A marshy island in the Chesapeake Bay.

A sandbar in the Chesapeake Bay.

I can only imagine how ridiculous my little Scion iA looks blasting down the interstate at 70mph with a canoe that's nearly as long as it is strapped to the roof. I used to have some foam blocks that clipped over the gunnel, but I lost them so I just use a pair of folded up moving blankets. It works surprisingly well, except rainwater can wick through the straps and drip into the car.

I've taken her down to the Outer Banks a number of times and explored both the sound and the ocean side. Here I'm in the Atlantic off Ocracoke Island. The best bet is to walk it out to about neck height, then climb in and row like mad until you're past the breakers. Once things calm down bail out all the water that managed to find a way in.

One afternoon off the coast of Ocracoke Island a pod of dolphins came through!