03/27/2012 - Lower Delta

Tired of padding around in Mobile's waterways, I went elsewhere today and paddled for miles without ever seeing a single piece of litter. When there is no trash, the camera gets to focus on other things seen during the kayaking trip. All the posts in this blog could be trash free if only Mobile's urban waterways and nearby shorelines were kept clean.

Header Image is a merge of several photos showing more Blue Flag.

Sunrise going under the Interstate at Tensaw River.

Welcome aboard on the SS Samual Jonesy. This eco tourism boat does not have the funds to operate anymore. Won't you please raise taxes so SS Samual Jonsey can pay his crew?

Coot having breakfast on SAV (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation).

The further away from Mobile I paddled, the more beautiful the waterways were. Boaters take great pride in keeping the Mobile-Tensaw Delta free of litter and they deserve a pat on the back.

A couple of Osprey Eagles.

 Not sure what kind of birdie this is - maybe a Hawk or Kestrel. One foot was hidden.

It is a good time to see alligators out working on their sun tan.

You can clearly see the alligator's ear in this photo - it is the slit to the left of the eye angling down toward the water.

Insects were out enjoying a beautiful spring day while hooking up with mates.

Butterflies were frequently landing on the plentiful Iris flowers.

Teal ducks playing follow the leader.

Blue iris flowers were dominating the natural landscapes.

Nature's botanical garden is best viewed from a Kayak!

Nature's botanical garden.

We live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police. That is just wrong.
Littering is Wrong Too!

01/06/2010 - Kayaking in Cold Weather

Here is a short video clip of kayaking in cold weather. Temperature was about 27 degrees at sunrise on Chacaloochee Bay and in the 30s a little while later in Savage Ditch. It was the first time I've kayaked through ice. The noise from cracking ice was unique.

01/06/2010 - Savage Ditch Ice Breaker

Launch: Causeway (Near old Old Texaco/Exxon station)

Header Image

1) Felt the urge to kayak this morning because the weather forecast for the next few days indicates nastier weather (gale force winds) is on the way. Problem with kayaking this morning is temperatures were in the 20s. Didn't expect this much ice.

2) Sunrise over partially iced Chacaloochee Bay as the kayak takes on the role of ice breaker. Seeing the sunrise reflecting off rippled ice is a rare treat for this area.

3) Aquatic plants embedded in ice.

4) In Savage Ditch, the ice got a little thicker. Paddling in ice is a unique experience because the paddle has to be slammed down hard on the ice to get the paddle to penetrate it before doing the stroke. If the paddle doesn't penetrate, the paddle slips along the ice causing problems with balance.

5) Despite the cold, soon as I got to Savage Ditch it was time to shed a layer of clothes. I had over dressed and had begun to got hot.

6) A hoary morning. This sure was a cool paddle trip.

7) Looks like the tide dropped as the freezing was going on.

8) Sandpipers were out early looking for food.

9) Soon as the sun came out, ice melted and Egrets, Herons, Coot, and Ibis were abundant along the banks.

10) Unfortunately the winds picked up on the way back causing a small chop. The wind definitely made it feel like the temperature dropped a few degrees.

03/07/2009 – Red Maple Slough Club Paddle

Launch: Public boat ramps on the Causeway.
Cost: Free
Distance: Approx 14 miles.
Route: Paddle across Chocalata Bay, around the outer perimeter of Big Bateau, and up into Red Maple Slough, then took the north cut to Conway Creek, south to Savage Ditch and back down Chocalata Bay.
Pace: Leisurely to Moderate on the way back.
Average Speed: 2.7 mph.
Weather: Sunny, 65 degrees, incoming tide, winds out of the south 10-15 mph.

Luckily no one showed up for the club paddle I was leading today because a Fish'n Fever Tackle Tournament was going on and there was almost no place to park. Did manage to find a parking place and went on the paddle anyway.

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1) White Ibis with the RSA building in the background.

2) Pelican cruising just inches from the water.

3) A healthy looking osprey eagle standing on its nest.

4) This is the time of year to see alligators soaking up the sun on the banks. Saw over a dozen alligators today including a bunch of young ones.

5) Red maples were the highlight of today’s trip.

6) Red maples were the highlight of today’s trip.

7) Saw quite a few Teal.

8) Conway Creek on the way back.

9) There were some interesting clouds getting in the way of the setting sun on Chocalata Bay.

10) Had to wear a spray skirt on the way back because steady 10-15 mph winds kicked up a little chop. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures made this a wonderful trip. Spider Lilies are starting to come out already. Spring is here!

12/03/2007 - Sunset on Chocaloochee Bay

Here is a short video clip explaining one my reasons for kayaking. :)
Why do you enjoy kayaking? Use the comment button to explain.

02/24/2007 – Conway - Lower Crab

Launch: Triple public boat ramps in the middle of the Causeway on the North side.
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: Northeast across Chacaloochee Bay, north up Conway Creek, across Tensaw River, southwest down Lower Crab Creek, south across Delvan Bay, around the corner into Polecat Bay (out of the wind), then across the Tensaw back to the launch site.
Distance: 13.7 miles.
Average Speed: 3.1 mph.
Time: Approx 5 hrs.
Pace: Moderate.
Weather: Small craft advisory in effect. Cloudy, gusty winds from the southeast about 15-25 mph. Tide was very high and rising and there was no noticeable current. Temperature stayed about 65 degrees all afternoon.

1) After getting soaked (sit-on-top kayak) crossing Chacaloochee Bay, I eased up Conway creek and decided to check out Savage Ditch.

2) Why would I go out in a small craft advisory? To ride the waves – that’s why! It was a bit disappointing because the waves were pretty small. I should have gone to Dauphin Island. Do not go out in windy conditions unless you are experienced and know your limitations.

3) A nice tailwind and a little extra speed from riding waves made the trip up Conway Creek quick.

4) Over on Lower Crab creek, the conditions improved mostly because the creek was perpendicular to the wind.

5) Out in Delvan Bay, I was getting soaked again. I would not have enjoyed the trip in a paddle kayak. In the pedal kayak, very little momentum is lost when pedaling as compared with paddling where for a brief second momentum is lost when the paddle is out of the water and the wind starts to slow you down. The winds do not slow down the pedal kayak very much and that makes a big difference in windy conditions. 

6) I didn’t expect to see the sun and at the last minute, I decided to go around the corner into Polecat Bay (out of the wind) to watch the sunset.

7) It was suppose to be raining and here I was watching a nice sunset. Life if good!

8) The sun had just disappeared behind the clouds.

9) This is what it looked like on the way back to the launch site. The upper clouds started turning all different colors.

10) Trip track. This Conway Creek – Lower Crab Creek is one of my favorite loops. It usually takes about 4 hours but today I went up several little side creeks and also stopped for about 20 minutes to watch the sunset. The areas in red indicate where I was getting soaked from spray. This was a fun day to kayak.

"Throw caution to the wind and just do it."

-Carrie Underwood

02/18/2007 – Chocaloochee Bay

Launch: Public boat ramps (triple set) just west of the I-10 crossing on the north side of the Causeway (Highway 90).
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: Counter clockwise around Chocalata (aka Chocaloochee) Bay.
Distance: 9.6 miles.
Average Speed: 2.4 mph.
Time: Approx 4 hrs.
Pace: Very slow.
Weather: Sunny, temperature about 50, very low tide, minimal current, winds out of the northwest 10-15 mph with occasional gusts.

1) Coot, coot, and more coot.

2) Fly coot, fly.

3) I had planned on going up Conway Creek. This is the first time I’ve seen the tide so low that I could not get to the south entrance of Conway Creek. The upper entrance was also land-locked and so was Savage Ditch. I was stuck with doing a loop in Chocalata Bay where the winds were strong out of the northwest and the waters were only 6 to 12 inches deep.

4) I was even able to get out of the kayak and walk on the bottom of Chocalata Bay. The unusually low tide explained why there were no boats at the Causeway boat ramps.

5) A great heron stands about 4 feet tall, towering in stature above most other birds.

6) The waters were so low that some of the marine life taking place under the normally dark waters was quite visible today. These clams looked like they were smiling.

7) A talkative pelican said, “Dude, great day for a paddle, eh? Cool kayak!”

8) My Necky Zoar kayak, from the perspective of a pelican. The white strips are reflector tape shine brightly when a light hits them. A boat can see me a mile away. Anyone who goes out at night should reflectorize their kayak.

9) Since Hurricane Katrina, the goats are gone from Goat Island, which is just to the right in this after sunset photo.

10) Trip Track. Though I was initially disappointed due to shallow waters blocking the planned route, after seeing so many birds and another fine sunset from protected waters, what disappointment?