2006-08-29, Rhodes Point to MCAS on the New River
This is a paddle trip to pick up trash and have fun doing it.
We met at the Food Lion parking lot across from the Marine Core Air
Station main gate on Rte 17 south of Jacksonville. We headed south on 17
to the northern entrance of Verona Loop Road. This took us to Rhodes
Point Road at the apex of the loop. We turned left here on Rhodes Point
Road which took us to Rhodes Point and our put-in.
We unloaded our boats here and Jim Morris stayed with our boats while we
returned to the air base to leave our cars at the marina on the base
which is our take-out. We obtained a temporary pass for Cal Hansen’s car
at the Game Warden’s office by the gate.
We all drove back to Rhodes Point with Brian Wheat where he dropped us
off. Brian went back to Verona Loop Road and down Old Town Point Road.
This was necessary as POV (privately owned vehicles) could not be left
on Rhodes Point Road according to a sign a long way from the water.
Brian put-in at Town Point where vehicles can be left and paddled down
to meet us stopping to catch shrimp with a throw net along the way. (He
got enough shrimp for him and his cat!)
If you are going to paddle this area we suggest you use Town Point as
your access rather than Rhodes Point.
This is a rusted out bomb on the beach. Nevertheless we left it
alone. There were remains of several others here too.
This is an historic monument which is self explanatory.
Here is our lunch stop at Town Point. That is Cal Hansen of New
Bern on the left, then Dale Weston of Jacksonville, and Jim Morris of
Morehead City and Brian Wheat of Jacksonville on the right. The whole
river along all of this trip is lined with beautiful sandy beaches like
this with high ground behind them.
This is Brian’s pickup loaded with the trash and litter we had
picked up to this point. We had to leave the bombs, two or three crab
pots and two or three tires.
After we rounded Spring Point we heard a very loud explosion on shore.
Later we saw a bright flash followed immediately by a loud bang. This is
when we stopped going along the shore and stayed way out in the river
and headed straight for Town Point.
After lunch at Town Point we realized time had run out on us and we
stopped picking up trash and headed for the marina. Four boats of the
Riverines went by us and headed up Northeast Creek. As we paddled along
they came out of Northeast Creek and headed back down the New River.
Later as we approached the marina they came up Southwest Creek and
before we left they were again heading back to the New River.
All this added to a most enjoyable paddle day on the New River. We had
excellent weather and the wind at our back except for the short trip to
the marina up Southwest Creek.
Coming in September and October are Big Sweep, International Coastal
Cleanup and Governor Easley’s proclamation for Sept 16 -30 as Litter
Sweep time in North Carolina. Please participate in these events in
your area. Let’s stop this TRASHING OF AMERICA!
Elmer, The White Oak River Trashman
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin
101 River Reach Drive West,
Swansboro, NC. 28584
Please visit our website: www.whiteoakstewards.org
