Pittsboro, NC – I love the great outdoors and, over the last few years, I’ve written all about Jordan Lake – Fall Hiking, Spring Camping, a Dog’s Guide to Jordan Lake and more. But the most popular post has been about renting a boat. Just in time for summer, freshly-updated, is my 2013 Guide to Renting a Boat on Jordan Lake.

Boat Rentals on Jordan Lake

Crosswinds Boating Center
565 Farrington Road
Apex, NC 27523-8063
919-387-7011
www.crosswindsboating.com

Right off Highway 64 in Apex, Crosswinds Boating Center  is a full service facility for boat enthusiasts. Services include wet storage, dry storage on trailers, pontoon and fishing boat rentals, public launch ramps, tackle shop, and an independent marine repair shop.

Jordan Lake Water Sports
(919) 426-2864
2296 North Pea Ridge Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312
http://www.jordanlakenc.com

Jordan Lake Water Sports features full day rentals of kayaks, canoes, stand Up PaddleBoard (SUP), pontoon boats and sailboats. Yu meet your boat at Vista Point and it yours for the day. JLWS also runs chartered Pontoon Boat Nature Tours, Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Sales and Pilates Classes on Stand Up Paddleboards.

Raleigh Jet Ski
Website
(919) 833.4638

These folks deliver jet skis to Jordan Lake 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. Play for an hour or play all day. Features quality three-seat Waverunner, Jet Ski or Sea Doo watercraft. Rates start at $90 for a one-hour rental. Striper season runs from April to December.

Kayak Adventures
Website
Facebook Page
919-929-3805 or 919-259-2241 and speak to Susanne

Easy paddling, low cost and a shallow draft make kayaking a great way to get close to natrure on the lake. Kayak Adventures has lots of great themed trips including “Paddle with the Beavers,” “Sunset Full Moon Paddles,” private parties and standard rentals of canoes and kayaks.

Sunset paddle, courtesy of Kayak Adventures

Frog Hollow Outdoors
Website
Facebook Page
919-416-1200

Frog Hollow rents kayaks and canoes, runs guided expeditions, camps and overnight adventures. In addition to Jordan Lake, they also offer services nearby on the Haw River, the Eno River, the Cape Fear river, the Neuse River, the Deep River and Falls Lake.

Striper Sniper Adventures
Website
(919) 656-1887

Another way to enjoy Jordan Lake without owning a boat is Striper-Sniper Adventures.They offer guided fishing expeditions on the lake. Half-day trips with up to three people start at $250. Full trips are $300. Includes bait & tackle, but you must have a valid NC fishing license.

Country Singer Tift Merritt caught this big one on Jordan Lake with Striper Snipers.

Pittsboro, NC – One of my favorite Chatham County events is coming up on May 25, 2013 – the NC Hops & Roots Festival.

NC Hops & Roots Festival

The NC Hops & Roots Fest is a celebration of local-ness – beer, wine, farms and food with music all day.

The festival is held at beautiful at Shakori Hills. You can even camp overnight for free.

Music Lineup

I’ve been to the festival in the past, but this year’s musical lineup may be the best ever.

Katherine Whalen, a founding member of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, kicks it off at 1:30.

Angela Easterling, Craicdown and Gasoline Stove power through the afternoon. In the evening, it’s the The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra followed by the The Lizzy Ross Band.

I’ve heard at least three of these bands and wow – it’s like a Piedmont Woodstock.

Food

Capp’s Apizza is a mobile, wood-fired pizza company. One of the coolest concepts I have seen. The pizza is fantastic.

Another tasty food truck concept is Baguettaboutit. They serve six flavors of NC-made sausage, choice of eight hand-crafted sauces (and a vegetarian) selection, all on a crusty baguette. It’s how they eat lunch in Switzerland, but now you can have it in Pittsboro, too.

Old North State BBQ will also be at Hops & Roots, plus Little Dippers Italian Ice and Tar Heel Creamery. Homemade and delicious, from right here in the Triangle.

Beer

It is the Hops & Roots Festival, so let’s talk beer.

One thing I really like about Hops & Roots is the focus – they keep it small, but everything is top-notch. Just four breweries will be at the festival, but they’re among the best in North Carolina – Carolina Brewery, Fullsteam, Foothills and Bear Creek.

Wine

Local vintners include Starrlight Mead, Silk Hope and Wolfe Wines. The festival advertises a wine garden as well. Salut!

Farms

Seven local farms will be at Hops & Roots this year, including Farm Boy Farms, Granite Springs, Lilly Den (meats), Screech Owl, Okfuskee Farm, Lindley Farm Creamery and Piedmont Biofarm.

It’s a chance to learn about food and buy some, too. Bring a cooler and take home some of the bounty of the land.

For Families

Hops & Roots is a family-friendly event.

Activities for kids starts will all-day hula hooping. The hooping goes on non-stop.

There’s also scrap art, tie dyeing and educational booths, so there’s plenty to do for the kids.

Free Camping and Breakfast

The camping is free at the NC Hops & Roots Festival. This year, Sunday farm fresh breakfast for campers complements of Lilly Den Farms.

Friday Night in Downtown Pittsboro

Another cool thing this year – Friday activities in Downtown Pittsboro to coincide with Hops & Roots.

They also have a mobile app with food menus and music schedules. Check it out at http://nchops.giggler.mobi/.

Event Info

It’s hard to pull off a good festival, but NC Hops & Roots achieves with taste, quality and authenticity. One of NC’s best festivals, right here in Chatham County. I’m going again!

NC Hops & Roots Fest
May 25, 2913
Gates open at 12:00
Music starts at 1:30

Shakori Hills
Pittsboro, NC
Map

$20 in advance (through 5/20)
$25 at the door

Tickets include parking and camping. For more info and to get tickets, visit NC Hops & Roots Festival.

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Photos from NC Hops & Roots.

Pittsboro, NC – Sometimes I get carried away with local events, food, music. But the buying and selling of homes continues. After all, I am a Realtor. So lend me your ears for this story about 269 Millbrook Drive in Pittsboro’s Powell Place.

269 Millbrook Drive

269 Millbrook is a charming Craftsman style cottage with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathes.

Like many Crafstman homes, 269 Millbrook has a cozy front porch and a lovely patio surounded  by really lush landscape.

Amenities include a downstairs master bedroom, living room with fireplace and hardwood floors. Kitchen has solid counter tops, stainless steel appliances and plenty of storage. 2 car garage.

Powell Place

Powell Place is a great new neighborhood just a few minutes from downtown Pittsboro.

There’s a Village Green and Mary Hayes Barber Holmes Park, site of this year’s Chatham County Wellness Festival on May 18, 2013. Across the street is a Carolina Brew Pub, Lowe’s Home Improvement, a Japanese restaurant and more, but Powell Place is a community of tree-lined sidewalks and inviting neighborhood architecture.

HOA dues include cable and internet, a very nice amenity. Walk to Pittsboro Town Park and right across the street from shopping and dining. Easy access to 15-501 and Route 64, 5 minute Jordan Lake.

Specs

• 1,851 square feet
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 full baths, 1 half bath
• Two-car garage
• .12 acres
• MLS: 1889742

Price

• $197,000

Contact

Get in touch for more info.

Julie Roland Realty, Inc.
Julie Roland, Owner/Broker
Pittsboro, NC
919-274-8004
jroland@nc.rr.com

Pictures

 

Pittsboro, NC – The 2nd Annual Chatham County Wellness Festival is coming on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Food, exercise, sustainable agriculture, alternative medicine and more.

2nd Annual Wellness of Chatham Health Festival

Mary Hayes Barber Holmes Park in Pittsboro’s Powell Place is the location for the 2nd Annual Wellness of Chatham Health Festival. Wellness of Chatham is the organizing force.

Wellness has a Facebook page where you can read about topics including Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA.  These are farms where consumers can “subscribe” or become “members” and get regular deliveries of locally grown food. It’s an economic model that’s helping small farmers make a sustainable living close to urban areas like the Triangle.

The Wellness of Chatham Health Festival will also have exhibits and demonstrations of organic farming and community gardening, alternative health practitioners, massage therapists, acupuncturists and herbologists, healthy restaurants, fitness coaches, yoga instructors and wellness organizations.

The Rex Mammography van will be there, too.

Event Details

2nd Annual Wellness of Chatham Health Festival
Saturday, May 18, 2013
11 AM – 2 PM

Mary Hayes Barber Holmes Park
304 Old Rock Springs Cemetery Rd.
Powell Place Subdivision
Pittsboro, NC

Map

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Photo by thebittenword.

Outside of Pittsboro, NC – My friends at Deep River Sporting Clays are hosting The Southern Side-by-Side Championship and Exhibition this weekend.  It’s great fun to see expert marksmanship, history, tradition and competition all rolled into one.

Deep River Sporting Clays

Just 13 miles south of downtown Pittsboro, Deep River Shooting Clays sits on 65 acres of rolling woodlands outside Sanford.

Their business is essentially target shooting at clay pigeons. I’ve taken my daughter Kelsi out there for instruction and recreation.

Southern Side-by-Side Spring Classic

Now in its 14th year, the Southern Classic features side-by-side shooting. That is, double barreled shotguns.

You’ll see fine shotguns, accessories, clothing and artwork represented by more than 75 vendors from around the world all on the Deep River grounds.

The Classic features competitions all weekend including 12-gauge, hammerless and even a black powder challenge. Black powder is the most traditional method of shooting. As they say at Deep River, “we’ll see who wins when the smoke clears!”

See the full schedule: Southern Side-by-Side Spring Shooting Classic

Event Details

Southern Side-by-Side Spring Classic
April 26-28, 2013

Deep River Sporting Clays
284 Cletus Hall Road
Sanford, NC 27330

More info: Southern Side-by-Side

Pittsboro, NC – The Motors for Music Car Show is an annual event that helps raise money for Pittsboro’s Northwood High School band program. It takes place on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10 AM – 3 PM.

The Joys of Chatham Chatlist

I found out about this event from Chatham Chatlist, a daily email bulletin of events and opinion in Chatham County, NC.

Chatham Chatlist is a usually civilized bulletin board – occasionally, someone gets all worked up and types in ALL CAPITALS. But it’s always informative and sometimes even touching.

I can’t say I contribute. But I enjoy seeing it in my inbox every day, finding out the buzz in the neighborhood before I even leave home.

This week featured posts about a lost peacock, a chess club, stuff about home repairs and today’s item about the Motors for Music Car Show to benefit the jazz program at Northwood H.S. in Pittsboro.

Motors for Music Car Show

This is the 3rd year the Motors for Music Car Show has taken place. In each of the past two years, there’s been nearly to 100 cars participating. The Northwood Jazz Band will be playing, along with many other musical acts.

Food and concessions will be available, along with a 50/50 raffle.

Live music by Northwood Jazz, El Mirage, Ira Planer, Circle City, Uniontown and by Andy Coates and the Bankwalkers.

Awards

The top 50 cars and trucks will all receive trophies. There will also be a top motorcycle trophy. Entrants will be able to vote toward the top prize — the Best of Show Award.

The Club Award will go to the club with the highest participation. The Young Gun Awards will go to high school students.

The first 100 participants to register will receive a special Motors for Music dash plaque.

Event Info

Motors for Music Car Show
Saturday April 27th, 2013

Location:

Alpha Install
697 Hillsboro St.
Pittsboro, NC 27312

Schedule:

Car Registration: 8 am-10 am
Judging: 10 am-2 pm
Awards: 2 pm-3 pm

Spectator Hours: 10 am to 3 pm

Registration: $15 pre-registration per vehicle, $20 day of show.

All proceeds will go toward supporting Northwood High School band programs. Visit Facebook for more info:

http://www.facebook.com/2013MotorsForMusicCarShow

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Photo by Chris A.

Pittsboro, NC – Did you know that North Carolina is becoming a craft brewing powerhouse? It’s true. And April is NC Beer Month, with celebrations across the state including (of course) Chatham County.

NC Beer Month

Pale ale, lager, IPA, stout – whatever your preference, nothing beats a fresh brew on a warm Carolina afternoon.

During the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s, big companies took over most of the local breweries in America. For a while, it seemed like the only thing you could get was a Miller or a Bud.

Then Sam Adams came along and craft-breweries started springing up everywhere.

In North Carolina, Asheville is often considered the epicenter of craft-brewing. But Carolina Brewery, with brew pubs in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, has been brewing small-batch, tasty beers for 18 years.

Today, NC has more than 60 craft breweries according to NC Brewers Guild.

Chatham County NC Beer Month Venues

This is the first year for NC Beer Month, so things are a little ad hoc.

Fearrington Village in Pittsboro is featuring NC Beers all month long. Bear Creek Brews will have events in Siler City including Third Friday Artwalk (April 19).

Also in Siler City, Paperbacks Plus also has some celebrations. Pittsboro Roadhouse and City Tap will be featuring local NC brews.

Continuing the fun in Chatham, NC Hops and Roots Fest is coming to Pittsboro in May.

More Info

• NCBeerMonth
• Pittsboro Siler City CVB
• Carolina Brewery
• Bear Creek Brews
• Paperbacks Plus
• Pittsboro Roadhouse
• The City Tap
• Fearrington
• NC Brewers Guild
• NC Hops & Roots Festival

Chatham County, NC – One of my favorite spring festivals is ClydeFEST in Bynum. This year, it’s scheduled for Saturday, April 6.

ClydeFEST

ClydeFEST, now in its 12th year, is Chatham County’s premier folk art festival. It has a special focus on kids with games, activities and entertainments galore.

The one-day festival benefits Chatham Arts and the Clyde Jones Scholarship Fund.

This year’s festival is packed with fun. From the website:

On the Bynum Front Porch Stage there will be music from bluegrass legends Tommy Edwards, Nathan Aldridge, Alice and Rick Zincone, the Northwood Jazz Band, international dance with Takiri Folkloriko Dance Academy, incredible moves from The Bouncing Bulldogs, rope jumping phenoms, fabulous tales from the one and only Cynthia Raxter, storyteller, and magic and balloons from Happy Dan the Magic Man.

Aside from chainsaw connoisseur Clyde, the Ballfield will be home to Georgia folk artist Peter Loose and his African Tortoises, face painting, drum circle, food, photos, ice cream, clown, mime, stilt walkers, local artists, exhibitors, vendors, auction, prizes and games.

Kids of all ages are encouraged to get creative and paint their own critter in “Critterville” and pose for photos on one of Clyde’s Horse-Dogs (or are they Pig-Giraffes?) in the photo tent. And of course all the usual bright and beautiful hand-crafted games will on offer, alongside plenty of local refreshments from ice-cream to hotdogs to keep folks going.

About Clyde

From my post last year:

Clyde Jones, a former mill worker is extremely creative with a chainsaw. Clyde lives in Bynum, just south of Carrboro and creates rough hewn figures from logs and other discarded materials. These critters are rough aggregations of four or five pieces of found wood, cut quickly and nailed together.

Clyde has been bringing his chainsaw to local elementary schools, fund raisers and auctions, since 1982. His critters are often sold or raffled off to raise money for charity, but otherwise, Jones prefers to give his creatures away.

According to Chatham Arts, Clyde now has a permanent display in the window of Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Read more about Clyde Jones.

Event Details

ClydeFEST
Saturday, April 6, 2013
11 AM – 4 PM
Map

For more info, visit ClydeFEST.

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Photo by Carolyn Davis.

Pittsboro, NC – Regular readers of this space know I love the great outdoors and the active lifestyle. Well, I’m taking my game up a notch as a sponsor of the 5th annual Briar Chapel 5K.

Briar Chapel 5K

The Briar Chapel 5K takes place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 9:30 AM.

Registration is $20 and includes a locally-made, organic cotton t-shirt. Plus, there are refreshments after the race from local vendors.

Proceeds benefit the Abundance Foundation, whose purpose is to increase public awareness of sustainable energy usage and local food consumption.

Awards will be presented to the top 3 overall men and women and top 3 men and women in each age group. The 5K will be followed by a kids’ run.

Running a 5K

I’m not ready for a marathon, but a 5K is just 3.1 miles. It’s a great way to challenge yourself if you are new to running or just want a little fresh air and some exercise.

This year, the course at Briar Chapel has been changed to eliminate a bit of a hill at the end of the race. What that means is a pleasant run on a mild spring morning through the Triangle’s largest green community.

I’m thrilled to be an event sponsor this year. Come out and run with me!

Earth Day

Earth Day is Monday, April 22, 2013, so this 5K can be considered part of the celebration.

Lots of other Earth Day activities in Chatham and across the Triangle. Maybe I’ll blog more about it as info comes in. If you know a local Earth Day event, send me an email.

Event Details

5th Annual Briar Chapel 5K
Saturday, April 20, 2013
9:30 AM

Briar Chapel
16 Windy Knoll Circle
Chapel Hill, NC

Register

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Photo by Ryan Litwiller.

Pittsboro, NC – A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a Kayak and Canoe Camp on the Haw River. In this post, I’ll tell you about Carolina Sailing Foundation summer camps on Jordan Lake and Lake Wheeler.

Carolina Sailing Foundation Camps

The Carolina Sailing Foundation (CSF) offers sailing lessons, sailing classes, and racing in central North Carolina for kids, teens, and adults. Their mission is to assist all sailors eight years old and older in learning to sail safely, participating in the sport of sailboat racing and improving sailing and racing skills through sailing classes.

Certified Instructors

In CSF’s Junior Sailing Program, children between nine and 12 participate in small group, on-the-water camps and classes to learn basic sailing and racing skills. Classes and camps use Optimist (Opti) sailboats and emphasize safety, building confidence, having fun and improving skills.

All CSF junior sailing instructors are certified Small Boat Sailing Instructors by US Sailing.

Beginner Sailing

Participants learn the parts of a sailboat, how a sailboat works and how to properly rig and begin to sail.  Students will be on the water sailing around marks. Opti Camp is appropriate for a complete novice sailor age 9 – 12 while the 420 camp is for kids age 12-16. Participant must know how to swim.

Intermediate

Participants review all skills included in the Beginner class, plus learn upwind and downwind techniques.  Opti Camp is appropriate for a child age 9 – 12 that has some sailing experience and is comfortable alone in a boat. 420 Camp is for kids with experience age 12-16. Participant must know how to swim.

June – August

CSF sailing camps run from June through August. See the complete schedule.

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Photo by Dave Hein.