College friends Carl
Boland and Chris Miller spent four days and three nights on the
river and learned something new: the Roanoke River is a real
gem! Read these two short trip logs from their
perspectives.
Carl Boland...
Chris and I have known each other for about eight years, first
meeting in an English class at UNC. We both share a love of the
outdoors and outdoor adventure. Together, we have backpacked
throughout Western NC and SW Virginia, and paddled the Everglades,
Suwannee River (in GA and FL), the French Broad River, and now the
Roanoke.
We spent three nights/four days on the river, camping at Barred Owl
Roost, Cow Creek, and Otter One. I have been interested in this
adventure ever since I first learned of the experience through a
couple of friends who paddled the river about 6 years ago. They
spoke highly of their experience, by comparing the much larger,
nicer, and better designed platforms of the Roanoke to those of the
Everglades - called chickees. Further, they spoke of the "blackwater
experience" and unique habitats right here in our own state.
As Chris finished Dental school at UNC and I had a few weeks off
between terms at Wake Forest, I decided now was the time and easily
talked Chris into joining me. Early May seemed like an ideal time -
before it was too hot and too buggy, yet still warm and comfortable.
Our experience was as advertised! The Roanoke offers a unique
paddling experience right here in our own backyard - A chance to
find solitude and experience a very distinct ecosystem first hand.
The cypress swamps were my favorite and the reflection of the
ancient giants on the black, cola colored water was captivating.
Another plus is that the river and its tribuatires are easy to
navigate and offer plenty of opportuniities for both novice and
experienced paddlers. The platforms are well-spaced out,
well-marked, and easy to find. The platforms are spacious, more
private, and better designed (the eye bolts for tarps is my favorite
feature) than the chickees in the everglades. Being only two hours
from the Triangle, I will return sooner rather than later. I look
forward to comparing the experiences of paddling the river in all
seasons.
Chris Miller...
For a few nights in May, my friend Carl and I took a canoe trip on
the Roanoke River in Eastern North Carolina. We had taken canoe
trips together in the past, but this will certainly be a memorable
one. It was our last trip together before my move up to western
Alaska to work for a native hospital. Carl and I pulled out of
Chapel Hill on a Tuesday morning to meet up with Carol Shields and
Lucia Peele to begin our trip. We were greeted at Lucia's bed and
breakfast, where we borrowed a canoe and set off for the put-in. We
dropped the canoe and I sorted gear, while Carl went down river to
drop a car. We had an easy paddle in the first night. The dark
stained water was calm and we made our way back up a cypress swamp
to a nice platform - Barred Owl, I think. We fished and cooked
dinner and enjoyed the evening, just like old times. It was good to
be back out on the river together. Our next two days were longer
paddles, but enjoyable. We saw many wildlife species, different
landscapes, and different platforms. It was a well-rounded view of
Eastern North Carolina river banks - from cypress, to fields, to cut
timber, to towns. Our last day was an easy out paddle, before
heading back to Chapel Hill. I enjoyed this trip and the scenery and
the platforms, and the entire time I thought to myself, "I wish I
had known about this place the last eight years I've been in Chapel
Hill." I had heard of the Roanoke River, and that people paddled it,
but I had no idea how much of a gem I had a few hours away from
school. It very well may be one of the best kept secrets in North
Carolina. I look forward to the day when I have time to come back to
North Carolina and paddle some more on the Roanoke. Until then, I
will bide my time paddling the tundra rivers up here.
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