Econfina Update
There was a typo in one of the many recent posts and e-mails about the Econfina trip. As you know, the designated campsite is full. Gary recommended the Ebro Motel as alternative lodging, but we got the phone number wrong. The correct number is 850-535-2499.
Thanks to Mary King for getting the correct number. She advises there are just a few rooms left if anyone is interested, at reasonable rates under 35 dollars. So make a reservation now if you're interested.
For further information contact Gary Worob, gworob@yahoo.com or 850-259-9337 cell, or Bob Andrews: 251-367-4144.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
REMINDER
There are going to be opportunities coming up this spring and summer to visit Boiling Creek and other paddles in Eglin AFB, FL. If you have not applied for a permit to use the Eglin property, click here and scan down for all the details necessary to get a current recreation use permit. The cost is $7.00.
There are going to be opportunities coming up this spring and summer to visit Boiling Creek and other paddles in Eglin AFB, FL. If you have not applied for a permit to use the Eglin property, click here and scan down for all the details necessary to get a current recreation use permit. The cost is $7.00.
Friday, February 18, 2005
////FLASH PADDLE - CLOVERLEAF LANDING////
Date: Saturday, February 19, 2005
Time: 9:45 AM
Place: Bruno's parking lot, Spanish Fort - corner of Hwy. 31 and 225
Contact: Jim Chamberlain - 251-654-2550 (cell)
Comments: Will caravan up Hwy. 225 for 6.3 miles to Cloverleaf Landing Lane on the left (go past the entrance to Blakeley State Park) and continue to the boat launch area. There is a $3 launch fee. The paddle will head north along the east side of Tensaw River and turn into McVoys Lake. This ends in a nice Cypress forest area. After exiting, the paddle will travel downriver to Blakeley State Park for lunch and return to Cloverleaf. This will be about a 6-7 mile paddle. The group may also hike the trail around Blakeley as well.
Date: Saturday, February 19, 2005
Time: 9:45 AM
Place: Bruno's parking lot, Spanish Fort - corner of Hwy. 31 and 225
Contact: Jim Chamberlain - 251-654-2550 (cell)
Comments: Will caravan up Hwy. 225 for 6.3 miles to Cloverleaf Landing Lane on the left (go past the entrance to Blakeley State Park) and continue to the boat launch area. There is a $3 launch fee. The paddle will head north along the east side of Tensaw River and turn into McVoys Lake. This ends in a nice Cypress forest area. After exiting, the paddle will travel downriver to Blakeley State Park for lunch and return to Cloverleaf. This will be about a 6-7 mile paddle. The group may also hike the trail around Blakeley as well.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Econfina Canoe/Kayak Trip - More Information
February 25 - 27
For those wanting to paddle but not camp, Gary advises a reasonable alternative is the Ebroe Motel, just down the road from Econfina. For reservations, call 850-535-2499.
Also, for those coming to the campsite, please bring camping or folding deck chairs for dining and sitting around the campfire. Gary is a Kum Ba Yah kind of guy!
February 25 - 27
For those wanting to paddle but not camp, Gary advises a reasonable alternative is the Ebroe Motel, just down the road from Econfina. For reservations, call 850-535-2499.
Also, for those coming to the campsite, please bring camping or folding deck chairs for dining and sitting around the campfire. Gary is a Kum Ba Yah kind of guy!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
ST. VINCENT ISLAND TRIP - CANCELLED - DUE TO HIGH WINDS
REPLACED WITH NEW PADDLE/CAMPING TRIP TO DELTA PLATFORMS
Bob Andrews cancelled this trip due to high winds and rescheduled a camping trip to two of the platforms in the Mobile Tensaw River Delta. Call Bob at 251-367-4144 to see if he has any overnight camp openings left for either Friday or Saturday nights. The trip will start by leaving a car at Rice Creek Landing and then putting in at Hubbard's Landing on Friday afternoon. The first paddle will follow the course noted here to Canal Island platform for dinner and camping. Saturday will take them around to Tensaw River and into Bottle Creek to the Indian Mounds site for lunch, and down Jessamine Bayou to the Jug Lake platform that night. Sunday will be an easy paddle back to Rice Creek Landing, where they will meet the Matt Darring group at 1:00 PM.
Brint Adams will likely lead a Saturday day paddle from Rice Creek to meet Bob's group at the Indian Mounds for lunch and back. Call Brint at 251-583-9919 for more information.
REPLACED WITH NEW PADDLE/CAMPING TRIP TO DELTA PLATFORMS
Bob Andrews cancelled this trip due to high winds and rescheduled a camping trip to two of the platforms in the Mobile Tensaw River Delta. Call Bob at 251-367-4144 to see if he has any overnight camp openings left for either Friday or Saturday nights. The trip will start by leaving a car at Rice Creek Landing and then putting in at Hubbard's Landing on Friday afternoon. The first paddle will follow the course noted here to Canal Island platform for dinner and camping. Saturday will take them around to Tensaw River and into Bottle Creek to the Indian Mounds site for lunch, and down Jessamine Bayou to the Jug Lake platform that night. Sunday will be an easy paddle back to Rice Creek Landing, where they will meet the Matt Darring group at 1:00 PM.
Brint Adams will likely lead a Saturday day paddle from Rice Creek to meet Bob's group at the Indian Mounds for lunch and back. Call Brint at 251-583-9919 for more information.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Econfina Trip Campsite Full
Gary Worob reports the 25 person campsite limit has been reached. He says there may be dropouts, so if you are interested, give him a call to be placed on a waiting list.
As an alternative, the website here has information about other campsites nearby, which may be available. There is no participation limit for the paddles, just for the campsite, so anyone may show up for the paddles and the potluck dinners.
Gary Worob reports the 25 person campsite limit has been reached. He says there may be dropouts, so if you are interested, give him a call to be placed on a waiting list.
As an alternative, the website here has information about other campsites nearby, which may be available. There is no participation limit for the paddles, just for the campsite, so anyone may show up for the paddles and the potluck dinners.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Econfina Canoe/Kayak Trip
Dates: Friday, Feb. 25 - Monday, Feb. 28, 2005
Time: Open for us at 2:00 PM on Friday and check-out by 10:00 AM on Monday
Place: Blue Spring Campground, North West Florida Water Management District
Directions from Mobile: Go east on I-10 to Hwy 81 in Florida, about 2 hours. Go south to Hwy 20 at Bruce and turn left (East). Go past Hwy 79 and a few miles past Hwy 77, you will come to Econfina Creek and there will be Pitt Springs on your left. Continue a short distance (maybe a mile) and Blue Springs Rd. North will be on your left. DO NOT GO RIGHT ON BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH. Take a left on Blue Springs Rd. North and go about a mile. Ignore the private signs and drive carefully as the road winds alot. ON YOUR LEFT will be two gates. The second gate is for us. The lock combination is 9337.
What to bring: bring your own food, water and please bring firewood. Saturday night will be a potluck dinner. NWFMWD does not want to “SEE” alcoholic beverages, so be discrete. Bring your own tent, or camp in Tom Meyers giant teepee that will hold 16. Contact Tom for more details; or van camp. We are not supposed to bring rv’s.
This site will hold 25 campers and no limit on paddlers. We will be camped near our own set of springs. Tom and I will be setting up a sweat lodge for the big feast/celebration on Saturday. Bring musical instruments. Bring your canoes & kayaks. Bring wet suits and snorkeling gear, if you plan to explore the springs the closeup way.
Events: Friday, arrive anytime after 2:00 PM, when we will set up camp and play in our backyard. Saturday, we will have a shuttle to the Hwy 20 bridge for paddling up and downstream to explore the beautiful springs, to be followed by enjoying the sweat lodge (if you choose), feast and fun.
Sunday, for those leaving, there will be a trip to 7 Runs Creek in Bruce/Red Bay. This is an amazing short paddle into a beautiful Cypress Forest. Bob Andrews, Brint Adams, Fritz Jackson, Paula Brewer and I are the only club members to have paddled this before, and it is very exciting. From Hwys. 20 and 81, go north about 4 miles, until you come to Dead River Road on the right, next to a very old cemetery. Go 2.2 miles to put in. Time will be determined at the campground.
Contacts & phone numbers: Gary Worob: gworob@yahoo.com or 850-259-9337 cell
Bob Andrews: 251-367-4144
Tom Meyer:
Dates: Friday, Feb. 25 - Monday, Feb. 28, 2005
Time: Open for us at 2:00 PM on Friday and check-out by 10:00 AM on Monday
Place: Blue Spring Campground, North West Florida Water Management District
Directions from Mobile: Go east on I-10 to Hwy 81 in Florida, about 2 hours. Go south to Hwy 20 at Bruce and turn left (East). Go past Hwy 79 and a few miles past Hwy 77, you will come to Econfina Creek and there will be Pitt Springs on your left. Continue a short distance (maybe a mile) and Blue Springs Rd. North will be on your left. DO NOT GO RIGHT ON BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH. Take a left on Blue Springs Rd. North and go about a mile. Ignore the private signs and drive carefully as the road winds alot. ON YOUR LEFT will be two gates. The second gate is for us. The lock combination is 9337.
What to bring: bring your own food, water and please bring firewood. Saturday night will be a potluck dinner. NWFMWD does not want to “SEE” alcoholic beverages, so be discrete. Bring your own tent, or camp in Tom Meyers giant teepee that will hold 16. Contact Tom for more details; or van camp. We are not supposed to bring rv’s.
This site will hold 25 campers and no limit on paddlers. We will be camped near our own set of springs. Tom and I will be setting up a sweat lodge for the big feast/celebration on Saturday. Bring musical instruments. Bring your canoes & kayaks. Bring wet suits and snorkeling gear, if you plan to explore the springs the closeup way.
Events: Friday, arrive anytime after 2:00 PM, when we will set up camp and play in our backyard. Saturday, we will have a shuttle to the Hwy 20 bridge for paddling up and downstream to explore the beautiful springs, to be followed by enjoying the sweat lodge (if you choose), feast and fun.
Sunday, for those leaving, there will be a trip to 7 Runs Creek in Bruce/Red Bay. This is an amazing short paddle into a beautiful Cypress Forest. Bob Andrews, Brint Adams, Fritz Jackson, Paula Brewer and I are the only club members to have paddled this before, and it is very exciting. From Hwys. 20 and 81, go north about 4 miles, until you come to Dead River Road on the right, next to a very old cemetery. Go 2.2 miles to put in. Time will be determined at the campground.
Contacts & phone numbers: Gary Worob: gworob@yahoo.com or 850-259-9337 cell
Bob Andrews: 251-367-4144
Tom Meyer:
Friday, February 04, 2005
-----ANNOUNCEMENTS-----
FOR THOSE WITH VOLUNTEER SPIRIT
February 9, 2005- 9:00AM-2:00PM - Great Mardi Gras Cleanup - To register for the cleanup call 208-6029 or just show up at the Keep Mobile Beautiful office at 352 Government Street on Wednesday, February 9.
February 19, 2005- Alabama Coastal Foundation Cypress Tree Planting Project - There are seven planting sites in the Mobile-Baldwin County area. For more information on how you may participate in this effort, click on Alabama Coastal Foundation.
Spring-Summer 2005- For those interested in participating in the Mobile Bay National Estuary Oyster Gardening Program this summer, please review qualification details at Oyster Gardening or contact Kara Lankford at 251-431-6409 or email Kara for more information.
On the MBNEP site under projects, there are many other interesting volunteer opportunities listed you may click on for more information, such as:
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Gardening
Spooktacular!
Healthy Coastal Communities Initiative
Derelict Crab Trap Program
Alabama Coastal Birdfest Oct. 20-23, 2005
Bay Area Earth Day April 17, 2005 at Fairhope Pier Park
Alabama Coastal Cleanup
FOR THOSE WITH VOLUNTEER SPIRIT
February 9, 2005- 9:00AM-2:00PM - Great Mardi Gras Cleanup - To register for the cleanup call 208-6029 or just show up at the Keep Mobile Beautiful office at 352 Government Street on Wednesday, February 9.
February 19, 2005- Alabama Coastal Foundation Cypress Tree Planting Project - There are seven planting sites in the Mobile-Baldwin County area. For more information on how you may participate in this effort, click on Alabama Coastal Foundation.
Spring-Summer 2005- For those interested in participating in the Mobile Bay National Estuary Oyster Gardening Program this summer, please review qualification details at Oyster Gardening or contact Kara Lankford at 251-431-6409 or email Kara for more information.
On the MBNEP site under projects, there are many other interesting volunteer opportunities listed you may click on for more information, such as:
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Gardening
Spooktacular!
Healthy Coastal Communities Initiative
Derelict Crab Trap Program
Alabama Coastal Birdfest Oct. 20-23, 2005
Bay Area Earth Day April 17, 2005 at Fairhope Pier Park
Alabama Coastal Cleanup
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Visit our MBCAKC Trip Reports to see Tom Meyer's photos of his trip to the Jug Lake platform in August 2004. In the near future, we hope to add his narrative to this report.
FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February Flash Paddles will be posted on the baykayaker.blogspot.com website and sent by email as they are announced. So, check out this site frequently to make sure you do not miss any opportunities.
Second Annual Super Bowl Paddle and Party
Harriet and Fritz Ingraham
Date: Sunday, February 6, 2005 - rain or shine, cold or warm
Paddle time and place: 1 p.m. at the former Lulu's location, US 98 under the Fish River Bridge
Party time and place: after 5:30 at their home.
Comments: You don't have to paddle to party. We MUST know if you are coming (how else will you know where we are paddling or how to get to our house)- contact by phone 928-4568 or email. Bring a dish for everyone to share and bring your drink of choice - remember to be a responsible alcohol beverage consumer - let someone else drive you home. We will provide either grilled chicken. IF YOU WANT YOUR FOOD HOT, you guys must promise to go outside and talk to Fritz while he grills - he was left alone last year and missed most of the party. If you don't promise to go talk to him while he cooks - then he will cook before the paddle and we will have cold food. We will have 2 computers on with slide shows of various paddle trips of 2004. The Super Bowl will be on 2 TV's. SPECIAL HALFTIME EVENT (better than last years TV event!!! - now if this doesn't get you here, nothing will). Directions to our home will be sent to the members by e-mail or phone.
St. Vincent Island
Date: February 11-13
Time: TBA
Contact: Bob Andrews - cell: 251-367-4144
Place: St. Vincent Island
Comments: Call Bob to get on the waiting list. This trip is booked up.
Valentines Paddle
Date: February 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Contact: Matt Darring 463-8523 or iama@backpacker.com
Place: Rice Creek Landing
Comments: Wear red and/or bring your sweetheart.
Econfina Car Camping and Paddle
Date: February 25-27
Time: Campground reserved for Feb. 25 (Friday from 2:00 PM) until Monday, Febuary 27 10:00 AM
Contact: Gary Worob gworob@yahoo.com 850-259-9337
Place: Blue Spring Campground
Comments: Gary has 25 openings for overnight camping and 19 are filled as of the Tuesday night meeting. The Econfina campsite has toilets but no potable water. Fine deep springs upstream and downstream. On Sunday, he plans another paddle through very old cypress swamp near Bruce, FL. More details and clarifications later in separate announcement.
The baykayaker website has a link to our long range calendar with paddle dates already extending into early fall. Take a look and plan ahead.
Thank you Cara Lankford of the National Estuary Program for the presentation on Oyster Gardening and the beginnings of the Crabwatch program. The NEP has offices in the old Brookley complex. If you may be interested in volunteering for their programs to improve the health of Mobile Bay, contact them.
Harriet has newly designed club business cards. If you want a few to pass to potential members, just ask Harriet. We passed the hat at the club meeting to cover costs of printing them. We have no dues and really low expenses with this club.
News item: The January 27, 2005 issue of the Baldwin Press has an article on page 8 about the possible renaming of Justin's Bay. The United States Board of Geographic Names requested that the Spanish Fort City Council consider a name change from Justin's Bay to Chastang Bay. In addition, the board requested the name Duck Skiff Pass be added to the small channel that connects Sardine Pass to Justin's Bay.
February Flash Paddles will be posted on the baykayaker.blogspot.com website and sent by email as they are announced. So, check out this site frequently to make sure you do not miss any opportunities.
Second Annual Super Bowl Paddle and Party
Harriet and Fritz Ingraham
Date: Sunday, February 6, 2005 - rain or shine, cold or warm
Paddle time and place: 1 p.m. at the former Lulu's location, US 98 under the Fish River Bridge
Party time and place: after 5:30 at their home.
Comments: You don't have to paddle to party. We MUST know if you are coming (how else will you know where we are paddling or how to get to our house)- contact by phone 928-4568 or email. Bring a dish for everyone to share and bring your drink of choice - remember to be a responsible alcohol beverage consumer - let someone else drive you home. We will provide either grilled chicken. IF YOU WANT YOUR FOOD HOT, you guys must promise to go outside and talk to Fritz while he grills - he was left alone last year and missed most of the party. If you don't promise to go talk to him while he cooks - then he will cook before the paddle and we will have cold food. We will have 2 computers on with slide shows of various paddle trips of 2004. The Super Bowl will be on 2 TV's. SPECIAL HALFTIME EVENT (better than last years TV event!!! - now if this doesn't get you here, nothing will). Directions to our home will be sent to the members by e-mail or phone.
St. Vincent Island
Date: February 11-13
Time: TBA
Contact: Bob Andrews - cell: 251-367-4144
Place: St. Vincent Island
Comments: Call Bob to get on the waiting list. This trip is booked up.
Valentines Paddle
Date: February 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Contact: Matt Darring 463-8523 or iama@backpacker.com
Place: Rice Creek Landing
Comments: Wear red and/or bring your sweetheart.
Econfina Car Camping and Paddle
Date: February 25-27
Time: Campground reserved for Feb. 25 (Friday from 2:00 PM) until Monday, Febuary 27 10:00 AM
Contact: Gary Worob gworob@yahoo.com 850-259-9337
Place: Blue Spring Campground
Comments: Gary has 25 openings for overnight camping and 19 are filled as of the Tuesday night meeting. The Econfina campsite has toilets but no potable water. Fine deep springs upstream and downstream. On Sunday, he plans another paddle through very old cypress swamp near Bruce, FL. More details and clarifications later in separate announcement.
The baykayaker website has a link to our long range calendar with paddle dates already extending into early fall. Take a look and plan ahead.
Thank you Cara Lankford of the National Estuary Program for the presentation on Oyster Gardening and the beginnings of the Crabwatch program. The NEP has offices in the old Brookley complex. If you may be interested in volunteering for their programs to improve the health of Mobile Bay, contact them.
Harriet has newly designed club business cards. If you want a few to pass to potential members, just ask Harriet. We passed the hat at the club meeting to cover costs of printing them. We have no dues and really low expenses with this club.
News item: The January 27, 2005 issue of the Baldwin Press has an article on page 8 about the possible renaming of Justin's Bay. The United States Board of Geographic Names requested that the Spanish Fort City Council consider a name change from Justin's Bay to Chastang Bay. In addition, the board requested the name Duck Skiff Pass be added to the small channel that connects Sardine Pass to Justin's Bay.
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