NEW RIVER CAMPING, KAYAKING AND TUBING
Thursday-Sunday, August 1-4, 2019 Trip #AD1906
Join us for a relaxing weekend camping right beside the New River at the New River Campground, a three-hour drive from Raleigh near Sparta, North Carolina, right at the border with Virginia. The New River is a gorgeous river — perfect for kayaking, canoeing, tubing, or wading. The campsites are right along the bank, grassy with fire pits, and there’s a bathhouse with showers. The campground rents canoes, kayaks, and tubes and they provide the transportation up-river – we’ll float or paddle back to the campsite.
To take a look at the campgrounds, go to: http://canoeingthenew.com/. Notice the river is very calm; this is definitely not a white water trip. Canoeing and kayaking will require a lot of paddling – you’ll work up an appetite.
Canoes and kayaks are optional (and an additional cost). Let the Coordinator know NO LATER THAN JULY 18 whether you would like a canoe or kayak reserved for you. (You’ll give your check for canoe/kayak rental [payable to “New River Campground”] to the Coordinator and she will give them to the campground.)
The canoe/kayak trip will be a five-mile no-rapids trip departing at 11:00 on Saturday. Prices listed below include transportation to the drop off point, paddles, and life jacket.
Canoe: $45 (two people could split the price)
Kayak: $28
Tubing the river: $15/person - Includes the tube and transportation to the drop off point. Tubes are also available to use as "cooler tubes" for your beverages for $5, or bring your own. The tubing route is shorter, and be aware that if the water is low, tubing can feel like a very long trip. No advance reservation is required to rent a tube.
tentative schedule of events is:
Thursday: For those arriving early, wade in the river, hike, enjoy the evening fire.
Friday: Everyone else arrives – set up tents, (early arrivals may hike, visit Susan’s relatives’ homesites, or go to Sparta’s coffee shop, general store, hardware store, ABC store, Food Lion, or gift shop), wade in the river, and enjoy the fire. Everyone provides their own dinner. (There are restaurants in Sparta if you want to eat out).
Saturday 11 a.m.: Canoe or kayak trip down the river. Frequent stops to swim (if we can slow down the lead kayaks). Bring a sandwich/snack and beverage for lunch. The 5-mile trip takes 3 to 4 hours.
Saturday Dinner 7 p.m.: POTLUCK
Sunday 11 a.m.: Tubing for those who want to be dropped off at the low-water bridge and float back to camp (take refreshments). About a 2.5-hour trip.
Things to bring: Shoes for wading in the river and the river trip (This is a must!!!)
Lawn chair (plus old chair for sitting in the river)
Sun screen, bathing suit, and hat
Lunch, snacks, beverages for the kayak trip. A dry bag might be a good idea
Bring food to share for the Potluck dinner on Saturday
Food for all other meals (there’s a small on-site grocery store, a Food Lion in Sparta, or you can eat out in Sparta)
Alcoholic beverages are allowed at the campground and on the river
Firewood will be provided.
Location: New River Campground; 3745 New River Parkway, Independence, VA 24348 (between Sparta, NC and Independence, VA, at state line of NC and VA, 195 miles from Raleigh). Please note that most cell phones (except Verizon) do NOT work at the campsite, so the Coordinator may not be able to get your call if you need directions. So, call the campground if you need help: 336/372-8793.
Start time: Thursday afternoon, August 1
End time: Sunday afternoon, August 4
Event fee: Sign up at the RSOC monthly meeting, or mail check (payable to RSOC) to Susan Nicholas, 1035 Foxtail Drive, Durham, NC 27703; or signup on the website RSOC.club. Please note: A separate check for the rental of canoe/kayak (payable to New River Campground) can be given to the Coordinator at the time of signing up.
Cost member: $25 per person for 3-night campers (Thursday-Saturday), and $21 per person for 2-night campers (Friday-Saturday). (Canoe/kayak/tube rental is additional.)
Cost non-member: add $10 to the prices above
Cancellation Policy: $5 cancellation fee after July 27. There will be no refund after July 27 unless you find someone to take your place.
Maximum attendees: 40 Guest (per member) allowed: 2
Coordinator: Susan Nicholas 919/605-0861
susannicholas1000@hotmail.com