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 Paddlers make their way down river Saturday in Roanoke River Ramble 2008. See pages 5 and 12 for more photos. (Todd Wetherington | Daily Herald) |
Brightly colored crafts of various lengths and designs lined the banks of the park as participants ran through last minute safety checks, talked with friends or finished a free breakfast of granola bars and bananas.
As early morning fog drifted across the water and dissolved in the sunlight along the shores edge, the first crafts and their passengers eased into the river to begin the eight-mile journey from Weldon to Halifax. It was 9:15 a.m.
By mid-morning all of the 120 participants, who ranged from the experienced to the novice, from devil-may-care septuagenarians to cell phone-carrying teens, were paddling along with the slow moving current and the temperature, which hovered in the low 50s during the early morning, was approaching the mid-60s. As the multi-colored mass of kayaks and canoes rounded the first bend in the river, the waters deepened and the current picked up speed, sending many of the paddlers gliding ahead of the motorized safety boat patrolling the waters.
, As they passed beneath the river’s wooded banks, egrets, hawks and other indigenous birds spiraled among the tree tops and dipped close to the water’s surface. Small fish could be seen darting among the shadows and filtered sunlight beneath the current. As the sun climbed above the trees brilliant with fall foliage, the surface of the river was lit like a giant mirror, reflecting the rock-strewn shores and finely-etched limbs back into the path of the approaching paddlers.
By 11:30, the first of the kayaks rounded a narrow sandbar and pulled their crafts up to the landing outside of the Halifax Fish Camp, a group of small, stilt-elevated shacks which served as a meeting area for the boaters.
Among the first kayak paddlers to arrive at the camp was Macon, N.C. resident Laurence Burke, an experienced boater who joined several friends from the area for Saturday’s event.
“We’re kayakers, this is what we do,” said Burke. “We do it every day. Since we’re retired we need a passion, something to keep the blood flowing. When you get in your mid-60’s, you want to get out here and say ‘Look I’ve still got it, I can still do it.’”
Burke’s friend, John Espenshade of Lake Gaston, echoed his sentiments and added, “This event was great. It was very well organized and we had great weather. It really gives kayakers a chance to meet new people from other areas. Plus, people come and stay for the night so it’s good for the economy.”
As groups of paddlers beached their crafts on the narrow boat landing and gingerly made their way up the slippery concrete, 15-year-old Keith Knowles and his sister Amy, 13, who arrived early Saturday morning after traveling with their parents from Jacksonville, struggled to carry their bright red canoe up the incline towards the camp.
“We probably should have worked out a better plan for getting it out of the water,” said Keith, smiling at his sister.
Despite the somewhat awkward exit, both siblings said they enjoyed the experience.
“It was so cold this morning, but then it got really warm. I loved it, I want to do it again,” said Keith, between bites of a granola bar.
His sister was even more enthusiastic. “This is the first time I’ve been in a canoe, but it was really fun. I loved being out on the water and talking to all the people out there with us. It was like a big group of friends, even though we’d never met.”
After the paddlers were out of the water and the crafts secured, the group made their way several blocks up the road to Halifax United Methodist Church for a lunch of ham sandwiches, broccoli and cheese soup and other homemade dishes. As they ate they were treated to a performance by local favorites Chambergrass and their unique blend of old-time bluegrass and classical music.
Following a brief address to the crowd and the handing out of door prizes, Christina Gordon, eco-heritage tourism manager for the Halifax County Tourism Development Authority, talked about the importance of Roanoke River Ramble 2008.
“I’m just happy to be able to share the beauty of the upper Roanoke with people. Events like this emphasize the need to conserve our natural places and open spaces. Plus, it’s great for tourism and economic development.”
“It went wonderfully, you couldn’t have asked for a better day,” added a clearly enthused Chuck Peoples, Roanoke River project director for the Nature Conservancy in North Carolina, giving credit to landowners along the river for their help in maintaining the areas natural habitat.
As the crowd finished their lunches and began heading for their cars, Peoples watched as a family of three discussed plans for their next trip along the upper Roanoke.
“This river is such a unique characteristic that really defines this great region,” he stated with a grin, “It truly is one of the great places on earth.”
Roanoke River Ramble 2008 presenting sponsors were the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Roanoke River Partners. Supporting sponsors were Four Rivers RC&D, Mid-East RC&D, The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina Paddle Trails, Express Signs in Roanoke Rapids, & Bertie County Peanuts in Windsor.
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