Riverbend Parcels for Sale

Steve Lanning has two adjoining parcels for sale. These are both river front with a mixture of open space and woods.

Deep River Flow

The USGS Website monitors flow in the Deep River. Note the peaking of flow after the big rains recently. The Moncure station is close to Riverbend and reflects the depth near our properties. Click this link to monitor on a real time basis. Scroll down to Deep River and find the Moncure station.

TICKS

They're back! Ticks are active early this year due to the warm winter and an abundance of deer. My rules for preventing tick bites are:
    1. Light colored clothing - allows crawlers to be spotted early.
    2. Long pants - tucked into long light colored socks.
    3. DEET spray - most other preventives (avon products etc. do not work well).

Remove within 3 hours of a new bite. Pull slowly with tweezers to avoid mouth parts from being left in. WSJ had a terrific article on March 26th. Click here to view article.

Spring has sprung at Riverbend

Actually, maybe Summer has sprung. Dogwoods are near their peak bloom and many other flowering plants are blossoming. The abundance of bird life is particularly impressive. The birds of prey, hawks and owls, are very noisy near their nests. This is one of the best times of the year at RB.

The road repair from February is holding up so far but there are many additional problem areas further into the property.

Amazing Flower

I have seen this flower on previous hikes but this year it is very prevalent on the forest floor. It has been blooming for about 3 days now. Does anyone know what it is?

In this view, the blossoms are wide open.
Early in the day with low light and cool air,
the blossoms were contracted in a defensive appearance.
UPDATE: This flower is a "trout lily" or  Erythronium americanum. 

Riverbend Owners Meeting

The inaugural meeting of the Riverbend owners advisory group was held at the home of David and Charlotte Gremillion in Wake Forest. Eight members were in attendance for a lively and productive meeting. Minutes are being reviewed by those in attendance and will be distributed to all owners soon.

Road Repairs

The recent rains and high traffic have taken a serious toll on our main road. Heavy trucks increase the damage. The risk to owners and trespassers has increased significantly. One pothole shown at top, was knee deep after recent rains. I decided that the progressive damage must be fixed and I contracted with Ricky Tillman to fix the 4 worst potholes. Quite an amazing result for a surprisingly small cost. The pictures above were taken on Tuesday Feb 14th. He also repaired three additional potholes further down the road. Several areas of serious damage remain further into the property. Ricky operates a grading and road repair business out of Gulf and can be reached at 919-898-4924 or 919-353-7569. His rates are very reasonable and his work is excellent.

Risk of Timber Theft

A recent and informative article identifies the risk of timber theft. Several factors have increased risk in recent years. Be sure to read the article to protect yourself. Click this link to read.

Riverbend Owners Meeting

Several owners have expressed an interest in meeting to discuss Riverbend issues. We have offered our home in Wake Forest as a meeting site. Meeting will begin at 3PM on February 18, 2012. Please send an email to declare your intention to attend and identify any issues that you wish to discuss.


David
riverbend.owners@gmail.com

Early Spring at Riverbend

Record setting high temperature has ushered in an "early spring" at RB. Yesterday we enjoyed a great hike and picnic on our RB property. Our guests were very surprised that terrain and views like RB exist in NC outside of the park system. Some grasses are beginning to sprout, but I'm sure that it will be short-lived.

This is a near perfect time of year at RB for planning and exploring. Deer hunting has ended. The dropped foliage has improved the "sight views" and allows owners to envision best routes for trails, roads etc. The slopes, valleys, creek beds and other features are visible and allow for creative planning. The ticks and chiggers seem to be hibernating but birds, including some migratory species, are plentiful. Hiking is easy and comfortable. Enjoy.

Wildlife in NC Magazine

The Wildlife Resources Commission in NC publishes a wonderful magazine, Wildlife in North Carolina. This is their 75th year of publication. It is filled with interesting data, news and historical stories. I have found it to be a valuable resource when seeking information about the flora and fauna of NC that I encounter at Riverbend. An online searchable index is available through ECU library. Click the link and use the drop down menu to select "Wildlife ..." from among the various NC periodicals. Link - NC Periodicals Search. The link is also added to the list of links.

Deer Season Over

Deer season officially ended on January 3. If you encounter a deer hunter, please contact the wildlife violations officer at the number below. A vehicle license tag and description of the individual will be helpful.

REPORT Wildlife Violations
1-800-662-7137
(Raleigh Area 919-707-0040)

Neighbors

Debbie Roos lives in the old historic home with a pond across Plank road from RB. She is the extension agent for Chatham county for an interesting array of activities, including; sustainable and organic farming, beekeeping, vegetable, fruit and flower production among others. She rescues stray dogs in the area and occasionally exercises them on the riverbend property. Information about her work can be found at this link.

Riverbend Lot for Sale

This lot for sale at Riverbend has been on the market since March, 2011. There have been very few sales since 2008.

Greathouse Sawmill

Bobby Greathouse operates a small sawmill on Hwy 421 near Plank road. His work is all "rough cut," made to order and high quality. Recently I took a 6 foot x 20 inch poplar log from a tree that fell at my Wake Forest home and he produced a nice beam for a garden bench ... at a bargain. I have now worked with him on two projects and I am very pleased with the price and quality of his work.

Road Conditions

Recent rains have again filled and expanded the severe pot holes on our main road. These will need to be filled before too long. I drive slowly through them to prevent damage. They represent a hazard and a liability for Riverbend owners. 

Large Pot Holes at Riverbend

Deer Season Ends January 2, 2012

Deer season ends on January 2, 2012. After that date the movement of people and vehicles and the discharge of firearms at Riverbend should decrease. After the end of deer season, I propose the placement of a locked gate near the front of Riverbend to reduce illegal access. If you would like to comment on this proposal, please contact me @ the Riverbend email address.

Examples of illegal hunting at Riverbend are suggested by discarded carcasses, game camera pictures and in discussion with neighbors and the legal hunters currently leasing Dave Watts' property through Valentine Timberland Management company. Hunting laws in NC are strict and detailed. If you encounter illegal activity, please report to the Lee County Sheriff's office or the Lee County Wildlife management office. They are aware of our concerns.

Hwy 421 Progress

RB owners driving down Hwy 1 will notice changes soon. The 421 bypass will open in January 2012. Section A will be complete later this year. Section B North of Sanford will connect to 87 and provide a quick route to Fayetteville. The NCDOT site gives details. This should make for a pleasant trip from the Cary/Apex area to Riverbend.

Poor Boys Hunting Club

While at Riverbend today I met two individuals (Mike and John) who represented the Poor Boys HC and hold the lease on Dave Watt’s land. They are responsible and careful hunters and shared many detailed observations concerning trespassers. They have 4 game cameras and have turned over pictures to the Sheriff’s office. They observed a large bonfire there recently (untended) and have found many 4 wheeler tracks. 

I am very reassured by the two individuals that I met. They are safe, environmentally aware and rapidly building a database about illegal hunters and trespassers. They do not want the damage and bad will to be attributed to them.Their lease is through Valentine Timberland Management. They paid $3,000 for a one year lease. They have been quite successful so far this season and have documented that others (trespassers) also have been successful. 

Gas Leases

Many land owners in the Riverbend area have received letters concerning Gas Leases. Also, there have been significant discoveries of gas as well as coal in the area (see past postings for news links). Local papers have had advertisements concerning meetings to discuss the complexities of leasing to venture companies seeking to secure mineral and gas rights. Today's New York Times has an excellent article on the pitfalls of mineral leases. It is worth reading before responding to inquiries. It is very likely that no Riverbend land owners have the mineral rights to their properties.