By: Arlene Tesmer
OYC Kayak Coordinator Mike Gardner selected Mackeys Creek for OYC’s first kayak trip of 2020 and scheduled it for October 10th. On that day. we left the Community Center at 8:30 a.m. with six kayaks on the OYC trailer and four by personal truck. There is a considerable interest in kayaking in our community.
Kayaking is great exercise, usually in a serene environment perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature. Mackeys Creek, located in Washington County, 8.2 miles from Edenton, is known for many bird species and for a serene nature paddle among cypress trees. It did not disappoint, as you can see in the photos.
We were very fortunate to have Frank Kelly, a former history professor, explain in great detail how Mackeys Creek participated in historic events from Black Beard in the 1600’s, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II to the present. We all appreciated Frank’s sharing of the rich history of this place.
After our relaxing paddle, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Landing restaurant located at Mackeys Marina. We look forward to Mike organizing more kayak adventures in the near future.