Solo trip on Blackwater Creek,  July 5,  2004

I paddled Blackwater Creek in Virginia Beach on Monday July 5th on what could easily have been the hottest day this year.  It was a very enjoyable paddle despite the oven like temperature.  I put in at the Blackwater Trading Post on Blackwater Road around 2:30 PM.  This little store/gas station/bait shop/boat ramp is about 1/4 of a mile South of the intersection of Pungo Ferry Road and Blackwater Road.  My plans were simply to paddle from the boat ramp,  under the bridge,  and head East to the mouth of the creek at the North Landing River approximately 2 miles or so distant.  I did that and a little more.  I'll explain further with the pictures.

After rounding the first bend I encountered three of the only six to eight homes bordering this waterway.  Interestingly enough there was a large bird's nest here.  You can see in the left side of the picture against the tree backdrop.  It is sitting on a large pole in the water and there were several birds in it and in the area.  Not being a bird identifier,  I couldn't tell you exactly what they were.  I will assume ospreys for now.

A much better shot of the bird's nest and the profile of one of the birds on the left side.  They were communicating with an odd noise that was not a bird whistle (not that I'd expect birds that look like this to whistle) and not a "cawwing" sound either.  It was closer to a clicking noise.  Every time I heard this noise on the trip out to the North Landing River,  I saw one of these birds nearby.

The creek widened out after passing the three houses along this Eastern (being East of Blackwater Road that is) branch of the creek.

On the way East I pretty much left the camera on deck and did not take any pictures.  The reason for that was the fact that the whole creek looked like this.  Huge stands of water rushes (again,  not sure of the plant but that sounds appropriate) lining the shores.  These were huge.  They towered over me in the 8 to 9 foot tall range.  It was very neat but not extremely interesting at first glance.  I did encounter the occasional tree as you see standing here on the right and just around the next bend.

I picked up the camera when I reached the North Landing River.   You know when you've hit the North Landing because it's big and you usually first see the channel markers before anything else.  This is looking Southeast and Munden Point Park is on the far shore about another mile or so down South.  There were a few boats but nothing too bad.

Looking North on the North Landing with the Pungo Ferry Road Bridge in the distance.  It is smack dab in the middle of the picture and hard to make out without a microscope.

Another shot looking North and this time the bridge is a little more visible on the right side of the picture.

Heading back up into the creek I did find a few interesting things to photograph.  On the way out I passed this structure on the point of the bend (right side jutting into the water).  I thought it was a place to pull a boat into and duck hunt.  I had to revise that a little on the way back as I noticed a duck blind to the left (look for the black horizontal patch in the rushes to the left of the boat pull in almost to the leftmost side of the picture) and it became apparent that the other structure was a water garage (OK,  OK,  a dock.....but I defend myself by stating that there was not a dock as in the traditional sense,  only a covered area in which to pull the boat in) and that the boat was left there while the hunters stepped ashore to trek over to the blind.  Not exactly a walk I'd relish that's for sure.  Of course I could be wrong on the whole thing but it's my theory and I'll stand by it.

Don't know why I took another picture of it but in this one you can spot the black horizontal patch that is the blind a lot easier.

Life among the rushes,  grasses....whatever!  There were a lot of these big bulbous white flowers.  Very cool to look at except when you realize how close in you are and a jet skier comes by and throws some huge wakes into the shallows.

You can barely notice the huges stands of rushes here because the forested area behind dwarfs it.  It dominated the shoreline and much of the surrounding area.  The trees are distant from the creek here.

I see this in almost every place I paddle in Southern Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.   A tree at the water's edge (or in the water) surrounded by what appears the remains of other trees.  Again with the unknowns....cypress......water tupelo.....very interesting.  I may have to look this up and see how these things form.

Almost back to the area with houses on the shore just East of Blackwater Road.

A little offshoot to explore.  It didn't go far but provided a break from the main creek.

This looks more like the Pocaty River here.  This is further down the little offshoot.

This is one of the three houses but unlike the others,  this sits way back at the end of it's own private canal.  One,  I add,  that is now unusable due to the large tree deposited across it.  If I lived there I'd be cutting that thing back.  A kayak and a chainsaw?  Maybe it's better that I don't live there.

This is looking at the last bend in the creek before the bridge at Blackwater Road.  You can see a couple of small shacks on the shore and flanking the tree in the foreground is the gas station canopy and the Blackwater Trading Post building.  The bridge is just visible under the building.

Get ready for a drastic change.....

I decided upon arrival back at the boat ramp that a short rest was in order.  I also decided that another bit of paddling was in order.  I tied the kayak up and ate a bit and rested.  I was going to paddle on the Western side of the creek now.  I have been here before with my neighbor/friend John in his folding boat.  We fished here and he caught a nice little catfish.  I was familiar with this part of the creek and looked forward to seeing it again.  What I didn't realize was how drastically different the two portions of this creek are.  Blackwater Road serves as the changing point  where this waterway goes from a salt marsh looking waterway to a forested shore river waterway.  It was 5:30 PM when I finished resting and my timing was perfect.  There was only one other person on the waterway that I encountered and it was so quiet and calm that I wanted to stay much longer.

Looking Westerly from the boat ramp.  There is one house on the far shore and a small dock.  The rest of the houses on this part of the creek are around the bend to the left.

Kayak at rest.  I need to make a cockpit cover.  Leaving the kayak unattended like this seems to invite small insects to take up residence in the cockpit.  I guess they figure there is a 50/50 chance that someone's pasty white kayaker legs are going to be coming along all ready to be munched upon.  The odds were in their favor on this day.  In defense of my obvious open invitation to critters of the slithering kind,  I did check the cockpit before getting in.  Of course I did this by leaning off the dock and sticking my head into the opening.  Smart move,  snake bait!

Well,  back to serious paddling enjoyment!  I normally crop my pictures to remove the front end of my vehicle but I really liked the perspective of some of the shots,  so I left it in a bit.  This is just around the corner from the boat ramp and the only houses on this portion are all on the left (about 4 or so).  As you can see,  the water was very calm and enjoyable.

I purposely tweaked with this picture to bring out the water reflections.  It was very vivid and something had just jumped in the water sending out ripples.  Also the newest house (a 3 story behemoth under construction) on the creek is here.

The creek widens out a bit and the flat water and forested backdrop made for some awesome reflections.

Again with calm water but this time with the sun not bearing down on me.  The large tree on the left and the other three on it's right partially block the creek but there is plenty of room to get around in kayaks,  canoes and larger craft.  Just beyond that point was my turnaround and head back area.  There is more river and it gets really small further up in there.  That'll be another day adventure.

More serenity.

A hunter's blind straight ahead and smooth sailing.

Sometimes it feels as if you are flying.  What a great way to end an interesting day of paddling.  So that is Blackwater Creek.  Paddlers take your pick,  Eastern portion or Western portion.  Beware if you go East,  if it is nice you will encounter many jet skiers and boaters.  Some rude,  some courteous but all making a bit of noise.  It is still enjoyable with them around but the Western portion is a fisherman and paddler's haven.