This trip is still in the planning stages, and as such, the details can still change. One of the locations being considered is a run along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and barrier islands of Brunswick County, NC. We could paddle from the SC line up to the first "point" on NC's coastline, or even a lttle further beyond. This would be about 40-50 miles of paddling, and would take at least 4 days. All of the easy access points along the way mean that some of the group could easily shorten the trip if they wanted to take out early. There are always options.

One possible starting point includes the waterfront in Calabash, NC, world-famous as the namesake of the "Calabash" style of seafood cooking. With our fondness for good eating, this would be most appropriate. From here, it's a short mile or so paddle out along the Calabash River to the ICW and Bird Island.

A more direct start could be made from a boat ramp on the ICW directly behind the west end of Sunset Beach island. From here, a half mile paddle would bring us to the back side of Bird Island. The state line between North and South Carolina runs across the west end of Bird Island. If we're going to start a long paddle, might as well start here. Perhaps one day we'll paddle north into Virginia and be able to say we paddled the entire coast of NC!

Bird Island is unique because it is no longer an island. At one time it was, and still remains undeveloped today. It is famous, at least locally, for a mailbox that someone erected there years ago. The name "Kindred Spirit" is on the box. Someone stocks the box with journal notebooks in which visitors can leave a message. It's similar to the way mountaineers sign logbooks left on the summits of high peaks.

Perhaps a more interesting bit of Bird Island's history is that many people used to wade across shallow Mad Inlet from Sunset Beach, before it filled in with sand, and would sunbathe au naturale on the undeveloped beaches and dunes. Easier access for tourist families and police patrols now has curbed this practice somewhat.

From Bird Island, we can work our way eastward along the ICW towards Ocean Isle Beach. I just happen to know a few people who own condo's on the west end of OIB ;) which could make for a great layover spot, especially if we started with an early lunch in Calabash. It would only be about 5-7 miles to get from Calabash to OIB, which would be a decent afternoon's paddle.

Looking west to east over OIB.

From OIB, we would continue along the ICW toward Holden Beach. On aerial photo's, there appear to be several spoil islands at the west end of HB, where the Shallotte River comes out. About 6-7 miles from west OIB, this might be a good lunch/snack spot.

This inlet, where the Lockwood's Folly River comes out, is supposed to hold the wreckage of the "Iron Age", a civil war iron-clad ship. It is visible at low tide, which might make for an interesting sighting, if our timing is right.

from Jim Crownover's site

Following the ICW along the back side of HB would be a relatively long, straightforward paddle of 7-8 miles. At the end of this island is an inlet separating it from Oak Island. There appear to be a number of small spoil islands in that area that might pass for dry ground overnight, if we chose to attempt wilderness camping.

Another 8-10 miles of paddling along the ICW would bring us to the Southport area. Form here we would have access to the Southport waterfront with restaurants, etc.

We would also have a good view of the Oak Island lighthouse, and could paddle over to it if we chose to. It's located on the east end of Oak Island.

Heading due east from the Southport waterfront, we could island hop across the mouth of the Cape Fear River to Smith Island, home of a second lighthouse - Bald Head lighthouse. A short detour southward would let us visit the lighthouse itself.

Smith Island forms the first point of land jutting out from the NC coastline. So far on this trip, the coastline has been running east-west. But from this point, it changes to more of a SSW-NNE alignment.

Also in the area is the tiny little Price's Creek lighthouse, which could also be visited.

Heading up the coast, we would pass by Fort Fisher, a civil war fort, on our way along the back side of Kure and Carolina Beaches.

After passing through Snow's Cut, we would probably head for a small (read 40'wide) beach nestled on the back side of Carolina Beach. Another friend's condo is about 2 blocks from here - perfect!

Launching out from this little beach, we could be at the southern end of undeveloped Masonboro Island in about 20 minutes, but we might best leave that stretch of shore for another adventure ...

(posted 2/21/05)