WHO: Captain Austin Adams
WHAT: Lead Guide and Owner, Cape Fear Adventure Company
WHERE: Wilmington, North Carolina
Meet Captain Austin, the lead guide and owner at Cape Fear Adventure Company. He’s a teacher with a passion for the outdoors, starting his business in Wilmington back in 2015 as his summer side hustle. He’s spent most of his life in the waters here and is an expert on these shores and it shows. Whether you want to boat, kayak, camp, or explore – Captain Austin can lead the way. Read more with The Spotlight.
(Heading to North Carolina? Check out some other awesome tours)
How did you get into guide work?
Well, every teacher has a summer side hustle. In the beginning, mine was painting houses, which I’m pretty good at but hate with a passion. I started thinking about something else to do, something that I already loved doing. The answer was right there in front of me the whole time, as I’ve always been on the water as much as possible. So in 2015, armed with some insurance, two kayaks that I already had, and a bunch of kayaks that I could borrow from friends, I started running kayak ecotours into the Masonboro Island marshes. I think I ran a grand total of 10 trips that first summer. Needless to say, things have grown a lot over the years!
Run me through a typical day with Cape Fear Adventure Company. What can your guests expect?
My normal day usually starts with the constant cycle of unloading, cleaning, and reloading kayaks. It’s a never ending cycle but it keeps me out of the gym! We meet our customers at one of several different public launches, and we have a couple of private launches that we are able to use as well. From the moment I meet our group that I’m taking out, I try to put them at ease, make them see that I’m a professional kayak guide, and I’m going to keep them safe. After some instruction, we get on the water and I’m able to do what I do best: show them a great time in the marsh and on one of our many uninhabited barrier islands. I’m also the primary captain for our boat charters, so sometimes my arms get a rest and I’m on the boat all day.
Why should I take a trip with Cape Fear Adventure Company?
I’m obsessed with you having a good time. I love meeting new people, hearing their stories, and sharing a few of mine. I am always looking to show you something that you haven’t seen before, educate you on the amazing ecosystem in our area, and show you places that a lot of people don’t get to see unless they have a guide to get them there. I’m going to do everything possible to make your excursion fun, safe, and memorable! Whether it’s on a boat or kayak, setting you up for a night of camping on an uninhabited barrier island, taking you crabbing or clamming, or paddling you out to the islands for an epic date night that includes dinner, I just want to get you outside!
(And rest assured: adventure tours are safe.)
What is the best part of the job?
The best part of the job is being on the water every day. When we are out of season, I feel so disconnected from nature. When we are in season, my whole life feels like it revolves around wind and tide, so in the offseason I really have to make sure that I’m seeing water regularly. I also love meeting new people. Everyone is usually really nice because you are catching them on a good day. They are on vacation with their loved ones, or they are taking a day off to do something fun, so usually they are in a great mood.
What is the worst part? The part that feels most like work?
As the business owner, the worst part is easily the insurance, taxes, paperwork, etc. As the guide, really it’s only when you’ve had a really tough trip, like one where someone had to be towed for awhile, and then having to load all the kayaks in the heat. With the boat charters, it’s the boat ramps, boat ramps, boat ramps. Did I mention boat ramps?
What advice would you give somebody wanting to get into guiding?
I would highly recommend it! Unfortunately, in North Carolina, pesky winter gets in the way and kayaking is more seasonal. But it’s a great way to always stay in shape, connect with nature, and meet some great folks. My advice is that you only need to get into guiding if you are a people person. If you don’t like people, it’s probably not the path for you.
You can find Cape Fear Adventure Company at their website here, and follow them on Instagram here and Facebook here. Their TripAdvisor page is full of fantastic reviews as well.
Know a guide I should feature? Whether they raft, dive, hike, bike, boat, float, walk, or talk – if they lead guided trips – they deserve to be heard. Send me an email at thelivelost@gmail.com or direct message me on Instagram here.
