The Dan River Basin Association’s First Saturday Outing will be May 1.
The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. until noon, with participants paddling 4-miles along the Mayo Lake shoreline. Mayo Lake is located at 1013 Neal’s Store Road, Roxboro, N.C.
“Mayo Lake is about 2,800 acres and has about 85 miles of shoreline. Since the shoreline is mostly undisturbed, it is great for viewing all kinds of wildlife and birds. It is an important recreation and fishing lake for the region and sees many visitors annually,” Park Superintendent Jeremy Royster said.
Upon arrival at the park, participants should drive to the end of Neal’s Store Road and park in the gravel parking lot. Boats will be launched from the Mayo Lake Park Boat Landing, which has restrooms. The group may conclude the outing at lunchtime in the nearby picnic shelter.
The park has a few kayaks and canoes available at no cost. Participants must reserve them in advance by calling the park at (336) 597-7806. Additional boats and shuttle can be rented from Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215, www.3-r-o.com.
Located 10 miles from Roxboro and three miles from the Virginia line, Mayo Reservoir was constructed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by Carolina Power and Light Company for power generation. It is named after its main tributary, Mayo Creek, which in turn is named, like the Mayo River, for Major William Mayo, a member of William Byrd’s 1728 survey party, “a Virginia official, land speculator and surveyor.”
According to The Dan River Book, the name, spelled “Maho” on the sign where NC 49 crosses the Mayo Creek, is still pronounced “Maho” by many local persons.
Mayo Park was begun in 1996 and has continued to develop, maintaining more than six miles of trails, along with boat landings, cabins, tent sites, boat rentals, restrooms and other amenities.
Participants are asked to meet at 9 a.m. at the Mayo Lake Park Boat Landing. They are encouraged to dress in synthetic clothing and be prepared to get wet, to supply boat, paddles, life jacket for each boater, lunch, and water and to sign a waiver form upon arrival. The outing is suitable for novice paddlers.
Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For safety and to comply with state guidelines, participants are reminded to wear a facemask that covers nose and mouth and observe social distancing throughout the paddle.
Since guidelines may vary, visit www.danriver.org by Friday, April 30, to determine whether the outing will be held.
For more information, contact Wayne Kirkpatrick at wynbtyk@embarqmail.com or call (540) 570-3511.
