Our TLC Neighbors

The Triangle Land Conservancy purchased riverfront property along the Deep River near RiverBend in 2002. They have an interest in other acquisitions along the river and as their assets allow, I suspect that our neighbors will increase their holdings in the area. In 2007 the NC General Assembly authorized adding the Deep River State Trail to the State Parks system. It will be exciting to watch this trail develop over the next few years.

The TLC recently published a canoeing guide for our section of the Deep River. It contains interesting historical and natural history narratives. Did you know that we have the largest coal deposits in NC? One RB landowner drilled a well and went through several feet of pure coal. Download your pdf at this link: TLC Deep River Guide. The water levels are remaining more stable since the construction of the Deep River Dam at highpoint. This has resulted in more canoe groups recently.

Timber Solicitation

Yesterday I received a mail solicitation for timber harvesting. I am sure that other RB owners also received the same mailing. Timber exports to Asia are driving up prices and the market is strong enough that companies such as this one are conducting mass mailings to line up new cutting areas. According to a recent story ships from China are arriving full of imports but departing empty. This has resulted in very low shipping costs for products that previously would not be feasible to ship to China. Hay is an example. It is cheaper to ship hay from the USA than within China. The same with timber. It is cheaper to buy ours than to cut their own and ship it.

Click letter below to enlarge.







This also highlights the risk of timber poaching or theft (see prior postings on this from last year). As we all know, no harvesting of timber is allowed at Riverbend.

New Posted Signs

The Settledge family has put up posted signs on their property with cable barriers for protection. This is increasingly important during this time of year to prevent unauthorized hunting or other activities.

On two occasions during the last month, I have encountered Michael on the main RB road, or on our property. He is riding a 4 wheeler. On both occasions, I have reminded him that he is not welcome and that the property is posted. He has claimed various "approvals" and "permissions" but he cannot produce written permission as required by law and the property owners I have spoken with have given no permissions to anyone. He resides at the Hineken property which abuts RB and it will be difficult to keep him away. Ricky Watts (Dave's brother) knows him well and believes that he is responsible for a wave of vandalism.

Chigger Heaven at RiverBend

During a recent trip to RiverBend I had an encounter with “chiggers,” and discovered what many already know, they are much worse than ticks. RB is apparently “chigger heaven” due to the undergrowth and grasses. When I returned home, I read up on the little buggers.

Interesting facts:

1. Deet is less effective.
2. They can go through loose weave clothing.
3. The allergic reaction can be systemic, but is usually local.
4. They don’t drink blood, but tissue liquefied by their saliva.
5. To prevent; avoid known areas, wear tight weave clothes, avoid hot afternoons (they are only active when soil temp is 60-86 F); use deet but powdered sulfur is better; keep moving.
6. Wash skin/clothes a quickly as possible.

There is a good write up in Wikipedia, and a very informative online info sheet from Ohio State University.

Logan Okra

Our neighbors the Logan family have been very kind and supportive over the years. Kenneth Logan repaired my tractor and gave me some great advice on maintaining it properly.



Today I stopped at their farm shed to buy okra but sadly they were sold out. They should have more ready to pick by Sunday. My favorite Logan product is their strawberries ... big and delicious. In season, sweet corn is terrific. Now they are selling dried corn as "deer corn."

Dale was there today baby sitting and tending the vegetable sales.

Box Turtle

The Carolina Box turtle is the official NC reptile. This time of year, they are busy laying eggs. Our section of RiverBend has many adults wandering the high ground looking for a good egg site. This month's issue of Wildlife in North Carolina has a nice article on the terrapin.

Deer Season Starts Soon

There are unmistakable signs that this will be a busy and active deer season. No property owners have leased to hunters as far as I can tell. I have seen familiar and some unfamiliar faces while hiking on my property at Riverbend and they are no doubt scouting the property for hunting sites. See an earlier post (July 11, 2011) regarding strengthening NC hunting laws in favor of landowners.

Be Safe.


CENTRAL DEER SEASON
Archery: Sept. 10 – Oct. 28 (No firearms may be carried).
Muzzleloader: Oct. 29 – Nov. 11
Gun: Nov. 12 – Jan. 2

Website for hunting regulations.

House in the Horseshoe

Near our Riverbend property is an amazing historic site, the Alston house or as known in the 1700’s, the House in the Horseshoe. It is located in a horseshoe bend of the Deep River in northern Moore County about 7 miles from Riverbend. It is one of the first large houses of the state’s upland frontier country; the House in the Horseshoe was built around 1772 by Phillip Alston and some­times is known as the Alston House. Its walls bear numerous scars and bullet holes sustained during a Revolutionary War skirmish. Of interest to our neighbors are several unique exhibits. These include exhibits on the Indians who once lived in this area, colonial crops, and North Carolina backcountry planters' wives.

For more reading, click here.

Plank Road

Plank Road runs past the entrance to RiverBend and is a well paved and heavily traveled route. It has an interesting past as shown by this historical marker nearby.

North Carolinians developed plank roads in the late 1840s. These wooded highways were an improvement over rough, dirt roads and an important trade development. They can be thought of as the 1840's equivalent of the modern interstate system. Trade networks at the time consisted of plank roads, railroad hubs, and seaports. this effort was considered much needed, as one historian puts it, because plank roads could free “citizens from the bondage of primitive roads.”

More reading is available online at the Plank site. The historical markers site is also very interesting.

Camera Surveillance

I purchased an 8 megapixel "wild game" camera from Costco recently. It is motion triggered and weatherproof. After trying it out around the house and yard, I set it up at a strategic location on my RiverBend property. I was surprised to see how many vehicles enter RiverBend each day. Recently a large buck in velvet passed in front of my car. Quite a beautiful sight.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission website is a great resource for information. Bow season starts in September, 2011 and there are clear signs that our properties are being scouted by hunters. I see no new stands, but there are many stands from last year. Remember to wear bright hunter "orange" even if you are on your own property. In general, you should not confront a hunter concerning their right to be in RB. It is too dangerous. You can place a note on their parked car, and if you see them before they have set up, (i.e., walking through the woods or driving in) you can speak to them and ask them to show written permission. We now have an officer in the Lee County sheriff's office who is aware of our situation and willing to help.

The Landowner Protection Act was passed on July 5, 2011 and provides two ways for landowners to post their lands to allow only hunters, trappers and anglers with written permission to legally enter their property. Landowners can now post their land by using vertical purple paint marks on posts or trees, or, as in the past, by placing signs or posters. Penalties have been increased. LINK . They have included an online template form for use.

Liability for hunters on your property has been more carefully defined by the new law. Trespassers and persons hunting with permission (for no fee) are not a legal liability for the landowner as long as they understand that they are not permitted on your property (posted). If you have charged a hunter for entering your property, you are liable for their injuries and must identify any known hazards on the property.

Liability
Landowner Form

Prolific Growth

Trees and understory are having a great growth spurt thanks to the wet spring in the area. When someone does a tree ring analysis in a few decades, they will ask ... "What happened in 2011?

Vandalism continues unabated. I placed cables with locks across my entry points to keep the 4 wheelers out. A trespasser put a bullet hole in it but it held. Unfortunately, I cannot unlock it either.



Roads continue to develop deeper potholes. So far, no problems for smaller vehicles, but larger construction and logging trucks will have increasing problems. During the logging of last summer, one of the big trucks broke an axle. The driver told me he would never come down in here again.

Riverbend Summer

Riverbend can be surprisingly hot and humid beginning in June. The dense stands of forest and undergrowth prevent air currents and the humidity compounds the heat. I visited recently on a hot day and found myself exhausted after about 2 hours. The heavy rains of this spring have produced very dense growth. The biodiversity at RB is amazing and this year, more species are evident than in past years.

I see no evidence of building, logging or other human activity.

Riverbend Ideas

1. Owner Presence on Property.
Several owners are now spending much more time on the property, either visiting or working. I have changed my work schedule to half time and visit about once per week. Mike Stringham has retired and says he will be able to visit more often. Brian Greene is clearing and planning and may soon start construction. Steve Lanning has been clearing and visits about 3 times per week.

2. Ticks.

Ticks are a big problem this time of year. Always use repellent and inspect carefully. The high deer population completes the life cycle for Lyme disease and RMSF.

3. Roads.

These continue to deteriorate. Some potholes are so large that traveling the road after a big rainstorm is a challenge. Roadwork will be needed this summer.

4. Hunter baitings.

Beginning in June, hunters who plan to spend time at RB during the fall begin to place bait stations to set up patterns of feeding and predictable movements of deer. I always remove these bait stands and leave the apparatus visible so that it can be retrieved by the trespasser.

5. Fallen Timber

Old and fallen timber, particularly large cedar trees, are very valuable. There is a local mill that will process very small jobs. See recent post.

DG

Barham Family

I recently met a husband and wife on a four wheeler riding on our main road. Their name is Barham and they live on the Accord property in the gray home near the road. They seem like a nice and supportive couple. She is the daughter of the Accords. They indicated that city water was recently extended to the Logan "chicken coops" about 300 feet from the entrance to our property. We should watch this carefully and encourage county utility authorities to extend water supply to our property.

No Tornado Damage

Two days after the big storm I traveled to Riverbend to see if there was tree damage. Fortunately, we had no visible damage. Of course it is possible that trees away from the road and not visible could have been damaged. The main damage was to areas closer to Sanford, about 10 miles away. Dogwood blossoms have mostly dropped although an occasional blooming dogwood can be spotted in low lying areas that have been cooler.

I stopped at a roadside vendor for “rough cut lumber” near the intersection of Plank road and Hwy 421. Mr Bob Greathouse runs a small mill and works independently. He cuts one or two logs at a time and no job is too small. He takes on small and special projects at $20 per hour. He lives on site, and can be reached at 919-898-4115.

Natural Gas Deposits

Just in case you missed it, a major find of natural gas in the Sanford area has just been announced. Patterson Exploration Services reported on the find recently. The link is here: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9335301

Spring time at Riverbend

This is one of the best times of the year at RB. Many of our flowering plants are starting to blossom and distant sight views are great due to low foliage. Migratory birds are beginning to show up and of course, the weather is great.

Today I med Brian, his wife and 4 daughters. Brian is organizing an owner's meeting to discuss road work and security. He will send a letter soon to all owners. I encourage all to attend. Protecting our property values is a high priority.

DG

Owner's Meeting

Brian Greene is collecting contact info for property owners in Riverbend. He is planning a meeting, maybe in Apex or Cary, to discuss ways of improving/securing our beautiful land. If you are interested in attending the meeting, please send him your contact info and that of other owners if you have it.

Thanks,
Brian Greene 919-417-1747
brian@greeneresidential.com

Happy New Year !!

We had a wonderful and busy holiday season and I hope that all RB owners have enjoyed the holidays and family connections. I was unable to visit Riverbend until January 4, 2011. It remains a beautiful and unique property with abundant wildlife.

Since my last visit 2 months ago the road has deteriorated further with large and deep potholes. It is passable, but the large logging trucks and equipment have clearly taken a toll. Logging has continued and has now shifted to the river side of the entry road. These may be completely legitimate operations directed or contracted by the individual owners as they plan building sites. However, it is a major departure from past activities at RB and may not have had the type of homeowner association oversight required by the covenants. I am also concerned about the possibility of "timber theft" as has been reported throughout NC. Security of the front entrance should be a priority for 2011 to protect our investment.

Riverbend Update

Logging is continuing on Dave Watt’s property near the main road. The trucks and commercial logging vehicles have taken a toll on our roadway. In addition to Dave’s property, commercial cutting has occurred on Michael Greene’s and Steve Lanning’s property. These activities may be completely OK based on their property development plans, arborist advice or other issues. The logging truck driver informed me that these pines would be sent to the Albemarle mill which is currently receiving 100 trucks per day which he says relates to the high price of pine and the cash needs of property owners.
On October 7th, Dave’s brother Rick, was there loading his Jeep. His jeep and other vehicles were damaged last year with all windows smashed and riddled with bullet holes. There was similar damage to my Bronco. Rick tells me that this vandalism occurred when he called the sheriff on a 23 year old male, Mike Teal, living nearby with the Hineken family. He is the boyfriend of their daughter, both of whom are foul mouthed when attempting to reason with them. Mike Teal hunts and traverses Riverbend on his four wheel drive vehicle without any inhibition. The Hineken son (early teens) accompanies him in his escapades into Riverbend. Rick saw Teal on the Riverbend main road on the morning of October 7 driving his 4-wheeler. Rick indicated that there are several pathways of entry into Riverbend used by many trespassers.

The Riverbend dream of a community in harmony with nature is clearly at risk. We purchased property there as a respite from busy city life and a quiet connection with Nature. Now, 8 years later, it has become something else and mostly used by non-property owners. Securing the property is a high priority.