O.C.T New River Rendezvous over Labor Day weekend
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2024 3:27 pm
The annual New River Rendezvous over Labor Day weekend is coming up! Friday (August 30) and Saturday (August 31) we will meet at Ray's Campground at ten a.m at the picnic tables behind the office. We'll meet at nine a.m. on Sunday (Sept 1) and Monday (Sept 2). If you are driving there on Friday or Saturday morning then try to allow time to at least throw camping gear out of the car so you'll be useful for shuttles.
This trip is ordinarily open to almost all levels of paddlers. If you’ve never been in a boat before then you aren’t ready. At ordinary water levels the upper sections of the New are pretty newbie friendly while the gorge offers more difficult rapids. With rain other options open up.
Where? Ray’s is in Hico (pronounced HIGHcoh) near the intersection of routes 60 and 19 which is about five miles north of where the New goes under route 19. Head west very briefly on 60 and turn right on Sunday Road. Sunday Road is narrow so take it easy. Ray’s is about a mile on the left. 304-658-4386. There are reservable and non-reservable tent sites. There are still a few reservable sites left as of posting this but they will probably go quickly with the holiday weekend. At last count it was $11 per person per night. Electric sites are $9 extra. Dogs must be leashed. Please respect quiet hours.
In past years they have accepted cash, check, and all major credit cards. They also recently started accepting Venmo though the service can sometimes be spoty. I’ll guess they prefer cash so bring some bills.
GPS user note, GPS directions will NOT take you to the put ins or take outs. Please look at a map and/or follow people who know the way. GPS may or may not accurately take you to the campground. I recommend at least glancing at a map or two before you head out. It can go a bit bonkers out there. In recent years phone coverage in camp has been at least good enough to check river levels.
I’ll post this to Coastals, the Monocacy Canoe Club, and Carolina Canoe Club. Feel free to cross-post to other clubs if you wish.
I also want to thank Ken Dubel for running this event for the last 23 years. It's always been a trip I look forward to every year, and I know many others' do as well. And also thank you for letting me copy your verbiage!
SYOTR,
Savanna Klein
This trip is ordinarily open to almost all levels of paddlers. If you’ve never been in a boat before then you aren’t ready. At ordinary water levels the upper sections of the New are pretty newbie friendly while the gorge offers more difficult rapids. With rain other options open up.
Where? Ray’s is in Hico (pronounced HIGHcoh) near the intersection of routes 60 and 19 which is about five miles north of where the New goes under route 19. Head west very briefly on 60 and turn right on Sunday Road. Sunday Road is narrow so take it easy. Ray’s is about a mile on the left. 304-658-4386. There are reservable and non-reservable tent sites. There are still a few reservable sites left as of posting this but they will probably go quickly with the holiday weekend. At last count it was $11 per person per night. Electric sites are $9 extra. Dogs must be leashed. Please respect quiet hours.
In past years they have accepted cash, check, and all major credit cards. They also recently started accepting Venmo though the service can sometimes be spoty. I’ll guess they prefer cash so bring some bills.
GPS user note, GPS directions will NOT take you to the put ins or take outs. Please look at a map and/or follow people who know the way. GPS may or may not accurately take you to the campground. I recommend at least glancing at a map or two before you head out. It can go a bit bonkers out there. In recent years phone coverage in camp has been at least good enough to check river levels.
I’ll post this to Coastals, the Monocacy Canoe Club, and Carolina Canoe Club. Feel free to cross-post to other clubs if you wish.
I also want to thank Ken Dubel for running this event for the last 23 years. It's always been a trip I look forward to every year, and I know many others' do as well. And also thank you for letting me copy your verbiage!
SYOTR,
Savanna Klein
