1:42 total paddling time, 1.8 avg speed, 3.8 max speed, 90 degrees
We left out of Fort Fisher and returned here. The boating ramp/area is very nice and obviously well used. We saw several other kayakers, fishermen and an educational class filled with lots of kids. They were learning to paddle SUPs and how to fish with a net. As I walked our boats out into the water, I was quite surprised to find that my one foot quickly, and I mean quickly sank down into the sand or muck! I was afraid that I was going to lose my shoe - it was that hard to pull it out. Another boater nearby top u to walk out a little more to the right. Apparently he had just done the same thing and was I merged up to his thigh. The black muck on the bottom was relentless. If we put our paddle down into it, they came up coated with the stuff. It wasn't asphalt splashed off, rather we had to wipe I off with our hands.
We battled the wind and paddled out to the island directly in front of the ramp, staying parallel to the wall separating the estuary from the river. The water got shallow in many places which didn't make the paddling any easier. As we neared the island, the water got even more shallow so we paddled close to the wall. Here was a windbreak and it was.calmer paddling. Along the way, we passed Pelicans standing on the surrounding sandbars. The island is an area with dense mars grass providing many hidden nests for the shore birds. We paddled in front of the island and could see some lighthouse out further. We turned back passing even more sandbars and had to get out and walk our boats. Scotty went betwee two grassy islands. I headed towards ft fisher, feeling frustrated with th slow going. As we headed back in, it looked as if it may be low field. We could see an expanse of sand between us and the dock. We maneuvered our boats to paddle through some of the deeper water- maybe 1 foot. We arrived back at the ramp after a good arm workout from battling the wind.
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