Great day trip for mountain bikers...
This report by The Charlotte Observer provides a great explanation of the new mountain biking trail  in Troutman just north of  Charlotte...

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/28/3694030/a-trail-in-iredell-like-no-other.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Wings Over Water Festival in Outer Banks Begins Nov. 6

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival explores the wild side of eastern North Carolina. The six-day event is set for Nov. 6-11, 2012 and has a wide array of program offerings.

There are programs designed for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, birders, paddlers, astronomers and photographers, both novice and skilled.

The region offers some of the country's best paddling for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. From tannin-fed cypress swamps to endless marsh mazes, it is possible to paddle the region for a lifetime yet still study charts at night, discovering unexplored areas.

Registration currently is open for an assortment of water trips escorted by leaders who are familiar with the various areas. Physical demands range from open water with wind exposure, to short distances with excellent wind protection.

Several different paddling trips are planned and include the Kitty Hawk Bay Sunset Kayak Tour that allows participants to enjoy a classic Carolina sunset over the bay while navigating through tall cord grass fields and listening for the mysterious sounds of the night marsh.

The Backcountry Expedition combines "off-road" four-wheel-drive eco-tour that explores 30 miles of beach while trained naturalists discuss the local ecology, history and shorelife. Participants will likely see some of the wild horses in the Spanish Mustang Reserve.

Alligator River Night Canoe Tour allows canoeists to explore the narrow, winding creek through the heart of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Explore the world of the American Alligator while paddling out from Buffalo City into Milltail Creek. Bring a flashlight!
This year's keynote dinner will be at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Catered by Kelly's Restaurant, the keynote address will be presented by author and photographer John Sill. The cost of the keynote dinner is $35 and registration is required. Dinner includes beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.

And the night before, eat a down-home-barbeque-style dinner at the new National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center and see what the facility has to offer

This festival is traditionally set during the shoulder season when rates are lower for accommodations, traffic is light and the weather is mild.

To learn more about the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival call 252-216-9464 or go to www.wingsoverwater.org.
Sponsored by the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, Outer Banks Sentinel, Carolina Bird Club and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Stand Up for Sidewalks, Bike Lanes and Bike Trails

Student Andrew Wright lost his life last month swerving to avoid a trash can on a sidewalk while riding his bike to Myers Park High Schoool. According to this report in the Charlotte Observer, Andrew was thrown into the street when he clipped the can, where he was hit by an oncoming tractor trailer truck.

Charlotte is clearly a progressive city, but has a long way to go in making its magnificant tree-lined streets safer for kids who want to make the healthy choice of walking or riding their bikes to school. I urge everyone to consider what happened to Andrew, survey the situation in their own neighborhood and find out whether and how $60 million in proposed sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements in the city's capital improvement plan might improve their life. Those projects were part of the $926 million capital improvement plan rejected by the City Council in their June 11 vote on the city's 2012-13 budget.

As someone who is struggling to keep up with his bills, I applaud the council for voting against an 8 percent increase in property taxes, but I would be disappointed to see the city abandon its plans for pedestrian or cycling safety and the $35 million Cross Charlotte Multi-Use Trail. (BTW for an informative and somewhat alarming review of our city's current economic situation, check out City Manager's May  PowerPoint presentation on the Capital Improvement Plan.)

Those who see the quality of life, health and recreational benefits of these pedestrian and cycling amenties might also want to weigh in with our Congressional delegation on the pending Transportation bill. The House and the Senate are now fighting over whether to continue federal funding of several programs that have converted abandoned raillines into beautiful bike trails and helped local communities such as ours install bike lanes and sidewalks to provide safer routes to school. This page at the the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership site allows you to customize a form letter in support of continued funding and send it to Reps. Myrick and Sens. Burr and Hagan.

While there are many differing opinions on the role of the federal government, it seems to me that if we are going to subsdize the automobile and oil industries, we might as well also subsdize more sustainable and healthier modes of transportation that will enhance our quality of life. Research conducted by The Trust for Public Land, which is working in Charlotte to protect sources of our drinking water, shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that investing in parks and other outdoor recreation infrastructure inevitably leads to higher property values for adjacent homes and businesses. Looking at these images of Little Sugar Creek Greenway on the  Center City 2020 blog, it's not wonder.

What a slacker I am!

The North Face announced that global endurance athlete Diane Van Deren completed the nearly 1000-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) in record time. Supported in part by specialty outdoor retailer Great Outdoor Provision Co., Van Deren traversed the entire state of North Carolina in 22 days, 5 hours, and 3 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 24 days, 3 hours and 50 minutes. (Read more....)

Bellyak Review in SGB Weekly

Check out my review of the  Bellyak in SGB Weekly.

Bellyak Spotted at U.S. National Whitewater Center

Could this man be surfing the next wave of whitewater paddle sports? We should find out in the coming year as Adam Masters takes his Bellyak to market. This is a shot of Adam surfing the first rapid at the Wilderness channel at the U.S. National Whitewater Center May 22. He brought about a half dozen prototypes of his Bellyak Play, a 7.5 foot lie-on-top, sit-on-top, kneel-on-top body board out to demo to USNWC guides. Along the way he took a host of recreational paddlers for a ride down the Class III M Wave. Adam has booked a booth at the gigantic Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show this August, where he will try to sign up paddle sports dealers nationwide. If he is successful, the Asheville area will have spawned yet another outdoor recreation company. The region is already home to Astral Buoyancy, Diamond Brand Outdoors, Eagle Nest Outfitters, Evolution Kayaks, Highgear and Nantahala Outdoor Center. Legacy Paddlesports will move its operations there from Greensboro this summer. While the region's national forests, mountains and wild rivers offer these companies ample proving grounds, the USNWC provides a fantastic site for companies to beta test paddlesport, climbing and other outdoor rec gear. Adam will be back at USNWC in June to test new prototypes, including early versions of Bellyak's Frequency river runner boat, which is designed to accommodate beefier paddlers. TIP:  If you are interested in checking out this new category of whitewater craft, contact  Bellyak at info@bellyak.com and ask them when they will be out at the center next. OBSERVATION: This is a great way to experience whitewater without having to learn an Eskimo role. I was able to take the Play through the M Wave without falling off on my first attempt. When I did fall off the boat, it was easy to get back on. If Bellyak can line up enough dealers, it could expand participation in whitewater sports and attract a lot more newbies to the USNWC.