08/14/2011 - McVoy's Lake

Launch: Cloverleaf Landing
Launch Cost: $5
Destination: Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club trip led by Harriet from Cloverleaf Landing to McVoy's Lake and back.
Distance: 6 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 3-1/4 hours
Weather: Mostly Sunny and hot, but tolerable because humidity was lower today. Winds light. Current negligible. Tide was rising.
GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

Header Image - Club members paddle up the Tensaw River.

I got to the launch site a little early to watch the sunrise.

Today there were prayers for nice weather and the request was granted. A weak cold front moved through which lowered the humidity.

The Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club members proceeded to paddle up the Tensaw River.

Soon after we entered McVoy's Lake the water surface became covered with exotic and invasive Water Ferns, aka Water Spangles, not Duck Weed like we originally thought. Duck Weed has a red dot on its leaves.

More photos of the paddle trip on McVoy's Lake.

More photos of the paddle trip on McVoy's Lake.

On the right, Greg paddles a Huki outrigger canoe.

Two matching Necky Elaho kayaks glide across the blanket of water spangles.

After paddling up several different forks of McVoy's lake, all eventually becoming clogged with tall weeds, we turned around and headed back toward the launch site.

On the way back, some of the group decided to cool off by taking a swim. Harriet, in the red cap, was the paddle trip leader. Thanks for organizing and leading the trip Harriet.

Teamwork was used to help the swimmers get back into their kayaks.

David pumps the water out of his kayak.

08/13/2011 - Rattlesnake Bayou Manatees

Header image - a team of ducks out for a morning paddle.

Another hot sunny day. What more can you ask for?

Earlier in the week I heard there were manatees in Rattlesnake Bayou, so that was the destination this morning. With water this calm, they should be easy to find.

Saw plenty adult and baby ducks.

This homeowner has put up a very appropriate sign. "Slow Please." Manatees move slow and cannot get out of the way of a fast moving boat that has a rotating scalpel on the bottom of it. If you go to Rattlesnake Bayou in a boat, go at an idle speed. Thanks.

The reports were right, there are manatees in Rattlesnake Bayou. 

There is no need to travel to Florida to see Manatees, they are right here in the Dog River Watershed!

That is the Rangeline Road bridge in the background.

08/12/2011 - Goat Island and Canal Maze

Launch: Fowl River Marina off Cedar Point Road
Launch Cost: $5
Destination: Goat Island and the maze of canals north of it.
Distance: 13 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 4-1/4 hours

Weather: Mostly Sunny. Hot morning. Heat advisory warning for the afternoon. Storm generated some winds. Rain started the minute I got back to the launch site.
GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

Header Image. Why Bother? Because I care!

Headed toward Mobile Bay.

Split sunrise as seen from just north of Goat Island (not the Goat Island near the Battleship).

Marsh Fleabane was in bloom, also known as stinkweed.

The scenery in the maze of canals north of Goat Island ranges from low pine lands like this to salt marshes with no trees.

A heron and a egret watch out for each other.

Saw many black-crowned night herons.

I had just rounded the corner of Goat Island and gotten into Mobile Bay when this photo was taken. Only had 1/4 mile (0.4 km) of open water to paddle to reach the entrance of Fowl River.

Nature threw me an "in your face" reminder that she deserves respect on open waters. With no real warning, in less than 60 seconds the wind went from zero to about 30 mph. (Dauphin Island recorded 44 mph winds related to this line of storms.) Waves were soon slapping the kayak and wind driven spray completely soaked me. I didn't dare stop to take any more photos or to try to put on the spray skirt. I was struggling just to make forward progress and it took a long time to paddle that 1/4 mile. In hindsight, this makes me think, "What would I have done had those winds been 60 miles per hour (96 km)?" Hmmm, I've never given that much thought. I definitely will pay more attention to turbulence clouds (which you can see in both these photos) from now on and will have that spray skirt on BEFORE the squall line hits.

After finally reaching Fowl River, I smelled petroleum and saw petroleum. That is the Dauphin Island Parkway bridge going over Fowl River in the background.

I paddled around trying to find the source of the fuel leak and it appeared to be coming from one of the motors on this vessel. The wonderful people at Fowl River Marina helped me report the fuel leak to the proper authorities. Thanks!

08/11/2011 - Dauphin Island

Header image is a photomerge showing an abundance of birds on Sand Island.

Several shrimp boats were working the waters off Dauphin Island this morning.

The crossing from Dauphin Island to the tip of Sand Island turned nasty. Winds kicked up to 20 mph and the waves quickly became unpredictable. The Necky Looksha handled it well. The vegetation on Sand Island is very healthy looking and the sand is as high as I've ever seen it.

Oil Spill workers are still hunting for oil pellets on the shore line of Sand Island.

It is a bird traffic nightmare.

This reddish egret looked slovenly because a gust of wind had just ruffled its feathers. Steady wind made today's paddle frustrating but seeing so many birds up close made up for it.

A Peregrine Falcon (first time I've ever seen one) was dining on fresh gull or tern. This beautiful looking Falcon was wearing a fine pair of feathered pants with a pattern that matched its vest. According to a bird book, these endangered falcons are capable of flying at speeds up to 175 mph.

 Red-winged Black Birds were devouring some sea oats.

If you like seeing birds, try kayaking around the Sand Island/Dauphin Island area! Kayak rentals are available by the Golf Course beach. Speaking of birds, the 8th annual Alabama Coastal Birdfest is coming up on October 6-8. One of Birdfest's events is a Beginner level Canoe/Kayak paddle trip at 5-Rivers.

A remarkably color contrasted wildflower called Marsh Pink (Sabatia stellaris) was flowering on Sand Island.

This small waterway that had running current and could be kayaked, cuts almost all the way across Sand Island and leads to an inland pond.

08/02/2011 - Three Rivers Lake

Launch: Olin Boat Launch in McIntosh, AL
Launch Cost: Free
Destination: Having never paddled the Three Rivers Lake and Otter Bayou area, I decided to explore the waterway perimeters. I tried to paddle Three Rivers Lake back in 2006 but was unsuccessful due to high waters.
Distance: 22 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 7-1/4 hours
Weather: Sunny. Warm morning to Scorching Hot afternoon. No wind. Tide was low and beginning rise. Current was limited to about 1 mph.
GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

Header Image is a photomerge of a large sandbar located north of the McIntosh launch site.

Sunrise on the Tombigbee River.

Nice thing about the Tombigbee River up here is there are solid bottom sand bars to get out on.

Not much water movement in Otter Bayou. I tried to go to Side Lake Bayou but the channel water level was too low.

There were quite a few people fishing in Three Rivers Lake. This fellow was fishing with 5-6 poles.

This odd looking thing was on the side of a tree well above the water line. Something must be having quite a feast on the tree.

In areas where water levels vary greatly, bare limb hooks can be dangling at face level. These abandoned limb hooks catch whatever isn't paying attention and that can include kayakers.

An alligator came swimming up to the kayak and we had a momentary stalemate. It finally went under water after I tried to ram it.

What is there to do on a hot lazy afternoon? This alligator was sleeping.

There were a lot of nice cypress trees in Three Rivers Lake.

Way up stream, the forest shows signs of being flooded frequently as a dark moss grows high up on the tree trunks.

Nestled in the middle of a hollowed out cypress tree sat the biggest water snake I've ever seen with a body diameter of 2-3 inches.

Turtles have very good eye sight as most dropped into the water before I ever saw them.

Out on the Tombigbee across from Three Rivers Lake are some river gauges. Today's elevation was 1 foot. The river gauges go up to 22 feet. Water levels can vary widely here so make sure you check the river level forecast before paddling up in this area. It is also wise to plan your trip so you go upstream from the launch spot so if heavy rains did occur and you wanted to return back to the launch site you would not have to fight the current on the return trip.

This turkey vulture followed me for about a mile but I wasn't ready to give up the ghost yet.