***FLASH PADDLE***BAYOU JESSAMINE CLEANUP DAY
Date: Saturday, October 1, 2005
Time: 9:00 AM
Place: Shell Station - I-65 exit 31 at intersection of Hwy 225, Stockton, AL
Contact: Carl Hlavenka - 251-604-7268 or chlavenka (at) hotmail . com.
Comments: We will travel from Shell to Rice Creek Landing and paddle over to Bayou Jessamine to work on clearing out debris and fallen trees which block the bayou, especially during low water levels. Bring gloves, large wood saws, rope and chain saws (with fuel, chain oil, etc.), lunch and fluids.
NOTE: There will also be an earlier meeting place at Bruno's, Spanish Fort at the intersection of Hwys. 31 & 98 at 8:00 AM, for those who will not bring a boat and/or may want to carpool. This group will still meet Carl Hlavenka at 9:00 AM at the Shell Station and caravan from there to Rice Creek Landing. Please call or email Carl in advance, to let him know who is coming, so he will not leave anyone behind.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Conservation and Natural Resources Expo
Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Faulkner State Community College - Fairhope Campus
The Expo will be one of the many events in the 2005 Alabama Coastal BirdFest. The MBCAKC is thinking about exhibiting, either on our own, or together with Fairhope Boat Co., if they are interested. This could be a great way to get the word out about our club activities to a targeted audience of birdlovers and general outdoor enthusiasts.
This event is coming up very soon, so we will need to decide if we will participate or not, WITH ENOUGH MEMBER INTEREST, at our October 4th meeting. For anyone interested in leading or helping with this endeavor, such as booth design, materials development, manning the booth for various shifts or for the day, please come to our meeting on October 4th.
Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Faulkner State Community College - Fairhope Campus
The Expo will be one of the many events in the 2005 Alabama Coastal BirdFest. The MBCAKC is thinking about exhibiting, either on our own, or together with Fairhope Boat Co., if they are interested. This could be a great way to get the word out about our club activities to a targeted audience of birdlovers and general outdoor enthusiasts.
This event is coming up very soon, so we will need to decide if we will participate or not, WITH ENOUGH MEMBER INTEREST, at our October 4th meeting. For anyone interested in leading or helping with this endeavor, such as booth design, materials development, manning the booth for various shifts or for the day, please come to our meeting on October 4th.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
****FLASH PADDLE**** AUTUMNAL EQUINOX +2 SATURDAY NIGHT TO WHISKEY DITCH
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2005
Time: 5:45 PM
Place: Old Riverdocs on the Causeway, Spanish Fort, AL
Directions: From Mobile, take the Causeway (or I-10 to the mid-bay exit 30 and turn left) and go to the parking lot on the left about 100 meters before reaching Ed's Seafood Shed. From the Eastern Shore, take the Causeway past Ed's about 100 meters and turn into the lot on the right.
Contact: Brint Adams 251-583-9919 (call Sat. afternoon if the weather looks iffy)
Comments: We will paddle east down Pass Picada, then north up Apalachee River to Whiskey Ditch, to watch the sun set and return under the half-full moon. Some may want to bring along cheese, etc. and cup for a taste of the grape, during our stop in the middle of the delta. The roundtrip will be roughly four miles. Remember to bring a safety light for after-dark paddling. Those interested may meet afterwards at a local restaurant.
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2005
Time: 5:45 PM
Place: Old Riverdocs on the Causeway, Spanish Fort, AL
Directions: From Mobile, take the Causeway (or I-10 to the mid-bay exit 30 and turn left) and go to the parking lot on the left about 100 meters before reaching Ed's Seafood Shed. From the Eastern Shore, take the Causeway past Ed's about 100 meters and turn into the lot on the right.
Contact: Brint Adams 251-583-9919 (call Sat. afternoon if the weather looks iffy)
Comments: We will paddle east down Pass Picada, then north up Apalachee River to Whiskey Ditch, to watch the sun set and return under the half-full moon. Some may want to bring along cheese, etc. and cup for a taste of the grape, during our stop in the middle of the delta. The roundtrip will be roughly four miles. Remember to bring a safety light for after-dark paddling. Those interested may meet afterwards at a local restaurant.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Bayou Jessamine - Today's Conditions
Sunday, September 18, 2005
by Ian Brosnan
I arrived at Rice Creek Landing about 10:30 AM, planning to head to the Indian Mounds via Bayou Jessamine. I went alone and lightly loaded this time. The water levels at Rice Creek were much lower than the last time I was there, but still easy paddling out to Briar Lake. I saw two gators, one in Briar Lake and the other at the mouth of Jessamine Bayou, herons, and lot of turtles laying out in the sunshine. Bayou Jessamine itself is a mess, I was out of the boat half a dozen times before I got to the split for Jug Lake. I was glad I went light as I hauled the kayak over several trees and even had to swim alongside the boat at one point when it wouldn't float over the debris with me in it (the debris wouldn't support my weight, so in I went).
I figured that given the difficulty of passing through Jessamine, there wouldn't be any gators around, but about a quarter mile past the Jug Lake split, I rounded the corner to find a gator slightly larger than my kayak forcing, it's way across the debris pile about fifty feet in front of me. Luckily it was heading away from me and after I shoved my heart back where it belongs and did a little risk assessment, I decided that I didn't give a fig about the Indian Mounds and wouldn't it be nice to see if I could paddle through to the Jug Lake platform and enjoy my cold pizza there?
Well folks, Jug Lake is easily accessible and contains at least two more alligators, one of which is of a decent size and has the disconcerting habit of surfacing in front of you, then swimming along for a few minutes, before thrashing around like crazy and disappearing from sight. Cold pizza never tasted so good. The trip back from Jug Lake was easier than the trip in as the water level had risen, so several of the logs that I had to carry the kayak over were sufficently submerged for me to glide over them.
So, the first half of Jessamine is passable, especially at high water, and if anyone wants to go through with a saw and clear some of the debris, I will be happy to go back. The bigger logs are going to need chainsaw action, but I am sure someone will do that before too long.
Editor - The key here for anyone wanting to paddle Bayou Jessamine in the near future, is to plan your trip when the water level is up, or at least not at low tide. We are in contact with Alabama State officials to advise them of further debris removal needs at lower water levels. You may look at the tide tables here for more information.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
by Ian Brosnan
I arrived at Rice Creek Landing about 10:30 AM, planning to head to the Indian Mounds via Bayou Jessamine. I went alone and lightly loaded this time. The water levels at Rice Creek were much lower than the last time I was there, but still easy paddling out to Briar Lake. I saw two gators, one in Briar Lake and the other at the mouth of Jessamine Bayou, herons, and lot of turtles laying out in the sunshine. Bayou Jessamine itself is a mess, I was out of the boat half a dozen times before I got to the split for Jug Lake. I was glad I went light as I hauled the kayak over several trees and even had to swim alongside the boat at one point when it wouldn't float over the debris with me in it (the debris wouldn't support my weight, so in I went).
I figured that given the difficulty of passing through Jessamine, there wouldn't be any gators around, but about a quarter mile past the Jug Lake split, I rounded the corner to find a gator slightly larger than my kayak forcing, it's way across the debris pile about fifty feet in front of me. Luckily it was heading away from me and after I shoved my heart back where it belongs and did a little risk assessment, I decided that I didn't give a fig about the Indian Mounds and wouldn't it be nice to see if I could paddle through to the Jug Lake platform and enjoy my cold pizza there?
Well folks, Jug Lake is easily accessible and contains at least two more alligators, one of which is of a decent size and has the disconcerting habit of surfacing in front of you, then swimming along for a few minutes, before thrashing around like crazy and disappearing from sight. Cold pizza never tasted so good. The trip back from Jug Lake was easier than the trip in as the water level had risen, so several of the logs that I had to carry the kayak over were sufficently submerged for me to glide over them.
So, the first half of Jessamine is passable, especially at high water, and if anyone wants to go through with a saw and clear some of the debris, I will be happy to go back. The bigger logs are going to need chainsaw action, but I am sure someone will do that before too long.
Editor - The key here for anyone wanting to paddle Bayou Jessamine in the near future, is to plan your trip when the water level is up, or at least not at low tide. We are in contact with Alabama State officials to advise them of further debris removal needs at lower water levels. You may look at the tide tables here for more information.
Monday, September 12, 2005
****FLASH PADDLE**** FULL MOON SATURDAY NIGHT
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2005
Time: 5:45 PM
Place: Old Riverdocs on the Causeway, Spanish Fort, AL
Directions: From Mobile, take the Causeway (or I-10 to the mid-bay exit 30 and turn left) and go to the parking lot on the left about 100 meters before reaching Ed's Seafood Shed. From the Eastern Shore, take the Causeway past Ed's about 100 meters and turn into the lot on the right.
Contact: Brint Adams 251-583-9919
Comments: We will paddle north into Chacaloochee Bay to Conway Creek and either into Bateau Bay or Savage's Ditch to watch the sun set and return under the full moon. The roundtrip will be roughly four miles. Remember to bring a safety light for after dark paddling. Those interested may meet afterwards at a local restaurant.
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2005
Time: 5:45 PM
Place: Old Riverdocs on the Causeway, Spanish Fort, AL
Directions: From Mobile, take the Causeway (or I-10 to the mid-bay exit 30 and turn left) and go to the parking lot on the left about 100 meters before reaching Ed's Seafood Shed. From the Eastern Shore, take the Causeway past Ed's about 100 meters and turn into the lot on the right.
Contact: Brint Adams 251-583-9919
Comments: We will paddle north into Chacaloochee Bay to Conway Creek and either into Bateau Bay or Savage's Ditch to watch the sun set and return under the full moon. The roundtrip will be roughly four miles. Remember to bring a safety light for after dark paddling. Those interested may meet afterwards at a local restaurant.
RESCHEDULED - KAYAK & SNORKEL FIELD TRIP for the Southern Association of Marine Educators & the Environmental Education Association of Alabama
Econfina Creek, Chipola River, Holmes Creek and Seven Runs Creek all north of Panama City, FL
Date: October 14 - 16, 2005
Time: Noon on Friday through Sunday afternoon
Join us for three days of fun and exploration in the creeks and springs of northwest Florida! We have put together a kayak trip for SAME & EEAA members. The trip is also open to all other paddlers as well. It will be held Friday, Oct. 14th through Sunday, Oct. 16th and will be led by Sonya Wood Mahler.
On Friday, beginning at noon, we will paddle along Econfina Creek, the drinking water supply for the city of Panama City. We will tuck into several gorgeous springs where you can swim, snorkel, or just play with the tadpoles. On Saturday morning, we will launch at the boat ramp in Florida Caverns State Park near Marianna. We'll paddle up the Chipola River and explore cypress-lined inlets. Saturday afternoon, participants can go on a 45-minute tour of the caves and hike the nature trail that takes you up the rocky bluffs towering over the river. On Sunday morning, we will paddle up Holmes Creek just south of Chipley, FL to Cypress Springs, another great place for snorkeling. On the drive back, for those who haven't gotten enough of crystal-clear water, we will stop and paddle for a couple of hours on Seven Runs Creek, located just south of I-10 near Ponce de Leon Springs.
The size of the group will be limited to 18 people to insure that we have a good experience and have the opportunity to see some wildlife. For those who do not have their own kayak, we will rent single sea kayaks from Gulf & Delta Canoe & Kayak Co., in Whitehouse Fork, AL. Sonya will lead a session for beginners on how to paddle and how to get in and out of the boats. The minimum age for participants is 12. We will spend Friday and Saturday nights in a motel in Chipley, FL, just off I-10. Chipley is a three-hour drive from the Daphne/Spanish Fort I-10 exit in Alabama.
The registration cost of the field trip is $25 per person. This fee covers guide service, insurance, bottled water and fruit juices, and first aid supplies. Add $30 if you would like to rent a kayak. Add $10 if you would like Sonya to transport the kayak that you rent or your own kayak from Baldwin County, AL. Each person should make their own motel reservations (Super 8 at 850-638-8530: $64.99 + tax per night or Holiday Inn Express at 850-638-3996: $79.95 + tax per night).
For details, contact Rhonda Bryars at 251-937-7176 or bryarrm@aces.edu or to confirm your reservation. Rhonda will mail you a registration confirmation, a map showing where to meet at noon on Friday, a paddling resource packet, and information on how you can join SAME or EEAA. We have checks from some of you. We still need payment from others. When you contact Rhonda, please let her know if you will be meeting us at the Oasis Truck Stop on the north side of the Wilcox Road I-10 exit 53, or at the BP station on the south side of the Ponce de Leon I-10 exit 96.
Econfina Creek, Chipola River, Holmes Creek and Seven Runs Creek all north of Panama City, FL
Date: October 14 - 16, 2005
Time: Noon on Friday through Sunday afternoon
Join us for three days of fun and exploration in the creeks and springs of northwest Florida! We have put together a kayak trip for SAME & EEAA members. The trip is also open to all other paddlers as well. It will be held Friday, Oct. 14th through Sunday, Oct. 16th and will be led by Sonya Wood Mahler.
On Friday, beginning at noon, we will paddle along Econfina Creek, the drinking water supply for the city of Panama City. We will tuck into several gorgeous springs where you can swim, snorkel, or just play with the tadpoles. On Saturday morning, we will launch at the boat ramp in Florida Caverns State Park near Marianna. We'll paddle up the Chipola River and explore cypress-lined inlets. Saturday afternoon, participants can go on a 45-minute tour of the caves and hike the nature trail that takes you up the rocky bluffs towering over the river. On Sunday morning, we will paddle up Holmes Creek just south of Chipley, FL to Cypress Springs, another great place for snorkeling. On the drive back, for those who haven't gotten enough of crystal-clear water, we will stop and paddle for a couple of hours on Seven Runs Creek, located just south of I-10 near Ponce de Leon Springs.
The size of the group will be limited to 18 people to insure that we have a good experience and have the opportunity to see some wildlife. For those who do not have their own kayak, we will rent single sea kayaks from Gulf & Delta Canoe & Kayak Co., in Whitehouse Fork, AL. Sonya will lead a session for beginners on how to paddle and how to get in and out of the boats. The minimum age for participants is 12. We will spend Friday and Saturday nights in a motel in Chipley, FL, just off I-10. Chipley is a three-hour drive from the Daphne/Spanish Fort I-10 exit in Alabama.
The registration cost of the field trip is $25 per person. This fee covers guide service, insurance, bottled water and fruit juices, and first aid supplies. Add $30 if you would like to rent a kayak. Add $10 if you would like Sonya to transport the kayak that you rent or your own kayak from Baldwin County, AL. Each person should make their own motel reservations (Super 8 at 850-638-8530: $64.99 + tax per night or Holiday Inn Express at 850-638-3996: $79.95 + tax per night).
For details, contact Rhonda Bryars at 251-937-7176 or bryarrm@aces.edu or to confirm your reservation. Rhonda will mail you a registration confirmation, a map showing where to meet at noon on Friday, a paddling resource packet, and information on how you can join SAME or EEAA. We have checks from some of you. We still need payment from others. When you contact Rhonda, please let her know if you will be meeting us at the Oasis Truck Stop on the north side of the Wilcox Road I-10 exit 53, or at the BP station on the south side of the Ponce de Leon I-10 exit 96.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
***SPECIAL UPDATE*** DOG RIVER CLEANUP
re: September 17, 2005 8:00 AM Dog River Cleanup,
Lushcer Park, Mobile, AL - Rob Nykvist 251-423-0015
Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Rob will not be leading the scheduled clean up paddle at Luscher Park on the 17th. This does not mean that the 2005 Coastal Cleanup has been cancelled.
From http://www.alcoastalcleanup.org/cleanup-zones/ (The Alabama Coastal Cleanup Website:)
"Due to Hurricane Katrina, some Cleanup Zones have been cancelled. Please contact Amy King at 251-929-0900 to confirm Cleanup Zone participation for September 17, 2005"
re: September 17, 2005 8:00 AM Dog River Cleanup,
Lushcer Park, Mobile, AL - Rob Nykvist 251-423-0015
Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Rob will not be leading the scheduled clean up paddle at Luscher Park on the 17th. This does not mean that the 2005 Coastal Cleanup has been cancelled.
From http://www.alcoastalcleanup.org/cleanup-zones/ (The Alabama Coastal Cleanup Website:)
"Due to Hurricane Katrina, some Cleanup Zones have been cancelled. Please contact Amy King at 251-929-0900 to confirm Cleanup Zone participation for September 17, 2005"
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