Here we are at the Rte 172 high rise bridge over the New River, in Camp Lejeune. Al Morris is already in the water with his kayak and his home made paddle of western red cedar. It is beautiful and light and very efficient. It seems like he glides forever with one paddle stroke. Jim Neidermeyer is waiting for me to come back from parking my truck. He is holding my dry bag for my keys and wallet and is read to go.

The view is down stream toward the New River Inlet. That is Sneads Ferry on the right and Jarretts Point on the left.

In spite of the dire weather predictions, which apparently scared other paddlers away, we had excellent paddling conditions weather wise. As there were only three of us and we all were in one vehicle we had no shuttle vehicle and so put-in here and took out here.

The trash was heavy along the shore of Ellis Cove. So much so that we were loaded before we got to the point where Ellis Creek begins. The tide was low and all the trash grounded us in the shallow water. We had to unload our canoe right there, two small points before Ellis Creek.

We then paddled out into deeper water and entered Ellis Creek. We saw two osprey nests occupied and some great blue herons and several little green herons. It was a beautiful creek with several smaller creeks along the way. It was a wilderness like setting.

We came upon a sign stating Polluted Waters. We could not believe this. When we got closer and read the smaller letters. It said it was a growing area for shell fish

harvested from polluted waters and placed in these waters to grow and become edible for human consumption.

This is Elmer Eddy of Swansboro getting ready to depart from our lunch spot. That is Jarretts Point in the distance across Ellis Cove.

Here we are back to where we unloaded our trash as we were grounded. As you can see the tide has come in and we loaded up and we were off. Necessity is the Mother of Invention! Who says kayaks cannot carry trash? Al Morris tied three bags on and transported them back to our take out at the bridge.

Our Old Towne 17 feet 4 inches was loaded. The s/w wind had come up just as we were headed home. We had to paddle against it but made it ok. We past two commercial clam diggers who we harvesting clams with their feet and hands. They were dropping them regularly into their floating container.

This is your proof that kayakers can carry trash!

We had a great day. We do wish we had more of you with us. We will pick a good paddling day next week and plan a trip as the wind directs.

Please join us if you can. The more the merrier!

Camp Lejeune had removed one pile of trash we left up on the paved road last week. They missed the other larger load we left down the dirt road to the right which goes under the bridge. There are now 21 bags of trash here with about a dozen crushed, abandoned crab pots and other miscellaneous large items. We are asking them to get this too.

Please everybody, stop littering and discarding your trash over board. All this would be unnecessary and our waters would be clear and clean all the time!

Elmer Eddy
Elmer, The White Oak River Trashman
Stewards of The White Oak River Basin
101 River Reach Drive West,
Swansboro, NC. 28584
910-389-4588 e-mail: elmer@whiteoakstewards.org
Please visit our website: http://www.whiteoakstewards.org/
“If no one litters, there will be no litter!”