September 18, 2010
PADDLING ESVA
Wow, it’s been a busy summer. Opening a SouthEast Expeditions kayak shop on the Eastern Shore of Virginia has really kept us busy! From our perch on lovely Onancock Creek in a historic little steamboat ticket office, we’ve run dozens of tours, two full sessions of kids kayak camp, Sunday sunset paddles out to Bailey’s Beach, race training sessions and the Onancock Challenge Kayak/Canoe Race drawing 30 racers last weekend!
But the season is far from over! We plan on leading trips as long as the weather holds and will be open through the holiday season for gift-buying. We have added many Eastern Shore products: coffee, wine (with SouthEast’s private kayak label), Blue Crab Bay snacks and cocktail mixes, and all-natural lavender bug spray from a local farm.
Coming Oct. 9, we’ve teamed with writer Elaine McFerron to offer a unique Kayaking and Journaling Experience. Details at http://tinyurl.com/2cylb87
We’ll let you in on the local secret: fall is hand’s down THE most beautiful season here on the Shore. Low humidity, few bugs, and the migrating waterfowl and raptors are already arriving. Check out our offerings at http://www.onancock.org/kayaking
HIKING VA
When we’re not paddling this fall, we’ll be hitting the trail to update our first book, Hiking Virginia. It’s been 10 years since we did the initial research, so we are going to re-hike many of them, add some new chapters, and add GPS coordinates and color digital photography to every chapter. We’re excited to make this book even better: a National Outdoor Book Award Honorable Mention, it has sold more than 20,000 copies.
We’ll be posting trail reports on our blog weekly, from easy walks near cities, like Newport News Park, to the lung-busting Pine Mountain Trail that follows the high ridge between Virginia and Kentucky. The first few hikes are now up at http://www.BurnhamVirginia.blogspot.com
These knees are 10 years older, and we’re both about 10 pounds heavier, so it should be quite an adventure!
FLORIDA KEYS PADDLING
We’re also looking towards our winter plans: mid-January through March we’ll again be heading to the Florida Keys to lead overnight kayaking expeditions from the pages of our "Florida Keys Paddling Atlas". Check out www.BurnhamGuides.com for all the info including a new Customer Reviews page. We’re taking reservations now!
All the best for a beautiful, active, fall!
Mary & Bill
