Northeast Wild

  Oct 31, 2022 (Mon) - Loop hike from Edgecomb Pond. Walked in ~0.3 miles & took a L on the old trail that had red trail blazes but now it seems like DEC has painted them over in black (altho they missed a few) to discourage the use of this route. However, for the most part, it was still relatively easy to see the blazes - some attention was needed at times because the trail makes some unexpected turns. Rolling terrain at first, then it starts serious climbing but eases up occasionally & views opened up. 1.8 miles & 1.5 hours to the summit. Lots of ups & down & a spur to a view W to Crane Mtn on the yellow trail, then a final steep climb to the lookout on Thomas (saw spotted knapweed flowers). Down on a rocky old woods road (saw some heal-all flowers) to a junction (saw 2 hunters, the only other people we saw on the hike), then a R on a woods road past a pond with a view of Cat, & back to start. Lots of leaves down - slippery at times & hides the foot tread

  Apr 8-14, 2007 - kayaking  NC Outer Banks .  Spent most of the week camped in the dunes at Oregon Inlet Campground (Frisco, on Hatteras Isl., is the nicest of the National Seashore campgrounds, Oregon Inlet is more convenient to restaurants, etc. like the Outer Banks Brewing Station which had very good beer & food) - windy; refreshing cold showers.  Windy most of the week - 15-25 knots range.  The sounds are generally shallow & we saw little boat traffic of any kind.   P & H Quest , a 17'7" sea kayak.   Apr 14 - Croatan Sound.  W side of Roanoke Island from boat ramp on California St.  Temp in 60s.  Mix of some development & wild sand beaches.  More beaches on Roanoke Island than on the sound side of the National Seashore.  Lots of wildlife: osprey on nest, pelican, ibis, C geese nesting.   Apr 13 - Kitty Hawk Woods.  From boat ramp on Bob Perry Rd.  Jean Guite Creek (covered bridge), Stone Island, Currituck & Kitty Hawk Bays.  Temp in 60s.  Osprey, egret

  Sept 7, 2021 - Wanted to check up on the loons, paddle Ben Wood Brook thru wetlands, & find some peace & quiet - only partly successful.  Tried the brook first - a bit of a carry N of the camps (no-one there) - just so happens there is logging going on & the trails around the NW & N part of the lake + the trail up Ben Wood Mtn are closed - an empty logging truck drove past.  So back around to the E side of the lake to "lake access" & paddled around PACK FOREST LAKE.  Soon spotted 2 loons, an adult & a chick.  The chick must have been born mid to late July, sort of late but there is still time for it to learn to fly before ice-in.  Saw the 2nd adult, some calls.  A hawk flew above.  Could hear the logging to the N.  Poked into the lily pad-filled bay where BW Brook enters but it does get thick in there, saw a gb heron & kingfishers.  Checked out the loon nest.  Back to the put-in for lunch & the logging stopped - enjoyed the peace & quiet,