Outdoors
A canoeing adventure
Outdoor enthusiasts battle millpond waters
By LEISHA PHILLIPS
It was just going to be one of those Sunday summer
outings. The kind that takes you to the great outdoors,
promising a bit of adventure and daring but mostly just
plain fun. .
i thought it was great idea. So did my brother, Darryl,
and our two friends, Lynne and Wally. Or at least thaf s
what they said as the four of us drove from my house in
Murfreesboro, a small town in northeastern Hertford
County, across the scenic Chowan River into rural Gates
County.
But somehow by the time that July afternoon had
faded into night, my great idea was ail washed-up
literally.
Destination? Merchants Millpond State Park, located
in the center of Gates County just a couple of miles
northeast of the largest community and county seat
Gatesville. ' ,
Quiet undeveloped (improvements totaling over
$355,000 are expected to begin sometime late this falll
this 950-acre park offers camping and canoeing to
nature-loving groups, families and individuals. Spanish
moss drapes the cypress trees creating old men's beards
and bringing to mind storybook memories of the Deep
Old South. Cypress knees, lily pads, parrots feather,
swamp rose and wax myrtle, to name a few, add color
and charm to the 600-acre pond.
Fish jump, turtles play peek-a-boo on rotting logs and
the water seems to go on for ever. Oh, and don't forget
the snakes. Well," they may leave you alone.
What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than
canoeing in the. rustic outdoors and enjoying a summer
day, the four of us thought And it was a perfect day
with only a hint of rain in the forecast for late afternoon.
"Equipment" for the afternoon can include bathing
suits (just in case of an unforeseen accident), a towel,
shorts or jeans.
Canoes can be rented for $1 per hour or $6 per day.
We paid for two for two hours. The fellows got the pad
dles and cushions and we were off.
What a breeze! The first hour we paddled around
marvelling at the serene beauty of the park, yet all the
while making sure to keep those little red marker flags
on the trees in sight .-''
Strokes, stroke, stroke. This was easier than I had
thought But had I thought too soon?
; Somewhere during the second hour I noticed those
little red marker flags had disappeared. And suddenly
Wally and I had trouble with cypress knees and stumps
appearing out of nowhere and bringing us to an abrupt
halt Naturally, they didn't bother Lynne and Darryl's
canoe. But fearless sportsmen (or is that sportspersons?)
that we were, we refused to let that deter us. Well, only
periodically.
see POND page 9
Coffee Buttercream
f off eft Gwioise
Coffee Lcaueur Jui
Coffee Mousse
i i I ftf? b;
Coffee L
Cftffee liqueur PuneJx
A La PQtiGcerie Wizth&ay
To make someone's birthday an elegant event,
try one of our delicious cakes, like our Grand
Marnier or chocalatey Marguis. All of our '
cakes have three layers and use four "from
scratch" recipes. Top it off with some of our
fine champagne for a birthday to remember
2 coo Idea or a brownie when yon pick eg the cake.
w
A Fine Bakery
967-5511
Monday 12-6
Tuesday-Thursday 10-6
Friday & Saturday 10-7
1 Use the 2OT:;lsiffied8'
ff
FOR ONLY $65
Includes all necessary instruction and
equipment Go through ground train
ing In the morning make your first
jump that afternoon, weather permit
ting. To register for a class, you must pre
sent proper identification to show
proof of age. Parent's permission is
required for those under 18 years of
age. Under age forms are available on
request and must have notarized sig
natures. Training every day at 10 a.m. group
discount for 5 or more.
FRANKLIN COUNTY SPORT PARACHUTE
CENTER, IrtC.
P.O. Box 703 Louisburg. N.C. 27549 Phone (919) 496-2224
Open six days 8 am til dark dosed Mondays, except hefldays
Located 24 mUee north of RaJelgh, halfway between FrankSnton and Louisburg on highway 58(eoirih elds
8
Spotlight, November 12, 1981