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Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop and water-quality interns Jonah Dickerson and Avalon Rosenberger embarked on an afterhours sunset paddle on a Neuse River tributary last week, along with 17 new friends.

“It was so fun,” Samantha said. “Brices Creek is my favorite place to paddle in the lower Neuse watershed, and it’s my favorite time of day. We went past a lot of homes where people sitting outside waved to us — I’m sure all our kayaks looked like a pretty big to-do from their porches.”

Rescheduled due to excessive heat from its original date during National Paddle Week, last Thursday’s paddle had much more accommodating temperatures.

“Even in the heart of summer, it wasn’t that hot,” Samantha said. “It was great to be on the water.”

Samantha said the paddle was not only a way to meet new river-lovers and paddlers, but promotes an important part of Sound Rivers’ mission.

“I think that as important as the pollution investigation part of our work and dealing with those issues is, it’s just as important to facilitate people engaging with their waterways,” she said. “We’re interested in making sure people have access to their waterways; people who may not be able to get out on the water because of cost or not knowing that these types of events exist. We want people to start thinking about the Neuse as being accessible and have opportunities to get on the water, because it can be a life-changing experience.”

Samantha said she’s planning on hosting more paddles in the future and wants people to know that Sound Rivers has kayaks available at no charge.

“Most of the people on this paddle brought their own kayaks, and were excited to get their boats that had been collecting dust in their garages on the water,” Samantha said. “But a shout-out to people who don’t have their own boats: we have free boats!”

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