• Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • PNW
    • Kayak/Travel Blog
    • Maps
  • Reviews
EVERYONE'S TRAVEL CLUB
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • PNW
    • Kayak/Travel Blog
    • Maps
  • Reviews

Kayaking on the Trent River in Pollocksville, North Carolina

12/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Kayaking on the Trent River from the Pollocksville Boat Launch.
   Ahhhhh, I remember the first day of summer. I packed up Eleanor the dog and my Innova kayak and cruised down to this boat launch in Pollocksville, North Carolina.
The picnic structure at the Pollocksville Trent River boat launch.
The Pollocksville, North Carolina boat launch at 110 East Street.
A view of the Trent River boat launch in NC.
   This is the closest boat launch to us and it provides easy access to a quick paddle or boat ride on the Trent River. You could paddle this all the way down to where it meets the Neuse River in New Bern and onward (a long way) to the sea. On this trip we just paddled down river a little and turned to explore a little of Mill Creek.
A view of the highway and fishing pier in the town of Pollocksville, North Carolina
Fishing pier at the boat launch
Kayaking Mill Creek from the Pollocksville Trent River boat launch.
Paddling our inflatable Innova kayak in Eastern North Carolina.
   It was a quiet paddle this time, the only wildlife to speak of on this trip was the mutt on the bow (#alligators:). After an hour of exploration we turned back and called it a day.    
Our Innova Sunny inflatable kayak along the banks of the Trent River.
Approaching the highway 17 bridge paddling the Trent River.
Kayaking with the mutt (wearing her Outward Hound doggie PFD).
   Check out the map below if you'd like to explore the river as we did. Here's a few links for more adventure:

*A local kayak rental business, BearFoot Kayaks - they bring the kayaks to you (on the Trent River and beyond).

*A description of Living Waters, a photo essay of the Trent River written by Ben Casey.

*A link to the Trent River Campground, an upriver campground with paddling access to the Trent River.


   ~Paul & Eleanor    ETC
0 Comments

A Croatan National Forest safari to Flanners Beach, North Carolina

12/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Driving our new Jeep Renegade 4x4 through Croatan National Forest to Flanners Beach, North Carolina
   It took a little work, but Captain Wifey finally gave in to my pleading. "I'm going to be 40 before we get a fun car!" I would say. She finally caved and here we are. Proud owners of a hot little red Italian 4x4. Even though it's a stock Jeep - no big tires, big lights, and bars on the front - it's a far cry from 20 years of affordable and efficient compact Japanese sedans. Full disclosure: I still have one of those sedans and some wager it will outlast this new SUV...where's the fun in that?
   The new SUV is the perfect ride to tour nearby Croatan National Forest. We live right up next to the 160,000 acre forest and have ventured along its long, straight, and bumpy gravel roads a few times before. With the added suspension, driving through the forest was a piece of cake (take that sedan!). The roads are pretty well maintained, lots of ruts though. If you stay away from a few optional off-road paths, four wheel drive isn't necessary - just stay on the mapped roads and expect lots of gravel.
Exploring gravel roads in Eastern North Carolina's Croatan National Forest
Time to put this ENC Jeep Renegade in four wheel drive
Adventuring in the Croatan back country
Croatan National Forest's Great Lake
A view of Great Lake from the boat launch
   We ventured to two of the lakes located within the forest - Great Lake and Catfish Lake. These Carolina Bays will be great places to explore by kayak in the future (fun fact: there are alligators!). We took a few quick pictures but kept driving across the forest toward the Neuse River Recreation Area, a.k.a. Flanners Beach on the banks of the Neuse River.
A view from Flanners Beach at the Neuse River recreation area.
The Neuse River Campground at Flanners Beach, North Carolina.
Hiking trails through the forest at Flanners Beach, located in the South's only true coastal forest east of the Mississippi.
   As you can see, for this post we actually made two trips to Flanners Beach (one sunny and one cloudy). There's wooded trails for day hiking, a managed campground (fee required), and a great Pacific-Northwesty sandy beach on the Neuse River. Like most NC parks, day parking is free. 
Picture
   All and all, a great little trip. On our way back we stopped by the Croatan National Forest Headquarters along highway 70 a grabbed a few maps for our next Jeep safari! Check out the map links below to plan your next adventures in Croatan!
​
   ~Paul, Amber, Dad   ETC
​
Link to Flanners Beach trails and campground


Link to Croatan National Forest map
A view down to the beach from the campground at Flanners Beach
A view of the Neuse River from the trails at Flanners Beach, North Carolina
0 Comments

Kayaking Beaufort: The Rachel Carson Reserve

12/5/2017

2 Comments

 
Kayaking from Beaufort North Carolina to the Rachel Carson Reserve
   Near our favorite Eastern North Carolina town of Beaufort, the Rachel Carson Reserve is a gorgeous group of barrier islands, the closest just a mere 5 min paddle from downtown. We explore Beaufort on the regular, mainly just to walk around the town pretending we could actually afford a house here! The seaside town is a booming with great local shops and restaurants, tons of sailing and paddling opportunities, beautiful historic houses, and some adventurous history (#pirates). 
Bicycles for rent in downtown Beaufort, North Carolina
Historic Inns and houses along the Crystal Coast in Beaufort, North Carolina
The North Carolina Maritime Museum in downtown Beaufort, NC.
S/V Meka II docked on the waterfront in Beaufort NC
The Inlet Inn located in the best seaside town in North Carolina - Beaufort.
Great pizza on the Beaufort waterfront brought to you by Black Sheep restaurant.
The banging new bar at Cru Wine Bar, Coffee Shop & Wine Store.
   Town is quaint and amazing, and we'll definitely post more on Beaufort in the future (we have in the past), but the destination today is the reserve. Off we go. Paddle-paddle!

Two Innova inflatable kayaks landing on the Crystal Coast's Rachel Carson Reserve.
The trail signs located on Town Marsh, Rachel Carson Reserve.
Hiking to Bird Shoal on in the Rachel Carson Reserve.
Trail markers on Town Marsh, Beaufort, North Carolina
   We set off from a little town boat launch in Grayden Paul Park, located along the downtown waterfront (map of park here).  There is lots of parking nearby - paid close by and unpaid a few blocks off. There are even a few load/unload-only parking spots right next to the launch. It is a super quick paddle over to the trailhead on Town Marsh. We pulled our kayaks above the high tide line and hiked through the island, following the markers to the other side and on to Bird Shoal.
Eleanor the dog outfitted by Outward Hound, sitting in the surf on Bird Shoal, NC
The view towards Shackleford Banks from Bird Shoal NC
On the trail of wild horse poop on Town Marsh in the Rachel Carson Reserve.
A wild horse on a barrier island of the Crystal Coast.
   While we weren't planning on seeing any wild horses (we didn't want to get our hopes up), we stumbled upon a trail...of wild poop! As we rounded the island to return to our kayaks for lunch we lucked out and caught a glimpse of one of North Carolina's wild horses grazing near the shoreline.
Paddling an Innova Sunny in Taylor's Creek near Beaufort, North Carolina
The Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, North Carolina
 
 After lunch we paddled back to the mainland and put the gear away. Since the park and boat launch is in downtown, you're just minutes away from refueling and grabbing a bite to eat if needed. Before heading home, we made a quick stop by the Old Burying Ground next to the Ann Street United Methodist Church. Historic cemeteries in the South like this one are always amazing to visit. Underneath the arms of these century old oak trees are the graves of Beaufort locals from long ago - including Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers.  
   We love the town of Beaufort. The Rachel Carson Reserve is a great paddle with lots of shoreline, trails, wildlife, and beach to explore. Its closeness to a great seaside town make the adventure even better. We highly recommend this trip! Questions about the paddle? Need help deciding on a restaurant for some post-paddle grub? Leave them in the comment section and we'll answer quick!

~Paul, Amber, Ann, & Eleanor     ETC

Link to NC Division of Coastal Management info on the Rachel Carson Reserve

The Old Burying Ground cemetery adjacent to the Ann Street Methodist Church in Beaufort, North Carolina.
A wild horse on the Rachel Carson Reserve in Eastern North Carolina
2 Comments
    Picture
    Picture
    The Smell Butler Book logo, from the upcoming children's young adult novel

    Categories

    All
    Aboard Series
    Boating
    Hiking
    Kayaking
    Museums
    North Carolina
    Press
    Road Trip
    Safari

    RSS Feed

    We hope you've enjoyed the time you've spent on our site. All images, text and designs are copyright Everyone's Travel Club and may not be used without written permission from us. Email us!
    Picture

    Archives

    August 2022
    April 2022
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

Picture

Connect:

Contact:

everyonestravelclub@gmail.com

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • PNW
    • Kayak/Travel Blog
    • Maps
  • Reviews