Merchants Millpond - 6/8/12

     Merchants Mill Pond is part of  Merchants Mill Pond State Park in Gates Co., North Carolina. The park is just over a 30 minute drive from downtown Suffolk, Va. making it a nice day trip from anywhere in Hampton Roads, or if you are inclined, the park has camp sites available as well. The millpond was formed about 200 years ago as an economic venture, and through a very generous gift is now a state park.  The word pond might give you the wrong impression as it is covers more than 700 acres and is nearly two miles long. It is a very unique ecosystem with much of the pond being more of a flooded forest, and you are able to paddle between bald cypress, tupelo, oaks and maples, all draped with Spanish moss. The animals include bobcats, bear, many snakes, turtles, primitive long-nosed gar and bowfin, and according to their web site, over 200 species of bird.  One animal I was keen to spot was the American alligator, but they were shy the day I visited. The park is home to what is likely the most northerly population of this animal.

     I took this trip with some visiting friends who were able to rent a nice tandem kayak from the park at a very reasonable price. There was no charge to enter the park or to launch your own kayak, which is done behind the visitor center.  The day I was there the water was like dark colored glass, the paddling was very easy and there were no mosquitoes.  I am not sure this is the same story every day, but I enjoyed it. There are several trails in the water that are marked with small floating buoys, or you can be adventuresome and strike out on your own as we did.  Though we were glad to see the buoys as we were ready to leave. Between the eerie trees and black water you start to wonder if you have been paddling in circles. Our trip ended up being a big loop of about 3 miles.  I highly recommend Merchants Mill Pond, as this place is very special. I plan on returning, perhaps in the fall when the bald cypress take on their rusty orange color

.

View Merchants Mill Pond 6.8.12 in a larger map