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Years ago, before the internet, smart phones, and GPS, back when we were young and spontaneous, Mitch and I paddled from Chincoteague to Wachapreague, camping for two nights along the wild, lonely Virginia beaches with nothing except a million stars and a surprising number of sun-bleached Whelk shells to keep us company. Easy, relaxing vacations have a way of fading into a foggy-happy-memory corner of my mind. Whereas trips which require a level of discomfort remain fresh. On that trip, because I was too chicken to do a beach landing, we planned a lunch break at the first small inlet past Wallops Island. On the map, it looked to be about six miles from our starting point. We spotted our first gill net shortly after clearing Wallops Island. A gill net is a mesh made

We’re all hypocrites, aren’t we? The outdoor industry uses A LOT of plastics and synthetics for A LOT of its products. And plastics and synthetics require petroleum. In the entire spectrum of industries, I don’t know where ours stands as far as consumption. Kayaks are not one-time-use products. If cared for properly, the quality ones can last a lifetime. So maybe we’re on the lower end of the pile. Is that wishful thinking? But does the fact that we rely on petroleum mean that we should just remain quiet about the consequences of our addiction? Maybe everyone has to answer that question for herself/himself. However, it seems like for any addiction, the first step is to admit you’ve got a problem; then take a hard, honest look at its costs; and finally, work towards eliminating

Get Rid of Extra Stuff! It is so easy to accumulate stuff! Especially paddling gear. You love your single kayak so you decided to get a two-person for when the grandkids visit or when your spouse wants to go with you. But the grandkids grew up. Your spouse has his/her own hobbies. Or maybe you bought a surfing paddle board, but only use your flatwater board. Bad knees, moved further from the launch, sold the car with the rack - whatever the reason, you've got paddling/sailing equipment you never use. We'll help! Run a classified ad with us. We'll post it in our once monthly newsletter with nearly 10,000 subscribers. This isn't like running an ad in the newspaper where most readers aren't interested in paddling. Or on Craigslist or Marketplace (who knows who'll you'll

Welcome back, Daylight Savings Time! We have missed you! An extra hour after work to do something outside—it’s the best gift ever! Prep the garden. Clean up the yard. Take your dog for a nice, long walk. Go for a hike, a run, a bike ride. Walk on the beach. Watch the birds as they build nests and prepare for their coming brood. Plant a tree. You no longer have to wait for your next day off. Now you have time today!   I know, I know. This gift might not really be a true gift because it comes with a price. Losing an hour of sleep. It stinks. But maybe we can think of it as traveling to a different time zone. To a better time zone. And then staying in that time zone

After a treacherous, miserable, 66-day crossing, the Pilgrims reached Plymouth Rock at the beginning of winter 1620. Since they arrived so late, they remained on their ship, the Mayflower, until the weather improved. When, that spring, they finally set foot on solid land, they swore they’d never, ever get on a boat, of any type, for any reason, ever again. Soon after, they were greeted by friendly locals. These people, who’d lived in the Plymouth Rock area for thousands of years, graciously taught the Pilgrims how to survive. They showed them how to plant corn, how to extract sugar from Maple trees, how to identify poisonous plants, and they showed them how to fish from a kayak. “Oh no, no, no,” the Pilgrims said, shaking their heads. “We will fish from the banks. We are

When wanting to experience fall colors, the first eco-system you think of usually isn’t the salt marsh. However, it is home to one of the most spectacular autumnal transformations in our area. Salicornia, a small succulent herb, grows among the salt marsh grasses all summer long. The different greens of the marsh blend and you have to look closely to pick it out. But by mid-September, Salicornia decides it’s through being a wallflower. The hot pink starts at the tips of its tubular, fleshy leaves dabbed on, like little, dainty fingernails. The color deepens as it spreads through the plant—fuchsia, crimson, ruby. And before dropping off, the “leaf” becomes the color of a fruity merlot. This color display takes place in the fall, but it’s not necessarily because of the decrease in sunlight and cooler

For some, sailing may seem intimidating - how in the world do you maneuver a boat with only the wind? Or maybe you're used to a stinkpot (AKA a motorboat) and you're curious about sailing, but you can't imagine not having a key to turn. Maybe you like the idea of sailing - you've read books and watched Youtube videos - but the time never seems right to pursue it. With our four options for sailing, we've got something to satisfy every level of curiosity! Option 1: Sailing Nature Tours Our Sailing Nature Tours are great for those who like the idea of sailing, but don't really have time to learn. With our experienced skipper at the helm, you'll get all the benefits of sailing on a small boat - the feel of the hulls

Broken beer bottles, rusty mattress coils, knife-like shards of Quahog shells, fishing hooks, forks, spiny box fish skeletons, wafer-thin pieces of aluminum cans, barnacle-encrusted soda bottles, corroded spark plugs—we’ve found all of this and more in the shallow water of Little Assawoman Bay. Step on any of these with bare feet and there’ll be no more beach time or water activities for you for the rest of your vacation.  “But I don’t plan on getting off my paddle board,” you say. You can’t get from our beach to your board or kayak or sailboat without walking in the water. All of the aforementioned items were found within three feet of the shoreline.  And not all water entries are planned. Maybe your friend accidentally bumps you from behind, or a boat wake wobbles your board unexpectedly.

Here at the beach, you’re surrounded by water—the Atlantic on one side and the inland bays on the other. Of course you want to take advantage of it! But how do you decide between a guided kayak tour for your family versus having a kayak on your back deck to take out whenever you feel like it? The following are a few factors to consider that may help you decide: 1) How old are your kids? Grade school and middle school kids love our guided tours. They love to hold Horseshoe Crabs and turtles, learn about Osprey and Oyster Catchers, and see the marsh environment up close. But many teenagers appreciate the freedom of a rental, having their own space and their own time to do whatever it is teens do! 2) Nature Experience versus Water

Over 40 years ago, I learned to sail on a windsurfer—about as small as you can get in the realm of sailboats. Since then, I’ve sailed on nearly every size and style of sailboat up to a 52’ catamaran. Smaller boats are a lot more fun. And by far, they are the best option for learning to sail. Here’s why:   More Responsive: I took an American Sailing Association certification class taught on a 32’ Beneteau. Its unresponsiveness shocked me. On a Hobie, you immediately feel and see the effect of the wind—the boat heels, the sail fills or begins to flap, the sheet line becomes taught, even the rudder gives you feedback as to how the boat is sailing. On larger boats, the skipper frequently glances up. That’s because the only way they can