The ongoing adventures of Bald Head Island
Kayaking the creek!
In my first two posts I wrote about a couple of creatures that inhabit this costal island such as the Tufted Tussock caterpillar and their stinging spines and the hatching of sea turtle nests. My daughter Sarah and I have a deep affection for this island and it is a wonderful place to explore the many different environments and natural habitats. While the island may only be 3 miles long even on a hot summer day you can get lost on the beautiful beaches. We often explore the marshes behind the beach in kayaks as well as stand in awe of all the Live Oak trees with their gnarly limbs and Spanish moss hanging from their branches. A bike ride along Federal Road with its tunnel of trees is a never ending treat. Sarah and I have watched the deer in front of the house wander through the Maritime forest and watched the raccoon that lives in the hollow of a Live Oak across the street lane feed its young. We have meandered along the golf course watching for alligators and have seen fox pups playing in the grass. Sarah has learned to swim and surf in the island waters and to kayak in the creek. Growing up it seems like she has climbed every tree there needed to be climbed on the east end of the island. Our spirits soar when we get on the ferry and approach the island; we take off our watches and slide into Turtle Time as everything slows down. On the east end of the island where we stay, internet and cell service is poor so the gadgets that we are attached to on the mainland are pretty much useless so we go back in time to riding our bicycles and playing on the beach. We have made many friends over the years that share our love for this island and it is always wonderful to renew our friendships each time we visit.
One of our favorite pastimes is to kayak and explore the BHI creek. The creek is at the mouth of the Cape Fear River and fed by the salt water of the Atlantic. The creek is an estuary and nursery for many different species of wildlife that call it home. Each time we kayak the creek we are filled with a sense of wonder. Often, we sit in our kayaks drifting quietly in order to sneak up on unsuspecting birds. On special mornings a light mist will hang just above the marsh covering us in a soft blanket; it is quiet and still. Drifting along, we sneak up on all sorts of birds fishing for their breakfast. We watch the Herons and Egrets standing in the shallows waiting patiently for a fish to swim by. Periwinkles and crabs scramble along the banks by the thousands. Pelicans fly by in formation and banks of oysters grow out of the creek bed. Fish jump and skim across the surface of the creek. On two occasions we had a special treat in that we saw a family of otters playing along the creek bank and Sarah met up with a couple of dolphins chasing fish up the creek. Now this may all sound delightful but have you ever kayaked with a competitive eight year old?
A few years back when Sarah was about eight or nine years old, Santa delivered a kayak to the island for Christmas. On her first trip to the creek in the spring of the next year (the water is too cold in the winter) and typical of her, off she went paddling at top speed eager to explore her new surroundings. I could not get my kayak in the water fast enough before she disappeared around the curve of the channel. Smiling I could hear her splashing and laughing and occasionally see her paddle flashing above the marsh grass. Since this was a new adventure I thought that it would be OK for her not to be quiet. Well fast forward five years and yes, she still paddles like a maniac and goes roaring off frightening all the birds and other wildlife in the area. Competitive as she is, she turns every trip to the creek into a racing adventure always saying in a loud voice "hurry up dad follow me"! Zipping along the channels she will beach her kayak on a sand bar and look for interesting things. Chatting away non-stop I have giving up hope of ever sneaking up on a shore bird again! I have accepted the fact that this young teenager, full of exuberance, loves to kayak the creek for her own reasons. The island is special to each of us in our own way.
Kayaking the creek!
In my first two posts I wrote about a couple of creatures that inhabit this costal island such as the Tufted Tussock caterpillar and their stinging spines and the hatching of sea turtle nests. My daughter Sarah and I have a deep affection for this island and it is a wonderful place to explore the many different environments and natural habitats. While the island may only be 3 miles long even on a hot summer day you can get lost on the beautiful beaches. We often explore the marshes behind the beach in kayaks as well as stand in awe of all the Live Oak trees with their gnarly limbs and Spanish moss hanging from their branches. A bike ride along Federal Road with its tunnel of trees is a never ending treat. Sarah and I have watched the deer in front of the house wander through the Maritime forest and watched the raccoon that lives in the hollow of a Live Oak across the street lane feed its young. We have meandered along the golf course watching for alligators and have seen fox pups playing in the grass. Sarah has learned to swim and surf in the island waters and to kayak in the creek. Growing up it seems like she has climbed every tree there needed to be climbed on the east end of the island. Our spirits soar when we get on the ferry and approach the island; we take off our watches and slide into Turtle Time as everything slows down. On the east end of the island where we stay, internet and cell service is poor so the gadgets that we are attached to on the mainland are pretty much useless so we go back in time to riding our bicycles and playing on the beach. We have made many friends over the years that share our love for this island and it is always wonderful to renew our friendships each time we visit.
One of our favorite pastimes is to kayak and explore the BHI creek. The creek is at the mouth of the Cape Fear River and fed by the salt water of the Atlantic. The creek is an estuary and nursery for many different species of wildlife that call it home. Each time we kayak the creek we are filled with a sense of wonder. Often, we sit in our kayaks drifting quietly in order to sneak up on unsuspecting birds. On special mornings a light mist will hang just above the marsh covering us in a soft blanket; it is quiet and still. Drifting along, we sneak up on all sorts of birds fishing for their breakfast. We watch the Herons and Egrets standing in the shallows waiting patiently for a fish to swim by. Periwinkles and crabs scramble along the banks by the thousands. Pelicans fly by in formation and banks of oysters grow out of the creek bed. Fish jump and skim across the surface of the creek. On two occasions we had a special treat in that we saw a family of otters playing along the creek bank and Sarah met up with a couple of dolphins chasing fish up the creek. Now this may all sound delightful but have you ever kayaked with a competitive eight year old?
A few years back when Sarah was about eight or nine years old, Santa delivered a kayak to the island for Christmas. On her first trip to the creek in the spring of the next year (the water is too cold in the winter) and typical of her, off she went paddling at top speed eager to explore her new surroundings. I could not get my kayak in the water fast enough before she disappeared around the curve of the channel. Smiling I could hear her splashing and laughing and occasionally see her paddle flashing above the marsh grass. Since this was a new adventure I thought that it would be OK for her not to be quiet. Well fast forward five years and yes, she still paddles like a maniac and goes roaring off frightening all the birds and other wildlife in the area. Competitive as she is, she turns every trip to the creek into a racing adventure always saying in a loud voice "hurry up dad follow me"! Zipping along the channels she will beach her kayak on a sand bar and look for interesting things. Chatting away non-stop I have giving up hope of ever sneaking up on a shore bird again! I have accepted the fact that this young teenager, full of exuberance, loves to kayak the creek for her own reasons. The island is special to each of us in our own way.