CLUB MEETINGS ARE HELD THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH (Excluding December, January and February) AT THE

5 RIVERS DELTA RESOURCE CENTER (map) AT 7PM. SEE THE POSTS BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS!

To post information to this website or for further information about this website, just ask Tracy at tracy@thelannies.us
Current Club Coordinator: Tracy Lannie
MBCKC would like to express our appreciation to 5 Rivers and it's staff for all they do.

Disclaimer: This site provides general information & links on topics of paddling. Paddlesports can pose serious risks of damage to personal property & serious bodily injury including permanent disability & death. Anyone participanting in any MBCKC event or participating in any event mentioned on this website does so at their own risk and agrees to hold MBCKC harmless from any liability as a result of such participation or use of information contained herein.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

BRING YOUR MOTHER TO CAMP & PADDLE WITH GARY ON MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND

Dates: Saturday, May 7 at Grassy Point, FL with or without camping and
Sunday, May 8 at Boiling Creek, Eglin Air Force Base, FL
Times: 10:00 AM each day
Details: this is a great paddling and/or camping weekend:
Grassy Point is located below Milton, FL and near Boiling Creek. It is another pristine area run by Northwest Florida water management district (they own Econfina Creek). No permit is needed and camping is primitive with clean portapotti's.
Directions: take route I-10 east to the Milton exit/rt.87, as if you were going to Boiling Creek.
Go past the Yellow River bridge to the first paved road on the right (west side). There will be a sign saying OLF CHOCTAW AIR FORCE BASE: turn right there, and go until you can see the gate, turn right at dirt road just before the gate. Go 5 miles on the well-graded dirt road and stay to right until you get to campsite. I will bring directions to meeting and post as we get closer. We will paddle from campground into beautiful estuary and then with good weather, across to Nichol's Seafood Restaurant for late lunch/early dinner and back for campfire stories.
Bring food for dinner in case the water is too rough to paddle; water , etc. This is a pure white sandy beach lagoon with huge live oaks to camp under...pristine.

SUNDAY: BOILING CREEK AND MOTHER'S DAY PADDLE
meet at Rt. 87 bridge over the Yellow River, south of I-10 at 10:00 am
BRING EGLIN AIR FORCE RECREATION PASS, A MUST. Bring liquids and lunch and something to share on Mother's Day and a bathing suit, or not.

severe weather date: the next weekend.
MAD RIVER 'MONARCH' CANOE - FOR SALE

Gary Worob advises:

John Fox , jfox@moisd.org has a Mad River Monarch for sale...good price $1,500...it is white like Bob Andrews' and the same design as Gary Worob's. For those unfamiliar with this model, it is a relatively fast, sleek, partially closed-top canoe, which is often mistaken for a kayak.

The boat is in Michigan and you will need to contact John for details.
Gary bought his from Michigan also, and had it shipped via Roadway Express, with no problems.

According to Gary, this is a good price and the boat looks good on the internet. It is listed on paddling.net under classified ads (search for Mad River).
--- NOTE --- SCHEDULE DATE CHANGE

Styx River paddle moved to Saturday afternoon!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

****FLASH PADDLE**** STYX RIVER

Date: Saturday, April 30, 2005
Time: 1:30 PM
Place: Meet at the BP truckstop at the Wilcox Road exit 53 on I-10 towards Pensacola
Contact: Brint Adams 251-583-9919 cell
Comments: Please call in advance, so I will know how many to prepare for, as we will need to shuttle vehicles for this one-way downstream paddle. It will be a very easy paddle with a good current to float downstream, taking about 1-1.5 hours. Bring the usual items listed on the FAQ link.
!!!!MONTHLY MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005 AT 7:00 PM
The May meeting of the MBCAKC will be at the Fairhope Yacht Club and feature Chief Ron Emrich and Petty Officer Latner of the US Coast Guard. Their presentation is called the America's Waterway Watch. It is the Coast Guard's Department of Homeland Security Maritime Outreach Program that asks those who work, live, or recreate on or near the water to be aware of suspicious activity that might indicate threats to our country's homeland security. They will show a 14 minute CD Film, and hand out decals and pamphlets.

This will be different from recent programs and should be quite interesting to see how we can help, what to look for and who we should contact.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

FLASH PADDLE - EASTERN SHORE SUNSET PADDLE

Date: Sunday, April 17, 2005
Start: 6:00 PM, Finish: 8:00-9:00 PM
Contact: Rob Nykvist (kayaker@mchsi.com) Phone: 460-4646 Work, 423-0015 Cell
Place: Fairhope Municipal Pier Boat Ramp Area
Distance: 6-7 Miles, Leisurely 2-3 mph pace.
Route: South along the eastern shore beach for an hour or so, take a quick break, then return.
Comments: Do you like sunsets, watching stars appear in the evening, and watching shore lights dance on the calming waters of the darkening evening? Weather permitting, this paddle will provide it. Also, if you are still out test-paddling boats at the Fairhope Boat Demo Day (until 5:00 PM, same day, same location), this can be your first trip after buying.

Also note below, the full trip description for the May 1 Blessing of the Fleet paddle is now included on the April Club Calendar.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

The second submission to our Prose and Poetry site was sent in by Tom Meyer (composed by Mike Pedde). Maybe this will encourage others to send in and share their favorite paddling, or other outdoors writings. We will review and post either original works, or those from your favorite authors (just no long novels, please).

Monday, April 11, 2005

Gary Worob changed this Sunday's paddle location to Whiskey Ditch. For time and directions details, see the April calendar below.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

April Club Calendar

Boiling Creek - upper section
Date: Friday, April 8, 2005
Time: 8:00 AM
Contact: Bob Andrews 251-367-4144
Place: meet at BP Truckstop at I-10 Wilcox Rd exit
Comments: Call ahead to Bob if you plan to go, so he will have a count and be able to get back to you if any plans change, such as weather.

Lower Delta (maybe Whiskey Ditch)
Date: Sunday, April 10, 2005
Time: afternoon
Contact: Bob Andrews 251-367-4144
Place: maybe old Riverdocs parking lot
Comments: Call ahead to Bob if you plan to go, so he will have a count and be able to get back to you if any plans change, such as weather.

Whiskey Ditch
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2005
Time: 1:30 PM
Contact: Gary Worob (850) 259-9337 gworob@yahoo.com
Place: From Spanish Fort, go west towards Mobile on the Causeway, to 100 meters past Ed's Seafood Shed. The gravel/dirt free parking lot put-in area is on the north side of the highway.
Comments: This will be a beginner-friendly paddle of about 4 miles up/back east on Pass Picada, north on Apalachee River and west into Whiskey Ditch. The spider lilies should be blooming and possibly blue flag iris as well. For those interested, some may go to dinner afterwards somewhere on the Causeway.

Fairhope Boat Demo Day at Earth Day
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2005
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Fairhope Boat Co - 251-928-3417
Place: Fairhope Municipal Pier, Fairhope Ave on Mobile Bay
Comments: Come and check out and test ride many different types of kayaks and canoes. Mention that you are a MBCAKC member for free admission. Come early, buy a boat and head for the Whiskey Ditch paddle in the afternoon.

Moonlight Paddle - Byrne's Lake to Gravine Island
Date: Friday, April 22, 2005
Time: 5:45 PM (or 6:00 PM if you go directly to Byrne's Lake)
Contact: Brint Adams 251-583-9919 or email
Place: Bruno's, Spanish Fort - Hwy 31 & Hwy 225, we will caravan from there
Comments: We will paddle out Byrne's Lake, cross Tensaw River and stop up at the north end of Gravine Island on the high sand dune. We will have potluck hors d'oevres and drinks under the moonlight and then back by the same route. Bring a flashlight for safety, blanket or chairs, and some food to share.

Blessing of the Fleet
Date: Sunday, May 1, 2005
Time: 9:00 AM
Contact: Rob Nykvist kayaker@mchsi.com Phone: 460-4646 Work, 423-0015 Cell
Place: Public Boat Ramp, Bayou La Batre, AL
Directions: For those of you not sure where the public boat ramp is, meet in the parking lot just south of Hardees in Theodore. That is at the NW corner of the intersection of Hwy 90 @ Island Rd/Hamilton Blvd. Be there before 8:15 AM and I will lead you 15 miles south to the launch site.
Distance: 8-10 Miles at a leisurely 2-3 mph pace.
Route: Start at the Bayou La Batre public boat ramp and go upstream. At about 2.5 miles, we'll go under the Lift Bridge. From there, we'll continue upstream away from the industrial areas for another 1-2 miles. There are a few areas we might consider getting out at to take a snack break. There are a few short side streams to explore. At about 11:00 we'll turn around and start the return trip.
Comments: If you like seeing shrimp boats, you'll enjoy this trip. There will be more boat traffic than normal, but most operate at idle speeds in Bayou La Batre. I'm trying to time this trip to avoid traffic shut down, because there is a land parade at 3:00 PM and a boat parade after that. If you are interested in both kayaking and attending the Festival, check out this link for more Blessing of the Fleet info: http://www.fleetblessing.org/fb.html


There were about 30 people in attendance. After paddle announcements, Tom Meyer gave an outline of his preliminary discussions with leaders from Mobile Bay National Estuary Program about holding a spring paddling/camping event in the Mobile Tensaw Delta area. This would have similarities to the successfully run Paddle Bayou La Fourche, held for the past four years. The 2004 event was held on November 12-15 as an initiative of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and supported by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Restoration and Management.

Here is the link for the 2004 Paddle Bayou La Fourche event, the link for the Barataria-Terrebonne NEP and the link for the Mobile Bay NEP. Tom is looking for local club interest and support in helping the Mobile Bay NEP organize an event in our area. If you are interested in helping make this happen, come to the next MBCAKC meeting or contact Tom at (251)680-4445 or email Tom