2008-10-24
2008-10-21, Upper Broad Creek,
Here are the pictures and stories of the Twin Rivers Paddle Club excursion on this most enjoyable stream on this beautiful day. Five members of Stewards of our Waterways joined.them but unfortunately we were 1/2 hour late in arriving. Joanne Somerday and Jim Stevens graciously awaited our arrival. Thanks, Joanne, and Jim. They guided us to meet the others.who were already turned around and coming back.
The main purpose of this trip was to survey the two thousand foot frontage of the Whtehurst Property which was recently donated to Craven County. Two members of the Parks and Recreation Department were along. At this writing we do not know what their thoughts are but to us we believe this would make a very nice addition to the park to have a canoe and kayak access here. Upper Broad Creek is the border of Craven and Pamlico Counties. It continues for many more miles almost up to the Beaufort County line.It also has a tributary named named Morgan Swamp. No water access was made when the new bridge over Upper Broad Creek was constructed. The next closest possible access is on Morgan Creek at the Stapleford Creek Road. Another possible access is at the Olympia Road Bridge on Upper Broad Creek. (These road names were taken from North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer, Fifth Addition 2001. Names may have changed due to 911 renaming.)
We were hoping we could paddle upstream to Route 55 or further to find another access. As you can see by the following pictures we could not even get to Route 55 as we were blocked by fallen trees. A Canoe Trail from either of these upstream points would become a very valuable addition not only to the new park but to all of Craven and Pamilco Counties citizens and visiting tourists.
If anyone wants to make an exploratory trip down from these upstream bridges we will be glad to join them. as we would love to have a Canoe Trail here on these beautiful streams.
That is Joanne back there in the forest beyond the cypress knees. 9O percent of the cypress look like their needles (leaves?) are dead. A few are still green. Are they dying? Isn't this early for this dying or winter look.
This log was resting on another log. Jim Stevens and Buster thought they could make it drop off the othe log but it
We got back to Lees Landing at 3:00 as planned. We met many others paddling up to meet us. They had paddled down to the Neuse. Here is John Klecker holding in one hand all the trash we had picked up all day. A hard hat, a very old Budweiser can, a plastic water bottle and that back thing. This is indeed a record for the least trash ever on any paddle!
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!”
2008-10-22
2008-10-21 Upper Broad Creek, Craven& Pamlico Counties,NC
Here are the pictures and stories of the Twin Rivers Paddle Club excursion on this most enjoyable stream on this beautiful day. Five members of Stewards of our Waterways joined them but unfortunately we were 1/2 hour late in arriving. Joanne Somerday and Jim Stevens graciously awaited our arrival. Thanks, Joanne, and Jim. They guided us to meet the others.who were already turned around and coming back.
The main purpose of this trip was to survey the two thousand foot frontage of the Whitehurst Property which was recently donated to Craven County. Two members of the Parks and Recreation Department were along. At this writing we do not know what their thoughts are but to us we believe this would make a very nice addition to the park to have a canoe and kayak access here. Upper Broad Creek is the border of Craven and Pamlico Counties. It continues for many more miles almost up to the Beaufort County line.It also has a tributary named named Morgan Swamp. No water access was made when the new bridge over Upper Broad Creek was constructed. The next closest possible access is on Morgan Creek at the Stapleford Creek Road. Another possible access is at the Olympia Road Bridge on Upper Broad Creek. (These road names were taken from North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer, Fifth Addition 2001. Names may have changed due to 911 renaming.)
We were hoping we could paddle upstream to Route 55 or further to find another access. As you can see by the following pictures we could not even get to Route 55 as we were blocked by fallen trees. A Canoe Trail from either of these upstream points would become a very valuable addition not only to the new park but to all of Craven and Pamilco Counties citizens and visiting tourists.
If anyone wants to make an exploratory trip down from these upstream bridges we will be glad to join them. as we would love to have a Canoe Trail here on these beautiful streams.
That is Joanne back there in the forest beyond the cypress knees. 9O percent of the cypress look like their needles (leaves?) are dead. A few are still green. Are they dying? Isn't this early for this dying or winter look.
Jim Stevens and Jim Morris taking off after lunch. The water is still very deep.
This log was resting on another log. Jim Stevens and Buster thought they could make it drop off the othe log but it did not fall far. Just enogh for us to hump over it.
We all got over it but then we had to come back down and get over it again as we soon hit another one fallen tree across the creek and our tme had run out.
Heading home.
We got back to Lees Landing at 3:00 as planned. We met many otheres paddling up to meet us. They had paddled down to the Neuse. Here is John Klecker holding in one hand all the trash we had picked up all day. A hard hat, a very old Budweiser can, a plastic water bottle and that back thing. This is indeed a record for the least trash ever on any padlle!
This is the group. Many had already left. It was a wonderful and most enjoyable day on the water. We hope Upper Broad Creek becomes and full fledged Canoe Trail. We are sending the managers of Craven and Pamilco Counties copy of the report and hope they can get togeether and obtain a Grant to make this Canoe Trail a reality. Elmer
Come paddle with us anytime. E-mail us and ask to be put in our address book and you will receive notices of all trips. We wait until we know the weather is good before we plan a trip. Elmer
If no one litters there will be no litter! Littering is illegal!
________________________________
For our latest trip write-up go to
2008-10-20
2008-10-21, Upper Broad Creek, Craven County
This Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 we will be joining the Twin Rivers
Paddle Club on Upper Broad Creek. We will bring our reciprocating
electric saw with two full batteries in
case we encounter any small tree blockages. Swansboro United Methodist
Church bought us this chain saw in appreciation of what we do. Bring a
chain saw if you can in case of larger ones and avoid a portage around
them. Clippers and snippers are great too for brush in your face.
This is a lovely stream and should make a great Canoe Trail. It goes for
a long way above Rte 55. . We never got up to Route 55 in 2004 when
Missy Tenhet lead our trip.Streams like this one get deeper up stream. I
will leave my house at 9:00. Please be here before then if you want to
ride with me. Let me know. First come first serve. Elmer
This is from the Twin Rivers Paddle Club:
For our latest trip write-up go to
http://www.whiteoak
____________
ELMER EDDY
ELMER@WHITEOAKSTEWA
STEWARDS OF THE WHITE OAK RIVER BASIN
WWW.WHITEOAKSTEWARD
910-389-4588
2008-10-18
2008-10-08, New River Inlet to 210 bridge, North Topsail, NC
2008-10-08 New River Inlet to the Rt 210 Bridge over the ICW We loaded Dale's canoe on top of my truck at the 210 bridge.The Participants today were Dale Weston
and Marie Russell from Jacksonville, Scott Brown from Morehead City, Jim Niedermeyer form Hubert and Elmer Eddy from
Swansboro.
Must be a thousand shore birds on the sand bars inside the New River Inlet.It is that time of year where billions of finger mullet and menhaden ride the incoming and outgoing tide.The birds have a feast! As well as the game fish.
This is the time of year to fish the surf. Spots, pompano, bluefush, Spanish mackerel, red drum are here to feast on the bounty of bait fish!
Here we are at the Inlet ready to unload and get paddling.High banks of shells of all kinds have built up along this shore. The trash was heavy and we came to a huge barrel. We
were loaded. We had to unload here at this barrel.
We also ate lunch here and then realized that if we were to get back to the ramp we would have to stp picking up trash
and paddle. The wind and tide were with us and we made it easily. It was a delightful paddle as we took in all the sights
going down the waterway
Elmer Eddy
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!”
2008-10-15, ICW at 210 bridge and Mill Creek, Onslow County, NC
on Route 210 south of Monks Corner. These are two new members, Dan Solie from Alaska on the left and
Eric Nordeen from Hubert.
Pictures are by Elmer and Dan and prepared for the web by Ed Gruca.
of the ICW was heavily loaded with bottles and cans discarded by fishermen walking
in from the ramp to fish. We must find a way to stop this illegal practice here.
Eric Nordeen was loaded too.
This trash discarded at Gibson Bridge north of Maysvile on the White Oak River.
This deliberate dumping here.
Another shot of the same. This is the same place a bear cub was found in a freezer.
Probably dumped here be the very same person.
way back. We are now crossing Alligator Bay heading to the mouth of Mill Creek.
That is a discarded tire embedded the ground. We were unable to get it out and had to leave it.
A great many abandoned crab pots were observed along this stretch. So many we had to leave
them too. We are reporting them to Fisheries.
paddle toward the mouth of Mill Creek.
It was a glorious weather day. We stopped here for lunch by these old live oak trees.
woods.
Back to the ramp under the bridge. This is Elmer's and Jim's canoe.
L/R Dan Solie from Alaska, Jim Niedermeyer from Hubert. Scott Brown from
Morehead City and Eric Nordeen from Hubert.
around it and the black corrugated pipe over it. We had to tow that baby behind us.
It was a beautiful day and we accomplished a lot. It is discouraging to know that
these fisherman will be right back and continue leaving all their trash behind them.
We received many compliments from other boaters and folks at the ramp on what
we were doing. What we need is to have this littering stopped. We left a small amount
of this trash from our trip to here from the inlet last week. We had asked Wildlife to pick
it up. It was still here. This week we asked the Sheriff about getting it picked up. He said he
understood the State would do it. We asked him to please make sure they do.
We are reporting this clean up to Lisa Grant, Coordinator for Big Sweep in Onslow County.
We are also asking Wildlife to install signs at the north end of the ramp where the trails lead
down to the ICW. "If you are going to fish here please take out all your trash or risk fines for
illegal littering".
I was a great day on the water. That short stretch on the ICW was difficult. Let's hope we
do not have to face anything like that again.
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!”
2008-10-09
2008-10-07 Brandt Island, Morehead, NC
A clean up for Big Sweep and International Coastal Clean Up
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!”
2008-10-02
2008-09-10, Sharks Tooth Island, Cedar Point, NC
This is the large island at the junction of The Intra Coastal Waterway and White Oak River.
It is largely made up of sand dredged from both to make navigable channels. It is among the highest point of land along our coast line. It is on the east side of the White kOak Rive where it leaves the waterway to go out Bogue Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. It is on the southside of the waterway across from Cedar Point. It is a favorite spot for picnicking.
Maria Russell all set to go. This was Maria's first trip with us. She is a real eager beaver about getting that trash out. She is from Jacksonville, NC
The first ones in the water at Tommy Drive, our Canoe & Kayak launching access
area in Cedar Point, soon to be part f the expanded Wildlife Access here on Rte. 24.
Elmer in his single canoe.
Jim Morris getting out some trash.
A dead fish hung up to dry at a campground on an island on the way to Sharks Tooth
Island. We cleaned up this shore line of this island too.
of land along the coast.
A view of Huggins Island across the White Oak River from the same spot.
here from Bogue Inlet and tuns left with the Inland Waterway toward
Swansboro.Looking down on some of our kayakers from the top of the island
This is the top of Sharks Tooth Island. Almost a desert.
The group picking up litter on the Inland Waterway shore line of Sharks Tooth Island.
Lunch stop at the Eastern end of the island.
Elmer with the new sign at Tommy Drive launching area. We will be using this sign
to identify the existance of Canoe Trails and, hopefully, it will help to curatail
littering.
enjoyed with exclamations of surprise and joyful laughter as we got very close to some.
pails, a chair, a duck decoy, a tennis ball, a beach ball, a tire, corrugated pipe, tub, and
more. All this will be reported to Big Sweep. We hope the public will join Big Sweep right
now and pick up all trash and litter where ever they are on our waterways and roads. Best of all,
we hope they will just plain stop litteriing so we can paddle without stopping to do this. We
cannot paddle past it and leave it. It spoils the beauty of our shorelines that we are out to enjoy.
It is just plain ugly.
Yocum, Dave behind Sally, all from Boalsburg, Pa., Maria Russell of
Jacksonville. Rear is Karen and Don Sykes of Clayton, Jackie Foster of
Emerald Isle, Jim Morris of Morehead City and Dale Weston of
Jacksonville. Bill Murray of Pine Knolls Shores had to leave for work.
It was a great day for paddling.All had fun and really enjoyed it.and
the scenery. The visiting tourists from Pa. never had so much fun picking
up trash.
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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