On Wednesday, May 8, I loaded up my kayak with camping gear and launched from Scott’s boat launch by the Stella Bridge to paddle up the White Oak to Hunters Creek and up Hunters Creek to a tributary that flows out of the beaver pond between two sections of the Weetock trail. I camped about 10 feet from the actual trail. I have camped there before since it is probably my favorite, kayak-accessible campsite (it’s not an official campsite) in that part of the Croatan National Forest.
I spent a lot of time kayaking before paddling to the beaver dam. By the time I arrived at my campsite, it was getting dark and the weather was threatening. I put up my rain fly first so I could spread my gear out, make something to eat, and take my time setting up my Haven hammock.
Fred hiked in from the culvert to hang out. By the time he parked at the culvert, the weather was looking like it could turn violent at any time, but he hiked in, anyway. I guess he enjoys the adventure as much as I do. He hung around and drank coffee while the thunderstorm passed. We didn’t have any chairs, so we were both lying on the ground, watching the lightning and the fireflies.
Fred left around 22:00 and I was tucked in shortly after that. I didn’t sleep as soundly as I usually do, because I was thinking about the fact that I had made my dinner under the same rain fly where I had hung my hammock. I didn’t have much choice because of the rain, but it’s generally advisable to keep the food away from where you’re going to sleep. If that wasn’t bad enough, everything I brought, including the empty food wrappers and such were all right there with me … practically right under me.
As it turned out, the night was uneventful. It rained for a while, but no hail or bad lightning, or even any really heavy rain or strong wind. It’s a pretty protected area, so the wind probably wouldn’t be bad in there, but I would still be able to hear it in the trees, and I did not.
I woke up at the crack of dawn, relieved myself and promptly crawled back into my hammock to listen to the birds sing, while avoiding mosquitoes, and soon I had nodded off. I didn’t actually make coffee until around 09:00. I guess I’m just a slacker. I arrived back to the boat launch just before noon. I got a lot of exercise and I really enjoyed the trip. It’s a shame I had to leave.
