04/23/2006 – Fairhope (Earth Day)

Launch: Fairhope Yacht Club. Launch Cost: Free. Route: South about 1.2 miles to Fairhope Pier where I had volunteered to help out with the Fairhope Boat Company kayak demo at the Fairhope Pier Earth Day festival. Distance: Unknown. Average Speed: Unknown. Time: Approx 5 hrs. Pace: Leisurely. Weather: Sunny and hot.

(1) Above left. Just south of Fairhope Pier stands a forest of pilings that now only serves as a roost for shore birds. (2) Above right. In the late afternoon during no wind conditions, sailboats started showing up in Mobile Bay. They knew the winds were going to pickup soon.

(3) Above left. I waited for several hours while kayaking around the Fairhope Pier area for the Kayak Demo people to show up. They never did. They had been limited to a small beach area and chose not participate in the Earth Day activities. That was alright with me, I’d rather be kayaking just like these other folks. (4) Above right. The winds did pick up substantially and I sailed the Hobie Outback until the winds got too strong for kayaking.