08/08/2010 - Little Catfish Bayou

Launch: Steele Creek Lodge near Satsuma, AL
Launch Cost: Free
Destination: Little Catfish Bayou
Distance: 9.5 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 3-4 hours
Weather: Heat advisory. Winds calm.
GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

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1) It was already a hot steamy day at sunrise on Gunnison Creek.

2) In the middle of the morning, winds were still not moving and the sun was scorching hot.

3) Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) flowers.

4) Coastal Rose Gentian (Sabatia calycina) with a spider of opportunity waiting for an insect to visit.

5) An odd looking insect called a Brown Water Scorpion (Ranatra fusca) and little did I know when taking the photo that they can bite.

6) Dragon flies keep the kayak trips pleasant by eating all the mosquitos.

7) Big Golden Silk Spiders are out already and stretching their webs across the waterways.

8) Six-spotted Fishing Spider.

9) Lubber Grasshoppers were abundant in Little Catfish Bayou and were seen eating cattails, fungus, and plenty of vegetation. The dew hadn't burnt off this one yet.

10) A bee up in a cow-pea getting a dose of pollen.

11) While it may look like oil spill sheens and oil goo on the water, the water surface materials seen here are all natural. 

12) The kayak did however need to be cleaned at the end of the trip due to the nasty waterline film left on the kayak, but that is typical on most trips into the backwater of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.

13) Little green tree frogs were abundant.

14) The V-shaped flat clusters of Oatgrass or Indian Woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium) are quite distinct and easy to recognize.

15) Reader Quiz: Put your answer in the comments. Disaster happens - your kayak sinks after a stump pierces the hull and you are stuck on the stream bank for a long time because you left your phone at home. You are hungry and see lots of berries. Do you eat these berries or not? Hint: Smilax.

16) How about it - do you eat these berries or not? Hint: Palmetto.

04/02/2010 - Twelvemile Island Loop

Launch: Steele Creek Lodge near Satsuma, AL
To see or download the track of this trip, Click Here

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1) Today's destination was to loop around Twelvemile Island and paddle in a few of it's tributaries. I was fighting the wind and current going down Bayou Sara. Mobile River was a little bit choppy.

2) This boat operator only had a few inches of clearance.

3) Most of the tributaries in Twelvemile Island were open with very little shade - something you might consider if planning to do this in the heat of summer.

4) Each tributary had one or more members of their welcoming committee members there to greet visiting kayakers.

5) What once was a great place to get out on a wood dock to stretch the legs is now buried under this metal roof.

6) It's a Porta-Potty that will eventually recycle back into the environment - maybe in about 500 years.

7) There were quite a few snowy egrets along the bank of the Mobile River. 

8) The railroad bridge over Big Bayou Canot. This is where the 1993 Amtrak train disaster occurred that killed 47 people.

9) There was an unusual amount of boats out on the water today - it might have had something to do with Good Friday. Every Friday that I kayak is a Good Friday! The boat in this photo had 5 dogs chained to the front of the boat. The boat was passing close because the Gas Line canal is narrow.

10) This smiling lady had just netted a Drum fish.

11/01/2009 - Gunnison Creek

Launch: Steele Creek Lodge Park

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1) John, in his nice current designs kayak (Storm) braved the cold north winds and came out on the last minute club trip I decided to lead.

2) Some coot scooted across the water. Saw a lot of large birds on this trip including great blue herons, hawks, and a huge buzzard spreading it's wings. No cows or otters out today.

3) Getting ready to go under the I-65 bridge. By now the winds were gone. 

4) Took a snack break at an nice unknown park. City GIS indicates the property is owned by an individual so even though there is a "no lifeguard on duty" sign which makes it look like a public park, it may not be a pubic park.

5) Cypress tree needles were golden brown.

6) In contrast, these trees along the cement shore were deep green.

7) North of I-65 the waters narrowed, the sun disappeared and we started to negotiate with a little current.

8) When the creek is narrow and the canopy is low enough that the paddle can hit limbs, one has to keep a vigilant eye out for small insects to be respected. The waters were low today and we had to stop the paddle short due to one log completely crossing the creek.

9) The sun was in our eyes a little on the way back. We did about 9 miles today averaging about 3 mph. It was a most enjoyable trip with perfect weather. Thanks John!

10/30/2009 - Bayou Sara/Gunnison Creek

Launch: Walter Cofield Park (Saraland)

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1) Walter Cofield Park launch site provides access to Bayou Sara. Due to the winds, I wanted to kayak in some sheltered waters. Saw a lot of wildflowers in bloom on this trip. Waters were a bit high due to the strong southerly winds.

2) The winds were a welcome relief to the warm temperatures and scorching sun.

3) Small wildflower that looked like Elephant's foot (Elephantopus nudatus).

4) Southern Cricket Frogs were jumping all along the banks. Click here for a good site to help identify frogs. This frog wasn't much bigger than a cricket.

5) Took a break near I-65. Picnic tables and a shelter have been added to this area within the last year. Not sure who owns the property or if it is open to the public.

6) Lobelia flowers, species unknown.

7) The water in upper Gunnison Creek gets clear when sunlight can penetrate the tree canopy.

8) White tufts of something growing from bird or animal scat on a tree trunk leaning across the creek.

9) Tall pinebarren milkwort (Polygala cymosa).

10) Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium) species unknown.

02/21/2009 – Gunnison Creek

Launch: Steele Creek Park in Satsuma, AL
Distance: Approx 12 miles
Route: Paddle up Gunnison Creek and back.
Pace: Leisurely.
Average Speed: 2.3 mph.
Weather: Sunny, 52-58 degrees, rising tide, winds out of the south 5-10 mph with occasional gusts.

1) Small butterworts were abundant along the upper creek banks.

2) Closeup of one of the Butterwort flowers.

3) Parrot pitcher plants.

4) Fungus.

5) A jet contrail that started getting bubbles on the lower side.

6) A turtle soaking up the sun next to a Golden Club plant.

7) A property owner’s method of controlling bank erosion.

8) A red maple next to the paddle wheel boat.

9) It is Mardi Gras weekend. Could this be nature’s devilish party mask? Back away from the photo and use your imagination.

10) Another sunset on Gunnison Creek. I plan on kayaking Gunnison Creek every few weeks this spring and fall because it is a clean creek with a pretty diverse plant community.