Since last fall I have been communicating with a guy near Raleigh that wanted to camp on our Roanoke River Paddle Trail. Though he didn’t consider himself an expert paddler, he shared he had done some paddling and that he had done other outdoor adventures including hiking the Appalachian Trail.

When he first reached out, he said he wanted to paddle the entire trail – approximately 120 miles. He asked a lot of questions. From our earliest contact, it was apparent that this guy was experienced enough to know that such an extended stay in the wild would require very thoughtful planning.

Of course, we recommend that anyone considering even just one night on our trail take the time to do their “homework” to be knowledgeable and well-prepared for the ever-changing variables that a paddler/camper might encounter—high or low water levels; inclement weather; windy conditions; bugs; temperature changes; encounters with wildlife; etc.

The first resource that I directed him to was the trail maps available on Roanoke River Partners website (http://www.roanokeriverpartners.org/trail-maps.aspx). In addition to maps, our website offers pictures and descriptions of each camping platform/site along with other basic information.

I also put him in touch with a camper that is very knowledgeable about our trail as well as some of the “high tech” options that can be used to plan for and navigate trails. As it turned out, the information that was shared was extremely helpful in thinking through and preparing for this remote experience.

After studying the maps and the sixteen campsites along our trail, he made reservations for a six-night stay for himself and a friend from Connecticut.

They put their kayaks in on the upper end at Weldon on a Saturday morning, spent six nights camping and making their way down the river, and they arrived on schedule at the boat ramp in Plymouth on the following Friday, a little before noon.

Before their trip began, we agreed that I would meet them in Plymouth and we would have lunch on their last day. I drove down from Scotland Neck – just in time to take their picture as they paddled towards the dock.

The week had not been without challenges – some driving rains as well as bothersome mosquitoes at one stop along the way – but all and all, they were prepared for what they encountered.

Just as an expectant parent, I was glad to see them arrive in Plymouth – on time, safe and sound, with big smiles.

We ate what was their first meal back on dry land at the Garden Spot Café – just a block or so up from the dock. They ate heartily and seemed to enjoy their meals which they washed down with a good bit of sweet tea.

I enjoyed hearing their spirited account of the highs and lows of the week – grateful that they didn’t encounter anything that they weren’t able to deal with.

In the coming weeks, the camper that spearheaded this trip plans to blog and share more about their experience. I will share the link to this firsthand account of “6 Nights on the Roanoke” with our social media audiences. Tune in for more on their exciting Roanoke River adventure!

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