Circumnavigating Chincoteague

Yesterday I kayaked completely around Chincoteague Island with my boat, Maybell High Tide, and my friend Josh, in a Coastal Kayak. It was a paddle between 18 and 20 miles.



moon jelly

This has been a dream of mine since I moved here and I am so grateful I was able to accomplish it. The conditions were in our favor until the wind shifted and picked up significantly, leaving us silent, forcing all energy on not stopping, for if we did, we would immediately blow backwards. We were chased by dogs in the water, took two out of boat breaks, one restful, one sinking in mud being bitten by fish and snails. Flew by more than half of the island in 4 hours and took 5 and a half hours more to finish.

Good morning!

The last 10 miles were met with challenge, we gave it hell, dug deep and eventually found the humor in it. We did it.

 -Caroline 10/18/14



Love October Paddling (possibly the very most!)

There's not a month between March and December that I don't really, really enjoy kayaking (or doing anything at all, for that matter) on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. That said, I LOVE OCTOBER THE MOST!!! For one thing, there are monarch butterflies everywhere. The Shore, particularly the southern tip, is a major stop on their migration from Canada to Mexico. If you catch the day just right, the marsh is golden with butterfly wings! I haven't caught that day yet this year, but it's been over a week since I've seen less than five in a day...six yesterday between Cape Charles and Nassawadox Creek.


nice October day off Church Creek

Of course, the weather is fantastic for paddling. The water is still relatively warm, and the air is clear and crisp. The cordgrass is starting to yellow, the succulent glasswort is taking on a bright red, and the leaves on the deciduous trees of the maritime forest are beginning to turn among the needles of the loblollies. And the birds! This peninsula is a popular stopover for all kinds of species traveling along the Atlantic Flyway, one of the chief reasons The Nature Conservancy has taken such a keen interest in this area, known as the Virginia Coast Reserve. The loons and grebes will be arriving soon, the terns and ibis are still hanging out, and the curlews and gnatcatchers are stopping through. No wonder the Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival is held in Cape Charles every year in October!

loads of belted kingfishers back here!

I'd go on, but then I'd still be sitting in the shop at this computer instead of getting out and paddling the marsh again!

-Margaret
10/11/14

Family Bonding with Your Guide

No matter where you go or for how long of a paddle, if you're on one of my tours, we will be making at least a little bit of a bond. It's nearly impossible, when I'm out in the marsh, guiding my group through the winding creeks toward the middle of nowhere, for me not to feel a connection between us.

I recently had a particularly gratifying early morning Half Day Paddle with a mother and her 19 year old son out of the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge. The Half Day and Full Day tours give me an opportunity to really get to know my guests...and teach them everything I can think of. (Don't get me wrong. The Two Hour is fantastic for that, as well!) We went out just before high tide, and Michele and I got a kick out of watching Dylan explore every little side creek we passed. He got pretty far up into a couple and even found us a short cut back from the spot on the western side of the marsh where we were watching the bald eagles in the trees. All the while, of course, surrounded by periwinkle snails clinging to the tops of the cordgrass blades.

No need to wonder whether these two had a good time!

We had a nice long stop on Raccoon Island, and the look on their faces when I pulled cold bottles of water of out my kayak hatch was classic! After our refresher and some hermit crab observation, we went back to the boats for the open water portion of our adventure. And that's when I really got to experience the dynamic between mother and son! They were joking back and forth and quizzing each other on things we had seen already (including their first ever glossy ibis sighting), and I thought, "Kayakers really are my people." At the end of our four hour expedition, we were all ready for lunch and feeling about as happy as we could be about our time together in the wild. We had hugs by the water and assured each other that we would see each other again.

I'm sure I'm off to guide another family soon, but this one, and each one, nestles into a special place in my heart.

-Margaret 7/10/14

Paddling into Summer

Summer is officially here! Well technically it was here 2 days ago, but lets not focus on that. My summer began with an awesome group of 4 paddling in the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge. This trip, while being the first of the summer, also held another first. It was the first time I had someone flip their kayak twice! Now I don't want you to have the impression that it was because this particular person wasn't a skilled kayaker. One the contrary! He paddled very well. What caused him to get wet was his wanting to make sure his wife was okay. In the process of turning his head around to see where she was, he lost his balance and well......you can figure it out. I guess we can say that instead of being head over heels in love he is head under water in love with his wife! But in all seriousness, I had a blast on the water with Jim, Barbara, Dave and Kris. While the paddling was more difficult than usual due to the wind and the current, we were still able to share some laughs and see some awesome wildlife. I know that so far this year I have been lucky to have some great folks come paddling with me and I know my fellow guides have had a ton of fun as well. We will see what the rest of the summer holds!

-Tyler  

The Fun of a Full Day Paddle

Had a great Full Day Paddle out of the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge the other day! My folks weren't into an open water crossing, so we started off by really exploring the salt marsh in depth...got down a couple little creeks that I don't usually get to explore on the shorter trips. We had a nice stop for lunch (courtesy of the Cape Charles Coffee House) on nearby

Kim & Alan explore the marsh

Raccoon Island where we watched sharks making baby sharks off the western tip of the island. Swung by a wild clam bed I know of for a little "catch and release" clam digging and had the pleasure of watching a Black Skimmer glide along a tidal pool on the mud flat as we cooled ourselves in the creek. Lots of American Oystercatchers, Terns, and Osprey, as well as a handful of Bald Eagles. Even caught a glimpse of a Tricolored Heron in flight and a few Diamondback Terrapins sunning themselves on the banks. Love this job!
-Margaret 6/12/14

The Kid in All of Us

There’s just something about pirates. Whether it’s Hollywood’s Pirates of the Caribbean or The Goonies, pirates bring out the kid in all of us. After all, who wouldn’t want to go on a treasure hunt for gold, jump off of the plank, or show off all the fancy sailing lingo like yawl, spinnaker, transom, grommet, or halyard. If you don’t know what those words mean, don’t worry-neither do I. Ask our friends onboard the Lynx and they will surely give you a great answer that may or may not go over your head.

On Monday, the employees of SouthEast Expeditions had the privilege of sailing from Norfolk to the Cape Charles Harbor on the Lynx, a 122-foot Baltimore Clipper. The ride across the beautiful Chesapeake Bay gave us the opportunity to see the Eastern Shore in a whole new light; what appeared to be a smudge on the horizon became more and more like our home as we sailed towards the Harbor. The Bay seemed infinite and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel rose on our right like a towering roller coaster staring down at its anxious riders. Onboard, we learned how the original Lynx was instrumental in defending American freedom by blockading U.S. ports and evading the British naval fleet.

The Lynx is currently docked at the Cape Charles harbor in preparation for the third annual Tall Ships Festival. Stop by this Thursday-Sunday and tour the Lynx, Kalmar Nyckel, Serenity, and the Apostle. There will also be music, food, art vendors, a pirate costume contest, parade, and cannon and pistol demonstrations. For this weekend, it’s completely acceptable to be a little kid again because well…pirates and big ships.

-Dallas
 

Coming for the Tall Ships? Stay for the Kayaking!

One of the most appealing parts of living on the Eastern Shore is the slow paced, relaxed nature of the place. But don’t let that fool you into thinking there’s nothing to do here! Coming up on the 14^th and 15^th of June, the Tall Ships are coming to Cape Charles. Dress like a pirate, book a sunset sail, tour the decks, or show up for the cannon demonstration! The Tall Ships are a great reason to come to Cape Charles. And I know all too well that once you get here, you’ll find plenty of reasons to stay.

Here are two of my favorites:

Our 2 hour tours through the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge—this trip is great for the young and old, as well as new and experience paddlers. Join one of our knowledgeable guides as you weave through the salt marsh and learn something new about this wonderful place. From sky-high osprey to eye-level periwinkle snails, to blue crab beneath your boat, this trip is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Our Kayak Winery tour is the first (and the best) in the world! You will truly experience the heart of the Eastern Shore as you paddle from a waterman’s wharf to a beautiful vineyard—one that’s been a part of a working farm for nearly 400 years. After a lovely paddle along Church Creek, take a short but scenic stroll into Chatham Vineyards tasting room where you can sip award-winning wine while you investigate the very room it was made in.

I have been working with SouthEast for a little over a year now, and I can honestly say I have yet to have a kayaking experience I didn’t enjoy. It’s a remarkable place to live, and we love sharing it with you! 

~Kris
 

A New Guide's Perspective

So my name is Tyler. I've been with Southeast Expeditions for about a month and it has been a blast. The guides I've gotten to interact with and get to know are some pretty awesome people. Things can get pretty hectic at times, but I've started to learn to live a day at a time and I think that is a very appropriate way to live here on the Eastern Shore. This is such a beautiful place and I'm very lucky to get to live and paddle here. On Sunday I shadowed a trip led by Marshall (he owns the Cape Charles Coffee House. Stop by and say hi if you get a chance) and we experienced something totally odd for the area. We led a trip in the fog. While we didn't get to see very much in terms of wildlife, we were blessed with the ambient noise of the foghorn, a new sound for our guests. It was cool to get to paddle through the salt marsh with limited visibility. It gave you the feel of truly being out in nature. If you are ever in the Cape Charles area, we would love to take you out with us and who knows.....maybe you'll get to experience something cool in nature too!
-Tyler

Want to know everything we saw on the water the other day? Here you go!

ESNWR kayak ramp

Just thought I'd list every single critter my group saw or heard while paddling in the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge the other day...bald eagle, osprey, black vulture, willet, lesser yellowlegs, laughing gull, herring gull, clapper rail (heard but not seen!), great blue heron, little green heron, snowy egret, great egret, double-crested cormorant, common loon, American crow, American oystercatcher and tree swallows...that's all as far as birds go. Of course, we also saw plenty of periwinkle snails, mud snails, oysters, clams, ribbed mussels, fiddler crabs, ghost crabs and minnows. I love this time of year on the water! -Margaret 4/21/13

Hooray for the first paddle of the season!

When Dave asked me over shrimp, hush puppies, and something cold at The Shanty the other day if I could switch my schedule around at my off-season job to guide a trip for eleven Habitat for Humanity volunteers on the short notice of just two days, the answer was.....of course! I monitor oysters and help with oyster reef restoration on the seaside and barrier islands of Virginia for The Nature Conservancy in the winter. In April, I only work a few days a week, so you'd better believe I want to take a group out on an off day.

The kids were fantastic. Sixteen to eighteen year old high schoolers and their two chaperons from the Adirondacks who were volunteering their spring break to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Bloxom. (Last year, they went to Birmingham, AL to build and gave themselves the name Team Tornado.) There's nothing like knowing ahead of time that your group consists of, at least relatively speaking, responsible and able teenagers. Many had paddled before, and those who hadn't were gung ho and ready to learn. They actually paid attention during my creekside paddle clinic!

paddling the seaside marsh

It's not like I forget over the winter how much I love to kayak, but there's nothing like the feeling of sliding that boat in for the first outing of the season. Our launch time out of Red Bank (a seaside creek in Northampton County, VA not New Jersey) was just an hour after low tide, so were right at oyster level, giving me the perfect opportunity to talk about the work I've been doing at the Conservancy over the past few months. I plucked a clump of oysters out of the mud and was delighted when, once again, the kids came in close to listen and learn about what oysters do and why we really need them to keep doing it. They were excited by the shear numbers of fiddler crabs on the banks and even acted mildly amused when I ate a piece of sea lettuce out of the creek. As we floated on the rising tide back to the boat landing we found ourselves following a common loon as he dove and resurfaced, and we were all pretty impressed at just how far he could go without popping back up.

Back on land, while my co-guide and I were strapping the boats on the trailer (which the kids insisted on loading themselves), I remarked that if every group was as good as Team Tornado had been, we would have one heck of a season. Something tells me we will, no matter what!

-Margaret, 4/8/13

But there's still water out there!

Sometimes...often...as I'm finishing up a guided tour I realize I'm nowhere near ready to get out of my kayak. Just because the paying part of the paddling is over doesn't mean there's not still water in the creek. Fortunately, I'm almost always in a position to do something about that need to stay out just a little longer.

I was loading the boats onto my Subaru after a Chatham Vineyards Paddle the other day when the bug bit me. (Not an actual bug, you see. An actual bug would NEVER bite you on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.) The breeze was so nice, and the air was so clear in the late afternoon light that I felt like I could see every single waving blade of cordgrass on the shoreline. And, oh my gosh, I just love kayaking on the Shore in October so much. So, I did what any good self-propelled boater would do in such a situation. I rode back up to the winery, asked Julie to pour me a glass of Church Creek Vintner's Blend, and took myself for a little excursion.

breezy times on Church Creek

The family who owns Chatham Vineyards has put every bit of land they own along Church Creek under conservation easement, thus securing it as the middle of nowhere forever. It is thanks, in great part, to stewards like the Wehners that we have so many pristine paddling locations on this narrow strip of land.

My little round two was very pleasing, but it wasn't very long. The tide was pretty low, so I couldn't sneak into the sheltered parts of the creek to hunker/paddle where the wind (which had really picked up!) couldn't get me. Around one bend, I found a slightly deeper "pond" where I put my paddle in my lap and drifted for a bit. The water is especially clear at this time of year, and I was perfectly delighted to float along watching snail tracks in the mud beneath me until I ever so slowly eventually ran aground. Turning myself around, I looked up and saw that a juvenile bald eagle had been watching me meander through the marsh while I had been watching the snails meander through the mud. Like I'd busted him spying, he immediately swooped off his branch and away, showing off his already impressive wingspan.

It seemed unlikely that I would get to top that in the last hour or less before sunset, so I started back towards Chatham. My phone buzzed in my pfd, and a friend told me she and her clan were on their way to Cape Charles and wondered whether I was in town. I told her that I was, in fact, nowhere near town but that I didn't consider that to be a hindrance. The quiet of the post-tour solo paddle is a wonderful thing, but sipping something icy cold with loved ones on the harbor afterwards is pretty good, too. So, I loaded one more kayak onto the Forester and headed on down the road...

-Margaret 10/22/12

Paddling Chincoteague...worth waking up early for.

    I typically guide in lower Northampton County, so any opportunity to paddle up on Chincoteague is worth waking up early and making the hour and a half drive from Cape Charles to our Island shop. The waking up before 7:00 am (yes, that's early for me) was a little rough this morning, but we're having an early September cool snap, so I was awake the second I stepped out the door and the air hit my face.
    I'm always blown away by the number of birds you see as you drive the Chincoteague Causeway through the marsh to the Island. Most notable are the great egrets and snowy egrets which stand out whiter than white against the cordgrass and mud flats, but there's a lot of everybody out there. The last time I came up, I saw a laughing gull standing on a sign that said, "KEEP OFF." Delightful. Birds can't read.
    My guests and I had spoken on the phone a couple of days earlier, and I already liked them. They'd come from Richmond to partake in Chincoteague's Second Saturday Art Stroll and decided to make a vacation out of it. She had done quite a lot of canoeing but not much kayaking. He had never kayaked at all and described himself as, basically, the lanky guy who could never quite get into his comfort zone on the water. I like it when people are honest. And, no, he didn't fall in. He really did a pretty good job...and he loved it! 
    Before we even hit the water, we saw a little green heron stalking along through the oysters. Little green herons (That's their whole name, by the way. I'm not trying to diminish them at all.) were our escorts in the marsh today. At almost every turn, we'd come across one. They make a seriously squawky ruckus when you surprise them, then fly off with the feathers on their head puffed out like you just woke them up on the couch, and they can't believe the nerve of you. One seemed sure that we were chasing him as he flew and landed, flew and landed in ten foot spurts along our path.
    This was a low tide paddle, another rare treat for me, and that almost always means loads of bird activity. I took us off the beaten path and down a relatively deep (maybe 1 1/2 ft) creek through the marsh in hopes of checking out some mud flat action away from everyone else who was on the water this morning. That paid off big time! We saw great blue herons, little green herons, snowy egrets and great egrets nearly everywhere we looked, many of whom were so intent on their fishing that they let us get pretty close before grumbling and flapping away. We even saw a belted kingfisher perched on a piece of pvc pipe that was marking who knows what. By paddling along the path of the visibly falling tide through the grass with the assumption that, if water is moving, it must be coming from somewhere, we triumphantly made our way out to Assateague Channel and were treated to a great view of Assateague Lighthouse.
    We were on the home stretch of our little outing, and, while my guests and I were thrilled with all the birds we had seen, I was secretly a bit sorry not to have come across a little blue heron. I love the contrast of their dark blue feathers against the bright green of the cordgrass, and they're such a pleasing size. It's wonderful how holding still out there and focusing on one thing will bring another into view and then another and another. As we were floating and watching an osprey circle on a thermal current high above, a little blue popped his head out of the marsh right in front of us. Then, as we floated and watched the heron hunt among the oysters and ribbed mussels, three herring gulls flew by with the first one squabbing at the other two while a small blue crab dangled tenuously from its beak. There was no question as to the translation of his squawks!
    All three of us were grinning by the time we got back to the kayak launch. It had been the kind of trip that was so wonderful we had to wrap up the morning with a group hug at the boat ramp. Then I headed off to wash our boats down, and they headed off to do whatever it is people do after an enchanting two hour paddle through the salt marshes of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.
    -Margaret, 9/12/12
   

View of the marsh from the deck of our Chincoteague Island shop.

One Crazy Summer

As a semi seasoned traveller, I’ve often heard of the common cliché "the places less travelled offer the best and most diverse experiences". The Eastern shore of Virginia didn’t disappoint…

Arriving in Norfolk on the east coast of the USA for the first time I saw, as expected, a multitude of highways, advertisements and block buildings. Although coming from a life in Asia, I felt strangely at home.

After a 20-minute drive courtesy of my ‘local’ girlfriend, Ashley, we arrived at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel. Here she told me this was the last turning point before leaving the mainland and if there was anything I wanted to buy or do that required anything larger than a small row of shops, now was the time to say so. I happily declined the offer, and we began making our way across the ocean on the pillar- supported road to the eastern shore.

Arriving on the shore, surrounded by greenery and wildlife, I wondered if in fact we had crossed time zones and not the 20-mile stretch or so of the Chesapeake Bay. We headed to the town of Cape Charles and although I didn’t know it at the time, this was to become my temporary home during the most visitor-populated summer months.

Whilst in Cape Charles I bumped into a well-known figure in the town, Dave Burden. After I pieced together some clues I had picked whilst in the town I discovered that Dave was, amongst other roles, the owner of South East Expeditions (SEE), a one stop shop for any water based adventure you might seek. Luck seemed to be on my side that afternoon as Dave spoke of a potential position at SEE for the summer months to include any job from moving wood to leading kayak tours. I’ve always embraced a varied schedule so this possibility, in this setting, initially seemed too good to be true – it wasn’t.

Working at SSE did, as I thought, involve a wide range of jobs from moving kayaks to looking after the store. The first highlight came in the form of an ACA (American Canoe Association) course, which at that time was the barrier between what I was currently doing and becoming a kayak guide. Although I had a large amount of experience in water based sports it was clear from the outset that even though we were in a relaxed rural setting, it was vital to apply ourselves every step of the way for both quality and safety purposes. Making it through the action and theory based course along with spending hours and hours developing my area specific knowledge led to my first opportunity to lead a kayak tour. Taking people out kayaking would involve preparation in boat moving, readying the guests for the adventure that awaits them and most importantly ensuring everyone has a good time, whilst keeping the day problem free. As each trip is so different and based on a massive number of variables including weather, tide and people, knowing the area inside out became vital.

Pretty soon, as the season took off I found myself taking folks out on a daily basis to assist them in exploring the wonders of an untouched, nature rich area. The only time it seemed not to be sunny was during a rare storm and that became a fascinating experience in itself. As time went on my enthusiasm for showing visitors the area only seemed to grow and it’s safe to say I even became accustomed to the hotter-than-England climate.

The days were varied, sometimes I would be leading a family of four on their first kayak adventure and my aim would be to give them a gentle introduction to what I hoped, for them, would become a lifelong indulgence. This would involve meandering through the salt marsh discussing the area, kayaking or just life in general. Other times I would be leading (or chasing) a group of teenagers keen on pushing as many boundaries as possible, this I found this surprisingly easy to manage as a decade ago, I was that teenager. Exploring the islands beyond the marsh became a fascination of mine and even up until the day before I left I was finding new ways to make each trip unique.

Eventually commitments elsewhere caught up with me and it became time to pack my bags. Although my time on the shore was in many ways short, it was long enough for me to be sure I’ll be back and I’m thankful to all who made it happen.

James and Ashley enjoying the sights and sounds of the Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim from the best seats in the house

Storm the Shore & Kiptopeke Kayak Symposium

This weekend the Cape Charles area will play host to two major kayaking related sporting events. The Kiptopeke Kayak Symposium runs from September 23^rd – 25^th, and is headquartered at Kiptopeke State Park. The Storm the Shore Adventure Race starts at 9:00am on Saturday the 24^th and runs for 30 hours through mid-day on Sunday.

The Kiptopeke Kayak Symposium will offer a wide range of courses for paddlers of all different skill levels. The focal area for this event will be the seaside of the Eastern Shore, one of the most remote and scenic areas on the mid-Atlantic. Participants will be attending from at least 5 states and the District of Columbia. They will have access to a wide range of courses, with small classes that will be delivered by some of the area’s top coaches.

Paddlers will be able to choose from a wide selection of courses each day, including both skill development and touring options. Some courses will be offered in the calmer waters of the Chesapeake Bay, while others will take place in more challenging open ocean environments.

The Storm the Shore Adventure Race returns to the area after a two- year hiatus. This popular event is the highpoint of a challenging series of adventure races put on by Hampton Roads Advenutre (HRAdventure). Hampton Roads Adventure is a volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing affordable and accessible adventure racing to the Mid-Atlantic region.

Adventure Racing is a multi-discipline sport requiring teams to navigate their way through challenging terrain using nothing more than a map, a compass, and their wits. Adventure Race teams must travel together throughout the entire competition whether they are trekking, paddling, biking, and even while ascending the face of a mountain. Adventure Races are a true test of physical endurance, mental tenacity, heart, and teamwork regardless of whether it is a sprint race lasting 6 hours or an expedition race lasting several days. There is no other sport that delves as deeply into the human experience.

For more information on either of these events, or to find out how you can volunteer to assist with future events, please contact SouthEast Expeditions at (757)-331-2680, or visit their web page at www.SouthEastExpeditions.com.

While both events are primarily organized and put on by groups from off the Eastern Shore, the professional kayak guides and staff at SouthEast Expeditions are recognized as vital local partners with the unique knowledge base and experience to ensure that these events are safe, fun, and successful for everyone involved. As the Eastern Shore continues to gain recognition as a premier kayaking destination, more and more paddlers are discovering the allure of this land between the waters.

With over 100 paddlers and supporting staff coming to the Shore for these two events, as well as their friends and families, the estimated direct economic impact is expected to be close to $100,000.

A Chincoteague SUP Adventure

As we set up for today’s Stand Up Paddleboard lesson a couple of details led me to think we should do something a little differently. First, the woman who had signed up for the class had just taken a private kayak trip with one of our guides yesterday through the marshes where I normally teach. Second, the waters of Queen’s Sound looked pretty inviting as I drove across the Chincoteague causeway earlier in the morning.

As Kim filled out her paperwork I asked if she was interested in doing a little exploring today in a place where we rarely paddle. With a quiet, subtle confidence she confirmed that she was up for a bit of an adventure and we were off to Queen’s Sound Landing with a couple of SUPs and a rough idea of what the next two hours would bring.

Being a bit exposed half way between the mainland and the island, our launch site picks up wind a little earlier and more effectively than I had anticipated. Shortly after we hit the water it was clear that for a beginner paddler, heading in to the wind was not going to be all that much fun, and in fact if the wind picked up it may not even be possible.

I scrambled a plan B, talked it over with Kim, and darted back to the car to call the shop to arrange a pick up over on the mainland. Kim and I were going to do the first ever SUP run from the Chincoteague causeway to the mainland of the Eastern Shore.

For a petit quiet vet from Pennsylvania to sign on to this program so quickly told me that the confidence I sensed earlier was indeed real. It also should have told me that she didn’t really understand what we were getting ourselves in to.

25 minutes later as we ripped along down-wind, Kim was practicing getting on and off the board (off is pretty easy) when she looked over her shoulder and saw how far we had come from where we set out. She confirmed my suspicions when she said “Wow. I had no idea how much of an adventure we were in for.”

But she hung in there and was soon pitching herself down the faces of the 2-3 foot rolling chop that had been kicked up by the ever-increasing Southeast wind. We made some jokes about how we should have been doing a kiteboarding class instead, but Kim kept putting the paddle in the water and making progress toward that distant shore.

More than once I watched a wave rear up behind her as she crossed a shoal and had to stop myself from yelling advice that would just confuse her. Back on land later, she would confirm that ignorance is bliss by insisting that if she had any idea how big the waves were it would have totally freaked her out.

By the time we hopped off our boards at the Captain’s Cove Marina I was truly impressed by how well my quiet, confident new friend had handled both herself and her board as the first person to cross this sound by paddleboard. To do it in those kinds of conditions was even more impressive.

If you saw Kim riding her bike down Maddox to the beach, or sitting at the Sea Star Café having lunch you probably wouldn’t think “I’ll bet that woman is a bad ass on a stand up paddleboard.” But you should – because she is.

Thanks for a great day on the water Kim. I am looking forward to getting back out there to push my limits as much as you pushed yours, and I hope to be able to do so with the good humor and grace that you exhibited all day.

Today this is why I love my job. Tomorrow it could be because of a great adventure we have on the water with you. Make it happen!

Onancock Challenge Kayak Race Sept. 10 2011

SouthEast Expeditions’ 14th Annual Onancock Kayak/Canoe Challenge has some new divisions and pre-race clinics to give you a competitive edge. The race is Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at 9 a.m. during Onancock’s Harborfest, a festive weekend of food, music and water fun on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The weekend starts on Friday with two pre-race clinics led by Chuck Conley, instructor and winner of last year’s race. The morning session, 8 a.m. to noon, features racing strategy and boat control. The Forward Stroke Clinic (with video critique) will be from 1-5 p.m. Cost for each session is $55 with your own kayak (add $20 to rent one), or both sessions for $95 (add $30 to rent a kayak)

Afterwards, relax during Onancock’s Second Friday Art Stroll, 5-8 p.m. and the kick-off of Harborfest with live music on the wharf at 7:30 p.m.

The 9 a.m. race on Saturday has 5 & 10 KM courses on beautiful Onancock Creek. There will be new divisions this year for Kids 8 years and up and Stand-Up Paddlboards. It is a great event for paddlers who are serious about enjoying their time on the water as well as those who want to test their skills against the best racers in the region, including the legendary Olympic Champion Frank Havens, fastest octogenarian on the water!

Pre-registration is $15; $20 the day of the race and includes a T-shirt. Some rental kayaks will be available by reservation. Download the registration form for both the race and the clinics, print and mail in to save time on race morning.

For more information, call SouthEast Expeditions at Onancock Wharf: 757-354-4FUN, email mary@southeastexpeditions.com., and sign up for updates on Facebook.

Why I Heart Kayaks

I'd like to reflect upon how much easier kayaks are to paddle than canoes.

For one thing, kayaks are studier and heaps easier to balance in. I noticed this while seeing my boyfriend nearly bucked out when he stepped from the dock into a seemingly innocuous canoe.

Also, canoes are more difficult to propel through the water. You have to switch hands when you paddle on different sides and canoe hulls are wide and cumbersome. You feel like you're dragging the boat though slippery mud.

Now, what I want is a slick, slim-lined fiberglass kayak that skims the water like a dragonfly. I want my strokes to be executed with a fluid roll of my wrists and shoulders. Man, I love kayaks.

By
Alex Rich
Southeast Expedition Enthusiast and Shop Assistant

Sunset Kayak

The plink of water as it drips from your paddle and the seawater is thick like the green glass of an old bottle. Beneath the surface, a jellyfish drifts in lace tatters and spins slowly like a pale and distant galaxy.

Overhead the indigo and teal of the sky seep into a smouldering orange that roils at the edge of the world.

The wind is still at the end of the day.
Only the sound of your breath and the surf. However, it is quiet enough, so you might even hear the noise the sun makes as it first slips into the brine:
a faint sizzle
or a distant sigh.

Your First Kayaking Adventure

Location

We guide our 1st time kayakers through shallow, sheltered creeks and marshes where they can relax and enjoy calm waters teeming with wildlife.

Historic Onancock Creek Tour

Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge Tour

Winery Kayak Tour

Kayak Clamming Tour

Duration

The duration of your kayaking trip can be tailored to fit your fitness level. We recommend a 2-hour tour for beginner kayakers.

However, we have lots of options and our trips are highly customizable depending on the group's needs and what they want to see and how far they want to go.

Technique

Proper kayak technique, which is demonstrated by our guides before each tour, utilizes the whole body in order to maximize body efficiency in regards to position, rotation, and usage of the body and provides the most safety, recovery, and ergonomics while paddling.

In other words, you don’t have to have the arm strength of a professional weightlifter to propel yourself through the water. You use your entire upper body, not just your arms.

Myth: Getting Stuck in an Overturned Kayak

First of all, it is unlikely that your boat will turn over: we place our beginners in wide, stable kayaks and take them to sheltered waters.

In the event your kayak is overturned, it would be extraordinarily difficult to remain inside it. You are not trapped or enclosed in the kayak; you're just sitting in it. Gravity will take hold, you'll slip out, and your life jacket will float you to the surface.

However, if you still feel uncomfortable with a sit-in kayak, we also offer sit-on-top kayaks.

Even Your Grandmother Can Do It

Kayaking may call to mind images of extreme sportsmen, bulked-up guys with daredevil grins, high performance waterproof sandals, and raccoon eyes from their sunglass tan lines.

In truth, kayaking can be a leisurely sport for people of all ages and exercise habits. Recently, Southeast Expeditions guide Mary Burnham took an 89 year-old grandmother, her two grandchildren, one of which was a 4 year-old, and the children’s parents on a two hour tour of historic Onancock Creek.

The group traveled in 3 tandems: two with a parent in the back and a child in front, and the grandma sat in the front seat of the third kayak with tour guide Doug MacGarvey. Mary paddled in a single-seater in case anyone needed a little help.

The grandma did great, Mary says. “So, as for age, many people ask us how old is too old? The answer is you're never too old! This lady was not our oldest customer.”

Above: Bernei and Amelie Burgunder 89 and 82 years young with tour guide Bill Burnham

Also, a few summers ago, Connie and Bud Bernton, 82 and 83, of Bethesda, Maryland celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary with Onancock Expeditions. “They'd never been kayaking before, and they loved it!” Mary said.

~Southeast Expeditions at Onancock Wharf~