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Behind the scenes: the Paddlesports Retailer show & demo day in Oklahoma City, 2018

9/8/2018

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A whitewater group at Riversport Rapids in Oklahoma City
   So, yeah, I've been a little MIA over the past few weeks. I've been traveling, working, and running (not jogging, fleeing!). Back at the end of August I had the pleasure to attend the Paddlesports Retailer industry trade show in Oklahoma City. Now it's already September and I'm currently inland from my home on the coast of North Carolina, running from #HurricaneFlorence! More on this adventure in a later post - it's much nicer to think back about the Paddlesports show. Over the past few months I've been working with my favorite inflatable kayak company -Innova Kayak (parent company Gumotex in Europe). They asked me if I wanted to join them in OKC, meet some of the Innova team, help with the show, and learn about all of the exciting things happening with the company in 2019 and beyond.
The Hobie booth at the Paddlesports Retailer Show 2018
The Innova Kayak booth at the Paddlesports Retailer Show in Oklahoma City, 2018
Kayaks along the river at demo day at this year's Paddlesports Retailer Show.
   This trade show isn't open to the public - it's for vendors and retailers. It's a way for buyers from large and small stores to walk around, talk to companies, make orders for the new season, and check out new products.
   After I arrived in OKC (which is a great city by the way), I helped Innova set up their booth at the downtown convention center (middle pic above). We settled and prepared for 'demo day' along the river at the a-maz-ing Riversport Rapids whitewater center. 
Whitewater testing at demo day during the Paddlesports Retailer Show in Oklahoma City, OK
Paddlesports Retailer demo day at the whitewater center in OKC
Inside the Riversport Rapids dining/restaurant building
Hanging out at the Coop Ale Works booth at Riversports Rapids at the Paddlesports Retailer demo day
Innova Kayak at demo day at the 2018 Paddlesports Retailer Show
Serious whitewater paddling at the whitewater facility in Oklahoma City
Whitewater, bikes, and bars at the Paddlesports retailer in Oklahoma City
Whitewater in the boathouse district in Oklahoma City
   Demo day is a way for buyers to try out boats on the actual water (instead of just imagining inside the dry convention center). It seemed like there was minimal chatting around most vendors, but lots of paddling, laughing, talking, and relaxing since we all made it and the booths were pretty much set up back at the convention center.
Retailers browsing kayaks at demo day at the Paddlesports Retailer Show in Oklahoma City, 2018
The sun setting at Riversport Rapids whitewater facility in Oklahoma City
Live music, beer, and good times at Riverwport Rapids in Oklahoma City
   With the sun set on demo day, it was back to the air bnb to rest. The first day of the show at the convention center was a bustle with activity. At Innova we got to talk with several retailers and as I walked around I got to talk with several more. It was cool to be around such a thriving paddling industry event. It was also great to visit Oklahoma City, a place I never imagined would be so cool.
The downtown Oklahoma City river walk.
Lighthouse on Lake Hefner near Oklahoma City, OK
SUP on the whitewater at the Riversport Rapids facility in Oklahoma City
A super compact Innova Kayak bag at demo day at the Paddlesports Retailer Show in OKC
Horses in downtown Oklahoma City
   So that's the update for now. We hope to return to normal (from #hurricaneflorence) soon! Maybe we should take a vacation back to Oklahoma City!?!?

~Paul   everyonestravelclub.com 
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Kayaking to the Permuda Island Reserve from Morris Landing

8/19/2018

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Kayaking to the Permuda Island Reserve in 2018!
   Eastern North Carolina has a lot of barrier islands. After paddling to a few of the protected ones (Rachel Carson, Dudley Island), I (with pooch) set out to knock another off the list. 
The parking at Morris Landing boat launch in Holly Ridge
The NC Coastal Federation boardwalk at the Morris Landing Clean Water Reserve
The boat launch at Morris Landing near Permuda Island.
   On the edge of Onslow County, in the town of Holly Ridge, is a nice mainland boat launch called Morris Landing. This area is actually part of a 52 acre shoreline restoration project managed by the NC Coastal Federation. The boat launch here is a little elusive when you're searching for it online - it's not a State Fish & Wildlife launch like you may be used to (like the launches at Emerald Isle or Cedar Point). Morris Landing is the closest kayak/canoe/boat launch to the Permuda Island Reserve, my destination for this trip.
Drone picture of the Permuda Island Reserve in Eastern North Carolina
Egrets in a tree at the Permuda Island Reserve
Kayaking in our Innova inflatable kayak with our dog up front
A beached Innova Inflatable Swing 2 kayak
   The Permuda Island Reserve is a NC Coastal Federation protected barrier island. It's long, narrow, and heavily wooded. It's 65 acres big with over a mile of shoreline. Among the multiple species of wildlife,  there's also archeological evidence of human inhabitants from waaaaaay back (into the B.C.!). We read about this evidence online but did not see any signs ourselves.  
A drone picture of our kayak beached on an Eastern North Carolina barrier island
Old Oyster Bed lease signs in the Stump Sound near the Permuda Island Reserve
Remnants of a building on the Permuda Island Reserve
   Commercial oyster beds are scattered around in the adjacent waters (the Stump Sound). As you paddle around the island, you'll see these and beyond them to the beach houses of Topsail Island, pronounced "Top-sol" by the locals. If it's a still day you'll even hear the ocean waves crashing! Although Permuda Island doesn't have any trails (it's thick), you'll be able to bird watch many species right from your boat. There are a few places to beach your kayak and explore - but don't expect big sandy beaches on here. Look for low lying live oak trees, especially on the mainland facing side of the island, these are usually cool places to pitstop (see below).
Finding a live oak landing site for our kayak on the Permuda Island Reserve
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   We paddled, we stopped a few times, we took lots of pictures. It wasn't crowded at all on a weekday at the end of the summer, but I could imagine quite a few cars/trucks/trailers parked at Morris Landing on the weekends when the weather is nice. There's not an actual parking lot so get here early if you want a spot. I set the timer from the time we launched to when we returned - we took 2 hours and 24 minutes. I imagine you could cut that time down significantly if you didn't spend light years trying to get closeup video of ants on a tree like we did. The ants were giant and amazing, the video was not haha.

​   Also, since most of the cool stop points are on the mainland facing side of the island, probably better to paddle Permuda counterclockwise from the Morris Landing launch site to get more paddling in before you stop for a break. Watch the winds and the tide - this will (as always) impact your trip - which way and how far you wish to travel. It's a cool island, check it out! 

   ~Paul & Eleanor    everyonestravelclub.com 

Links!
NC Coastal Federation

Brochure for Permuda Island
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Off the beaten path: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

8/5/2018

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Exploring Cliffs of the Neuse River State Park
   Have you checked out the NC State Parks passport? It's a great little book/guide leading you to all of the state parks in North Carolina. Grab a stamp for your passport at each park and feel the sense of accomplishment! (Luckily some parks have started offering sticker stamps too, just in case you forget your passport...like Captain Wifey does every time ha!).
A topographical map of Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
The Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Visitor's Center
   We've been pretty successful knocking out the state parks around us - Fort Macon, Goose Creek, Hammocks Beach, Fort Fisher, Jockey's Ridge, & Lake Waccamaw. So, we moved inland this time, to Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro. 
A view inside the visitor's center at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park in NC
   After checking out the visitor's center, we jumped down to the nearby lake trail and hiked through the woods, eventually making it to the 11 acre spring fed lake. We shall call it 'lake no-name'...'cause, like, I couldn't find a name anywhere. 
Hiking the 'no-name' lake trail at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Paddleboat rentals at the lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
The bathhouse and concession stand at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
The beach at the lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
   Although you don't have to hike to the lake (there's parking right by it), the lake trail was a fun 2 mile-ish wooded walk with a few ups and downs but not too strenuous. How ever you get there, at the lake you'll find a swimming and diving area, a boathouse for paddleboat and kayak rentals, bathrooms, and a concession stand. Services and hours vary by season and you do have to pay to swim in the summer. We made a "I'll have two margaritas" joke to the concession attendant and I think we scared him.

   One unfortunate thing for us is the fact that private boats (kayaks in our case) aren't allowed on the lake. It's clean, clear, and not very big so I can kinda see why...kinda. Also, you have to pay a fee to swim - that's also kinda strange - but I'm sure they have their reasons (hopefully good ones). 
The overlook at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park in North Carolina
   Finally, the cliffs! Or, rather the cliff overlook. Luckily I had searched for pictures of the park before we got there...because...well, you can't really see the cliffs unless you were down on the river. Although you can get down to the river via trails, you still really can't get a good view. I could get a great shot via my drone...but taking off/landing from the park is against the rules. Oh well.

   The overlook is great, towering almost 100 ft over the Neuse River. Eastern North Carolina is so flat, so it's amazing to finally get a little height on the situation and look out over the forest and river.

   Well, another stamp in the passport and NC state park explored. It's interesting to know that although the park is a little off the beaten path, there is a campground and cabins available for rent on site if you wanted to make a weekend out of it. Whatever you do, don't forget to bring your NC state parks passport (Captain Wifey!).

   Paul & Amber (a.k.a. Captain Wifey)   everyonestravelclub.com 

Links:
Map of the park

Park factsheet
A view of the River from the overlook at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
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