Friday, August 26, 2011

Boaters Guide to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

A new free resource entitled A Boater’s Guide to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail introduces kyakers and other boaters to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers.

Explorers can learn the location of trailheads (including GPS coordinates), see suggested trip itineraries, and compare on-the-water experiences for paddle-craft, skiffs and runabouts, and cruising powerboats and sailboats.

The guide’s interactive features include links to additional maps, NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System, navigation charts, and information on facilities and points of interest.

The guide is a joint project of the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office, the Chesapeake Conservancy, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

A Boater’s Guide to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is available
for free download from the trail’s website, http://www.smithtrail.net/

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

2011 Potomac River Ramble

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin invites the public to attend 2011 Potomac River Ramble on Sunday, September 11, 2011.

Attendees will enjoy paddling between the shores of Maryland and West Virginia. Along the way, paddlers will stop for an out-of-boat brunch and a couple of educational programs focusing on watershed issues.

The Potomac River Ramble is a canoeing and kayaking event that features environmental programming, restoration projects, festive meals, meetings with elected officials, and much more.

Experience with boats is not necessary. Guides, food, and transportation will be provided. Attendees can enjoy Potomac River scenery, presentations, food, camaraderie, and paddling.

For information or to register for the event, visit the River Ramble page on the ICPRB website.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

2011 Lynnhaven River Western Branch Kayak Tour

Paddle into History with Lynnhaven River NOW and Wild River Outfitters on August 21, 2011 at 2:00 PM.

This special tour will showcase the waters of the ducking of Grace Sherwood, Virginia’s only convicted witch. This year marks the 305th anniversary of the famous witch trial. A historian will accompany the trip as will skilled kayak guides. Solo and tandem kayaks are furnished, but participants must be able to paddle.

This trip will depart from Crab Creek at 2pm. Along the way we will discuss the sites of the first church and courthouse, hear about the old riverside plantations, and visit the site of the famous ducking of Grace Sherwood, view the former ferry site for which Ferry Plantation House was named, and other points of historic interest. Kayaks will take out at Ferry Plantation House, 4136 Cheswick Lane.

Limited to 30 participants, advanced reservation is required. Cost is $50 per person, all paddling equipment provided. If you have your own boat, pfd & paddle, you can join us for a $25 fee for solo kayaks or $35 fee for tandem kayaks which will be donated back to Lynnhaven River NOW.

Participants should bring plenty of water for the trip. Snacks and drinks will be provided at the Ferry Plantation House at take out. After the paddling trip, paddlers will be welcomed to the historic Ferry Plantation House for a complementary guided tour with costumed docents. Rides back to the launch site will be provided.

Important things to know:

1:30 pm be at Crab Creek launch site near Lesner Bridge & Lynnhaven Boat Ramp

2:00 pm depart for paddling trip

5:30 pm take out at Ferry

Please bring your own water

Free tour of Ferry Plantation House after trip. Snacks and drinks provided at take out.

Registration cut-off is Thursday, August 18 at 5 pm

Contact Wild River Outfitters to register: 757-431-8566

For more information, contact Karen Forget with Lynnhaven River NOW @ 757-962-5398.

Virginia Hunting-Fishing Mobile App

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) is now offering a free Hunt Fish VA mobile application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The Hunt Fish VA app allows users to search for a wide variety of Virginia hunting and fishing related information on their smart phones. Having the new app will allow anglers and hunters to:

*get the latest news from DGIF

*look up hunting regulations, seasons, and bag limits while in the field

*view freshwater fishing regulations and state record fish

*identify the fish just caught

*get the sunrise and sunset times for their location

*record trophy harvests

*find nearby boat ramps, Wildlife Management Areas, and lakes

Kayak fishermen and other anglers can download the FREE DGIF Hunt Fish VA iPhone®; App on the Apple Store(SM) at HuntFishVA.com/app