New to River Kayaking.

Hey, I've never been river kayaking before, and am interested in checking it out this spring. I've been ocean kayaking and thought it was fun. I'm curious as to what a good time to go would be. Perhaps in terms of how many days past a rainfall. I'm really not even sure if that even matters. I guess, if nothing else, some links to websites with tips and suggestions. Most sites that I have found have just offered help in buying kayaks. I'd be renting one. Also, I'd be going down a rather small and easy river, I think. If that's of any important. If anyone can suggest good rivers in the Virginia/North Carolina area, that would be cool too. Thanks for any help.

A great place to start is in a pool. A heated one. Learn how to roll and accustom yourself to the change in boats. They really aren't alike. Its like comparing a sports car to a sports bike.

I thought it would be similar having done a lot of whitewater canoeing and sea kayaking. I was wrong. I got out and learned to roll over in a pool before I got myself hurt.

Just my 2 cents

Drew

Since you mention Virgina and North Carolina, it is worth checking out the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Weisner, NC, west of Ashville, out near Cherokee. They have beginner white water seminars ranging from a week-end to a week in length, include rental boats in the program, teach the roll in heated pools and are an employee owned business with some of the best instructors in N.Am.

Tommy T.

For your area, must check out www.boatertalk.com. I started last year, took a weekend beginners class on the River (North Fork American and Northern CA.). Have fun.

As other posters have said take some training. Get comfortable with performing self and assisted rescues. Always try to paddle with at least one other paddler.

Depending on where you live, there are several rivers along the NC/VA border. A few of them are the: Dan River; Roanoke River; Meherrin River; Blackwater River; Nottoway River; John Kerr Lake; Cashie River; Tar River; Fishing Creek and etc..

Naturally you would want to avoid any river while it is in a flood stage. This website http://www.srh.noaa.gov/alr/ahps/ahps_RVFNC.shtml gives you some indication of what is considered flood stage for the above rivers.
You would have to take a closer look at each of the rivers to find water conditions to your liking.

Don’t forget the Inter Coastal Waterway, Dismal Swamp, local bays and estuaries. There can be a lot of nice paddling in these.

Some time ago I did some boating in, and around, Albemarle Sound and its rivers. It can be very interesting place to paddle. This web site lists some Carolina Water Trails. http://www.watertrailslocator.com/ north_carolina_water_trails.htm

A couple of books that might be of use. I’ve not read the first two myself. I’ve read one of Ed’s other books on paddling Maryland. The book was a bit old. The waterway had changed from when he had paddled the waterway. His general descriptions of the water and directions for put ins and take outs were still relevant.

The Wild River Guide to Dismal Swamp Water Trails is a journey to the wilderness heart of over 20 historic waterways in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

Wild River Guide to the North Landing River and its tributaries is the guidebook for the southern Virginia Beach and Chesapeake waterways connected to the North Landing River, a state scenic river for Virginia.

Exploring Flatwater: Northeastern North Carolina, The Outer Banks, and Eastern Virginia by Ed White

Daniel