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Paddling around Sugarloaf Island (and the Morehead City Trash Boats)

6/24/2018

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Paddling Morehead City, North Carolina's Sugarloaf Island.
   Summer is officially in full swing here in Eastern North Carolina. My buddy Andrew and I thought we'd kick things off by paddling (with mutts) to Sugarloaf Island, located along the Crystal Coast, just off of downtown Morehead City.
A dog aboard an inflatable kayak at the 11th street water access in Morehead City, NC.
A waterfront boat launch near downtown Morehead City, NC
Innova kayaks on the beach along the Crystal Coast
Paddling an Innova Swing 2 inflatable kayak with a dog in the front seat.
   When you research where to launch a kayak in Morehead City you'll find lots of options. Spoiler alert: a lot of those launch sites listed are horrible places to launch a kayak. For example, downtown Jaycee Park/City Docks is commonly listed...but the docks there are way too high for kayaks. We highly recommend launching from nearby 11th street water access (South 11th & Shepard Street). There's lots of parking, a grassy area to get setup and a nice beach to launch from. Good news though, if the launch is full there are lots of plan B launch sites along the Morehead waterfront. Just know: some are better than others -  try for the 11th and Shepard first.
A drone aerial view of the Crystal Coast's Sugarloaf Island
   Pow! A look at Sugarloaf Island from the sky! You can see how small yet undeveloped she is, and how close the island really is to downtown. The lack of buildings on the island is no accident - it is protected and managed by theNC Coastal Federation, like a lot of other islands in the area. Sugarloaf is around 47 acres with a trail through the middle and restrooms.
A drone picture of Sugarloaf Island and downtown Morehead City
Kayaking around Sugarloaf Island in the summer
Boat parking on the beach at Sugarloaf Island, NC
The wild ocean side of Sugarloaf Island
   We paddled around the wild side (facing the ocean) and then turned the corner to the city side.   
Kayaking near the downtown Morehead City waterfront
   As you pass downtown you'll eventually arrive at the dock for the island. Spoiler alert: the dock is extremely high for kayaks - it's much better to land on the wild side beach (oceanside of the island). 
The boat dock at Sugarloaf Island, North Carolina
   As we neared the end of our circumnavigation of Sugarloaf Island we stumbled upon a few interesting vessels. Trash boats! What!?!?! Does someone liveaboard these neglected sailboats? Do passing party boats just throw their trash aboard? We have no idea but they seem mysterious.
A trash boat along the Morehead City waterfront
Two trash boats along the Morehead City waterfront
   Viva la summer! We had a blast on our quick paddle around Morehead City's Sugarloaf Island. Be sure to check out our instagram and follow where we're currently adventuring. As always, check back for new posts here once a week (soon moving to twice a week!).

  ~Paul & Andrew   everyonestravelclub.com 
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A tour of Pogie's Paddlepalooza in Downtown Swansboro

6/16/2018

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Touring Pogie's first annual Paddlepalooza in Swansboro, North Carolina
   We had a little time in-between adventures this weekend and decided we couldn't miss the Paddlepalooza going on in downtown Swansboro in and around Pogie's Fishing Center. Pogie's opened on the downtown edge of the super-quaint seaside town of Swansboro, North Carolina, and they have been upping the kayak/SUP rental game ever since. 
A view of the docks along the waterfront in downtown Swansboro, NC
   First of all, just an F.Y.I. - Swansboro is awesome - it's one of our favorite towns in Eastern North Carolina. Restaurants, shopping, public boat docks, town kayak launches, and more. They have festivals all of the time and they're right on the water. It's a great place to hang out any day.
A view of a LIVE fishing paddleboard at Pogie's.
The Eastern Exotics wildlife truck at the paddlepalooza festival
The LivinLifeMan retail setup at Pogie's Paddlepalooza
    While we're not in the market for a new kayak at the moment, Pogie's is ready when we are. I was most interested in the Hobie Mirage Tandem Island (two seater kayak-with-a-sail), and the LIVE paddleboards (I don't get paid for these links, like, I really want these boats lol). The Palooza had lots of other vendors - fishing gear, exotic animals (yikes), food, clothing, and more.
The backyard kayak zone at Pogie's Fishing Center
   The Paddlepalooza had boat rides, free guided paddles, a fishing tournament, a kayak and SUP race around Jones Island, vendors, food, fishing clinics, Yoga, and more. Pogie's had (and still has today) great discounts on new boats.
A view off the back deck of the kayak launch at Pogie's Kayak & SUP rentals
   The Palooza was of course a great reason to spend some time in Swansboro. We hit up a few of our favorite shops - Salt Marsh Cottage, Poor Man's Hole, and the dockside bar at the Saltwater Grill (key words: dockside bar).
The Salt Marsh Cottage shop in downtown Swansboro
A mermaid outside of the Poor Man's Hole shop in downtown Swansboro
The Swansboro public dock with a dockside bar hosted by the Saltwater Grill
A tasty Sweetwater craft beer dockside at the Saltwater Grill in downtown Swansboro, NC
   After a few fruit-in-my-beer craft selections at the dockside bar (did I mention docksidebar?), we tore ourselves away from the event. We can't wait to attend the event next year - we'll help spread the word when it happens.
​   If you're looking to rent a kayak in the area, check out Pogie's for friendly and knowledgeable staff, a great selection of rental kayaks and SUPs, bait and fishing gear, and a sweet location in  downtown Swansboro. We'll be back to rent that Hobie and LIVE paddleboard this summer, maybe if I write a great enough article about it my wife will let me buy one?

​~Paul & Amber    everyonestravelclub.com 

Links:Pogie's!

ETC Adventures nearby Swansboro:
Jones Island

Cedar Point Tideland Trail & Boat Launch

Huggins Island

Bear Island
A view back to Pogie's from the town public kayak dock in downtown Swansboro, along the White Oak River and Intracoastal Waterway
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Hiking the new Elliott Coues Nature Trail at Fort Macon, NC

6/3/2018

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Hiking the new Elliott Coues Nature Trail at Fort Macon with our Dog!
   We adventured back into Fort Macon State Park to try a little hiking on the new-ish Elliot Coues Nature Trail. It's my second time hiking the trail and I have to say, I think this is one of the best trails in Eastern North Carolina. 
Walking on the marsh boardwalk at Fort Macon State Park, NC
Information about the Elliott Coues Nature Trail, as posted on the trail sign
Mile marker on the seaside Elliot Coues Nature Trail.
   To get there, head over the bridge to Atlantic Beach from Morehead City. You'll arrive at Bogue Banks, an Eastern North Carolina barrier island with Atlantic Beach on this end and Emerald Isle on the other (20 miles down the road). Fort Macon State Park also sits on this end, we've explored there before, but since then they have added this  trail.
Hiking Crystal Coast's best trail at Fort Macon State Park.
   The trail winds through seaside dunes, a maritime forest, and over a boardwalk through the salt marsh. It's a 3.2 mile loop, accessed from the Fort Macon Visitor's Center parking lot or the Fort Macon Swimming Beach down the road (there's parking there too). We like to start at the visitor's center and hike the beach section first, that way we can get some shade in the forest on the second half of the hike.
A beach panorama from the top of a high dune on the Elliott Coues Nature Trail in North Carolina.
Fishing information from the beach at Fort Macon State Park.
Low tide on the beach at Fort Macon.
Live Oaks and a trailside bench at Fort Macon
   The trail is well marked and maintained and there's usually a decent amount of people hiking on any given day (especially the weekends). 
Trail information on the Elliott Coues Nature Trail and Yarrow Loop Trail
The Swimming Beach area and parking lot at Fort Macon State Park, NC
How long does it take to hike the Elliott Coues Nature Trail at Fort Macon? About an hour and a half.
Swimming prohibited sign on the beach at Fort Macon State Park.
   We highly recommend this trail - there's really not that many trails in Eastern North Carolina, especially [partly] on the beach. It took us about 1 hour and 25 minutes to finish the entire 3.2 mile loop. Try it!

​~Paul, Amber, Eleanor      everyonestravelclub.com 

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