Wal-Mart FLW Bass Fishing League is back on Lake Norman

The Wal-Mart FLW Bass Fishing League is back next week. March 24-27. Watch for the MANY bass boats heading out of Blythe Landing each morning at 6:00 am but have some fun watching!

Fly on the Liberty Belle!

This would be really cool. I hope to see you there!

Concord

Reserve seats on Liberty Belle, a restored World War II B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber, which will offer flights every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 29-30 at Concord Regional Airport. Contact Scott Maher at 918-340-0243;

smaher@libertyfoundation.org.

New Retail Coming to Huntersville

Either it is a sign that the economy is picking up or it has taken a really, really long time for the zoning in Huntersville to be finished. Regardless, it looks like there is new retail coming to the south west corner of Hwy 73 and Beatties Ford Road.

No matter which it is, looks like dirt may be moving in the area soon!

Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival and Race on Lake Norman

I bet you won't see this every day on LKN, Dragon Boats racing!

The 10th Annual Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival will be held this coming weekend at Ramsey Creek Park. This will be a sight to see but most of all, it promises to be fun. Stop by and take in the excitement of a real Chinese Dragon Boat Race and learn a bit more about the diverse community we call Lake Norman too!

Fun on Lake Norman

While Memorial Day may be the official open of summer, someone forgot to tell the folks out on LKN this weekend. With 80+ degree weather, it is clear that the 2009 Lake Norman Boating season is here. 

Take a look at a few photos from this weekend on the lake!

Kicking off the Day the FLW Bass Tourament Way!

I've always loved early mornings and am always a bit surprised that I never became a fisherman. Oh, I live on the lake and have the required fishing gear but it really isn't my thing. But this morning, for the second day in a row, I ventured down to the shore and watched as the boats from the FLW Bass Fishing Tour left out of Blythe Landing on Lake Norman. 

It was so nice to sit by the lake, watch the sunrise, and see 100+ folks going out on LKN. Here are a few pictures of the take off from Blythe.

FLW Bass Tour on Lake Norman

I was able to watch the first day take off for the FLW Bass Fishing Tour on LKN this morning. The boats went out at 7:00 AM and it is always a sight to see. There must have been 60+ boats all heading out full throttle. 

Here is the story posted by the FLW League about the 1st day. Have fun watching the next few days!

Update on the Ducks

Well, there is really no update. A few days after I posted my photo, I checked and the duck and all of her eggs were gone. We have a fox on the island, so I am guessing that our duck and the eggs became a part of the circle of life. 

Sort of sad...

Loch Norman Highland Games

The 16th Annual Loch Norman Highland Games & Rural Hill Scottish Festival kick off at Rural Hill Farm on Friday, April 17th. There is a lot to do for the entire family. There are traditional Scottish games, family tree information, and of course, food. 

The weekend weather looks to be promising too. So, tie or your kilt and head up to Huntersville for the Scottish treat of a lifetime!

A LKN LOCAL RECOMMENDATION!

Lake Norman Sailing Center is Open!

For the local sailing enthusiast, the time has arrived for you to rejoice, well, maybe just be really happy. The NC Community Sailing & Rowing Center at Blythe Landing has opened. If you are into sailing or would like to be, here is your local place to be. A non-profit group has raised money for the center and is continuing to raise funds to support the center's business plan. 

Check it out and slow the pace a bit. Sailing and rowing are great ways to enjoy LKN!

Civil War Era Submarine found in Lake Norman

Early this morning, drivers on the I-77 causeway on Lake Norman (between Exit 30 and 33) noticed a strange object peaking through the water. As anyone that travels this stretch of interstate  knows, this can be the slow part of your drive, as traffic slows to take in the view. But this morning, the view was enhanced by a Civil War era submarine that had been lost at the bottom of the lake and chose today to resurface. 

While not fully intact, it is believed that part of the sub had been sitting on the bottom of the lake, weighed down by debris that had collected over it during the time it sank. As the debris shifted and moved, a trapped air pocket acted as a float to lift the sunken treasure to the surface. 

More news is expected as the investigation continues but what a great story for our region. 

Spring is on the way to LKN!

Have you been enjoying the recent spring like weather? Well, in just a few hours, Spring 2009 will arrive and there is no better place to be than Lake Norman. On a recent outing, we saw a few signs of an early spring on LKN. 

Now, I expect there will still be a few days of jackets and long pants but I am already thinking about heading out on the water and chasing a sunset into the western shore. This is really my favorite time of year on LKN. 

Welcome Spring!

Finding Lulin

A comet discovered in 2007 is visible tonight in the eastern sky. Comet Lulin is named for the Lulin Observatory in Taiwan. Go have a look see!

Recent Sites on the South End of Lake Norman

Here are a few recent photos from around Ramsey Creek. It seems the wildlife around LKN isn't too concerned with the winter chill. 

New Year 2009 on Lake Norman

We are having some typical "winter" weather here in North Carolina. Typical here is cold one day unseasonably warm the next. These photos were all taken yesterday, December 30, 2008 on the south end of LKN. 

So, if you are not afraid of water in the 40 degree range and a bit of a breeze (expecting gust around 60 MPH today), head out to the lake and have some fun. The water levels are still respectable and the traffic is very light. 

Happy New Year from LKN Local!

Lake Norman Holiday Lights

Thanksgiving is starting to feel like a faint memory. I mean it was a whole week ago and we are now well into the Christmas season. Of course, retailers across the country have been decorated for the holiday since the day after Labor Day but for many, we are just now starting to dig out the baubles and lights for our homes. 

As I was sitting in my office last night, I couldn't help but notice the homes across the cove from me. They have not only decorated the "front" of their homes but many have also decorated the other front (meaning the lake side). As I sat here and grimaced that I was still in my office at 9:30, I have to say that it truly lifted my spirits, holiday and otherwise, to see the lights shimmering on the water. To those LKN neighbors that were thoughtful enough to consider my point-of-view, thank you. What a beautiful way to brighten the holidays!

Lake Norman Alert - Watch for Helicopters!

If you boat on the south end of Lake Norman, you may already know this but there is a fellow that lives at the end of Ramsey Creek and in addition to his boat dock he also has a helicopter "dock". On Labor Day, we were coming out of Ramsey Creek when we saw him approach for a landing.

Now, normally the only things we see flying around the lake are fowl but it was kind of sweet to see him swoop in. If you are familiar with this location, you know it is a tight entrance into Ramsey Creek from the main channel and with all of the onlookers (me included), it was a very busy spot. Still, if you do your boating in a safe way, everyone gets to see the sights!

I hope you had a good Labor Day on LKN, let us know what you did!