A new flock is preparing to glide across the waters of Lake Junaluska this summer. Seven pedal-powered swan boats could arrive as early as Independence Day Weekend, bringing a new whimsical recreation experience to the 200-acre mountain lake.

Designed to look like oversized swans, the swan boats celebrate the lake’s actual swans, which were first introduced in the community in 1989. Crafted by Adventureglass, the 10-foot boats are large enough to accommodate up to five guests and have optional Bimini-style sunshade canopies.

Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the start of the busy boating and summer travel season. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is encouraging safe boating practices and reminding the public of the dangers of operating a water vessel while impaired.  

“On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” is a public safety campaign aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related incidents on the roadways and waterways. 

A nagging albeit minor plumbing issue on our 46-year-old Canadian-made sailboat, Tranquilo, sent me to Mitchell’s Hardware in downtown New Bern. It’s one of those throwback hardware stores, brass doorknobs, endless bins of screws and washers and plumbing fittings, creaky hardwood floors and friendly employees to help you locate what you need. The woman who rang me up told me to have a good day and then asked where I was from. 

Haywood Community College’s Department of Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer four opportunities for boater safety courses in spring and summer 2026. Classes will be offered April 1-2, May 13-14, June 3-4 and July 29-30 from 6-9 p.m. on the HCC campus in the Walnut building, room 3312. Participants must attend two consecutive evenings to receive their certification. 

I’m sitting alone in the cockpit of the boat anchored at Cape Lookout National Seashore off the coast of North Carolina in the early morning, and I’m about to write a column about tourism. Sipping my coffee, though, I’m distracted as a cool May breeze rattles the halyards. 

Haywood Community  College and the  North Carolina  Wildlife Resources Commission  will offer three opportunities for boater safety courses in Spring 2025. Classes will be offered from 6-9 p.m. April 2-3, May 7-8, and June 4-5 on the HCC campus  in the Walnut building, room 3322.

Glass half full, that’s me. Lots of good folks out there doing good things. We had a couple of gentle reminders of this on Monday. 

I’m hunkered down on a drizzly day in the cabin of our boat, which is docked at Duck Creek Marina in Bridgeton, North Carolina. That’s just across the Neuse River from New Bern for those familiar with the Carolina coast. 

 In efforts to ensure a safer July 4 holiday experience on the water, wildlife law enforcement officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will participate in Operation Dry Water, a national campaign being observed July 4-6, developed through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). 

Hello from the writing desk in my humble abode apartment in downtown Waynesville. It’s warm and sunny outside on this Monday afternoon amid Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve just returned from a 2,678-mile out and back trip to the North Country.