Windsor, NC to Plymouth, NC via the Cashie (Kuh-SHY) and Roanoke Rivers.
This paddle is best suited for 14ft or larger touring kayaks, Rec Boats *may* be allowed with approval from the organizer in advance. All Camping is on Roanoke River Partner’s camping platforms. The Platforms are over-top of, and surrounded by, water. Participants must provide their own camping gear and food. All food, drinking water and camping supplies will need to be carried in your kayak. Although there are points of emergency egress from the river, there are no exits offering retail convenience items. Each Participant will pay $60 to cover camping platform fees, payable in cash at the launch.
Day 1, We will meet at the Windsor Public Boat ramp at 11am on September 25th. For a more educational experience, arrive early and visit the Roanoke Cashie River Center to learn more about the rivers you are about to paddle. (Opens at 10:00 am)
https://www.partnershipforthesounds.net/roanokecashierivercenter
Before we go, we’ll work out a shuttle to take cars to the take-out for those wanting their cars at the end of the route. We park at the Plymouth police station (there is no overnight parking at the take out), which is 1 mile from the take-out. I generally will lock my kayak wheels at the takeout before launching so they will be there when I get there, or you can leave your boat there, walk to your car and bring it back to load up. We will work all that out ahead of time.
Paddles wet at noon-30. Our route takes us downstream on the Cashie, although there is very little flow to the river. Less than a mile on our route we will go by the Cashie River Tree Houses, these are run by the town and available for vacation rentals. We continue on about 10 miles, paddling this beautiful black water river. There are three short oxbows along the way, which provide a nice skootch off the main river and adds a few extra paddle strokes if anyone wants to do that, it’s a good way for faster paddles to take up time while slower paddlers stay straight on the river and catch up. We camp at Lost Boat camping platform, a secluded, peaceful spot off the river. Once we set up camp, if anyone wants to and time allows, we may do a “Golden Hour” paddle at the old sand pit for a beautiful sunset.
Day 2 we’re back on the Cashie. 4 miles downstream we come to the historic San Souci Ferry. There is a boat ramp here where we can get off the water and walk around, you can talk with the Ferry Operator and sometimes…. SOMETIMES… depending on who is there, they will let you use the restroom. From there we continue on the Cashie with very limited human encroachment along the way. At about 9 miles we turn south down a finger of the river and camp for the night at Otter One Camping Platform. Total paddle miles for the day will be about 12.5.
Day 3 we double back along the creek to the main river, turning east to the Hwy 45 Bridge. Here we make a decision whether to head out to the sound, or cut south along the bridge, to the Roanoke River, that’s a group decision we can make depending on how people feel and the weather. The alternative route cuts about three miles off the trip and keeps us in protected waters. Either way this is one of the most beautiful parts of the trip. Once on the Roanoke River, we turn down Conaby Creek. We’ll camp at Royal Fern camping platform, this is bear country and bear precautions need to be taken (Bear Vault food containers, bear spray on hand, etc.) Total miles will be between 10 and 13.
(A quick note about the “Bear” caution… I’ve camped here before and have not seen any bears. The platform is over-top of and surrounded by water. No food, or food trash from earlier, should be on the camping area of the platform. It’s a nice long walk from the dock to the camping area, so we eat dinner down by the boats. Food and food waste will need to be kept in a bear safe. I’ll see if I can borrow a few or you can pick one up online or at REI. Bear safes are good for keeping raccoons out of food as well. Bear spray is good to have on hand as well, though not everyone needs one, but a few within the group is smart. Bears, much like me, don’t like humans. We’ll make a lot of “human” sounds to let them know we are there… get your camp songs and singing voices prepared.)
Day 4 takes us down Conaby Creek 7 miles to Plymouth. This route takes us from wide water into a narrow winding tree lined creek, ending at Bear Track Landing. There is a roller kayak dock. You can get out of your boat without even getting your feet wet! Total Miles for the day, 7.
Once all the boats are out of the water, we will hug, shake hands, laugh and swear we’ll never do THAT again!
If you left your car in Plymouth, we’ll work out car retrieval and boat loading.
NOTES:
Anyone sharing a tent may counts as 1 person, capacity is limited by tent space, So we could have more people than tents. Cell Service is limited, Voice calls usually got through, text and web surfing not so much. Payment will be at the put in, cash, this covers the cost of the camping platforms.