Sawyers Creek/Pasquotank River  paddle, North Carolina, 8.24.2008

I had narrowed down my paddling destination to two locations.  Joyce Creek in Camden or Sawyers Creek in Camden.  I ended up at the latter after having a tough time finding the launch spot for the first.

Joyce Creek:  This little waterway did not look very appealing today, when I finally located the bridge on Carolina Road (State Road 1235).  If you decide to paddle this creek and use the Carolina Road put in, BE AWARE that Carolina Road is unmarked.  It is a road that leads into an area with some new houses.  It is not far (maybe a half mile) from where Bunker Hill Road and Old Swamp Road intersect.  If you are on Old Swamp Road and see Lilly Road, you've gone too far.  After finding the bridge and the creek, I decided that Sawyers Creek would be the paddle spot instead.

Sawyers Creek:  This was a great paddle.  I put in at the public boat ramp just north of the Camden Courthouse area (routes 343 and 158).  I paddled east first about 2 1/2 miles until I hit the bridge on Sawyers Creek Road (SR 1200).  The paddle was nice, leisurely and quiet for the most part.  The creek was very interesting because it varied in width and had areas where it was very shady and others where it was sunny.  Lots of ducks and turtles to see.  Approximately 1 1/2 miles up the creek there is a downed tree but you can navigate around the very end of it closest to the bank.  No sweat.  On the way back I stopped at the boat ramp before proceeding west to the Pasquotank River.  The boat ramp is nice but it is concrete.  There are actually two ramps and next to the westerly ramp, there is a patch of grass suitable for launching kayaks and canoes.  It started raining soon after leaving the ramp for the second time towards the Pasquotank River.  It started coming down rather hard and continued for about 40 minutes or so.  It was so peaceful and felt so good on a hot day.  I passed some folks fishing from a waterside gazebo that is apparently behind the Camden Courthouse itself.  It was a very quick paddle to the river and still it was raining.  I encountered a few boats but they were courteous.  I entered the river and paddled to the railroad track bridge.  From there I turned around and hugged the south shore and took a little offshoot that came right up to Route 158 at Lamb's Marina.  Another little offshoot led to a secluded backyard pier.  I turned around, checked out the different boats at the marina most of which appeared to be Intercoastal Waterway travelers and headed back towards the river proper.  Still raining I got back on the river and headed up to the Sawyers Creek entrance.  It didn't take long and I was up the creek and at the boat ramp again.  Still pouring rain, I loaded out and headed for Elizabeth City and some food.

All in all a very relaxing day on the water.  I was dissapointed in not seeing many birds but just being out there was treat enough for me.  This paddle can be done very quickly as it is only about 3 miles from the Sawyers Creek Road bridge to the Pasquotank River.

I am going to do this paddle again but next time I will go from the boat ramp to the Water Street park in Elizabeth City and back (about 8 miles total).  It will have to be a fairly calm day as I not much of a big water paddler (even though this probably isn't big water to many) but I'd like to give it a shot. 

See ya next time.