Tag Archives: Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

The Landscape, The Northern Neck and Beyond

Kayaks Ready to Rent

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It’s hot outside! And Menokin is the cool place to be kayaking out on Cat Point Creek!

Our friends at USF&W loaned us their trailer to get all the new boats down to the creek. Silas, one of our summer interns, painted the rack and set up all of the boats. He’ll be ready to teach you how to paddle and assist your launch. Be sure to bring a hat and sunblock.

Silas prepped and painted a rack to hold the boats at the waterfront.
Alice turned her car into a modified flying machine while transporting the rack to the creek.

Now it’s easy to learn how or just come explore. Free lessons are available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-12pm, just call or email Alice at 333-1776, afrench@menokin.org to reserve a boat. Come meet our new ACA trained kayak instructors Silas and Erin.

Already know how to paddle a boat? Menokin has rentals available now, too! Sit-on-top singles rent for $10/2hours; or paddle together and save in a tandem (two-person) kayak for $15/2hours. Rentals are available Tuesday through Saturday, 10am until 6pm, and include a US Coast Guard certified life jacket, paddle, and kayak.

We have 12 single “sit on” kayaks available for rent for the nominal fee of $10/2 hours.
Our six tandem “sit on” kayaks rent for $15/2 hours.

Got your own paddle boat or board? You can come out anytime until 7pm, every day of the week and use our launch free of charge.  Menokin is a Chesapeake Bay Gateway and also part of the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail. You can access the flat water of Cat Point Creek from our soft landing.  After your adventure, take a minute to add notes about your adventure in the waterproof log book we keep nailed to the tree.

Our picturesque launch onto Menokin Bay, the widest section of Cat Point Creek.
Leave a comment and tell us where you’re from.

Download our printable paddle guide. Happy paddling!

The Landscape

Menokin Launches A New Era In The Northern Neck

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The Menokin Foundation celebrated the Grand Opening of the newly improved road and water access to Cat Point Creek at the end of November.

Several people were on hand to enjoy a reception with great food (can you say “freshly fried catfish?”), good memories and a trip down the trail to the water.

Only two and a half brave souls took to the water in kayaks on the sparkling cold day. But we look forward to welcoming more kayak and canoe enthusiasts in the years to come.

A special thanks to the National Park Service for their $99,000 grant through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network to make this project a reality!

Sarah Pope and Bob Campbell reminisce about the long relationship between Menokin and the National Park Service.
Are you friendly?
Yes, we both are!
Plenty of good food.
And beautiful flowers.
Bob Campbell (NPS) and Menokin President Tayloe Murphy
Tayloe gives the welcoming address.
Sarah is enthusiastic about the completion of the project.
Good friends of Menokin – Bill Portlock and Nancy Raybin.
A captive audience and a dog.
More members of the Menokin Canine Corps were in attendance.
Preservantion architect, John Fidler and Menokin Trustee, Mercer O’Hara, chat with Sarah.
Trustee, Steve Walker and Kirwan and Fran King with a guest.
It’s official!
Wagons Ho!
And they’re off!
What a lovely place to walk.
New parking area with interpretive signage.
The soft launch site.
Education Coordinator, Alice French, and National Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Manager, Andy Hoffman, debate the pros and cons of kayaking on a cold, windy day.
A comfy spot for a chat or a picnic. Or both!
Bill, Alice Wellford and Nancy agree to stay on dry land.
Penelope Saffer (former trustee), Hullie Moore (Treasurer) and Hill Wellford enjoying the day and each other’s company.
Remember when finding just the right stick was so much fun?!?
Inigo Howlett, local correspondent for NPR took on the challenge.
Intrepid Alice is not phased by the weather and enjoys a good paddle.
Big adventurers come in small packages.
I’m guessing they’ll both be back for more.
The Landscape, The Northern Neck and Beyond

Menokin is Included in the 2015 Essential Paddling Guide

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Menokin was visited last May by Kurt Repanshek of the National Parks Traveler, Suzanne Copping of the National Park Service and Richard Moncure of Friends of the Rappahannock.

Their mission – paddle along Cat Point Creek and Menokin Bay from Menokin Landing and hopefully find the experience worthy of including in the 2015 Essential Guide to Paddling The Parks.

Click the image for a link to the Paddling Through History article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accompanied by Alice French, Menokin’s Intrepid Education and Outreach Coordinator and Bri Basile, summer intern, they determined that it is worthy and they have included a beautiful article about our site and our project in this year’s publication.

Improvements on Menokin’s road, thanks to a generous grant from the National Parks Service Chesapeake Gateways Program, to Cat Point Creek will begin in March and hopefully will be ready in time for prime paddling.