{"id":6271,"date":"2001-09-01T13:44:00","date_gmt":"2001-09-01T17:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=6271"},"modified":"2024-06-20T13:19:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T17:19:31","slug":"paddling-into-nature-water-trails-abound-in-eastern-north-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/paddling-into-nature-water-trails-abound-in-eastern-north-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"PADDLING INTO NATURE: WATER TRAILS ABOUND IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
It is a quiet, cloudy day on the Pamlico River in downtown Washington. There are no sounds except for the lapping of paddles through the mossy green water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than a dozen paddlers create a spectrum of color as they stroke slowly in red, green and yellow kayaks and canoes toward an old railroad bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘The bridge is still in use,” says North Carolina Estuarium administrator Blount Rumley, who is following the paddlers in a pontoon boat. ‘Toe railroad uses the tracks a couple times a day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After passing the bridge, the paddlers follow one another along the south shoreline where the Tar and Pamlico rivers meet. The area is uninhabited and covered with cypress trees, cattails and marsh. The only sign of wildlife is the whistling of red-winged blackbirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
”When the sun is out, this area comes alive,” says Rumley. “You can follow the shoreline and see snakes, turtles and other wildlife.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geese fly overhead as paddlers continue down the shoreline until they reach Castle Island bordered by old dock pilings. During the Civil War, oyster shells were processed into lime at Castle Island for agricultural use, says Rumley. “One of the buildings was a kiln for baking shells,” he adds. ‘Toe island was a safe location because of the fire hazards.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wide, calm waters of the Pamlico River provide a picturesque and easy water trail for inexperienced paddlers. ‘This is the first time I have ever kayaked,” says Robert Maxwell. “I didn’t realize how stable kayaks are. It is so much fun to be with my grand\u00addaughter. The river is so calm.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The smooth, easy trail also provides a pleasant journey for experienced paddlers like Carl Rabe. Dressed in a sleek, black wetsuit, Rabe is loaded with paddling safety equip\u00adment, including a strobe light, whistle, cell phone, reflector and tow rope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘The Washington area is a good place to paddle because it provides access points for paddlers,” says Rabe. “Sometimes it is not easy to find a place to put in and also have parking. A lot of marinas just cater to big boats.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n