Source to Sea » Cape Fear River

Cape Fear River Podcasts

John — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:21:32 +0000

Just cleaning up some files and ran across the podcasts I sent while paddling the Cape Fear River back in 2006. I’ll be doing something similar when I paddle down the Neuse River in a few weeks. Podcasts are a great way for me to give real-time info on what’s happening on a trip, and are becoming much easier to post using services like Posterous and Audioboo.

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Cape_Fear_River_Oct_31_Preparations.mp3 (419 KB)

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Cape_Fear_River_Nov_3__2006.mp3 (596 KB)

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Cape_Fear_River_Fayetteville.mp3 (347 KB)

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Cape_Fear_River_Elizabethtown.mp3 (322 KB)

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Cape_Fear_River_Nov_7_2005.mp3 (300 KB)

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Cape_Fear_River_Nov_10_2006_Wilmington.mp3 (525 KB)

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Cape_Fear_River_Nov_13__2006_Followup.mp3 (568 KB)

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Ziplock Wallets

John — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:47:57 +0000

It’s always the small things that get me excited about trips. One of these is my ziplock wallet. I always empty out my regular wallet and put the bare essentials in a quart-size freezer bag. Just my license, debit card, and a few business cards. That’s it – that’s all I need.

I’ve carried a ziplock wallet on all my trips. Breaking out another bag reminds my of the Appalachian Trail thru-hike, Mississippi River trip, and tons of other activities done outside. When I finished the AT, I carried that same ziplock wallet for several months afterward as I just wasn’t ready to jump back into the real world.

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Cape Fear River Expedition Update

John — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:59:14 +0000

Things are really heating up for the Cape Fear River Expedition. I will be paddling 200 miles down the Cape Fear River, beginning November 1 from Jordan Lake in central North Carolina. Along the way I will be taking water quality samples and reporting results from the river. Podcasting in real time is also on the table as soon as we work o a few bugs.

I’m also working with several science classes by giving class lectures on water quality in the Cape Fear Basin, interacting with students and teachers via email, and communicating throughout the trip about my experiences. If your group or class would like to participate in this unique experience, feel free to contact us.

Sponsorship is beginning to come together as well. Great Outdoor Provision Company is again acting as lead sponsor, Astral Buoyancy is providing a personal floatation device, and Eagle Nest Outfitters is supplying me with a camping hammock and related hardware. My utmost appreciation goes out to these companies for their support.

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Ten Things I (re)learned on the Cape Fear River

John — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:19:46 +0000

1) Round things roll. Round drybags roll downhill really well. Fishing drybags out of the river with a paddle first thing in the morning is no fun.
2) Portaging sort of sucks. It builds character though, I guess.
3) Portage wheels and carts are cool. I don’t have a portage cart.
4) Feet are happier if warm.
5) So are hands.
6) Its good to just sit in the sun sometimes.
7) Canoes are easier to load and unload, but a kayak is better in the wind.
Pogies work better if not frozen solid.
9) I really, really hate when my tape recorder dies.
10) I’d spend the rest of my life doing these trips if I could.

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Kayak Funk

John — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:18:54 +0000

When you’re sealed up for in a kayak for several days on end, bad things are going to happen. The cockpit of the ‘yak becomes a chemistry lab from hell.

The combined fermentative effects of sandals, feet, mud, water, heat, sweat, and god-only-knows what else is enough to knock you down. All those individual smells combine into a sort of toxic cocktail suitable for neither man nor beast.

Sometimes I just cringe when I’m about to pop the sprayskirt off. Knowing the noxious gasses about to be released is enough to give anyone pause.

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Cape Fear River Sponsors: Thanks again

John — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:17:24 +0000

I just want to thank everyone who emailed, called, and visited the website during the recent Cape Fear River Expedition. Your support really meant the world to me when I was wandering “what possessed me to be out here freezing my tail off?”

A few special thanks need to go to the following folks. Thank you again for your continued support.

Jessica Robinson – the most patient fiancee’ a guy could every wish for
Betty and Kelly Fields – my folks, who may think I’m nuts but rarely say anything about it.
Larry and Candice McGuire – future in-laws, who also may think I’m nuts but rarely say anything about it.
Donald and Britt Woolley – patience by the bucket
Great Outdoor Provision Company – long-time sponsor extraordinaire
Astral Buoyancy – keeping me afloat
Eagles Nest Outfitters – great hammock to get some rest
Level Six – our new Canadian friends. Awesome paddling jacket, eh?
Pacific Outdoor Equipment – keeping my gear dry
Native Eyewear – sunglasses permanently attached to my face
Wake County Department of Environmental Services
Cape Fear Riverwatch
Pine Environmental Services
Cape Fear River Assembly
Cambellton Landing and Riverside Sports Center
Greensboro News and Record

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At least 8 killed in Riegelwood, NC tornado

John — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:16:29 +0000

Last week I walked 2.5 miles from a boat ramp on the Cape Fear River to Riegelwood to buy a newspaper and find out the election results. I’m beside myself with this news, and my condolences goes out to those families and that community.

Hold the ones you love close.

-John

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Cape Fear River Expedition

John — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:21:10 +0000

The Cape Fear River is formed by the confluence of the Deep and Haw rivers in southeastern Lee County. The Cape Fear Basin (watershed) is the largest North Carolina, containing over 9,000 square miles. The watershed is under tremendous development pressure, with over 100 acres of forest and cropland lost each day.

As North Carolina’s population continues to increase, the need for adequate protection of its water resources become more acute. Riparian zone restoration, land trusts, enforcement of environmental regulations, and sustainable development are all key components to providing clean water for generations to come.
John paddled nearly the entire Cape Fear River to raise awareness of water quality within the Cape Fear Basin. He began on November 1, 2006, and took 10 days to paddle the 180 miles to Wilmington, NC. A number of agencies and organizations were involved in this effort as well. If your group or media outlet would like more information, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Education and Outreach

The Wake County Department of Environmental Services donated a water quality meter for use during the journey. During his paddle, John tested several parameters (dissolved oxygen, turbidity, etc) and posted results from the river. He also worked with several middle school classes before, during, and after the trip via email and class discussions. While in Wilmington, he helped lead a Community paddling trip and gave a presentation at the Cape Fear River Watch office

We are available to talk to schools and organizations about water quality, the Cape Fear River, or our expedition down the Mississippi. If your class or program would like more information, please feel free to contact us.

Groups involved in this Effort

Haw River Assembly

Cape Fear River Assembly

Cape Fear River Watch

Cape Fear River Expedition Sponsors

Astral Buoyancy
Eagles Nest Outfitters

Level Six

Pacific Outdoor Equipment

Native Eyewear

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Cape Fear River Expedition: Just the facts, ma’am

John — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:07:22 +0000

I’m kind of a numbers dork, and while I’m paddling for ten hours a day, I have nothing to do besides figure out all manner of minutia concerning the trip. Here’s the facts, and nothing but the facts, about the Cape Fear River Expedition.

1) 160,000: the approximate number of paddle strokes taken.
2) 6: number of cans of chicken consumed.
3) 10: days spent paddling.
4) 4: AA batteries used for the GPS and tape recorder.
5) 8: number of days between showers.
6) 7: Aleve painkillers taken.
7) 16′ 5″: length of the Hurricane Tracer sea kayak used.
8 ) 48: approximate number of energy bars consumed.
9) 1: number of capsizes.
10) 1: number of hydration bladders lost as a result of said capsize.
11) 190: miles paddled
12) 4.75: miles walked (roundtrip) to a convenience store in Riegelwood, NC to buy a newspaper with the election results.
13) 5: approximate number of square inches with poison ivy as a result of the trip.
14) 8′x10′: size of my tarp to go over the hammock.
15) 6: Gatoraide bottles purchased during the trip.
16) 1/2: tubes of sunscreen used
17) 3: nights below freezing.
18) 2: pogies that work better when they’re not frozen to the paddle.
19) 4,500: average number of calories burned daily.
20) 48: approximate number of bottle of water consumed.
21) 11: water quality samples taken
22). 1: exceedingly patient fiancée’ that stayed at home while I paddled the river.

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Cape Fear River – Podcast – Preparations before the Journey

John — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:17:58 +0000

Cape Fear River Podcasts – Preparations – October 31 2006

Here’s a podcast from Oct 31, 2006. I was preparing to go down paddle the Cape Fear River and going through the last-minute details. Enjoy.

-John

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Google Maps for Cape Fear River

John — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:06:04 +0000

Oh man I am pumped! This is something I really wanted to do on the Mississippi River but had no idea how to pull off. The gist of it is that I can now uplink directly to a GoogleEarth map from any internet connection and have it automatically update a map on the site. You look at the map, place the curser over one of the location buttons, click the mouse, and a new window pops up with information that I’ve entered, maybe a photo, and commentary from the river.

Here’s what it looks like:

You can zoom in for a closer view.

Pretty cool.

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Backpacking and Paddling Food

John — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 16:04:49 +0000

Just thinking about what I’ll be taking on this next trip down the Cape Fear River. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and paddling the Mississippi River, I’m really burnt out on most of the usual stuff. I can’t stand the thought of oatmeal after overdosing on it on the trail, and I’m just now being able to emotionally handle pasta after the river.

I’ll take some of the regular powerbar/clif bar things, and maybe pack a couple of freeze dried meals in case I get lazy and just want to shove down something, but most of my food is going to be from scratch.

I’m trying out some new stuff this time, based on the site Freezer Bag Cooking. There’s some awesome recipes on there, and you can even buy the book for more ideas. Freezer bag cooking is based on pre-packaging you food in freezer bags, pouring hot water in the bag, then putting the bag in a “cozy” made out of insulating material to hold in the heat. You use less fuel because you don’t have to simmer, there’s not pot-stirring, and no pot to clean at the end of the day. Here’s a recipe off their site.

Cranberry Chicken Rice:

In a quart freezer bag put:

1 cup instant rice
1 Tsp. Chicken bullion (low sodium)
1/4 Tsp. salt, if desired
1/2 Tsp. granulated garlic
1 Tsp. Parsley
1 Tsp. Dried Onion
2 Tbl. Dried veggie flakes or freeze dried mixed vegetables
2 Tbl.+2 Tsp. Craisins

Put all items in a quart freezer bag.

Also take a 3-5 oz. can of chicken with you.

In camp put the chicken and it’s liquid into the freezer bag, and 1 1/4 cups boiling water. Stir well and put into a

cozy for 10 minutes. This is great with 2 cups water as a soup.

Serves 1.

Tasty, tasty, tasty!

I’m also making up a big batch of Ultralight Joe’s Moose Goo. The name sounds horrible, but this stuff is great. It’s a combination of peanut butter, corn flour (masa), and honey, and you use it as a spead on tortillas, crackers, or straight from the jar like I usually do. Highly recommended.

I’m going to fix my recipe for the World’s Easiest One-Pot Meal at least once, because it wouldn’t be a trip if that wasn’t on the menu. It brings back lots of good memories.

Give me a holler if you have any food ideas. I’ll add a page to the site as they come in.

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