Paddling Events ESVA Nov-Dec 2010

We're finishing up the season with some cool (or shall we say 'warm'?) events at our shop at Onancock Wharf, on the beautiful Eastern Shore of Virginia.

During this week's Second Friday Art Stroll, 5-8 p.m., we’ll have a Tropical Paddling Party with a slide-show and book-signing about our Florida Keys kayak expeditions this winter. Free Margaritas and tropical food! Book a trip that night and get 10% off. details: www.BurnhamGuides.com

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m., we’re having a free Cold Weather Paddling Clinic, safety issues, what to wear, and cool gear to extend your paddling season safely. Special discounts on cold weather gear. This session will help you get ready for Noel Night (see below)!

Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-5 p.m . Soup on Sunday Club Paddle. Bring your boat to launch on Onancock Creek for this afternoon version of our Summer Sunset paddles (rentals available). Whether you choose to paddle or not, we’ll have hot soup and coffee in the shop from 4-5 p.m.!

Second Friday Noel Night, De c. 10, 4-8 p.m. This is a brand new holiday event featuring Santa Claus arriving at Onancock Wharf by lighted boat parade and a KAYAK FLOTILLA, followed by tree-lighting and Christmas caroling in Town Square. We need paddlers! Come into the shop for the pre-party to warm up before launching. We’ll be open afterwards as well with hot refreshments.

Saturday, Dec. 11, Onancock Christmas Homes Tour. Come visit our historic Steamboat Ticket Office decorated for the holidays. We’re offering free Kayak Ferry Service for those hardy folks who want to visit Cokesbury House without driving out of town! Tour tickets for sale at the shop ($5 discount if purchased before Thanksgiving). This year’s tour benefits the Literacy Council of the ES

We’ll be open Friday-Sunday until Christmas for your holiday shopping. Give an Eastern Shore gift bag full of local products like Chatham wine with the SouthEast kayak label, ES Coastal Roasting Coffee in red & green bags, Blue Crab Bay snacks, and our hiking and paddling books. Perfect for hostess gifts. We’ll wrap them for you!

SouthEast Expeditions at the Wharf, 2 King St., Onancock, VA 757-354-4FUN

Visit onancock.org for visitor info

Fall Paddling on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Click to view a slide show of recent kayak trips on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

We're seeing more waterfowl migrating through- ducks, geese, hawks- that we don't see in the heat of summer. Saw two bald eagles perched in some tall trees on Onancock Creek yesterday (perhaps they're scoping out a nesting site!). One swooped down and plucked a fish out of the water with his talons.

Eastern Shore Kayaking

This past weekend we had all kinds and ages of paddlers on SouthEast Expedition tours. On Friday I took a group of Delaware teachers with a day off from teaching summer school on the kayak winery tour. They were delightful!

Then Saturday morning Bill and I may have had SouthEast's most senior customers ever on the Onancock Creek Tour! Connie & Bud Bernton (shown above), ages 82 & 83, came down from Bethesda, MD to celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary in Onancock. They'd never been kayaking before, and they loved it!

On the same tour we had a young family, the youngest 9-year-old Rebecca. The Pullens had come over in their powerboat from the “Western Shore” (what we call the Northern Neck), across the Chesapeake Bay, to stay the night in Onancock.

That afternoon Bill took a Bachelorette party of six on the Chatham Winery Tour. “How did it go?” I asked. “They wore bikinis,” he answered. Tough job, Bill!

That night Chatham was having it’s annual Bluegrass Concert and Low Country Boil on the lawn. There we ran into Connie & Bud, my parents, and other paddling friends for an absolutely splendid Eastern Shore evening.

Sunday we had no paying tours, so Bill & I treated ourselves to a paddle out to one of the barrier islands, from Gargatha Creek to Metompkin Island.

More on that in the next post!

Kayaking Tangier Island, Virginia

(click on the image to see my video!)

Last week, I took the ferry from my town of Onancock on the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Tangier Island, 12 miles out in the Chesapeake Bay. As a kayaker, my goal was to check out the paddling options. I borrowed a boat, life jacket and paddle, which are available free to visitors from the dock of the Tangier History Museum.

Turning right, I quickly left behind the small town and the sounds of the crab sheds and boats of Tangier’s main industry. A family of Canada geese walked along the shore. Osprey nested on a platform and great blue heron waded and fished in the shallows.

I soon entered a marsh creek where I could hear Virginia rails “clapping” in the grass. Occasionally one would flush and fly across my bow, colorful if somewhat awkward in flight. I was completely alone except for the birds.

Within 15 minutes a sparkling white sand beach came into view, a perfect spot for a picnic.

There was far more to explore than I had time for. I’d love to see this become a paddling destination. You could start in Onancock with a two-hour historic creek tour, stay the night in a B&B, take the ferry to Tangier in the morning, take a self-guided trip, then stay at one of their B&Bs.

Here’s a link to the Tangier Water Trails.

Learn more in my article on the "A day in the life" of the watermen who live here.

Tangier Island Ferry Resumes from Onancock, VA

After a year's absence, ferry service from Onancock, VA to Tangier Island has resumed. Tangierman Mark Crockett has outfitted the Joyce Marie to take passengers to and from the tiny watermen's community 12 miles out in the Chesapeake Bay.

Read our article about a truly authentic adventure, the Tangier Watermen's Tour. On this unique trip visitor get to ride along with crews pulling crab pots, visit a crab shanty where they 'bust' into softshells, then head to a local restaurant to dine on the delicacy the island is famous for.

Consider a trip to this authentic island this summer. It really is like stepping back in time. Board in Onancock, a 1680 Colonial port on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Watch a video on kayaking around Tangier Island.

Kayak season begins on the Eastern Shore of Virginia!

In addition to being travel writers, the other hat we wear is that of kayak guides!

This will be our third season leading trips for SouthEast Expeditions from our home base of Onancock on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and we're looking forward to the best year ever.

Our trips are customized, personal, and 'on demand.' But tomorrow we're adding something new: a set 10 am tour of Historic Onancock Creek every Saturday through the end of summer. This way guests and visitors will always know when they can get a two-hour introduction to our quaint Colonial port by water-- clearly we think it's the best way to see it!

But our lovely creek is but one option on our growing itinerary of cool paddling places close by. We also do:
-a Kayak Winery Tour, includes a tour & tasting at an award-winning winery
-Saxis with a visit to a soft-shell crabbing shed
-the Great Machipongo River out of Quinby
-the marshes of Schooner Bay
-beach-combing and picnicing on a barrier island

Cost is $45 per person for 2-hour tours, $85 for half day, and $125 for full day. The boat, all gear, and instruction are included. Rentals are also available and we deliver!

To book your next adventure, you can call us direct at 757-787-2933 (home); 305-240-3298 (cell), or SouthEast's main number at 757-331-2680. Go to www.sekayak.com for more trips and details.

See you on the water!
Mary & Bill

Virginia oysters and muskrat

This weekend we partook of a true Virginia delicacy: oysters on the half shell. We like them raw with cocktail sauce. House of Deals is our unique hardware store in Onancock, where Miss Rosalie has them 50 for $13. They're from the 'seaside,' rather than the Chesapeake Bay, which means they're nice and salty.

I'm not as big a fan, but the muskrat is also in (2 for $7). Have you ever seen a place where you can get wallpaper, nails and fresh local eggs? House of Deals has it all!

Read more about our unique waterfront town, and if you think we're worthy, vote for us at Budget Travel Magazine's coolest small town contest.

First Eastern Shore paddle of the season!

Along with the first tree buds and the return of osprey to the Chesapeake Bay, a day spent paddling is one of the first signs of spring. It got into the 60s yesterday on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, so we tossed our kayaks on the car and headed to the wharf. Our friend Jim was there waiting and together we paddled out Onancock Creek for a beautiful afternoon.

The water was smooth as glass and we were the only boaters out there. All was quiet, save for all the birds! You see so many more in winter than summer: geese, mallards, great blue heron, mergansers, and a very surprised loon that popped up next to Jim's boat!

Canada Geese on Onancock Creek, VA

Later, we warmed up around a fire in the backyard. Good times. Go to www.BurnhamVirginia.com to read more about paddling in Virginia.

Watch a video on paddling Tangier Island.

BurnhamVirginia.com is launched!

BurnhamVirginia.com is a new destination site on outdoor adventures throughout the Old Dominion. We've literally written the book--or rather books--on the subject and we're sharing it here in words and photos.

Please post your impressions, and suggest trips you think others would enjoy: hiking, biking, paddling, wineries and great Virginia towns.

It's 55 degrees right now on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, supposed to get up to 63. We're goin' paddling on Onancock Creek! Will post when we get back.

Mary & Bill