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From: <ML4572_at_aol.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Kayaking the outter banks.....Carolla, N.C.
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 16:33:04 EDT
I will be in Carolla, N.C. on the outter banks. Does anyone know of any 
outfitters and/or good places to go and explore. We have our own kayaks, 
Feathercraft, and would only need information. Also, any good tent camping and hiking in 
that area. Any and all information will be appreciated. 
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From: Richard <rmagill9_at_netscape.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaking the outter banks.....Carolla, N.C.
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2003 11:27:47 -0400
Can't find Carolla on the Map.  I was just up on Hatteras/Ocracoke, (and 
Beaufort, Morehead City, and Newbern on the mainland) though, and there 
are tons of outfitters up there.  I know the owners of AB Kayaks in 
Beaufort, There good people, and they know their stuff.  So if Carolla 
happens to be around Beaufort, go talk to them.  Tell them the guy whose 
wife bought the "Bottlenosed Baja" (don't ask :-) )sent you.

ML4572_at_aol.com wrote:

>I will be in Carolla, N.C. on the outter banks. Does anyone know of any 
>outfitters and/or good places to go and explore. We have our own kayaks, 
>Feathercraft, and would only need information. Also, any good tent camping and hiking in 
>that area. Any and all information will be appreciated. 
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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaking the outter banks.....Carolla, N.C.
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2003 06:51:24 -0400
At 11:27 AM 6/7/2003 -0400, Richard wrote:
>Can't find Carolla on the Map.  I was just up on Hatteras/Ocracoke, (and 
>Beaufort, Morehead City, and Newbern on the mainland) though, and there 
>are tons of outfitters up there.  I know the owners of AB Kayaks in 
>Beaufort, There good people, and they know their stuff.  So if Carolla 
>happens to be around Beaufort, go talk to them.  Tell them the guy whose 
>wife bought the "Bottlenosed Baja" (don't ask :-) )sent you.


You probably couldn't find Carolla on the map because it's spelled Corolla 
(pronounce Co-rah-lah).  It's located at the far north of the banks (near 
the end of the paved road) about 15 miles north of Kitty Hawk.  I've been 
there a half a dozen times and the best place I've found for kayak rentals 
and gear is Kitty Hawk Kites.  They've got several stores along the banks 
but the Nags Head store (the main store across from the large dunes) is 
where you'd probably have to go to rent a kayak.  They also run tours out 
of the store just over the bridge in Kitty Hawk.  Do a search for them on 
the web and I think they list some of their tours which will give a good 
idea where to paddle.  If you're in Corolla though try going over to 
Whalehead (near the Currituck light house) and heading north on the 
sound.   A bit further sound (a few miles north of Duck) there's an Audubon 
sanctuary that is a great place for bird watching.  You can launch almost 
anywhere along the beach out into the ocean and paddle amongst the dolphin.

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From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayaking the outter banks.....Carolla, N.C.
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 10:34:09 -0400
> Can't find Carolla on the Map.  I was just up on Hatteras/Ocracoke,
(and
> Beaufort, Morehead City, and Newbern on the mainland) though, and
there
> are tons of outfitters up there.  I know the owners of AB Kayaks in
> Beaufort, There good people, and they know their stuff.  So if Carolla
> happens to be around Beaufort, go talk to them.  Tell them the guy
whose
> wife bought the "Bottlenosed Baja" (don't ask :-) )sent you.
> 

Keep Going north... past Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, and
Duck.  Then, you should be right at about Corolla.  It's getting pretty
close to the Virginia Border.

There are several outfitters in the area, such as Kitty Hawk Sports and
Kitty Hawk Outdoors.  

There is a good kayaking guide to the OBX as well.  It's called Sea
Kayaking North Carolina.  I've got the author and ISBN at home, if you
want it.  

Camping.... lots, but all but one are private campgrounds.  There is,
however, a National Park camp ground a little further south, nestled in
the sand dunes, a mere 50 yards from the beach. It's either $15 or $18
per night - I don't recall which - it's got pit toilets and a bath
house, but that's about it.  The camp sites are a little close together
as well. It's right there at Bodie Inlet.  The area is preserved, so
although the resort area is within a 15 minute drive, the camp ground
and beaches are fairly isolated.  Driving time from there to Corolla is
going to be about 45 minutes, though, due to having to go through the
resort area to get to Corolla, and you won't be on any major roads.

Regarding paddling, there are lots of places.  What do you like?
Marshes, beaches, woods, birds, dolphin, etc etc.  Even got some mid
size gators close by at Alligator River and Milltail Creek, if you want
to go slightly inland. Tell me what kind of environment you want and
I'll give you some location ideas.

Although I've taken a weeks vacation there every year since 1978, I've
just in the past couple years begun kayaking the area.  But, I do have a
few trip reports written up in "WORD" that include some photos, images
of Nav. Charts, some statistics, etc.  If you want to take a look at
them, I can send them to you as attachments.... I don't have my own web
site to point you to.

Rick 
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From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayaking the outter banks.....Carolla, N.C.
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 10:43:37 -0400
If you're in Corolla though try going over to
> Whalehead (near the Currituck light house) and heading north on the
> sound.   A bit further sound (a few miles north of Duck) there's an
> Audubon
> sanctuary that is a great place for bird watching.  You can launch
almost
> anywhere along the beach out into the ocean and paddle amongst the
> dolphin.

I've paddled both those locations.  They would be good for birding, and
if you wanted protected water on very windy days.  It's not very deep
there, though, maybe a few feet.  The one south of the Whalehead club
has many more islands, and is more protected of the two, but it's also
harder to find the put-in.  you're actually parking in the parking lot
attached to a racquet club.  The one up by the Whalehead Club has an
island about 2 miles into the paddle called Monkey Island that has an
interesting history, and is absolutely overflowing will many, many
varieties of birds.  

Yep, as John said, launch anywhere on the ocean side, from the beach,
and you stand a good chance of seeing dolphin if you are there any
length of time (we see them from the beach daily, but never at the same
time of day, it seems).  But, if you wanted more protected water, there
are two Sound side locations that a couple pods like to hang around.
They are in the bock I mentioned in another post, but if you don't want
to buy the book, I can look it up for you when I return home tonight.  I
can tell you they are generally around Bodie Inlet and Roanoke Island,
but I can get more specific when I have my info in front of me.

Rick
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