Update 10/1/2011: TheDigitel MYR got a chance to make it out to this event and we were so glad we did. Hiking Trails, Blue Trails and even Mountain Biking Trails right here in our back yard!
The Waccamaw Trail Blazers participated in the IMBA's national "Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day" in which our very own Andre Pope volunteered at.
It was a great time. We got to introduce about 20 new people to mountain biking. It was a trill to showcase the fact that you could mountain bike without having any mountains. I think the kids really dug trail ridding and I hope to see a few more of them out there next time I go ridding.
The Waccamaw Riverkeepers were on hand to showcase the new Blue Trail that the river is now a part of. Visitors could take out a kayak and paddle around Cox Ferry Lake to get a better appreciation of what our backyard has to offer for outdoor recreation.
We were able to snap a few picts in between ridding bikes, listening to great music and paddling. Take a peek at our slide show at the bottom of the article.
First Report 9/25/2011: I came across this article in The Sun News this morning about some improvements at the Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area in Conway. As someone always looking for new green spaces to explore with my kiddo, I was giddy with excitement.
The biggest improvment is the Otter Lake boardwalk that allows visitors to walk around the cypress swamp without slogging through the mud after a rain. The boardwalk opens on Friday and a full day of celebration events will take place on Saturday:
- A Group Paddle will begin at 9 AM at the Conway Marina. The Paddle will run approximately three miles to end at the Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area. Call Conway Kayak Tours at (843) 488-0999 or American Rivers at (843) 957-2367 to register.
- Canoes will be available for short, self-guided paddles in the area accessible at Cox Ferry.
- The newly published Waccamaw River Blue Trail map will be released for the first time.
- The Waccamaw Trail Blazers, a local mountain biking club, will be on hand to give mountain biking lessons to kids and adults of all skill levels. Interested parties are encouraged to register in advance online.
- Food and beverages will be served at noon and music will be provided by local musician, Aaron Reiss.
The Sun News write-up has more details. Read it here. Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Center is a part of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge and has 3 walking and hiking trails. View the trail map PDF.