North Carolina Outdoor Adventures

Project: Black Widow Venom Motorcycle (Yamaha Warrior)

2012-02-29T08:07:00.001-08:00

2005 Yamaha Mid-Night Road Star Warrior, 12,500 miles. 102 cubic inch V-twin, 1700cc engine. 200 50/17 rear tire.

Air box and filter removed from the side and underneath the gas tank.

Churchkey Velocity Big Air Kit installed to throttle bodies. Sensor relocation plate attached for relocating coils, air temp sensors, and vacuum.

Hand shaved Air Induction System (AIS) block off plates.

Removed AIS system.

AIS block off plates installed.

Coils and sensors relocation complete.

DynoJet Power Commander III USB for fuel management and mapping. The allows fuel control at RPM vs. throttle positioning.

Arlen Ness mirrors and Avon "air cushion" grips, add a nice look.

Italian made Givi 755N windscreen. Keeps wind off the chest and makes long rides a little easier.

Vance & Hines Big Shot performance exhaust.

Coil and sensor relocation cleans up the front of the motor to show off the big cylinders.

Nice clean view, had to make custom fitting for the Givi to fit.

Project complete, Mid-Night Warrior performance and style. Weather has warmed up and now it's time to let the good times roll.

While the weather is cold and wet outside, there's plenty of time to do maintenance and improvements on your ride. This year I decided to add some HP and style to the old Road Star Mid-Night Warrior. Mine is a 2005 model with 12,000 miles on it.

Performance Modifications:

Removed stock air box and side air filter.
Installed Churchkey Velocity Big Air Kit with High Flow K&N Racing Air Filters.
Removed stock air induction system (AIS).
Hand carved and installed AIS block off plates.
Installed DynoJet Power Commander III USB, fuel management system.
Removed coil hanger and coils.
Installed coil relocation plate, relocated vacuum lines, air temp sensors.
New Bridgestone Extrendra 200 50/17 rear tire.
Vance & Hines Bigshot exhaust.

Style Modifications:

Arlen Ness tear drop mirrors.
Avon air cushion grips.
Givi 755N windscreen.

Summer Time Is For Baseball

2012-01-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Enjoying the outdoor weather at a Carolina Mudcat's baseball game in Zebulon, NC.

Von and Sarah hanging out with mini-Mudcat at 5-County Stadium.

Summer time is all about being outside, watching a baseball game, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and watching an awesome firework show if the Mudcat's win. Which they do occasionally. If it's a Friday or Saturday night game and our home team wins, we are treated to one of the best and up close firework displays EVER! The burst are so close, I've had still burning cinders fall on my arms. You will be so close at you'll feel the rapport.

This is cheap entertainment in the summer. Typically it's about $7/person, and $5 to park. Granted, the concessions are not cheap, but it's a slow game, and we have time to talk, walk around, etc. Yep we eat a lot of junk food when we're at the ball park, cotton candy, sodas, hot dogs, hamburgers, and chips. It's a good time.

Paintball for Fun....A little Pain Never Hurt Anyone (Xtreme Kombat Warfare Center)

2012-01-05T16:57:00.001-08:00

Sarah, Von, and I ready for a full day of paintball fun. It does hurt, but not as bad as you think.

Von with a fully automatic SAW (squad automatic weapon) air-soft gun. It has the weight and feel of the real thing.

Kids and adults a like have fun playing paintball. It's fast, exciting, and fun. It does take quite a bit of energy to run around.

Sarah got to go play paintball at Xtreme Kombat Warfare Center right outside of Durham, NC. We got a great deal on Living Social. The package includes gun, goggles, and 200 paint balls. The Warfare center also offered equipment to buy or rent, and they also had facilities for players to play air-soft. Air-soft are plastic BBs, and it's a pain tolerance game. I think.

I just want to say that this place rocks. We were able to play in three completely different environments. The fist one had little barricades and barrels to hid behind, the second one was an urban combat town with rooms, houses, and towers. The third terrain was in the woods, with some low barricades spread out.

Now if you've never played before I highly recommend it. It does take a lot of running. The paint ball does not hurt, and there are rules to say "surrender" at close range. Close range is where the paint ball can cause a bruise. The paint ball is actually slow enough that you can see it flying towards you and sometimes you can duck it. There are no need for sites, because you have to lob the projectiles to the target.

Typical scenario is the referee will divide the two group into teams. Then both teams will approach and engage. There can also be other games like capture the flag, or escort the prisoner. All I have to say is that this gets two big thumbs up from my kids. It was a blast. 200 paint balls each may last about two games, but additional paint balls are cheap. Bring lunch.

What to expect and bring: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and tennis shoes or boots. The field could be wet and muddy. Bring a lunch, and you can spend all day there.

Schlitterbahn New Braunfel, Texas...the BEST Water Park EVER!

2011-12-22T07:34:00.001-08:00

This is the tower that will get you up for the best water coaster EVER. It's called the Master Blaster at the Blastenhoff section of the park. This is the same tower for the Black Knight and the Wolfpack.

A view of Master Blaster, they say it's been voted the best water coaster in the world. It has water jets that hit the back of the raft and your back to push you up hill. This ride takes one full minute to reach the bottom.

The Original Schlitterbahn. Lots of rafting rides. The clean and cool water comes from natural springs.

My kids having a blast on the Downhill Racer at the original Schlitterbahn.

Waiting in line for the Hillside ride. The lines looked long, but they moved fast. This was a fun, easy, and relaxing ride.

Sarah doing surfing moves on Boogie Bahn. There were some people that were just amazing with their trick abilities. We were just happy to be able to ride and stay in place.

Han's Hideout.

Top of Blastenhoff.

Cooling off with some Dip'N'Dots. Bring a cooler and set it on a picnic table, and come back later to eat. This is a chilled place and someone stealing your stuff is low.

Schlitterbahn, New Braunsfel, Texas (The BEST!)

This summer the kids and I took a trip to Schlitterbahn in New Braunsfel, Texas. New Braunsfel is about 20-30 minutes from San Antonio. They say everything is bigger in Texas, well in this case I would agree. Schlitterbahn is absolutely the biggest and best water park we had ever been to.

To say this place was huge is a massive understatement. This was three separate water parks, and you had to take a free tram through town to get to the other sections. There are three distinct sections, The Original Schlitterbahn, Blastenhoff, and Surfenburg. This is the mother of all water parks. You can stay there just like a resort. They have rooms for rent, restaurants, shallow pool bars, lockers, and of course gift shops.

Park tickets run from $53.98 for adults, and $44.98 (3-11). The park allows you to bring in your own cooler with food and drink, but do not allow alcohol. You can purchase alcohol at one of the poolside bars. Bringing in your own cooler saves a lot of money.

The Original Schlitterbahn: A lot of the rides here require an inner tube, or they will be body slides. Most of the rides are very relaxing and easy.

Surfenburg: This area has some good group tube rides as well as the ultra cool Boogie Bahn, which is as close to inland surfing as you're going to get in Texas. There are also plenty of things for the younger kids, like the circular float pool with floating alligators.

Blastenhoff: This area is for the thrill seekers. It has the big group rides, Master Blaster, Wolfpack, and Black Knight. The float pool here has wave action and is fast. There is also a water play castle, park with working water cannons.

Schlitterbahn is an all day event. The kids and I give it a huge two thumbs up. Bring flip flops, towels, food, and drink. Expect to have fun all day. Expect to wait in some lines for the bigger rides. We had to wait in line for 1 hour for the top rides, but it will be worth it.

Advice: Keep your cool sunglasses in the locker. They might get knocked off and some rides won't allow them. There is a lot of water pressure on some of the rides, so any little item in your pockets will get blown out. The locker keys have an elastic strap to go around your ankle or wrist. I think they might have had a safety pin to hook to your garment as well. Use it! They charge extra if you lose your locker key.

Buy the Schlitterbahn credit card. This will save you the hassle of handling wet dollar bills.

Frisbee Golf...A Great Way To Enjoy The Day

2011-12-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Von misses an easy put at the Lake Wilson Frisbee Golf Course, Wilson NC.

Sarah prepares for her 2nd shot on a par 3.

Sarah throws a little too high for the basket on hole 6 at the Lake Wilson Frisbee Golf Course, Wilson NC.

Disc golf has been around for 36 years now. It was invented by "Steady" Ed Headrick back in the day. It is a huge college sport and its popularity is growing fast around the world with all ages. This game is played just like regular golf, but using an inexpensive Frisbee. Just hit the chains, "Cha Ching!" and that means you've finished the hole.

All the courses that I've played are public. Most municipalities will have a disc golf course at one of their many parks. There are no greens fees and a disc is relatively cheap ($6-$25).

Disc: These Frisbees are smaller than what you would throw at the beach. They will fly long distances. The disc will come in different weights (grams). There will be different edges, designs and logos on them. Each weight and design will have a different flight characteristics. Some people play with a huge bag of disk, but others just play with one.

You can have two disc that are exactly the same in weight and design, but if one has nicks and cuts, it will fly differently. On a rare occasion you might throw hard enough to hit a tree and the disc could break, so it's good to have a backup.

Some people like to play with two disk, a putter and a driver. The putter will not be as heavy, have rounder edges, float in flight, easier to control, and have a softer compound of plastic.

This sport is hugely popular with the college crowd. It doesn't cost much. You get exercise, and can bring a small cooler with your favorite beverage inside. This game is also easy enough for young children to play. My kids love to play a couple of holes, and it teaches them good hand eye coordination. It is beautiful to watch a Frisbee in flight.

Course: Some course will be relatively easy, par 3's. Some will be difficult, but each hole will be different depending on elevation and the amount of obstructions in the way (trees). It is good to understand your throw and you can manipulate the disc around the trees to get to the pin.

You might find some holes in a wide open field, a par 5, and this will require a very hard and accurate throw.

The hazard that I hate the most is water hazards because if it goes into the water, most of the time it means you've lost your disc.

Check and see if there are disc golf associations in your area, and if there are any matches. I once played a match and witness the most amazing throw. This was a par 3 hole. You could not see the basket, and the hole curved slightly to the left. The guy threw from the concrete tee, the Frisbee went to the right, then drifted sharply to the left. The next thing we heard was the musical sound of "Cha Ching!" It was a hole in one, and everyone erupted in cheers! The guy was fist pumping the air..."Yeah baby!"

This sport is super fun, and I hope you can scrape up $6, go buy a disc, and go play a course.

"I'd like to go by throwing a Frisbee,
And throw round disc that float freely in an open field
Towards heaven, till the disc falls near the pin,
But gives me good positioning for my put.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a thrower of Frisbees......."

Spanish Mackerel Fishing at Atlantic Beach, NC

2011-12-19T08:42:00.001-08:00

Capt. Ronnie Boyd, looking for fish jumping, birds, and boats. Keep your eyes open for signs of feeding Spanish Mackerel.

A nice cooler filling up with Spanish Mackerel.

Look at the size of this Spanish Mackerel. Note the dark fin and the spots.

When the water warms up in the Spring and Summer. It's time to go trolling for Spanish Mackerel. This is a great eating fish and the creel limit is high (15 per person). They will readily bite early in the morning and late in the evening, but can readily be caught any time of the day.

Our main tactic is to fish with four lines and troll slowly at about 800 to 1,000 rpm. We will have two poles out, and two hand lines with planers to get the lure down to 5-10'.

The gear:

Two-hand lines directly behind the boat. We get the 00 Clark Spoons down around 5-10 feet using a Sea Strike planer (SSP1). You can find out more by looking them up on the proper line to use, length of line needed and how to set them. When the fish strikes, the planer comes up and we reel the fish in by hand. It is simple and effective. Leave plenty of mono-filament or Fluorocarbon as a leader. Make sure you're using a swivel. Vanish Fluorocarbon makes the best leaders in my opinion. Use about 25-30 feet of it. Spanish have sharp eyes and they can see the line.

The two fishing rods will have ball bearing trolling sinkers on them to get the lure down. Again use 25-30 ft of Vanish as a leader with swivels. Get the lines out there.

Technique:

When you get your lines out, make sure that they're far enough away from the boat. Try using a gold spoon, silver spoon, green with flecks, or pink with flecks. Take note of which ones you're catching fish on and the switch to that particular spoon color to catch more fish. The fish might be very color sensitive. This is the key to getting more fish in the cooler.

You want a GREAT Tip: Spanish are not that heavy and are very toothy. I throw them straight into the cooler with the line and lure. Pull the line until the fish's head is sticking out, press the cooler lid on his head to get it to open its mouth. Take the lure out, then release the cooler lid and the fish will be off the hook.

Throw the hook back into the water and catch more fish. This is a great tip, and you will never have to get slime on your hands ever again. We've gone out with four people and caught 30-60 fish in a day. It's relaxing just bouncing around the boat, watching the lines.

You don't have to be that far from shore to catch Spanish, and we're fishing in about 17' of water, and sometimes just a couple of hundred yards from the beach. There is a high potential for "Combat Fishing" (hooking up with more than one fish at a time) because Spanish feed and travel in schools.

We look for fish jumping, seagulls, and other boats when we go out. The Spanish will chase the bait fish to the surface and allow the birds to dive and feed as well. When we do get fish, we slow down...make a large turn and troll through the area again.

Sometime we will stop the boat and throw Gotcha plugs into the bait balls and catch them on light-medium tackle, spinning rod & reels. This is my favorite way to catch Spanish because I love fighting the fish on a rod and reel.

Additional Note: If the fishing is slow or nothing is biting....you should pop open your favorite beverage or a beer. It's almost a guarantee that if you pause long enough to refresh yourself with a cool drink....a fish will strike and you will need to get to work. Well, this is the kind of work I don't mind.

Cooking: The best way I like to eat Spanish Mac's are fillet and fried in House Autry Seafood Breader (medium spicy). Nothing taste or smells like summer, like the smell of fish bubbling and frying in hot oil. Happy holidays and good luck with your fishing adventures.

Indoor Skydiving at Paraclete SkyVentures in Raeford, NC

2011-12-18T06:43:00.000-08:00

My kids with their certificates that they can indoor skydive.

Very excited and ready to go into the wind tunnel.

Von screamed like a little girl.

Sarah doing the flying squirrel. All smiles.

We got an awesome deal on LivingSocial or Groupons for indoor skydiving at Paraclete SkyVentures in Raeford, NC. This was absolutely one of the scariest things and most fun thing I'd ever done. You get a class on how to fly your body. They will provide a flight suit, goggles, and helmet. You will get to fly for two minutes, which doesn't sound like a long time, but it is when you are flying.

The instructor will be in the wind tunnel with you the whole time. This is an all age activity. I saw 4-year-old kids as well as senior citizens flying and having an awesome time.

What To Bring: A no fear attitude and some tennis shoes. They have lockers and as you can see from the photos, they have bleachers for spectators.

What To Expect: Keep you mouth closed! Tie your shoes on tight. The heavier you are the higher the wind speed required to fly you. You will see a large digital readout of the wind speed and your time in flight.

I can't show you in the photo, but the wind tunnel is very, very high. There is a wire mesh as a floor. On your 2nd minute the instructor will ask you if you want to go high. If you say yes, it will be the best ride of your life. The test cell operator will bounce you up and down and you will literally be flying 20-40 feet in the air and then free fall drop, and then bounce back up high again. It was scary, but fun at the same time.

You might get a chance to see some of the professionals practicing their maneuvers together. It is like a flying ballet. It is beautiful to watch.

This one is not for the faint of heart. The kids and I give it a huge two thumbs up in the fun factor. Check them out. http://www.paracletexp.com/

Family fun with indoor skydiving. Skydiving without the danger of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music Festival

2011-12-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

What a super great time at Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music Festival. Over 50 bands played.

I love Zydeco music from Louisiana!

The art of stacking rocks......hours of fun and simple entertainment. Who needs expensive toys?

Main stage.....bring your own lawn chair and cooler.

Good times with good food, music, drink, and friends.

Dancing the night away for all ages.

A rocking good time.

Give out yee battle cry...and have some fun!

Doing it with style...that's the Wolfpack Girl!

Awesome times at the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music Festival.

I'm a pretty spontaneous guy, and a couple of years ago an old college buddy of mine said we should go to the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music Festival. I had no idea what it was, but the kids and I are into camping, so we pack up our gear and head out to Pittsboro, NC.

To say that there was a lot of people there is an under statement. I would equate this to a modern day, family friendly Woodstock, but better organized. We parked one vehicle and then my friend, his young 4-year-old son, my two kids, and I piled into one truck. We paid a one day pass and camping fee, and drove in to find a site. They had prices for 1 night, 2 nights, and 3 nights as well. I think for the whole 4-day event it's $75. We were allowed to bring in our own coolers and food.

Our site was in an open field, with lots of other campers surrounding us. It was tent city, a huge groovy community! The Spring weather was beautiful for camping too. After we'd pitched our tents, we had a chance go walk around and explore. It was a pretty big area and there were sign post and maps to keep you from getting lost. Some trails would lead us through the woods and there were campsites without cars in the shaded woods.

As we walked we could hear each camp site playing music, and every now and then I'd get a whiff of something I remembered from my college days. No one did this in the open, and I was happy for that because we did have small children with us, but I'm just telling you this so there are no surprises. This is very much a liberal culture you will be stepping into.

Some of the tent sites were decorated with Christmas lights or Chinese lanterns. People were very creative in their make shift homes. You could tell that some looked like professional campers.

If I remember correctly there were about 5 main stages, and more smaller (large tent) stages where musical performers played. There were tons of little individuals tents sent up where vendors would sell hand made jewelry, art work, pottery, and clothes. You will get a wide variety of music. There were over 50 musical acts playing over the course of 4 days. I heard deep south southern blues, Zydeco, country, rock, folk, etc.

There were neat little fields of artistic large carved wooden pieces. Like beautifully painted wooden sculptures and totem poles. There was an area in the open woods where you can practice the art of rock stacking. My kids loved this simple play.

There were areas where you could do arts and crafts out of recycled materials. Some stations had drums. Adults and children a like could experience the pure pleasure of beating on a drum. I think there were some booths where you could learn different crafts....weaving maybe?

There was an areas with an open barn where you could get food and beverages. I remember having a great cup of coffee there in the morning watching the world wake up. It went well with my whole grain muffin.

There was a section that was the equivalent to an outdoor food court. Each both had something different. You could get vegetarian, to something from the Middle East, BBQ, Chinese to Greek Food. There was a wide variety, and the quality was excellent. Bring cash. But I think I do remember that there was an ATM there....incredible as it sounds it was in the middle of the woods.

One of the things that really impressed me was the presence of EMS personnel for any kind of emergency. Restroom accommodations will be port-o-potties, so don't be shocked.

I remember there was an organized make believe sword battle as well. My kids were given foamy swords and the organizers would make two groups of 20-30 kids, and they would go into battle having fun whacking each other harmlessly. Little kids screaming battle cries.

My friend and I were prepared with our own lawn chairs and small coolers with our favorite beverages on ice. It was just a fantastic time and it became even more mystical as the sun went down. Huge trees were lit up with Christmas lights. Everyone was having a good time, full of food and drink and listing to great music. People were dancing the night away.

After the concerts, we'd walk back to our tent sites and pass people gathered around fires, drinking, talking, and playing acoustic guitars. The organizers had fresh water tanks that were easily accessible around the area.

In the morning there was a long line for the primitive outdoor shower. The kids and I walked there in our flip flops, towels slung over our shoulders and holding our plastic bags filled with tooth brush, tooth paste, and soap.

The water pressure was not that high....just a trickle really, but at least it was hot, and wet, and we could wash off and feel fresh and new again. I would just like to add that it was a very wonderful experience and very family oriented. The message of peace, love, and happiness was definitely out there. All you have to do is be open to pick it up. I'm not a hippie by any stretch of the imagination, but I pretended to be one for a day...and it wasn't that bad.

What to expect: Expect to have a good time and be around people that are open minded. Expect to see a friend or two. You will see people there of all ages. Expect to hear great music and see a lot of different acts. Expect to see great arts and crafts, feel free and safe.

What to bring: This is a camping event. So take advantage of bring in your own food, ice, and drinks. Bring extra toilet paper, bring lawn chairs, bug spray, and a happy and good attitude towards life. Bring some cash, and possibly rain gear.

This is a huge...let's get back to nature 4-day event. It is a big "Bang for the Buck." In endorse it with two thumbs up. Don't believe me?....ask my kids. This festival happens twice a year, and gets bigger and better every year. I've attached more info with their website down below. Check it out. Peace....out!

http://shakorihillsgrassroots.org/

"Combat" Fishing for Fresh Water Hawgs (Crappie)

2011-12-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

My son, Von, with an nice mess of crappie caught in 40 minutes on a sunny Spring day. We caught one fish every 5-6 minutes. "Combat" fishing.

A nice mess of crappie. The smaller ones measured 10" long, but the Hawgs "Slabs" measured 14-15" long.

Sarah with a nice "keepr" crappie.

A nice mess of fish for the frying pan caught in 1 hour.

Nice "Winter" Hawgs caught from Lake Wilson. Lake Wilson is a very small lake, but look at what was there.

Nice big slab caught from the Tar River Reservoir. This is about a 1.5 to 2 lb. fish.

The pending North Carolina State Record White Crappie measuring 17 1/8 inches long, 15 inches in girth and, most important, weighed 3 pounds, 11 ounces, came from the Tar River Reservoir. This place is 12 minutes from my house.

I am not going to claim that I am an expert at catching fish, but I've pulled in my fair share. This article will focus on one particular species called Crappie. This fish holds a seat as one of the best fresh water fish to eat....period. I am passionate about catching them and will share my tips and techniques for "Combat" fishing.

Combat fishing is a term I picked up from my father-in-law, Capt. Ronnie Boyd. We use this term when we have multiple hook ups while fishing for dolphin fish, kings mackerel, Wahoo, and Spanish mackerel in the ocean. It's the excitement of having two to three fish on line and trying to get them into the boat...it is chaos with fish.

The name “Crappie” (pronounced CROP-ee) is derived from the French-Canadian word “crapet-soleil," meaning "sunfish." The genus name for both black and white crappie is Pomoxis, meaning “sharp gill cover."
Across the U.S., crappie have 25 or more regional or “nicknames”—probably more than any other fish. Among the more colorful names are slabs, papermouths, calico bass, specks, sac-a-lait (which roughly translates as "sack of milk"), lamplighter, timber perch and John Demon, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. The funny thing is crappie are more closely related to bass than a sunfish, so they're really not sunfish at all.

Where to go: The majority of waters throughout the U.S. will have crappie. These fish are prolific in small ponds, rivers, and lakes. I do not make a distinction and target both white and black crappie.

When to go: For me the best time to fish for crappie is during the spawn, which is when the waters warm up in the Spring. I've heard of people fishing for them year round, but I will pick my days. If it is Winter, I will watch the weather and look for those few days when we have a warm front come through. It seems to me that the fish are hungry and feeding during those short burst of warm weather. Winter time has not been that productive for me. I don't do the slow trolling or spider rigging. When the water warms up into the mid-50's, you'll find me on the water targeting fish from 6'-1' deep. Summer time is also a great time to target these fish in shallow waters.

What to use: Use the lightest tackle possible. 5 lb. weight fly rod, cane pole, light action rod & reel with 4-6 lb. test. My favorite tool to catch crappie is the 1/64 oz. jig hook with a wide variety of tube jigs, and an absolute must for me (my secret) Berkley Powerbait Crappie Nibbles. It's always been said that big bait catch big fish. This is true for crappie as well. I've had success using large minnows fished under a cork, and this is one of my regular techniques.

The gear: My go to rod and reel is going to be a light action rod, and small reel spooled with 4-6 lb. test. I use a 7' rod because it allows me to cast farther with these little lures. Crappie are small fish, and you want a sporting fight. A crappie bite is very light and you will want a line that's as sensitive as possible to set the hook. A light line also matches the sink rate of the 1/64 oz. jig. Presentation is very important.

You can use a slip bobber to adjust the depth of the minnow. I prefer a fixed bobber with a double hook crappie rig. These can be bought at any bait and tackle and resemble a salt water surf fishing rig, but just a whole lot smaller. You will be able to put two minnows at a time on a line with the rigs.

The technique: One of the best ways to find out where the fish are out is to go out when the water is low and draw a map of the locations you see will hold fish. This means noting down logs, tree stumps, and any other habitat that will hold the fish. Don't forget ledges to main channels.

When the waters are high, and the temperature is right...it's time to fish. For me, I love to fish in the evening. This is how I relax after work. I will typically fish from 5:30 p.m. till it gets dark. I've noticed that the bite turns on just 10 minutes before it gets dark. I use the trolling motor, move, fan cast, in 5-6' of water. Once I catch a crappie, I anchor up and start fishing the area. I will use three poles, two live bait poles, and one jigging pole.

You will have to switch up as many colors as you can and figure out what the fish like. Red/White, Red/Chartreuse/Black, Yellow/Green, are some of the colors that work in my area. Always use the crappie nibbles on the end of the hook. The scent attracts the fish, and it can mean the difference between going home with a mess of fish, or just a couple.

Have your live bait poles in the water. Then slowly jig. I will cast and then count one-thousand five times. Once my line stops moving, I know the lure is on the bottom. I gently raise my rod, a couple of turns on the reel, and let the lure gently drift back down again. Repeat this until the lure is back to the boat....repeat. If you see the line stop before hitting the bottom, a crappie has sucked it in. They tend to strike while the lure is falling. Set the hook gently, and be ready for a neat little fight. The fish will run 3 or 4 times. Maintain steady pressure, but not too much. Always use the net on larger fish because we're only fishing with 4-6 lb. test.

Crappie are always looking up...remember that! They will move from deep water to shallow in the evening. These fish sense the slightest movement. They use the sense of smell, and they bite gently....so set the hook gently. They put up a great fight.

There has been many times that I will have two fish on at a time, or two poles with fish on them. This is Combat fishing. Be careful and work the fish because sometimes you will get a big catfish or bass that hit the minnow as well.

How to clean: I use a very sharp and flexible fillet knife. I wear gloves because the fish will be very slimy. I start at the head, put the knife to the top of the rib cage and follow it all the way back, cutting on one side of the dorsal fin. When I get past the ribs, I push the knife through to the bottom anal fin and work back to the tail in a sawing motion. Flip the fillet back, keeping the skin to the tail. Now run the knife between the fillet and the skin. You should have a nice white boneless fillet. Do the same on the other side. There are some good videos on Youtube.com on how to do this.

Eat'n the darn thang: I soak my crappie fillet in milk for 2 hours to a day. Then I dredge the fillet through House Autrey Seafood Breader and pan fry in olive oil for 3-4 minutes per side on medium to medium high heat. You will have a nice white flaky fish with a nice crunchy crust....it is absolutely heaven in every bite. Chew slowly and enjoy your food.

I hope this writing will help those that love to crappie fish.

Lego Kids fest Raleigh NC

2011-12-11T13:58:00.001-08:00

The United States of America represented with Legos.

Lots of great exhibits, games, food, etc. at Lego Kidsfest

Check out this huge Batman at Lego Kidsfest.

Lots of cool exhibits, classes, games, etc. for kids of all ages. Tons of Lego's!

O.K. this wasn't exactly an outdoor event, but it will get you out of the house! We went to kid's Lego heaven if there is one. The Lego Kids fest had tons of things to do and would be an all day event. It was great for little kids, but all ages enjoy building with Lego's. They had tons of displays, games, master building classes, contest, and of course Lego's to buy. Tickets were $20 for adults and $18 for kids, but WRAL had a promotion code when you bought on line and take took two dollars off each ticket. So adults dropped to $18 and kids was $16, not a bad deal for an all day event.

Warrior Dash Huntersville NC 2011

2011-12-08T12:30:00.001-08:00

Good "Clean" fun at the Warrior Dash 2011 in Huntersville, NC. 3.08 mile foot race with 12 obstacles, including mud pits, barbed wire, and jumping over fire. What a great way to spend the day!

Donate your muddy shoes. These will be cleaned up and given to kids without shoes in South America. It's a great cause.

The last portion of the race is to crawl through red clay mud under barbed wire.

Don't fear the fire!

No showers, but there's a big hose so you can feel like a farm animal.

Participants getting into the "Warrior" spirit.

These ladies are ready to run the race...oh yeah!

Cold water and banana's at the finish line.

O.K., so you like a challenge and having fun. We'll I've got a recommendation for you...it's called the Warrior Dash, and it's the easiest entry level type of race you can do. This race is focused on fun, but you can get as serious as you want. This is NOT the Spartan Death Race, or Tough Mudder. You will not have to train for months, and you can walk the course if you want. Men, women and kids can do this race. A 69 year old woman and a 76 year old man did it, and so did approximately 10,500 other people of all shapes and sizes.

How much is it? $55-$65, which is a bargain compared to other races. Here's what you'll get: 1. a T-shirt, 2. a cool Warrior horned hat, 3. a free beer if you're 21, 4. a Warrior Medallion for completing the race, and 5. a race bib/a race timer chip, 6. the satisfaction of having fun, meeting new people, and getting dirty for a change.

What to expect:

Make sure you stretch and are hydrated because it will be hot. The obstacles are harder than they look. It would be good to make sure you can jog at least 3-miles. The course will be through open fields, woods, up and down hills, through water, etc. Work out on some of your upper body if you feel like you need it. Expect to get dirty and on your hands and knees. You can turn in your valuables at a keeper. They'll put it in a bag and you'll get a number. When you're soaked, and muddy, you just give them your number to get your clean clothes, car keys, watches, wallet, etc. that you put in the bag.

There will be plenty of beer, food, novelties, souvenirs, and a free hard rock concert (didn't think they'd play classical did yah?) There's also a big screen TV to watch the participants crawl through the mud. Photographers will be there to take photos and try and sell them to you at a later date.

This event is kids friendly, pet friendly, everything friendly. Parking is $10, so don't forget to bring CASH.

Bear Island Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, NC

2011-12-07T13:36:00.001-08:00

Sunset at Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, NC.

Kids at Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, NC...this is a very isolated place and you have to get there by ferry (pontoon boat).

Primitive camping is allowed at reserved sights. This area is better suited for backpack camping and not car camping. Do not bring a lot of gear because it will be a long walk from the ferry site to your campground. I'm talking about a mile or more hike, at least it felt that way to me hauling cookers, fishing gear, tents, coolers, lanterns, etc.

Some of the most uncrowded beach in NC, Bear Island.

Kids enjoying the ferry ride out to Bear Island from Hammock Beach State Park.

Bear Island...what can I say, there's not much there, the island is bare! You will have to make a reservation with the NC State Park system for about $25.

You will catch a pontoon boat ferry from Hammock Beach State Park. The park main building has a little museum and gift shop there. The areas is protected from the ocean and most of it is marshland with tall grasses. A great place to do some salt water kayaking and fishing. If you had a small boat, jon boat, and such you could fish it here because the waters are calm.

You should catch things such as flounder, puppy drum, croakers, spots, and speckled trout. You could even try crabbing or shrimping with a cast net.

Once you reach Bear Island, there are some showers and bathroom facilities there, but they are not the best. There is a shelter at the dock site and an asphalt path to the beach side of the island. There are no cars, boats, nothing but nature on the beach. You will have to walk another 200 to 1000 yards to your campsite.

The campsites are on the other side of the sand dunes and are protected from the wind. They will have picnic tables there and numbers. A park ranger will come by and check on you 100%. It is very, very beautiful and isolated. At the east end of the island, you will find a ton of sea shells....lots, and lots of sea shells.

Bear Island is a magnificent place...magical almost, and it's such a great feeling to have a place like this that the public can enjoy that's completely undeveloped. Get out there and enjoy it! Bring a surf rod if you do.

NC Coastal Fishing (Carolina Princess)

2011-12-06T06:29:00.000-08:00

Amberjack caught from the Carolina Princess, Morehead City, NC.

American Snapper "Red Snapper" caught from the Carolina Princess, Morehead City NC.

Fillet from Red Snapper......yummy fresh sushi! Or if you prefer Cajun blackened, or southern fried as well.

The North Carolina coast offers some of the best inshore and off-shore fishing from the budget minded to high dollar charters. For me, I'm budget minded. Red Snapper season has been closed since 2008 and has yet to reopen, but there's still plenty of Vermilion Snapper, Grouper, Red Porgies, Trigger Fish, and other reef complex fish to be landed.

I caught these fish on the Carolina Princess Head Boat. You can do a 1/2 day, whole day, or 18-hour fishing trip. Check out their website for pricing, but it's typically about $50 for 1/2 day, $100 for whole day, and $140 for an 18-hour trip. You will need to call and make reservations ahead of time and look at their calender. The Captain Stacey is another head boat style fishing experience and pricing is a little lower and they have a 24-hour fishing trip.

What is provided:

1. You do not need a salt water fishing license for the head boat. It is provided.
2. They will provide you with fishing tackle (it works, not the best). You can bring your own if you like, but I can catch fish with their hook, line, sinker, rod and reels.
3. They provide the bait. Typically this will be cut bait, squid or Boston mackerel.
4. The Carolina Princess has a galley. They serve beer, sandwiches, soda's, chips, etc.

What to bring:

Bring a sleeping bag, appropriate clothes for the season, sandwiches, drinks, (no alcohol), a cooler, cash, and your own tackle if you don't like theirs. It will be a 4-hour ride to the fishing grounds. You will be fishing in 100 ft of water or more. Bring a book, or some other form of entertainment. I do not recommend a full day trip for kids under 10 because it's exhausting. The 18-hour trip is only for the hardcore and is exhausting! There is a top deck with bench seats. You can sleep in the open air on the ride back.

What to expect:

You will work! That's right, you're going to work for your fish. Bait the hook with plenty of squid or fish. When the captain says lined down "drop lines", flip your lever and let the 16 oz. sinker drop all the way to the bottom, once you feel the line go slack, reel up about 4 to 7 times and wait. You WILL feel a jerk, and then you gently pull your rod up, or you can easily jerk back. Some people are very aggressive at setting the hook, but I think you just waste energy and lose fish this way. If 5 seconds has passed without a bite, you need to reel up because your bait is gone. Remember you are reeling up and down in over 100 feet of water with a one pound weight at the end. You will get a work out, and you're going to do this several times.

The most important thing is to relax and have fun. If you get a strong tug on the line, and it's a big fish..it's important to reel up as fast as possible to prevent the fish from going back down into a hole or tangling your line on bottom structure. You can lose the fish if that happens. It is not uncommon to get double hook ups, two fish at a time, or a BIG grouper on the other end. The deck hand will unhook your catch for you. If it's a big fish, they will gaf it for you.

Sometimes you will come back with a cooler full of fish, and sometimes not so many. Once you get a fish and it is of legal size and species, the deck hand will string it up with a number, then throw it in their large cooler. You will collect your fish with the matching number at the end of the trip. This will be your stringer of fish. It is customary to tip the deck hand for good service.

There is typically a big fish pot, if you want to put $5 in. The person with the biggest fish gets the cash pool. Ask about the rules, it must be caught from a bottom rig.

Once you get back to the dock, you can have your fish cleaned and processed for a small fee, or just take it home and do it yourself. The boat leaves early, 1st come 1st serve. You will be back by 5-6 p.m. The best position is to the rear of the boat. Sometimes you can light line and fish for game fish off the back, but you have to pay attention because the captain will reposition the boat many times. Good luck, enjoy our coast, and most of all have fun and eat fish!

SparkCon 2011 4-Day Arts & Craft Festival Raleigh

2011-12-06T05:47:00.001-08:00

Awesome street art done with chalk at SparkCon 2011 in downtown Raleigh, NC. Looking forward to next year.

Terrific talent and art work at the SparkCon 2011 Festival.

Who knew chalk on the street could be so interesting.

The kids and I went to SparkCon in downtown Raleigh, NC back in Sept. 2011. This was a four day celebration that offered art, dance, crafts, jewelry, paintings, food, and drink. For a small fee, artist could get a block on the street and get colored chalk to create interesting pictures. There lots of things to do from arts and crafts for kids, to shopping for custom made jewelry. I personally liked the gourmet coffee rickshaw. Look forward to having another great event in the fall of 2012.

2011 Recurve Bow Hunting (Bear Kodiak Magnum 1968-1970

2011-12-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

Steel Force 125 grain broad head, Port Orford Cedar Shaft.

1968-1972 Bear Kodiak Magnum 50-55 lb. recurve bow.

Everything Old is New Again (In 10 year Cycles)

I’ve been around for about 43 years now, and one thing I’ve learned is fashions and trends never die, they just get recycled every 10 years. I call it the, “Everything old will be new again theory.” So goes my first hunt, first shot, and first deer of the 2011 North Carolina season.

This was my first time in the deer woods and I dusted off my early 1970’s Bear Kodiak Magnum 55 lb. glass powered recurve. I had made two nice wooden arrows tipped with 125 grain Steel Force glue on broad heads. These wooden arrows are heavy and weigh approximately 600 grains each. Arrows were dressed out in NCSU colors, so go Wolf Pack.

The weather had cooled down significantly that Saturday afternoon. Last Thursday the high was up in the 90’s, and Friday morning I drove to work through a brisk 57 F! It had been raining, and the clouds had rolled in threatening showers for the day.

I had not been scouting, but knew this little bottle neck in the woods that was a perfect spot to set up in. I was excited and looked forward to just spending some relaxing time and self reflecting in the woods. Things had been hectic lately, and hunting is cheaper and more therapeutic than a $200/hr shrink.

We bow hunters are a ritualistic bunch and have our own little routines. We dress outside, wash our clothes in no scent detergent, and shower with no scent soap. We do everything that it takes to reduce our scent signatures. Yet with all the meticulous steps and planning, I always forget something. This time it was my shooting glove, so now I had to shoot with bare fingers.

I put out a scent wick with some 2-drop supreme a little upwind from the area I was hunting, and then I climbed up a nice straight young pine about 12-14 feet. I didn’t want to get too high because of all the leaves and branches, and the recurve was limited on range.

A beautiful red fox ran by just 30-yard directly in front of me after a mere 30 minutes of sitting. It was beautiful, with red fur on its sides, dark gray fur in the middle, and the tail was tipped with black. The wind was picking up, and it was nice and cool. I remember I did not break in sweat at all walking the 200 yards in, and knew this was going to be a good day.

Time slowly ticked by as I sat motionless, scanning the woods for movement with my eyes going from left to right. A squirrel feeding at eye level just 15 yard in front of me kept me entertained.

That little bushy tail would stand on its hind legs and grab berries and eat. Then it would hang upside down like a monkey and eat. It is funny how one passes the time watching the littlest things when you’re in the woods. I was surprised that the squirrels were not on the ground looking for food, but would rather gather something to eat up in the trees.

By 5:30 p.m. I heard my 1st buzz of a mosquito the size of a cricket. I quickly turned on my ThermaCell, and all is good with the world again. The wind must have died down a little as well.

It was now 6:30 p.m., and I saw movement directly in front of me just 40-50 yards away. It was a buck moving from right to left on a trail in front of me. He disappeared into the thick woods, and I slowly got into the standing position…waiting for him to show up again.

Then from the left corner of my eye I saw movement. There were two does walking, stopping, and feeding up a path that was to my left. They moved at a normal pace and had no idea they were being watched. Sunlight was starting to leave me fast, and I wanted to wait for that buck to come back, but hunting with the recurve is a game of opportunity. So, I had an opportunity to harvest a doe, and that’s exactly the decision I made.

The two does were walking from left to right, and when the bigger one paused long enough in an opening. I was able take a deep breath and draw my bow. She had turned completely broadside to me.

Replays of past failures flashed through my mind. I had missed on a nice doe at 15-yards last year because I thought she was out farther and aimed high. The arrow sailed over her back. Everything looks different when you’re up in a tree above 12 feet.

I kept saying BRASS in my mind, Breath, Relax, Aim, Sight, Squeeze, just replace squeeze with smooth finger release.

I could see the arrow flying straight towards the two deer, and it looked like a good clean shot. The two does bolted in opposite directions. Looking down at my watch, it was 6:45 p.m. As always, I thought I had missed. When I got down on the ground to where the two deer where, I couldn’t find my arrow and thought it might had just buried deep in the ground. The ground was wet from all the rain.

For some reason I decided to walk and look for my arrow in the direction the larger doe ran. I didn’t find my arrow, but did find her lying on the ground just 35-40 yards from where she was shot. I was so happy, and looked up and thanked God. Taking anything with the recurve is a gift.

The entry wound was slightly above her right front shoulder, and the exit wound was well behind the opposite rib cage. When I looked at her closely it did seem like I got both lungs and grazed the heart. I’m guessing my arrow travelled around 175 to 190 fps, and she probably jumped the string a little, this was why she was hit quartering to and not a 100% broadside.

I was able to pace out the distance from where she was shot and it came out to be 23 yards. It was getting dark and I got out of the woods by 7:00 p.m.

The next morning I went out and found my arrow. It was intact and laying on the ground just 15 yards from the point of impact. It didn’t have much blood on it, but then I did remember putting about 8-12 layers of clear coat on it. No liquid would ever stick to those arrows. It must have stayed in and got pulled out as she ran.

I’d had that old Bear bow for about 10 years and have killed a couple of deer with it. It’s probably older than me. I did notice how the popularity of traditional archery is making a comeback. I’d often wondered if that bow could talk what stories would it tell, would it say to me “Everything old is new again. Although an archer may shoot a million times, every shot is a new beginning.” I don’t know, I just know that I’m very happy with my 1st hunt, 1st shot, and 1st deer of the 2011 season.