Friday, January 19, 2007

January 2007 Story Finds - Paddles and Waddles

Many a soldier knows the name of Spring Lake, North Carolina. That's the home of Pope Air Force Base. It's adjacent to Fort Bragg. This month nearly half of the soldiers on these bases have been deployed overseas.

The Lower Little River runs through the town and eventually dumps into the Cape Fear River. It's not a large river, but is sufficient for kayaks and canoes. You can put your boat in the water upstream in Harnett County and paddle down to Spring Lake. Along the way, you'll pass a brand new outfitter store that will be renting and selling boats and offering guided tours.

The forest is a blend of coastal plain and piedmont plant material. You'll see pines and hardwoods, along with a huge selection of flowering plants each spring.

As you paddle downstream, you may see birds flying overhead. Some are C-130s and big engines. Some are red cock-headed woodpeckers and have feathers.

They're on the endangered species list and it's the job of the military to preserve and protect them. Guided tours will take you to see where the birds live.

And then there are other types of birds - clay pigeons. One of the best and largest skeet shooting ranges along the Eastern Seaboard is in Spring Lake. It's open to the public. You don't have to have a gun or know how to shoot. The staff will take care of everything! Why, this facility is even open to youth and women!

For more information, contact the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com