants, egrets, blue herons, woodpeckers and one, I called him a shitepoke, but couldn’t find him in the book.

We actually paddled three creeks. We were blocked by blown down red cedar trees upstream on Frenchs and Cowherd and Jumping Creeks. We feel they may have a possible access if cleared up to the bridges.All were wild and beautiful. The fallen red cedars with the bleached exposed roots are grotesque in their shapes and one can imagine all kinds of creatures in observing them.

The weather was excellent in spite of the dire forecasts. We went swimming twice to cool off. Scratched for clams but without success.

The Stewards were, Kaley, from West Virginia and her Dad, a Camp Lejeune Marine, and Dale Weston, from Jacksonville and the writer. Kaley is now our youngest Steward. She really seemed to enjoy the trip and was eager to find litter which was scarce in these waters. Most of the trash was at the put-in and consisted of discarded chairs.

This Saturday, we join the Young Democrats of Carteret County in cleaning up Morehad City harbor. We return to Sugarloaf Island and will play leap frog along the islands’s shores picking up all trash and litter along the high tide line where it is deposited by the waves in the marshes and along the beaches.Sugarloaf is now a Morehead City Park. There is ferry service over to it. It is a beautiful island park and should never be trashed.

We meet Saturday morning at 9:00 at the 10th Street ramp. Come and join us. Motor boats are welcome too. We plan to be off the water by 3:00. We may paddle over to explore Brandt Island if time allows. Elmer