Rambling at Lumber River State Park

Lumber River State Park, North Carolina – 2 Miles – 7/14/12
Well, this was not so much a hike as a fact-finding,curiosity-satisfying, rambling side trip on the way home from vacation.  My family spent a traditional week at SunsetBeach, NC, and on our return home I decided to check out Lumber River State Park, just a few miles detour.  When Iannounced my intentions, everyone piled in my husband’s car and I was left(happily) on my own. 
I have spent time in most of North Carolina’s westernmountain state parks but have only visited a couple of the Piedmont and coastalparks, most notably Eno River near Durham and Jockey’s Ridge on the Outerbanks.  So what is Lumber River?
In a nutshell, its name derives from its use as atransportation vehicle for timber harvesting in the late 1700’s.  Small towns sprung up along its route.  Lumber River is a black water river with deepchannels that flows through wetlands and swamps.  Decaying vegetation leaches into the water, givingit the appearance of brewed tea.  LumberRiver is the only North Carolina black water river to earn federal designationas a National Wild and Scenic River.
Rather than one central location, there are several accesspoints that comprise Lumber River State Park with put-ins for paddling, fishingand some small camping spots.  I waschecking out the Princess Anne Access, one of the main areas that includes aranger station (closed on the day I visited).
First I planned to drive around and get a feel for wherethings were, but I quickly saw that Princess Anne is a very small place and Icould walk the parking and picnic areas from end to end in less than fiveminutes.  There is a very large picnicshelter with charcoal grills and a large restroom.
It was about noon on Saturday, very hot and only going toget hotter.  I walked upstream on Griffin’sBluff Trail first (1-mile round trip). This is a simple stroll by the river’s edge and it was tempting to movequickly, but I slowed down to look at the details.  The water moves so slowly it’s like lookingat a lake or pond, reflecting trees and clouds and an occasional fishjumping. 
Spanish moss, always fascinating
Spanish moss again
And again
Bald cypress tree
Row of bald cypress trees on the far river bank
Cypress tree with Spanish moss
Near the end of Griffin’s Bluff Trail a side creek flowedever so gently toward the river.  Hereyou can really see the tea color created by the tannins.
There is a large wooden observation platform jutting out ona gentle bend in the river, a good fishing spot according to locals Gary Jonesand his son, Landon, although not much was biting today.  Landon was very talkative, and shared with meevery fish he had caught this summer. 
I back- tracked to the main parking area, walked past the boatlanding and a few young fellows silently fishing.  The stillness of the air made the heat moreintense.  I headed downstream on the .4-mileNaked Landing Trail (could not find any info on how this got named).  This trail passed two campsites, one occupiedby a large tent.  I was interested tonote that there were metal garbage cans with lids right beside the tent.  No critter problems? 
This trail also stayed right beside the water.  I saw more interesting bald cypress trees andknees and wondered for the first time if alligators were common (answer:  not common but not impossible).   Soon the path narrowed considerably , but I continuedto follow it until I got creeped out by the spiderwebs, realizing nobody camethis way much, and turned back.  More sothan alligators, I expected to see snakes, but no luck today. 
Cypress knees
More cypress knees
On my return walk I met a family, grandpa, dad andelementary age girl, who were occupying the tent site.  I asked about the garbage cans, and Dad said theranger assured him that black bears had never been sighted here, so no concernsabout garbage (so I didn’t mention raccoons and mice). 
Back at the picnic shelter, a group of a dozen or so folks werefiring up the charcoal grill for a cookout.  They invited me to stay and eat –locals again, good Southern manners.   Remindedme very much of my dad’s family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, thatwould get together in different city parks in Richmond, VA for Father’s Day or justa Sunday afternoon to have a potluck picnic and visit.
All in all my exploration of Lumber River State Park took alittle over an hour, well worth the stop to see how our state park system looksoutside of the mountains and the population it serves.  I’ll bet a leisurely float down the riverwould be wonderful – in cooler weather. I don’t think I’d ever be enticed into that black water.
I said a sincere prayer of thanksgiving for the air conditioningin my car.
A river is a river, always there, and yet the water flowingthrough it is never the same water and is never still.  ~Aidan Chambers