Saturday, July 03, 2004
New River, July 2 report, July 7, new paddle
NEW RIVER CLEAN UP ON JULY 2, 2004 & NEW PADDLE ON JULY 7, 2004
Three of us, Bob Quinn, Brian Wheat and Elmer Eddy put in at the Marine Air Station ramp and cleaned up the shore line from Ragged Point south for two miles. We filled 11 bags and picked up a tire mounted on rim and a very large wide, upholstered boat seat.
This shoreline is fascinating. Driftwood abounds mixed with trees under cut and dropped from the high bluffs by storms. Nature is rebuilding all with new pine trees and bushes and grass.
The shore is very sandy except for a band of exposed blue clay in places. A wide gently sloping shelf maintains shallow water way out from shore. It all makes for a fascinating, interesting and pictureresque shoreline.
This year, before and during October 2, 2004, Big Sweep Day, we hope to have visited and cleaned every foot of shore line on the New River on both sides all the way to the ocean.
We cannot have a restored and clean New River with trash like we encountered today lining the shores.
We actually have two goals: #1. Remove all trash and litter including C& D material which is pieces of lumber such 2 x 4s and plywood. This often has nails and screws protruding which is very hazardous stuff to leave on a beach.
Goal #2. Prevention of all future littering by having everyone sign up in their places of business, their churches, their clubs etc that “I will not litter”. Our County Commissioners have lead the way for us in this endeavor and all of us should follow their lead.
To accomplish these goals we need the help of the general public and all personnel on Camp Lejeune.
We need the cooperation of The New River Round Table, Keep Onslow Beautiful, The New River Foundation and all others to come on board to get this done working together. .
Camp Lejeune schedules their own clean ups to fit into their own activities as time permits.
We need all clean ups reported and highlighted on maps for all to see so that we do not duplicate our efforts and waste valuable manpower.
Marines are always welcome to join us on their own time . We usually have extra canoes and kayaks for their use.
Most of this shore area is on Camp Lejuene land. We need to know where we can go and where we cannot go and when.
We also need to know every place we can have access to the water.
We also need to have permission to get our volunteers onto the base to get to the water access points with our vehicles and canoes and kayaks. .
One of our many pleasures we enjoy on these trips is the exploration of new waters. Between The New River and the ICW waters we have over 100 miles of new waters to explore whenever we can. Every trip is a new adventure!
In the meantime, our next paddle is scheduled for July 7th, Wednesday, in Bogue Sound on the island underneath the Emerald Isle Bridge. We will meet at the foot of the street that takes off of Route 24 just east of the junction of 58. Turn off between Mc Donald’s and the Subway and go to the end. We meet at 9:00 and we plan to be off the water at 3:00 and hope to leave this big island clean. It took us several trips last year. We do not expect much this year.
Please come and join us. A motor boat or two to get the stuff to the mainland would be great.
All out of town CCCKC members are invited to our house to shower. We can go out and get Chinese food, or what ever, like you did last time. Elmer
Three of us, Bob Quinn, Brian Wheat and Elmer Eddy put in at the Marine Air Station ramp and cleaned up the shore line from Ragged Point south for two miles. We filled 11 bags and picked up a tire mounted on rim and a very large wide, upholstered boat seat.
This shoreline is fascinating. Driftwood abounds mixed with trees under cut and dropped from the high bluffs by storms. Nature is rebuilding all with new pine trees and bushes and grass.
The shore is very sandy except for a band of exposed blue clay in places. A wide gently sloping shelf maintains shallow water way out from shore. It all makes for a fascinating, interesting and pictureresque shoreline.
This year, before and during October 2, 2004, Big Sweep Day, we hope to have visited and cleaned every foot of shore line on the New River on both sides all the way to the ocean.
We cannot have a restored and clean New River with trash like we encountered today lining the shores.
We actually have two goals: #1. Remove all trash and litter including C& D material which is pieces of lumber such 2 x 4s and plywood. This often has nails and screws protruding which is very hazardous stuff to leave on a beach.
Goal #2. Prevention of all future littering by having everyone sign up in their places of business, their churches, their clubs etc that “I will not litter”. Our County Commissioners have lead the way for us in this endeavor and all of us should follow their lead.
To accomplish these goals we need the help of the general public and all personnel on Camp Lejeune.
We need the cooperation of The New River Round Table, Keep Onslow Beautiful, The New River Foundation and all others to come on board to get this done working together. .
Camp Lejeune schedules their own clean ups to fit into their own activities as time permits.
We need all clean ups reported and highlighted on maps for all to see so that we do not duplicate our efforts and waste valuable manpower.
Marines are always welcome to join us on their own time . We usually have extra canoes and kayaks for their use.
Most of this shore area is on Camp Lejuene land. We need to know where we can go and where we cannot go and when.
We also need to know every place we can have access to the water.
We also need to have permission to get our volunteers onto the base to get to the water access points with our vehicles and canoes and kayaks. .
One of our many pleasures we enjoy on these trips is the exploration of new waters. Between The New River and the ICW waters we have over 100 miles of new waters to explore whenever we can. Every trip is a new adventure!
In the meantime, our next paddle is scheduled for July 7th, Wednesday, in Bogue Sound on the island underneath the Emerald Isle Bridge. We will meet at the foot of the street that takes off of Route 24 just east of the junction of 58. Turn off between Mc Donald’s and the Subway and go to the end. We meet at 9:00 and we plan to be off the water at 3:00 and hope to leave this big island clean. It took us several trips last year. We do not expect much this year.
Please come and join us. A motor boat or two to get the stuff to the mainland would be great.
All out of town CCCKC members are invited to our house to shower. We can go out and get Chinese food, or what ever, like you did last time. Elmer
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
America "The Beautiful"
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
SUBJECT: AMERICA “THE BEAUTIFUL”
1. LET’s MAKE IT THAT WAY, PLEASE WRITE THIS LETTER. WHY? BECAUSE,
2. NORTH CAROLINA IS MEAN ON CLEAN
3. LITTERING IS ILLEGAL
4. DO NOT RISK BEING FINED $ 1,000. DOLLARS
6. LITTER NO MORE IN 2004
7. WE DO NOT LITTER, WE HATE LITTER
8. To help curtail all littering everywhere, we, and all our employees signed below, so state that we will not litter so that when Big Sweep Day arrives on October 2nd this year we can attend all the wonderful other festivities going on that day across our State, and not have to be picking up trash.
9. To accomplish this, we will make everyday between now and then “BIG SWEEP DAYS” and pick up all litter we can so there will not be any litter to pick up on October 2nd and,
10. WE CAN ATTEND OUR FAVORITE FESTIVAL WITH YOU AND MAKE IT THE BEST BIG SWEEP DAY EVER WITH ZERO TRASH.
Please write the above letter right now, Change it any way to suit you. All you really need to say is, “We do not litter” or “We will not litter” and have it signed by all members of your firm and all employees and send it to:
In Onslow County: Keep Onslow Beautiful
Mary “Lisa” Stotesbury, Administrator
604 College Street
Jacksonville, NC 28584
In Carteret County: Izaak Walton League of America
310 Yaupon Drive
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
In Jones County: Larry Meadows, County Manager
Jones County
P. O. Box 266
Trenton, NC 28585
These letters should reach every man, woman and child if all businesses will do this simple thing.
This is our very best opportunity to curtail littering. Post a copy in a window or an office. Encourage others to do the same. We must reach your church, clubs etc. to make it successful.
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin have recently cleaned Pettiford Creek, Hadnot Creek, Queens Creek, the spoils island across from The Wildlife Ramp in Cedar Point on Rte 24.and the shore line between Hammocks Beach State Park and Swansboro..
These areas will not have to be revisited for Big Sweep. We paddle for fun and pick up all trash as we go. If you would like to join us let us know. We do have fun. One newcomer said he never had so much fun doing good! We usually have an extra canoe or kayak you can use.
If you want to sign up to have your State Road included in the Adopt-a Highway program, we can help you with that.
“We The people” are doing the littering. Only “We The People” can stop it. We are the source of litter, this will stop it at the source. Those that don’t stop face the prospect of a fine.
Let’s truly make “America, The Beautiful, from sea to shining sea”, America we can all take pride in! Elmer
Elmer Eddy, The White Oak River Trash Man
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin
101 River Reach Drive West, Swansboro, NC 28584
Please visit our web site at www.whiteoakstewards.org Cell phone 910-389-4588
SUBJECT: AMERICA “THE BEAUTIFUL”
1. LET’s MAKE IT THAT WAY, PLEASE WRITE THIS LETTER. WHY? BECAUSE,
2. NORTH CAROLINA IS MEAN ON CLEAN
3. LITTERING IS ILLEGAL
4. DO NOT RISK BEING FINED $ 1,000. DOLLARS
6. LITTER NO MORE IN 2004
7. WE DO NOT LITTER, WE HATE LITTER
8. To help curtail all littering everywhere, we, and all our employees signed below, so state that we will not litter so that when Big Sweep Day arrives on October 2nd this year we can attend all the wonderful other festivities going on that day across our State, and not have to be picking up trash.
9. To accomplish this, we will make everyday between now and then “BIG SWEEP DAYS” and pick up all litter we can so there will not be any litter to pick up on October 2nd and,
10. WE CAN ATTEND OUR FAVORITE FESTIVAL WITH YOU AND MAKE IT THE BEST BIG SWEEP DAY EVER WITH ZERO TRASH.
Please write the above letter right now, Change it any way to suit you. All you really need to say is, “We do not litter” or “We will not litter” and have it signed by all members of your firm and all employees and send it to:
In Onslow County: Keep Onslow Beautiful
Mary “Lisa” Stotesbury, Administrator
604 College Street
Jacksonville, NC 28584
In Carteret County: Izaak Walton League of America
310 Yaupon Drive
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
In Jones County: Larry Meadows, County Manager
Jones County
P. O. Box 266
Trenton, NC 28585
These letters should reach every man, woman and child if all businesses will do this simple thing.
This is our very best opportunity to curtail littering. Post a copy in a window or an office. Encourage others to do the same. We must reach your church, clubs etc. to make it successful.
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin have recently cleaned Pettiford Creek, Hadnot Creek, Queens Creek, the spoils island across from The Wildlife Ramp in Cedar Point on Rte 24.and the shore line between Hammocks Beach State Park and Swansboro..
These areas will not have to be revisited for Big Sweep. We paddle for fun and pick up all trash as we go. If you would like to join us let us know. We do have fun. One newcomer said he never had so much fun doing good! We usually have an extra canoe or kayak you can use.
If you want to sign up to have your State Road included in the Adopt-a Highway program, we can help you with that.
“We The people” are doing the littering. Only “We The People” can stop it. We are the source of litter, this will stop it at the source. Those that don’t stop face the prospect of a fine.
Let’s truly make “America, The Beautiful, from sea to shining sea”, America we can all take pride in! Elmer
Elmer Eddy, The White Oak River Trash Man
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin
101 River Reach Drive West, Swansboro, NC 28584
Please visit our web site at www.whiteoakstewards.org Cell phone 910-389-4588
The New River and Big Sweep October 2, 2004
This Friday, July 2, 2004, we will meet at 8:30 at the Food Lion parking lot just past the entrance to The Marine Air Base on Route 17 south.
We will launch our canoes and kayaks at the MCAS ramp on the New River. We will paddle across to The Point and pickup all litter along the shore going south as far as time permits. Brian Wheat of The New River Foundation will be leading this trip. We should be off the river by three.
Brian will have his motor boat to support us. We need this badly in these wide open waters. We need more motor boats. Join us on the water. The more we have the more miles we can move down the shore line. We need more canoes and kayaks too. We play leap frog and move fast down the shore. We have fun doing it. We make it a game. Come play with us!
Our goal is to have The New River clean by Big Sweep Day on October 2nd. There are a lot of other things going on that day and some of us would like to participate in those activities instead of having to pick up trash.
Big Sweep usually is for three hours in the morning. Maybe if there is more trash to get we can do it then and have the New River clean by noon on Big Sweep Day. Let's just do it!
Please, all boaters, the principle source of trash and litter on this section of The New River is from boats. Please secure all trash on your boat. Elmer
We will launch our canoes and kayaks at the MCAS ramp on the New River. We will paddle across to The Point and pickup all litter along the shore going south as far as time permits. Brian Wheat of The New River Foundation will be leading this trip. We should be off the river by three.
Brian will have his motor boat to support us. We need this badly in these wide open waters. We need more motor boats. Join us on the water. The more we have the more miles we can move down the shore line. We need more canoes and kayaks too. We play leap frog and move fast down the shore. We have fun doing it. We make it a game. Come play with us!
Our goal is to have The New River clean by Big Sweep Day on October 2nd. There are a lot of other things going on that day and some of us would like to participate in those activities instead of having to pick up trash.
Big Sweep usually is for three hours in the morning. Maybe if there is more trash to get we can do it then and have the New River clean by noon on Big Sweep Day. Let's just do it!
Please, all boaters, the principle source of trash and litter on this section of The New River is from boats. Please secure all trash on your boat. Elmer
Road Clean up on Route 58, June 29, 2004
For sixteen years the Izaak Walton League has been cleaning up trash four times every year for a two mile section along Highway 58.
We meet at the T & W restaurant and pick up north and south from there. Our Adopt-A-Highway signs are posted for this section.
Yesterday when we met to do the usual, there were the prisoners already at work doing what we usually do. This points out the lack of cooperation between organizations, both official and voluntary, in performing this task.
We went down to Firetower Road and cleaned it up instead. Here were bottles of all kinds. Some had been smashed by the mower. Beer cans and soda cans were numerous. Most of them had been hit by the mower and cut into jagged pieces of three, four and five for each can!
Then there was the Styrofoam and plastic from take-out purchasers.
These too were cut-up by the mower into beaucoup pieces.
We (all volunteers on roads) need to be notified before mowing!
What we really need is for all to simply stop littering. Why can't we do this simple thing?
Would some psychiatrist please tell us why people continue to litter. Elmer
We meet at the T & W restaurant and pick up north and south from there. Our Adopt-A-Highway signs are posted for this section.
Yesterday when we met to do the usual, there were the prisoners already at work doing what we usually do. This points out the lack of cooperation between organizations, both official and voluntary, in performing this task.
We went down to Firetower Road and cleaned it up instead. Here were bottles of all kinds. Some had been smashed by the mower. Beer cans and soda cans were numerous. Most of them had been hit by the mower and cut into jagged pieces of three, four and five for each can!
Then there was the Styrofoam and plastic from take-out purchasers.
These too were cut-up by the mower into beaucoup pieces.
We (all volunteers on roads) need to be notified before mowing!
What we really need is for all to simply stop littering. Why can't we do this simple thing?
Would some psychiatrist please tell us why people continue to litter. Elmer
Monday, June 28, 2004
Cowhorn Creek-New River, June 26, 2004
Cowhorn Creek, June 26, 2004
I have often said, every paddle is different. Today proved it. I did not plan this paddle. Brian Wheat of New River Foundation did.
So, I was late getting there. Everyone had left. I have never been late before. I did have to go to Mike Banks in Belgrade to get a come-a-along, but that is a poor excuse. I knew I had to do that and should have allowed for the time necessary.
While I was launching my canoe a man came paddling up stream in a kayak to take out. It was It was John Althouse of the Daily News. We floated and talked and he took pictures. We had a long talk about littering and trashing of our lands and waters and how to stop it.
When I paddled on down Cowhorn Creek it was more beautiful than ever. The lush new green growth was every where. There was absolutely no trash starting out for me. I did pick up one beer can. The others before me did a good job.
I came to a beaver dam. It had been opened up. That is, there was a torrent of water flowing though it so I just cruised down over it in a rapid which was delightful.
Soon, I came upon another rapid through another beaver dam. Who says we do not have rapids in eastern Carolina? The beavers make them for us..We just have to open a gap in them and voila, we have a rapid!
This is when I realized I had left Mike’s come-along in my truck. So, I turned around and paddled back up to get it. Well, if you are paddling up stream, a beaver dam in place is far better than a beaver dam with a torrent of water rushing through an opening.
I tried every conceivable maneuver to paddle up and over the dam. I almost made in several attempts. Then I got out of my canoe. And pulled it up over the dam . And, lo and behold, I got in and went back down through the rapids backwards.
So, the next time I grounded the canoe on land after pulling it over again. Then I got in it and successfully left that beaver dam behind me.
Fortunately the next beaver dam was not as difficult to paddle through up stream and I made it on the second attempt.
When I got back to the launch area at Steed’s Park there was a young couple launching their canoe with a lovely blond, girl child in the middle. They were in a precarious position The front end of the canoe was in the water with Mamma and the rear was high up on land.
You know about tippee canoes. Under these circumstances you may as well try to balance on a tight rope. I suggested that they try to launch it side ways and close to the shore. They made an adjustment almost to this point and he got in and they were off. .
Went up and got Mike’s come-along and I paddled on after them hoping they were all right. I shot down over the beaver dams and came upon an even bigger, and higher beaver dam Brian and his crew had opened up. This was a real smooth fast rapid.
They had dropped the water level above it so as to expose muddy banks. Heretofore the plush green water weeds came down the the edge.
A mother wood duck jumped up in front of me. She must have had young nearby as she did not fly. She fluttered along the water in front of me thus distracting me from her babies which I never saw anyway. She did this around several bends and then she took off and flew back up stream to her babies.
Soon I over took the young couple with the lovely blond girl child. They were dong fine and seemed to be really enjoying their cruise. Their daughter was happy too, and I could hear her long before I over took them.
We exchanged amenities and I went on my way until I came to my favorite cypress on Cowhorn. I could not pass it up and I locked my canoe in place under it and took a picture looking straight up. Hope it comes out good
The young couple came by while I was taking the cypress picture and I tried to get a picture of them too,. But , I had already shut my camera down so that opportunity flowed by.
Not long after that I caught up with the group. They had already had their lunch. They were scattered over the river downstream. They used chain saws and come-alongs and choppers and hand saws. They played leap frog over each obstacle blocking the river.
Somewhere along the paddle I did get a picture of the young couple in the canoe with the pretty little girl . She would not cooperate in taking the picture but later she hollered at me affectionaly as they went by. I had given them my card and I will send them the picture.
We went by the gruesome, astounding, unbelievable, monstrous limestone formations. One was dragon like which looked as if it was reaching out to grab us. Soon we were in the New River. The New River water was clear. The Cowhorn water was muddy perhaps from all the work they did.
This is when Brian Wheat announced that we had a free ride home from here. I loved this as I have told paddlers the same thing. They tease me to this day that it is never around the next bend as I predicted.
Yes, we hit strainers on the New River, big ones, tight ones . Brian’s gang were in the water up to their arm pits breaking up those strainers and throwing them up on the banks.
Brian, finally told them to quit. He would get them later Our time was running out.
These folks on this cruise picked up things we had to pass up on our paddles for fun trips. This section of this paddle trail is cleared They literally went over board to do it. Our hats are off to The New River Foundation . You are The Very Best!
This trip also picked up “Paddles”. This has never happened before. A lovely docile kitten. Found on the banks away from nowhere. At the take out he was missing again! A diligent search finally found him under the seat. This is bound to be the most unusual find on a trash and river clean up trip ever made. Big Sweep, take note.
One of our quick heavy rain showers came up and all joked about getting wet as they stood in water up to their arm pits breaking up a strainer on the New River.
This is one of the hardest working groups I ever have had the pleasure of being with on the river. They are New River Foundation folks and they are really dedicated to keeping the river trash free and open to paddling for pleasure by the general public.
We owe them our thanks and support. The worst single source of a volume of trash was at North west Bridge. Some are dumping everything off this bridge. A T V. was the big item. . Why not take it to the land fill? Who are you who would do this? You could be fined heavily!
We are a society created for the common good of all. Throwing trash out of our autos and into our rivers has no place in a democratic nation. Please stop it for your own good and avoid being fined.
North Carolina is getting Mean on Clean! Elmer
The tall cypress, looking up
the young couple with the pretty blond daughter src="http://www.whiteoakstewards.org/images/DCP01139.JPG" />
part of the group at the takeout with the tools, and trash
src="http://www.whiteoakstewards.org/images/DCP01140.JPG" />
Spooners Creek, June 25, 2004
I was invited by Earl Gross and Marie Justen to paddle Spooners Creek. Gary Scruggs and Marie met me at the ramp. Earl was to paddle over from his house which they purchased recently.
We were waiting for Earl to arrive when we saw him come out of the finger or branch on which he lived. The strong wind immediately hit him and spun him around. He was sitting single at the end of a two man canoe. With the front end up in the air he din't have a chance in that wind.
Gary juuped in his kayak and went to the rescue. They went up to a dock and Gary got in with Earl and they towed Gary's kayak to us.
I got in the canoe with Earl and we were off on our tour. Million dollar homes were all around us with million dollar boats out front. One just built is owned by Curtis Strange.
We paddled to Earl,s place. He is near the end of a secluded creek with a dense forest across from him. He also has an island in front with a bridge to it. Lots of wild life to watch. A lovely home in a beautiful setting.
We cruised around more fingers or bays off the main channel up to the marina with all the big boats docked.
If you have never turned in and explored Spooners Creek I highly recommend that you do so.
When we got back to Marie's house, surprise, suprise, surprise! Earl ad Marie called it Elmer's Day.
There were Jim and Dean Stevens, Elaine, Earl's wife, Joanne Somerday, John, Jack and Florence Eddy.
Thank you Earl and Marie. The food was excellent and the party was great. Elmer
We were waiting for Earl to arrive when we saw him come out of the finger or branch on which he lived. The strong wind immediately hit him and spun him around. He was sitting single at the end of a two man canoe. With the front end up in the air he din't have a chance in that wind.
Gary juuped in his kayak and went to the rescue. They went up to a dock and Gary got in with Earl and they towed Gary's kayak to us.
I got in the canoe with Earl and we were off on our tour. Million dollar homes were all around us with million dollar boats out front. One just built is owned by Curtis Strange.
We paddled to Earl,s place. He is near the end of a secluded creek with a dense forest across from him. He also has an island in front with a bridge to it. Lots of wild life to watch. A lovely home in a beautiful setting.
We cruised around more fingers or bays off the main channel up to the marina with all the big boats docked.
If you have never turned in and explored Spooners Creek I highly recommend that you do so.
When we got back to Marie's house, surprise, suprise, surprise! Earl ad Marie called it Elmer's Day.
There were Jim and Dean Stevens, Elaine, Earl's wife, Joanne Somerday, John, Jack and Florence Eddy.
Thank you Earl and Marie. The food was excellent and the party was great. Elmer
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