“We allow engineers and scientists to convert nature into dollars and into goodies.  A river is a thing to be exploited, not treasured.  A lake is better as a repository of sewage than a fishery or canoe-way.  We are replacing a natural environment with a synthetic one.”  Justice William O. Doulas

 

River Rescue Training

What would you do if you turn over in your canoe or kayak and the current sweeps you downriver?  Would you know what to do if someone-else turned over in their canoe or kayak?  What rescue gear do you take along with you on a river outing?  In addition to first aid supplies, do you have a throw rope and know how to use it?  How would you un-pin a canoe or kayak?  What knots would you use?  If someone is hurt, do you know what to do?

Fully enjoying a river outing comes from two things.  First, being connected with the rhythms of the earth creates a sense of wellbeing.  Knowing what to do to rescue either you or someone-else, brings peace of mine.  Besides always wearing your PFD when out on the water, knowing what to do in a rescue situation is very important.

We have a new 3-hr. course you may want to take advantage of whether you paddle a canoe or a kayak.  It is called River Rescue for Beginners.  It is offered four times a year, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  If interested, give us a call (336/260-6465) or send us an e-mail message (admin@hawrivercanoe.com).

 

Selling Used Boats

Perhaps the three most common questions we get asked are:  is it going to rain, am I going to get my feet wet and do you have any used canoes or kayaks for sale?  The answer to all three questions is YES.  There is always a 50-50 chance that it will rain.  It either will or it won’t.  Getting your feet wet is totally under your control.  Used boats are a fact of life.  We tend not to sell any of our fleet until after the end of the season; however, because we are in the paddling business, we are always coming across used boats.

Without getting into the “new” boat business, we have decided to offer used canoes, kayaks and stand up paddles boards in three ways.

1. Consignment – Bring us a used boat or board that you want to sell.  Let us know how much you want for it and we will put it on display either in our office or outside.  We will add a little to your asking price for our time and trouble.
2. Search Image – Let us know what kind of boat or board you want, and we will keep an eye out for one.  If we find one at a price where we can get a little for our time and effort, we will buy it for your required price.
3. You can either put down a deposit or buy one of our canoes, kayaks or stand up paddle boards now, but not take title to it until mid-November.  Keep in mind that the boat or board will be used by us until then.

“There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace.” – Sigurd Olson, The Singing Wilderness, 1956

 

Radio Show

Recently, Joe Jacob, owner of The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co., was interviewed by Sharon Hill on WCHL Radio (97.9 FM).  During the interview, he talks about the company, what is offered and why & how people enjoy paddling.  If interested in hearing the interview, click on http://chapelboro.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audiold=6289675.

 

Lending Library, Lectures & Advice

We have a pretty extensive lending library of books, videos and DVDs you might enjoy.  Topics cover canoeing, whitewater kayaking and sea kayaking.  Other references include trip planning for day and wilderness paddling trips, as well as various books on where to paddle throughout the southeast United States.

In addition to our lending library, we are available to offer free lectures on most topics involving paddling and wilderness adventures.  Let us know of a topic that interests you and we will see if it is of interest to others.  If it is, we will schedule an evening presentation.  If not, we will still provide information and advice in an informal setting.

 

Fall & Winter Extended Paddling Adventures

We are planning extended canoeing and sea kayaking adventures for the Fall of 2013 and the Winter of 2014 to such places as the Roanoke River Swamps of North Carolina, ACE Basin in South Carolina, Okefeenoke Swamp of Georgia, Horn Island off the coast of Mississippi and the Florida Keys.  The trips will be scheduled over various holidays so that you will be able to have an extended vacation of 7-9 days by only taking four days off from work.  If you would like to know more information about the trips, just give us a call at 336/260-6465 or send us an e-mail message to admin@hawrivercanoe.com.

“My family —- Homo sapiens —- was born of a planet in which every stone were a teacher and a teaching, every breeze a language, every lake a mirror, and every tree a ladder to infinity.  But we have worked so hard to redefine the world, turning all into a commodity, human-made or human-used, that to a large extent we have succeeded.  And now? … Now, all too often, life seems trivial and meaningless, precisely because we have so diligently removed or ignored all the meaning.” – Douglas Wood

 

Haw River Festival — Saturday, May 4^th, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saxapahaw, NC

Join the Haw River Assembly to kick off the Saturdays in Saxapahaw Summer Music Series and celebrate the Haw River!

 Free Canoe Rides for kids under 100 lbs. from 4-6 p.m.
River Monitoring from 4-6 p.m.
Silent Auction from 4-7 p.m.
Kayak Raffle at 7:30 p.m.   Deep Chatham at 5 p.m. at the Hay wagon stage

Live Music, Kayak Raffle, River Monitoring, Guided Canoe Rides for Kids 12 and under, environmental info, Farmer’s Market, Haw River T-shirts, Food Trucks and More!!!!

No admission charge, but donations gratefully accepted to support the projects of the Haw River Assembly.  Kayak Raffle tickets can be purchased at www.hawriver.org.

Festival followed by benefit concert at the Haw River Ballroom featuring Orquesta Gardel

Please note:  this information taken from the Haw River Assembly’s website.

 

 WOW!  SPRING BURST OUT THIS PAST WEEK

Unless you hate wildflowers, you have noticed that the redbuds and dogwoods are popping out all over.  It is like the trees were so tired of winter that they couldn’t help but burst out in flower as soon as it got a little warmer.  Birds, too, seem to be a little early.  Our guests are seeing lots of great blue herons, ospreys, cormorants and bald eagles.

Water levels are good.  Water is warming up.  Air temperatures are still a little cool.  What a wonderful time to be alive and out in nature!

“The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which It must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value” – President Theodore Roosevelt

 

YEE- HAW! RIVER PADDLE SLATED FOR MAY 11TH

 

2013 marks the sixth year of the Yee-Haw! River Paddle.  This year the Haw River Partnership is happy to once again be working with the community of Saxapahaw for a day-long celebration of the Haw River.  The format is undergoing a slight change this year, eliminating the shuttles needed in previous years.  All paddlers will start simultaneously with a shotgun start on Saxapahaw Lake.  The racers will then begin their 5 or 10 mile race, while paddlers participating in the Fun Paddle can paddle upriver and return at their own pace.  The event will conclude in the late afternoon, just in time for participants to enjoy Saturdays at Saxapahaw in downtown Saxapahaw.  The event will have live music, food and vendors and is a great end to a day on the river.  The Yee-Haw! River Paddle is the Partnership’s largest fundraising event of the year.  Full event details and registration are available at www.thehaw.org/yeehaw.

 

The Haw River Partnership is a cooperative effort on the part of Alamance & Chatham Counties and the Cities of Burlington, Graham, Haw River, Pittsboro and Swepsonville to acquire land along the Haw River for both a paddle trail and a walking trail.  Their efforts to date have done an amazing job in establishing put-ins and take-outs all up and down the river.  If the Partnership has a motto, it is “Conservation through Recreation”.

 

JOIN THE “5280 CLUB” TO ADOPT A MILE OF HAW RIVER TRAIL

 

Spring is the time of year when we all begin venturing outdoors to hit the trails.  Its is also the time of year when the Haw River Trail Partnership makes its annual fundraising push to secure the future of those trails.  With tightening budgets and dwindling grant programs, finding funds to acquire and build trails is an increasingly difficult job.  So this year the Partnership is trying a new approach.  Rather than relying on large donors and shrinking grant programs, it is asking for support from the people who use and enjoy our trails, the public.

 

The new fundraising initiative is called the “5280 Club”, so named because the Partnership is asking community members to sponsor 5280 feet, or one mile, of Haw River Trail.  By joining the 5280 Club for $100 you will be sponsoring 5280 feet of Haw River Trail for one year.  Thanks to the support already received from Haw River Trail Partnership member governments, overhead costs are covered. That means 100% of your support will go directly to acquiring and building new sections of the Haw River Trail.  To acknowledge your support, a plaque will be placed at the access leading to the mile of Haw River Trail you choose.  In addition, the Partnership is offering one FREE 2013 Yee-Haw River Paddle registration for each mile sponsored.  Visit www.thehaw.org to choose your mile and make payment, or send in a check payable to “Haw River Trail” to 3916 R.D. Coleman Road, Burlington, NC 27215.  If you are mailing your payment, in the memo line, please indicate which mile of the Haw River Trail you would like to sponsor. Thank you for supporting the Haw River Trail, and please let us know if you have any questions.

 

Please note:  this blog is a modification of the Spring edition of the “Mouth of the Haw”, the newsletter of the Haw River Trail Partnership

“To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower, to hold infinity in the palm of your hand, eternity in an hour” – William Blake

 

The Health of our Nation’s Waterways

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says more than half of rivers and streams in the United States are in such unhealthy shape they cannot adequately support aquatic life.  EPA sampling found more than 55 percent of waterways tested were in poor condition, compared to just 21 percent in good health. The most widespread cause was pollution fueled by human activity, with high levels of phosphorus — a component of fertilizers, pesticides and detergents — found in 40 percent of rivers and streams.

There are a couple of tributaries in the Haw River Watershed that are impaired according to EPA standards.  That is why the State of North Carolina passed the Jordan Lake rules; i.e., Jordan Lake was receiving too much nutrients from upriver.  The next time you think about adding fertilizer to your lawn or purchasing laundry detergent with added phosphorus, please think twice.  There are other creatures that share this planet with us that need our good stewardship.

By the way, the Clean Water Act was passed over 40 years ago.  It aimed at making all of our waterways drinkable, swimmable and fishable.  Why hasn’t that happened?  In the name of jobs and the economy, we allow development to pass on the price of pollution clean-up to current and future generations to pay while a few benefit financially now.

 

River Clean-up Results

We conduct three river clean-ups each year where we provide canoes for free to volunteers willing to pick up trash out of the river and along the river banks.  The first clean-up of the year is always held in conjunction with the Haw River Assembly’s Clean-Up-A-Thon.  Joining with our team of 15 volunteers picking up 20 bags of trash and 3 tires upriver of Saxapahaw, was a total of 17 other teams with 303 volunteers that picked up 720 bags of trash, 167 tires and lots of big and weird junk.  Some crazy stuff retrieved from the river included a Jeep panel, Easy Bake oven, purple bowling ball, front end of truck, mailbox door and leopard skin underwear!

By the way, most of those trash bags contained plastic bottles, Styrofoam chunks and cans.  It is pretty amazing when you think of all the energy and raw materials that are wasted by our “throw-away society”.

 

“Some will tell you that creation ended when God created the earth in six days.  Those who tell you that have lost their connection to Nature where the life force shows itself every hour of every day and every season of every year” – Anonymous

 

American Spending on Outdoor Recreation Is a Major Driver to State Economies
Outdoor Industry Association Releases Economic Data for All 50 States

According to a press release by the Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) economic impact of outdoor recreation demonstrates that outdoor recreation is an important driver of state economies, supporting jobs, businesses and communities. “Americans spend almost twice as much on outdoor recreation as they spend on pharmaceuticals each year, and outdoor recreation supports more than twice as many jobs as the oil and gas industry.”

Figures compiled for each of the 50 states indicate that with nearly 140 million Americans participating in outdoor activities each year, outdoor recreation is a larger and more critical sector of the American economy than most people realize.  “The outdoor industry can continue to generate jobs and be an economic driver in the United States if parks, waters and trails are managed as a system designed to sustain these economic dividends for America.”

–And you just thought that paddling was a way to relax and distress.  Little did you know that in your attempt to be a healthier person, you were actually contributing to a healthier economy?  If you would like to know more about OIA’s study, you can go to www.outdoorindustry.org/recreationeconomy.

 

A New Look to Our Office

It is amazing how a little paint (Is 6 gallons a little?) and a lot of imagination can turn a poorly lit office into a bright, fun place to be.  Thanks to Jake, Corey, Lawrence, Cassie and Katie, our office walls have been transformed into an outdoor scene complete with a running river, forest, mammals, fish, turtles and birds.  The ceiling is about to be transformed into the golden colors of the sun, not too unlike part of our logo.  If you are in the neighborhood, come take a look.  Who knows, if we aren’t finished, me just might put a paint brush in your hand and see what you come up with.

 

“My family – Homo sapiens – was born of a planet in which every stone were a teacher and a teaching, every breeze a language, every lake a mirror, and every tree a ladder to infinity.  But we have worked so hard to redefine the world, turning all into a ‘commodity’, human-made or human-used, that to a large extent we have succeeded.  And now? . . . Now, all too often, life seems trivial and meaningless, precisely because we have so diligently removed or ignored all the meaning” – Douglas Wood in “Paddle Whispers”

 

Last weekend, we had over 20 folks come out on our first of three river clean ups for the year.  All in all, they collected over 20 large trash bags full of mostly plastic bottles and Styrofoam, 3 tires and a lawn chair.  I am sorry to say that in the brief 2-hours that they worked, they hardly touched on all the trash that can be found intermingled within riverbank vegetation.  They got the easy stuff and we are grateful because every little bit makes a difference.  If someone had gotten that six pack ring in the past, it would have made a big difference to this turtle.  

If you happen to be listening to WCHL radio (97.9 FM or 1360 AM) either this Saturday or Sunday at either 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. both days, you will hear us talk about The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co.  If you do, please let us know what you think.

 

“Man is whole when he is in tune with the winds, the stars, and the hills . . . Being in tune with the universe is the entire secret.” – Supreme Court Justin, William O. Douglas

 

I intended for all of our blogs to be about nature, paddling, conservation, upcoming events and the Haw River, but I am diverging this time to brag about two people who work here at The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co.; Jake Matheny and Lawrence Petersen.

Late in the day last Sunday, we received a call from a private paddler whose friend pinned a kayak in the Haw River and was calling for help.  She described where the incident had taken place and wanted to know where they might walk out.  They tried to free the kayak, but it was getting late, and they were not sure how far downriver their planned take-out was.  After her brief description of the area, we were able to tell her how far downriver she could go ashore and begin walking to the nearest residence and eventually the take-out.  We also described how her friend could safely ride on the back of her kayak so that the two of them could reach land.  Leaving the pinned kayak, the two women were able to make it to where we told them they would be able to walk out.  It did not take long to find someone at home to help them get to their car.

Lawrence was able to stay in communication with the two women, so he was aware that they were safe and the kayak was left behind.  After we closed up shop for the day, both he and Jake went to retrieve the kayak.  Jake threw a kayak and rescue gear into the back of his pickup truck and Lawrence led him the 9 miles are so to where Jake could gain access to the river.  Jake paddled upriver, got the kayak un-pinned just before dark and brought the kayak to our office.  The women will pick it up this coming weekend.

The reason I am writing about this is because I am so proud of who Lawrence and Jake are.  They didn’t have to go rescue the kayak.  They could have left that problem for the two women to solve.  The fact is they put themselves out because it was the right thing to do, not because somehow they would benefit.  If they were my sons, I could not be prouder.

“For me, and for thousands with similar inclinations, the most important passion of life is the overpowering desire to escape periodically from the clutches of a mechanistic civilization.  To us the enjoyment of solitude, complete independence, and the beauty of undefiled panoramas is absolutely essential to happiness.” – Bob Marshall, Founder of The Wilderness Society

 

Where does a river begin?  My friend, Anne Cassebaum, in her book about the Haw River entitled Down Along the Haw:  The History of a North Carolina River wrote “in rain, falling rain.  A river is rain, cycled from earthly evaporation that started long ago from volcanic vapors and icy comets and asteroids melting in our atmosphere.”  Wow, imagine that.  What a gift from the Universe the Haw River is and we take it so for granted.

Anne, an Assistant Professor Emeritus at Elon University, spent many years hiking and paddling the 110 miles of the Haw River from its origin in two springs northwest of Greensboro, NC all the way to its confluence with the Deep River in Chatham County, NC.  She eventually condensed the 700 page manuscript describing her experiences to complete the 200+ page reference cited above.  For those of us who know the Haw River and some of the characters she met along her path, Anne’s book is a delight to read.  We highly recommend it.

“The wonder of the world, the beauty and the power, the shape of things, their colors, light and shade.  These I saw.  Look ye also while life lasts.” – From an old gravestone in Cumberland, England

March 1^st. represents the beginning of our 2013 paddling season.  We are set to go.  The website is up-to-date.  New boats, stand-up paddle boards and paddling equipment have been purchased.  Additional staff has been added.  New paddling courses and guided trips have been designed.  Summer camps are shaping up.  Partnerships have been established so that our new Bynum Outpost is a reality.  Now, we just need the weather to cooperate.  We are anxious to get on the water.

By the way, we have decided to turn our monthly newsletter into a regular blog, so if you received our monthly newsletter via e-mail in the past and found it worth reading, you will want to start going to our blog which will be updated weekly.  Just click on the word “News” on the homepage of our website and you will immediately be taken to our blog.

“Rivers flow not past, but through us; tingling, vibrating, exciting every cell and fiber in our bodies, making them sing and glide.” 

John Muir

Table of Contents

 * Hot Summer Days and Paddling

* What is That Large White Flower on the River Banks?

* Schedule of Courses & Trips – August & September 2012

* We are Sad to Say

* Anyone Interested in Whitewater Kayak Instruction?

 

Hot Summer Days and Paddling

It always amazes us that most of our business takes place during the summer months when it is hot and humid.  Spring and fall are so much more pleasant, but who is to argue with what people want.

The key to enjoying a summer paddle trip is to keep hydrated, wear a hat and use sunscreen if your complexion is fair.  Of course, a dip in the river doesn’t hurt, either.  Avoid paddling in the heat of the day.  Morning and late afternoon or evening paddle trips are cooler.

 

What is That Large White Flower on the River Banks?

Most of you have seen the cultivated variety of the plant that is common along the banks of the Haw River at this time of the year.  Hibiscus has a beautiful white flower, often with red or maroon coloration at the interior base of the petals.  Like the garden variety, hibiscus flowers close up in the shade or at night.  What is striking about it along the Haw River banks is how large it is compared to what is often found in urban flower beds.  Perhaps it is the extra nutrients found in the river and the constant water supply that makes them grow so large.  Whatever it is, they sure are beautiful; worth going paddling just to see them.

 

Schedule of Courses & Trips – August & September 2012

If you are interested in a paddle course or a guided trip, you can find a schedule of activities on calendar.  A brief listing of activities for August & September 2012 follows:

August

4             Family Paddle – Carrboro Recreation & Parks

11            Pedal & Paddle

12            Sunrise Paddle

17            Stargazing Float – Haw River Assembly

18            Canoe & Kayak Classes

                          Quick Start for Kayak – 3 hrs.

                          Introduction to River Kayaking – 8 hrs.

                          Quick Start for Canoe – 3 hrs.

                          Introduction to River Canoeing – 8 hrs.

19            Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

19            Wine-Maker’s Dinner – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery/The Eddy

25            Sunset Paddle

26            Picnic & Paddle

31            Full Moon Paddle

September

2             Women’s Evening Paddle – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery

8             Sunrise Paddle

9             Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

15            Canoe & Kayak Classes

                          Quick Start for Kayak – 3 hrs.

                          Introduction to River Kayaking – 8 hrs.

                          Quick Start for Canoe – 3 hrs.

                          Introduction to River Canoeing – 8 hrs.

15            Stargazing Float

16            Sunset Paddle

22            River Cleanup

23            Paddle Dinner/Brewery Style – The Eddy

29            Full Moon Paddle

30            Picnic & Paddle

 

We are Sad to Say

We are sad to say that our two newest members of The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. family will be leaving us this month.  Tati Brezina has accepted a job in Boston and Annie Huth is off to India.  Both will be helping others find their potential and we are confident they will be successful.

Although part of The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. for such a short time (we really knew they would be moving on) they have made a tremendous difference and brought a lot of joy to what we do.  If they are but a small example of the younger generation, the world has a bright future.

 

Anyone Interested in Whitewater Kayak Instruction?

As you may know, we offer three kayak courses: Quick Start for Kayak, Introduction to River Kayaking and Kayak Rolling.  We are going to offer this fall and next year a Whitewater Kayaking course.  We think we have a plan to take students from knowing nothing about whitewater kayaking to an ability to paddle in Class III whitewater.

The course will be taught by Jacob (Jake) Matheny.  If you have any doubts about Jake’s whitewater paddling ability, take a look at his photo.  You will find it under “About Us” on the homepage.  Just click on “The Core Staff”.  We could not find a better instructor than Jake who has the skill, patience and desire to make everyone he meets a whitewater paddler.

“Alone in the wilderness, you can feel the life force of the universe in everything you see.  That is not as easy to do in a ‘civilized’ landscape.  You have to work hard to look beyond the man-made destruction.”  — Anonymous

 

Table of Contents

* Paddling and Adventure Camps

* New Faces at The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co.

* River Tales – A Lecture Series of the University of Saxapahaw

* Schedule of Courses & Trips – June & July 2012

* Registration & Paying Online – What Do You Think?

* SaxOnTheHaw: Paddle, Bike & Run Race

* Bike Rentals in Saxapahaw

 

Paddling and Adventure Camps

Beginning the week of June 11, 2012, we are offering eight weeks of week-long, half-day Paddling Camps and week-long, full-day Adventures Camps aimed at kids 8-11 and kids 12-15.  Paddling Camps will emphasize basic paddling skills and include a variety of fun, on-water games.

Adventure Camps include the morning Paddling Camps and afternoon team building, hiking and outdoor skills activities.  For more information or to register for a Camp, contact us at 336/260-6465 or info@hawrivercanoe.com.

 

New Faces at Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co.

In years past when you came to our office you would find three men; Lawrence, Jake and Joe.  This year when you come, you are just as likely to find three women; Tati, Tracy and Annie.  All three are involved in our summer camps and guide or instruct from time to time.

Although we had wanted to create summer camps for a long time, it has been Tati who brought her creativity and enthusiasm to the job.  Tracy recently “appeared”, and we are very fortunate that she shares so much of what The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. is trying to promote.  She brings years of experience as a guide, instructor and educator.  Annie, a recent graduate of Elon University and part-time worker at The Eddy, will be with us for part of the summer before she heads off to India to follow her passion for helping others.

Others will certainly be involved this summer since we are always looking for new, enthusiastic folks to help us.  Jesse Gates is one of those quiet, very capable young people who help us more than he will ever know.

 

River Tales –

A Lecture Series of University of Saxapahaw

Tom Magnuson of the Trading Path Association was our recent lecturer.  His topic dealt with river crossings in times gone by.  If you have ever listened to Tom, you know that his lecture was both entertaining and informative.

Our July River Tales lecturer is Mark Chilton, Mayor of Carrboro, NC and excellent historian.  Mark will be telling us about the Chatham Crossroads an area of Alamance and Chatham Counties with a tremendous amount of historical significance.  His presentation will be in the Haw River Ballroom starting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.  Part of the University of Saxapahaw (U of S), River Tales is a free lecture series and open to the general public.

 

Schedule of Courses & Trips – June & July 2012

If you are interested in a paddle course, a guided trip or a summer camp, you can find a schedule of activities on our Paddle Calendar.  A brief listing of activities for June & July 2012 follows:

June

2 Paddle Buffet – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery

3 Full Moon Paddle

9 River Clean Up

11 Paddling/Adventure Camp ½-day Hybrid

16 Quick Start for Kayak

17 Sunrise Paddle

18-22 Paddle Camp w/HRA

18,19,21,25&26 Paddle Camp Hybrid w/Elon

23 Quick Start for Canoe w/ Carrboro Parks & Rec.

23 Sunset Paddle

24 Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

25-29 Paddle Camp w/ Burlington Parks & Rec.

30 Pedal & Paddle

 

July

1 Full Moon Paddle

7 Picnic & Paddle

8 Sunset Paddle

9-13 Paddle Camp w/HRA

14 Canoe & Kayak Classes

- Quick Start for Kayak

- Introduction to River Kayaking

- Quick Start for Canoe

- Introduction to River Canoeing

15 Sunrise Paddle

16-20 Paddle Camp

15 Wine-Maker’s Dinner – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery/The Eddy

20 Stargazing Float

21 Owl Prowl

23-27 Paddle Camp w Carrboro Parcks & Rec.

28 Pedal & Paddle

29 Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

30&31 Paddle Camp w Carrboro Parcks & Rec.

 

Registration & Paying Online –

What Do You Think?

Now that our new website has been up and running for a while, we would like to know if you like the way we handle the registration process and if paying through PayPal has made it easier for you to do business with us.  What do you think?

While you are at it, we would also love your feedback on whether or not we are meeting our motto – “Reconnect with Nature & Have Fun Paddling”.  Any suggestions on how we can do what we do better would be greatly appreciated.

 

SaxOnTheHaw: Paddle, Bike & Run Race

It is no secret that the businesses in the Village of Saxapahaw are working hard to create a living environment that is both healthy and fun.  In keeping with this idea, a triathlon is being planned for the first Sunday in November.  Named SaxOnTheHaw, the three legs of the race are a 3 mile paddle, a 7 mile bike ride and a 3.3 mile run.  There will be more about the race in future editions of “The Haw River Paddler”.

 

Bike Rentals in Saxapahaw

It is true.  Beginning in June, The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. will be offering bike rentals in Saxapahaw.  A brain child of Tati Brezina (mentioned earlier in this newsletter), this new aspect of our business is in keeping with our desire to get folks out into Nature and having fun.  Like SaxOnTheHaw, there will be more about our bike rental program in future editions of “The Haw River Paddler”.  For now, just give the office a call if you want to rent a bike and we will make it happen.

“Still I yearned for silence so complete it would swallow me up like a slow snowstorm, blinding me with its brilliance of non-sound.”

 Louise Freeman

Table of Contents

 * River Tales – Haw River Trail Partnership

* YEE HAW! River Paddle, Saxapahaw Lake Family Paddle, Eastbound & Downriver Race and Haw River Festival

* Our New Website is Alive & Well Plus We Now Accept Plastic

* Schedule of Courses & Trips – May & June 2012

* Paddling and Adventure Camps This Summer

River Tales – Haw River Trail Partnership

Brian Baker, Upper Haw River Trail Coordinator, is the next presenter in the River Tales Lecture Series offered in partnership by The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. and Cup 22.  Brian’s lecture will include a history of the Haw River Trail and a glimpse into its future.  His presentation will be in the Haw River Ballroom starting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2012.  Part of the University of Saxapahaw (U of S), River Tales is a free lecture series.

YEE HAW! River Paddle, Saxapahaw Lake Family Paddle, Eastbound & Downriver Race and Haw River Festival

The Fifth Annual YEE HAW! River Paddle is scheduled this year for May 5, 2012.  It will again be held in conjunction with the Haw River Assembly and the Village of Saxapahaw for a day-long river celebration of fun, friendship, food and music.  Like last year, the Eastbound and Down River Race will take place, and the Family Paddle will be brought back from past years.

Full event details and registration is available at  www.thehaw.org/yeehaw.

Our New Website is Alive & Well Plus We Now Accept Plastic

Please take a look at our new website (www.hawrivercanoe.com).  It is now live, and we hope, more attractive and easier to use.  We would love your feedback, so don’t hesitate to either call or write (admin@hawrivercanoe.com) and let us know what you think.

In addition to the new website, we are using a PayPal feature that allows us to invoice you and for you to pay online for a course, guided trip, boat rental, summer camp or platform rental.

Schedule of Courses & Trips – May & June 2012

If you are interested in a paddle course, a guided trip or a summer camp, you can find a schedule of activities on our paddle calendar.  A brief listing of activities for May & June 2012 follows:

 

May

3                                  Saxapahaw Lake – The Raleigh School

4                                  Full Moon Paddle

5                                  YEE HAW! River Paddle & Race

Eastbound & Downriver Race

Haw River Festival

6                                 Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

6                                  Wedding Paddle & Lunch

12                                Photography Paddle – Chatham Conservation Partnership

12                                Family Paddle – Carrboro Recreation & Parks

13                                Paddle Dinner – Grove Vineyards & Winery

13                                Sunrise Paddle

19                                Canoe & Kayak Classes

Quick Start for Kayak (3 hours)

Introduction to River Kayaking (8 hours)

Quick Start for Canoe (3 hours)

Introduction to River Canoeing (8 hours)

20                                Stargazing Float

26                                Sunset Paddle

27                                Picnic & Paddle

 

June

2                                  Paddle Buffet – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery

3                                  Full Moon Paddle

9                                  River Clean Up

10                                Paddle Dinner – Grove Vineyards & Winery

11                                Paddling/Adventure Camp ½-day Hybrid – Graham Recreation & Parks

15                               Saxapahaw Lake – IPAS Teambuilding

16                                Canoe & Kayak Classes

Quick Start for Kayak (3 hours)

Introduction to River Kayaking (8 hours)

Quick Start for Canoe (3 hours)

Introduction to River Canoeing (8 hours)

17                                Sunrise Paddle

18-22                           Paddle Camp – Haw River Assembly

18,19,21,25&26          Paddle Camp Hybrid – Elon Academy

23                                Canoe & Kayak Classes

Quick Start for Canoe/Carrboro Recreation & Parks

23                                Sunset Paddle – Haw River Assembly

24                                Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

25-29                          Kayak Paddle Camp – Burlington Recreation & Parks

30                                Pedal & Paddle

Paddling and Adventure Camps This Summer

Beginning the week of June 11, 2012, we are offering eight weeks of week-long, half-day Paddling Camps and week-long, full-day Adventures Camps aimed at kids 8-11 and kids 12-15.  Paddling Camps will emphasize basic paddling skills and include a variety of fun, on-water games.

Adventure Camps include the morning Paddling Camps and afternoon teambuilding, hiking and outdoor skills activities.  For more information or to register for a Camp, contact us at 336/260-6465 or info@hawrivercanoe.com.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 

Albert Einstein

Table of Contents: 

• River Tales – A Lecture Series Partnership

• Paddling and Adventure Camps This Summer

• Check-out Our New Website in April

• Schedule of Courses & Trips – April & May 2012

• Brevard College’s Voice of the Rivers 2012

• YEE HAW! River Paddle and Eastbound & Downriver Race

River Tales – A Lecture Series Partnership 

We are very excited by the fact that Anne Cassebaum, author of “Down Along the Haw: The History of a North Carolina River, is our first presenter in the River Tales Lecture Series offered in partnership by The Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. and Cup 22. Anne’s lecture, entitled “Haw River Revival: A River in Recovery”, will be presented in the Haw River Ballroom starting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. We will have copies of Anne’s book available for purchase. The lecture is free to the public.

Paddling and Adventure Camps This Summer 

Beginning the week of June 11, 2012, we are offering eight weeks of week-long, half-day Paddling Camps and week-long, full-day Adventures Camps aimed at kids 8-11 and kids 12-15. Paddling Camps will emphasize basic paddling skills and include a variety of fun, on-water games.

Adventure Camps include the morning Paddling Camps and afternoon teambuilding, hiking and outdoor skills activities. For more information or to register for a Camp, contact us at 336/260-6465 or send us an e-mail message to info@ hawrivercanoe.com.

Check-out Our New Website in April 

Right now, when you find us at www.hawrivercanoe.com, you are looking at our 2011 site with an updated 2012 calendar. By April 1, our new site will be up and running and will look very different. We hope you like it.

We believe the new website will be more attractive and easier to use. It will contain basically the same information as the 2011 site with the addition of information about our summer camps. For us, the main difference between the two website is that with the new site we will be able to keep it up-to-date in-house.

Schedule of Courses & Trips – April & May 2012 

The 2012 Schedule of all our guided paddle trips and paddling courses can be found under both the Instruction and Guided Trips headings on our website. You can always contact us to rent a canoe or kayak and do a self-guided trip. 

We will update the HRCK schedule with Rental Trips as they are reguested.

March 

31 Women’s Evening Paddle – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery

April 

1 Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

6 Full Moon Paddle

8 Sunset Paddle

14 Canoe & Kayak Classes

Quick Start for Kayak (3 hrs.)

Introduction to River Kayaking (8 hrs.)

Quick Start for Canoe (3 hrs.)

Introduction to River Canoeing (8 hrs.)

15 Sunrise Paddle

21 Canoe & Kayak Classes

Quick Start for Canoe/Carrboro Recreation & Parks

21 Stargazing Paddle

22 Owl Prowl

28 Paddle Dinner – Benjamin Vineyards & Winery

29 Photography Paddle

May 

4 Full Moon Paddle

5 YEE HAW! River Paddle & Race

Haw River Festival

6 Paddle Brunch – Saxapahaw General Store

12 Photography Paddle – Chatham Conservation Partnership

12 Family Paddle – Carrboro Recreation & Parks

13 Sunrise Paddle

13 Paddle Dinner – Grove Vineyards & Winery

19 Canoe & Kayak Classes

Quick Start for Kayak (3 hrs.)

Introduction to River Kayaking (8 hrs.)

Quick Start for Canoe (3 hrs.)

Introduction to River Canoeing (8 hrs.)

19 Stargazing Paddle

26 Sunset Paddle

27 Picnic & Paddle

Brevard College’s Voice of the Rivers 2012 

Beginning in April, students from Brevard College will float the Haw River down to its junction with the Deep River, and from there, on down the Cape Fear River to Wilmington. The students will be led by Professor Clyde Carter who has led previous classes down the French Broad River to New Orleans via the Mississippi River.

Clyde came to Saxapahaw in March to meet us and learn more about the logistics involved in their upcoming four-week adventure. His class will stop in Saxapahaw for a discussion of what the river has meant to the Village in the past and how it relates to the Village today.

YEE HAW! River Paddle and Eastbound & Downriver Race 

The Fifth Annual YEE HAW! River Paddle is scheduled this year for May 5, 2012. It will again be held in conjunction with the Haw River Assembly and the Village of Saxapahaw for a day-long river celebration of fun, friendship, food and music. Like last year, the Eastbound and Down River Race will take place, and the family paddle will be brought back from past years.

Full event details and registration will be available April 1st on www.thehaw. org/yeehaw.