April Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 1st in the Longleaf Room at Five Rivers Delta Resource center.  Phillip West and Caroline Harris of the City of Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center, will be our guest speakers. They will educate us on things such as---how the Center started, their future plans, and the current classes offered. They will also talk about the Orange Beach Canoe Trail, and how they hope to merge it into a Coastal Blueway partnering with surrounding/nearby cities.

Exciting news! The mini-slide show is back and will be presented by participants of Battle on the Bayou which was this past weekend. As always, it was an awesomely fun event and MBCKC did quite well!


Notes:
*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes
 

Upcoming Paddles and Events
The following paddles have been posted on the MBCKC Calendar.  Click on the Calendar link to the right for more info on these paddles.

Paddles
Sunday, March 23rd from 2pm-4:30pm in the Long Leaf Hall at 5 Rivers - Celebrating 15 years of Paddling!  Anniversary Party - plenty of paddling, food, and fun!
 
Saturday, March 29th - Paul Taylor's last Saturday Brooks Park Paddle 8am in Chickasaw

 
Events
Saturday, March 29th :  Battle on the Bayou kayak/canoe race  
for more info:  http://battleonthebayou.com/ 

April 3 - 6:  Paddle Bayou LaFourche  - Paddle one day or paddle/camp all
for more info: http://btnep.org/subsites/Paddle/PaddleHome.asp

April 12:  Bluz Cruz:  a 22 mile paddle adventure down the Mighty Mississippi
for more info:  http://www.bluzcruz.com/

April 19:  4th Annual Great Drift:  Dog River Blueway Paddle - No details yet, will post when we get them

April 26:  1st Chickasha Bouge Paddle/Brooks Park - Details to come 
Info on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chickasha-Bogue-Paddle/261275497375000

April 26:  Third Annual Battle of the Bay Canoe and Kayak Race 
Register: http://www.savlp.org/Websites/vlp/images/Entry_Form_2014.pdf

May 3:  Kayak for a Cure    
for more info:   http://kayakforacure.org/events/pensacola/
 

We're getting ready to Party!  We are Celebrating 15 Years of Paddling on March 23rd! 

March Meeting - Please note change of day for March meeting only
The next  meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 7pm in the Tensaw Theater at Five Rivers.   This will be the last chance to order club shirts which will be distributed at our 15 year Celebration on Sunday, March 23rd.  Shirts are $12 (add $3 for sizes 2X-4X). We will also be discussing final arrangements for the party which will be held at Meaher State Park.  Also, we are asking everyone that knows they will make the party to bring their $5 to pay for the rental of facility, paper products, and some meats.  Please spread the word about our celebration, we want everyone to join in the fun!

Notes:
*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes
 

Upcoming Paddles and Events
The following paddles have been posted on the MBCKC Calendar.  Click on the Calendar link to the right for more info on these paddles.

Paddles 

Saturday, Feb 22nd - Paul Taylor's 4th Saturday Brooks Park Paddle 8am in Chickasaw

Saturday, March 22nd - Paul Taylor's 4th Saturday Brooks Park Paddle

Sunday, March 23rd - Celebrating 15 years of Paddling!  Anniversary Party - plenty of paddling, food, and fun!

Events 
Saturday, February 22 -Work day for new canoe and kayak launch at Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores. JOIN us from 8 am to 12:00 pm for a volunteer work day in the wild and beautiful setting of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. We will be working on a new Kayak Launch that will benefit residents and visitors alike. We will meet at the Jeff Friend Trail Head on February 22, 2014. We will be posting signs, removing trash, and setting up the launch. Please dress appropriately and bring work gloves if you have them. Call Denise McInturff at 251-540-7720 for additional information or with any questions.

Friday, March 14: 

The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a ribbon cutting on Friday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. to celebrate the newly completed "Kayak & Canoe Launch" at the Jeff Friend Trail.  All paddlers are invited to participate and launch their kayaks and canoes at the ribbon cutting event.  The kayak and canoe launch is approximately 6.5 miles west of state route 59 on Ft. Morgan Road (state route 180) in Gulf Shores.

Saturday, March 29th :  Battle on the Bayou kayak/canoe race  
for more info:  http://battleonthebayou.com/ 

April 3 - 6:  Paddle Bayou LaFourche  - Paddle one day or paddle/camp all
for more info: http://btnep.org/subsites/Paddle/PaddleHome.asp

April 12:  Bluz Cruz:  a 22 mile paddle adventure down the Mighty Mississippi
for more info:  http://www.bluzcruz.com/

April 19:  4th Annual Great Drift:  Dog River Blueway Paddle - No details yet, will post when we get them

April 26:  1st Chickasha Bouge Paddle/Brooks Park - Details to come 
Info on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chickasha-Bogue-Paddle/261275497375000

April 26:  Third Annual Battle of the Bay Canoe and Kayak Race   
For more info:  http://www.savlp.org/

 

February Meeting
The next  meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 7pm in the Tensaw Theater at Five Rivers.   Along with our usual agenda, we will be discussing upcoming paddling events, talking about safety on the water/self rescues, & making plans for our Anniversary party. We will also be placing order for our special club anniversary t-shirts.

January Meeting Notes
Thanks to Harriet King Ingraham and David Lannie for the slideshow presentation on their 3 day/2 night paddle trip in the Okefenokee Swamp.   

Notes:

*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes
 

Upcoming Paddles and Events
The following paddles have been posted on the MBCKC Calendar.  Click on the Calendar link to the right for more info on these paddles.

Paddles 

Friday, Feb 14th - Paddle with St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Paddlers at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Monday, Feb 17th - Bob Straders Presidents Day Paddle at Stxy River

Sunday, March 23rd - Celebrating 15 years of Paddling!  Hurricane Bayou Paddle with big Party afterwards at the Bream Club/Hurricane Landing in Bay Minette - Details to come!
 


Events 

Saturday, February 22 -Work day for new canoe and kayak launch at Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores. JOIN us from 8 am to 12:00 pm for a volunteer work day in the wild and beautiful setting of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. We will be working on a new Kayak Launch that will benefit residents and visitors alike. We will meet at the Jeff Friend Trail Head on February 22, 2014. We will be posting signs, removing trash, and setting up the launch. Please dress appropriately and bring work gloves if you have them. Call Denise McInturff at 251-540-7720 for additional information or with any questions.

Saturday, March 29th :  Battle on the Bayou kayak/canoe race  
for more info:  http://battleonthebayou.com/ 

April 3 - 6:  Paddle Bayou LaFourche  - Paddle one day or paddle/camp all
for more info: http://btnep.org/subsites/Paddle/PaddleHome.asp

April 12:  Bluz Cruz:  a 22 mile paddle adventure down the Mighty Mississippi
for more info:  http://www.bluzcruz.com/

April 19:  Dog River Blueway Paddle - No details yet, will post when we get them

April 26:  1st Chickasha Bouge Paddle/Brooks Park - Details to come 
Info on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chickasha-Bogue-Paddle/261275497375000

April 26:  Third Annual Battle of the Bay Canoe and Kayak Race   
For more info:  http://www.savlp.org/

 

January Meeting
The next MBCKC meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 7pm in the Long Leaf Room at Five Rivers. Harriet King-Ingraham and David Lannie will present on a 3 day, 2 night paddle trip in the Okefenokee Swamp that they did back in November. We are sure to see lots of nice photos. 

We will also talk about things that are in the planning for the new year such as ordering club t-shirts and hosting a MBCKC anniversary get together (November was the club's 14th Anniversary).  We are already behind in the celebration so we need to schedule something real soon.

December Meeting Notes
In lieu of meeting at 5 Rivers, club members attending Mobile's premiere of  "American's Amazon" at the Saenger Theater.   The film showed just a touch of the beauty that most of us have been fortunate enough to experience first hand. The one thing I think it did for most of us was educate us on how great the biodiversity is and how fragile the ecosystem is that exists in its more than a quarter million acres that encompasses the Delta because of what we (humans) have done (dams, industry, development, etc). It is not too late to step up and demand the State do what is needed to protect and preserve it. Write to Montgomery about it's loose regulations and the under-funding of ADEM.

If you were unable to attend the premiere, the documentary will air on Alabama Public Television four times during the month January.  Monday, Jan 6 at 9pm, Tuesday, Jan 7 at 10pm, Wednesday, Jan 8th at 7pm, and Sunday, Jan 12th at 4pm.

Notes:
*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes
 

Upcoming Paddles and Events
The following paddles have been posted on the MBCKC Calendar.  Click on the Calendar link to the right for more info on these paddles.
Paddles
Saturday, January 4th:  Paul Taylor's Brooks Park Paddle
Sunday,  January 5th:  Bob Strader's Magnolia River Paddle 

Events
Saturday, March 19th :  Battle on the Bayou kayak/canoe race  
for more info:  http://battleonthebayou.com/ 

April 3 - 6:  Paddle Bayou LaFourche  - Paddle one day or paddle/camp all
for more info: http://btnep.org/subsites/Paddle/PaddleHome.aspx  
  

December Meeting - Important Announcment
In lieu of holding a meeting at 5 Rivers in December, Mobile Bay Canoe & Kayak Club asks all club members to join us at the Saenger Theater that night, Tuesday, December 3rd,  for the "America's Amazon: The Mobile-Tensaw Delta" Film Premiere. Show is at 7pm / doors open at 6pm. Admission is $5 at the door. We will resume meetings at 5 River's on January 7, 2014.  

http://americasamazon.net/about-the-project/

November Meeting  
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 7pm in the Longleaf Room of Five Rivers Delta Resource Center.   Please do note that our meetings will no longer take place in the Tensaw Theater, but in the Longleaf room (where the Sierra Club normally meets).

Several club members participated in Paddle Bayou La Batre on October 14.  We will have a slideshow of the event and participants will share their stories of the day. 

Thank you, Steve Delker, for educating MBCKC members regarding safety on the water and on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary; it sounds like a good cause to volunteer ones time with.


Notes:
*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes

Upcoming Paddles and Events

Indian Mounds Paddle:  Saturday, Oct 19th  
Boiling Creek Paddle:  Sunday, Oct 27 

October Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 7pm in the Tensaw Theater of Five Rivers Delta Resource Center.   MBCKC member, Steve Delker, who also with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary  will present on boater safety as pertaining to canoes and kayaks.  While we paddle for fun, we realize that safety is the main priority while on the water.  All paddlers should be aware of laws pertaining to paddling and continually conscious of safety on the water in the different environments in which we paddle.   Don't miss this important presentation.  We will also have the opportunity to be educated on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

A special thanks goes out to  Dr. Gregory Waselkov, Professor of Anthropology, for the informative talk he did last month on the Bottle Creek Indians.  Also, a great big shout out goes to Jenny Manders for coordinating the last several meetings.  She invited some awesome guest speakers.  We appreciate Jenny for taking her time to do so.

Notes:
*  If there are still openings left for PADDLE BAYOU LA BATRE you will be able to sign up with Tracy Lannie immediately after the October 1 meeting.  We are rapidly approaching our cut off limit, so there are no guarantees of being able to register on this night.
 

 *Volunteers wanted to lead/conduct MBCKC meetings. Presently, November is the next available opening. If you would like to conduct a meeting or suggest a guest speaker, please contact Tracy Lannie, MBCKC coordinator, at 463-4233 or tracy@thelannies.us

*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes

Upcoming Paddles and Events 

The below paddles and events have been added to the MBCKC Calendar.   Click on the Calendar tab on the right for details.

Paddles
Chickasabogue Creek from Brooks Park Paddle - Saturday, Sept 28 at 8am, call Paul Taylor 648-2962

Indian Mounds Paddle:  Saturday, Oct 19th 

Events:

26th Annual Coastal Cleanup - Saturday, Sept 21 
for more info:   http://www.alabamacoastalcleanup.com/clean-up.html

Paddle Bayou La Batre - Rescheduled for Sunday, Oct 13th- good paddling, good food, door prizes and you get a t-shirt!    For more info:  http://www.paddlebayoulabatre.org/       Look on Facebook for Paddle Bayou La Batre updates

Phatwater Kayak Challenge - Saturday, Oct 12     for more info:
 http://www.kayakmississippi.com/

Pumpkin Paddle - Saturday, Oct 19    Cancelled For more info and to register:
http://www.obparksandrec.com/images/Pumpkin_Paddle_Flyer_Registration.pdf 

 

 

September Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 7pm in the Tensaw Theater of Five Rivers Delta Resource Center.   Jenny Manders,  the host and  coordinator this month's meeting, has arranged for Dr. Gregory Waselkov to present on the Bottle Creek Indians.

 

Dr. Gregory Waselkov, Professor of Anthropology, received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and has taught at the University of South Alabama since 1988. Professor Waselkov teaches courses in anthropology, archaeological methods and theories, and courses involving North American Indians, Professor Waselkov is also Director of the Center for Archaeological Studies and the Archaeology Museum at the University of South Alabama.

 Notes:

 *Volunteers wanted to lead/conduct MBCKC meetings. Presently, November is the next available opening. If you would like to conduct a meeting or suggest a guest speaker, please contact Tracy Lannie, MBCKC coordinator, at 463-4233 or tracy@thelannies.us

*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes 

October Meeting Topic:  Safety on the Water and Laws You Should Know (USCG Auxiliary) 

Upcoming Paddles and Events The below paddles and events have been added to the MBCKC Calendar.   Click on the Calendar tab on the right for details.

Paddles
Brooks Park Paddle w/ option of fish dinner afterwards- Saturday, Aug 24 at 8am, call Paul Taylor 648-2962

Brooks Park Paddle- Sunday Sept 8th

Full Moon - tentatively set for Sept 18 or 19, will announce at a later date
 
Events:

Perdido Kayak, BBQ & Blues Festival - Saturday, Aug 31 For more info:  http://www.visitperdido.com/kayak-barbeque-blues 

Gator Bait Kayak Race - Saturday, Sept 14    For more info:
 http://www.gatorbaitrace.com/

Trek and Trial Project Fish River Cleanup - Sunday, Sept 15   Go out and help make our paddling world a more beautiful place!  For more info:  https://www.facebook.com/trekandtrailproject or call (251) 300-7489

26th Annual Coastal Cleanup - Saturday, Sept 21 
for more info:   http://www.alabamacoastalcleanup.com/clean-up.html

Paddle Bayou La Batre - Saturday, Oct 5th - good paddling, good food, door prizes and you get a t-shirt!    For more info:  http://www.paddlebayoulabatre.org/

Phatwater Kayak Challenge - Saturday, Oct 12     for more info:
 http://www.kayakmississippi.com/

Pumpkin Paddle - Saturday, Oct 19    For more info and to register:
http://www.obparksandrec.com/images/Pumpkin_Paddle_Flyer_Registration.pdf

August Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 7pm in the Tensaw Theater of Five Rivers Delta Resource Center.   Once again,  Jenny Manders, MBCKC member, coordinated this month's meeting and has arranged for Dr. Keith Blackwell to be our guest speaker.   His talk is will cover, “Weather patterns and boating safety.”  Also, what we may expect from our current hurricane season will also be discussed.

 Dr. Keith G. Blackwell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Meteorology at University of South Alabama since 1996 will be our guest speaker.  Prior to joining the faculty at U.S.A., Dr. Blackwell served thirteen distinguished years as a meteorologist with the U.S. Air  Force.

 Notes:
 *Volunteers wanted to lead/conduct MBCKC meetings. Presently, November is the next available opening. If you would like to conduct a meeting or suggest a guest speaker, please contact Tracy Lannie, MBCKC coordinator, at 463-4233 or tracy@thelannies.us

*If you would like to present a "mini-slide show paddle report" during one of the monthly meetings, please contact Tracy Lannie. Members are encouraged to share their paddle trip in this style. Time allotted for these presentations are 5-7 minutes 

September Meeting Topic:  Bottle Creek Indians  (Dr. Gregory Waselkov, Professor of Anthropology)

October Meeting Topic:  Safety on the Water and Laws You Should Know (USCG Auxiliary) 

Upcoming Paddles and Events The below paddles and events have been added to the MBCKC Calendar.   Click on the Calendar tab on the right for details.

Paddles
Fish River Paddle - Saturday, Aug 3

Brooks Park Paddle - Sunday, Aug 11 at 7:30pm  call Paul Taylor 648-2962

Books Park Paddle w/ option of fish dinner afterwards- Saturday, Aug 24 at 8am, call Paul Taylor 648-2962

 

Full Moon Paddle - Wednesday, Aug 21 at 6:15

Events:

Pelican Canoe & Kayak Race - Saturday, July 27 Contact: Liz Bizer, (251) 990-5004 or liz@weeksbay.org 

Perdido Kayak, BBQ & Blues Festival - Saturday, Aug 31
For more info:  http://www.visitperdido.com/kayak-barbeque-blues