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- - - December Meeting Notes - - -
Re: county parks

We had a full room at the Yacht club for the December meeting with 29 club members attending a presentation by Cara Stallman and Stan Arbaczauskas of the Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Department. They brought us some good news:
- A new park on Tensaw Lake will be opening soon. This is a 400 acre tract, which includes wetlands for conservation, acquired in August.
- The bike trail on Scenic 98 will be extended from Montrose to Point Clear starting in January.

They also gave us a little bad news - the land around Reeder Lake is slated for development into an 1,800 unit subdivision

They gave their Powerpoint presentation telling us about county parks, categories and management goals for improving what we have. They showed us Geographic Information System products and brought sample maps with them. They have the capability of producing a map on a few days request for any area in the county. They can make a paper product or a PDF file for e-mail.

The summary of county assets includes 4 beach front parks of an acre or more, 11 boat launches, 16 conservation parks, 6 cultural resource parks (ever see a dipping vat?), 7 multi-recreational parks and 113 Right of Way accesses.

They have requested from us comment on identifying those right of way access points that have good parking. If you have comments about the right of way accesses, or any questions about parks and public lands, you may reach them:

Cara L. Stallman Senior Natural Resource Planner, (251) 580-1655 ext. 7255
e-mail: cstallman@co.baldwin.al.us

Stan Arbaczauskas, Natural Resource Planner, (251) 580-1655 ext. 7251
e-mail: sarbaczauskas@co.baldwin.al.us

-Bruce Zimmerman

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- - - December Paddle Calendar v1.0 - - -
by Bruce Zimmerman

December Big Boy Challenge
When: Sat., Dec. 6, 2003
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Fairhope Yacht Club
Contact: Larry McDuff; 928-1582
What: A short event combining kayaking, running (or walking) and biking.

Format: Teams of two will share a bicycle and a kayak over a loop course. One team member will start in the kayak paddling north on Mobile Bay and up Rock Creek to the upper limits of navigation. Leaving the kayak on the right bank, head on a trail a short distance upstream and cross a log bridge, continue about a mile north on the trail to Third Street near the Montrose Cemetery. Pick up your team's bike, continue north on Third Street, turning left where it deadends into Gabel, then left again on Scenic 98, following it to Volanta and the Yacht Club.

The other team member will start on the bicycle, leaving on Volanta, turning left at the light and bearing left on Scenic 98 to Montrose. Then turn right on Gabel and right again on Third Street. Leave your bike just inside the woods where the trail intersects Third Street past the cemetery. Run south on the trail, Crossing Rock Creek on the log bridge and continuing downstream until you reach your team's kayak. Paddle downstream to the bay, turn left and return to the yacht club.

Please form your own teams. a little planning is required to share a kayak, bike, paddle, PFD and possibly a spray skirt and jackets or other warm clothing which may be needed on the bike and the kayak but not on the run. Call Larry McDuff at 928-1582 if you need a partner.

The run course will be sparsely marked with surveyors tape. If you just want to watch the action we could use some help in the transition areas pointing people in the right direction. Call Larry.

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Full Moon Paddle
Bob will be leading a full moon paddle. Stay tuned to the website,
www.baykayaker.blogspot.com for information.

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Alligator Bayou Slacker Paddle
Time: TBD
Date: weather dependent. Announced by Flash paddle.
Place: Put in at Seminole Boat Launch. Paddle down the Perdido River.
Contact: Frank Laraway 945-5504
Comment: This area is slated for development. Visit it before it goes away.

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Christmas on the Bayou
Date: Sun., Dec 21, 2003,
Time: 12:00 noon
Place: Bruno's in Spanish Fort
Contact: Matt Darring; 343-1196 or 341-1669; e-mail: iama@backpacker.com
Comments: Paddle on Hurricane Bayou. Christmas decorations required. Recommend decorating boat and paddler at Hurricane Bayou. Launch fee $3.00

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Last Sunset Paddle
Date: Wed., Dec. 31, 2003
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Fairhope Yacht Club
Contact: Gene Boothe; 928-1107; e-mail: boothecg@bellsouth.net
Comments: Paddle out from the beach, drink a toast to the past year at sunset,
which is just after 5:00 p.m. BYOB.

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Hangover Paddle - First Paddle of the New Year
Date: Thurs., Jan. 1, 2004
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: Fairhope Yacht Club
Contact: Steve Delker 928-7342
Comment: Paddle south, seek brunch. Return.