Friday, June 20, 2008
2008-06-19 Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, NC
We launched our canoes and kayaks at Tommy Drive parking area in Cedar Point. This is two driveways towards Morehead on Rte 24
and two driveways to toward Swansboro from Barrier Islands Kayaks. This will become part of the new Wildlife Access Area went it is built.
We paddled directly across the ICW and the White Oak River which run together at this location. We went through the cut to Huggins Island
and followed Crystal Coast Canoe & Kayak Club's Huggins Island Canoe Trail to the back side of Huggins Island. We left the trail here and
headed into the marshes trying to find the way through them to Bear Island.
We were unsuccessful but did come out into the West Channel farther up than ever before.
and two driveways to toward Swansboro from Barrier Islands Kayaks. This will become part of the new Wildlife Access Area went it is built.
We paddled directly across the ICW and the White Oak River which run together at this location. We went through the cut to Huggins Island
and followed Crystal Coast Canoe & Kayak Club's Huggins Island Canoe Trail to the back side of Huggins Island. We left the trail here and
headed into the marshes trying to find the way through them to Bear Island.
We were unsuccessful but did come out into the West Channel farther up than ever before.
The marsh was full of egrets feasting on the small bait fish.There were also some red fish around.
On the way back, we saw the Barrier Island tour group stop and the guide appeared to call an egret who flew to them and stood on the bank
directly in front of them. He remained there till we approached and left before we could get a good shot in focus.
directly in front of them. He remained there till we approached and left before we could get a good shot in focus.
Here are some shots of these truly beautiful birds. 
That is Jim Morris of Morehead City on the left, Mary k Gardner of Swansboro, Hugh Passingham of Maplehurst, Cal Hansen of New Bern,
Jim Niedermeyer of Hubert, Bill Murray of Pine Knoll Shores, Jim Stevens of River Bend, Elmer Eddy of Swansboro, Pam Bader from Bethesda, Md.
but born in Cedar Point and back here on vacation with her friend Brook Bartell from Chicago, who is standing behind Julia Miner from Arapahoe,
Cal Hansen's friend from Newbern, George Speth from Wilmington and Ed Gruca from Emerald Isle.
Jim Niedermeyer of Hubert, Bill Murray of Pine Knoll Shores, Jim Stevens of River Bend, Elmer Eddy of Swansboro, Pam Bader from Bethesda, Md.
but born in Cedar Point and back here on vacation with her friend Brook Bartell from Chicago, who is standing behind Julia Miner from Arapahoe,
Cal Hansen's friend from Newbern, George Speth from Wilmington and Ed Gruca from Emerald Isle.
Here is most of the group finally assembled after beating about the marsh trying to find our way through via the "middle stream",
a fast running little stream which empties the marshes on the out going tide and which is dry at low tide.
a fast running little stream which empties the marshes on the out going tide and which is dry at low tide.
Approaching Bear Island. This is entering a stream with good flow into a pond or lake. Those are ocean front dunes you see in the background. 
No wonder Elmer was so anxious to have Pam Bader on this paddle. 
What a girl!
We walked over the sand dunes and had a swim and lunch on the beach.
Pam and Brook using their cell phones saying, "Wish you we here"!
This pole is adjacent to Tommy Drive at Junior Freeman's ramp and docks which will become a part of the new Wildlife Access Area.
We had a most enjoyable day. All the trash, one bag, came from our put-in at Tommy Drive and at the point on Shark's
Tooth Island across the White Oak River and ICW.
One sad note, when we took my single canoe off the top of my truck and turned it over a house Wren's nest,with eggs in it, fell out.
Next week, Wednesday, we will return to French Creek in Camp Lejeune if the good weather continues. More later. Elmer
Thank you, Ed Gruca, for most of the fine pictures and for preparing this for the web site.
Elmer Eddy
Elmer, The White Oak River Trashman
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin
101 River Reach Drive West,
Swansboro, NC. 28584
910-389-4588 e-mail: elmer@whiteoakstewards.org
Please visit our website: http://www.whiteoakstewards.org/
"If no one litters, there will be no litter!”
We walked over the sand dunes and had a swim and lunch on the beach.
Pam and Brook using their cell phones saying, "Wish you we here"!
On the Beach.
The swallows are feeding their young. They hang in mid-air just for a second when they transfer the bugs to the young.
Sorry I could not catch them in the act.
Sorry I could not catch them in the act.
Tooth Island across the White Oak River and ICW.
One sad note, when we took my single canoe off the top of my truck and turned it over a house Wren's nest,with eggs in it, fell out.
Next week, Wednesday, we will return to French Creek in Camp Lejeune if the good weather continues. More later. Elmer
Thank you, Ed Gruca, for most of the fine pictures and for preparing this for the web site.
Elmer Eddy
Elmer, The White Oak River Trashman
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin
101 River Reach Drive West,
Swansboro, NC. 28584
910-389-4588 e-mail: elmer@whiteoakstewards.org
Please visit our website: http://www.whiteoakstewards.org/
"If no one litters, there will be no litter!”
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