04/30/2011 - Dog River Scenic Blueway (Mobile's urban storm water trash dump)

These are photos taken during this mornings paddle on the Dog River Scenic Blueway, north of Dog River Park. The photos speak for themselves.

Mobile has a severe litter enforcement problem. Maybe if the litter fines were increased by tenfold, some of the fine money could be used to pay for more litter law enforcement. Seeing a piece of trash along the shoreline should be the exception, not the rule. We can't live without water and if Mobile continues allowing its watersheds to be contaminated to this extent, in the spirit of Donald Trump, someone should be fired!

Many are of the opinion, it isn't in my back yard, so who cares? Water is our source of life - we can't live without it. When the economy eventually collapses because there is no money to pay government employees due to criminal spending practices by our country's leaders and the water stops flowing from the taps, this could be the water you'll be drinking from to sustain your life.

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1) Someone missing a road construction marker?

2) See the Sprite bottle?

3) I hate having to paddle through boat fumes.

4) Trash next to a mowed lawn.

5) Scenic Blueway shoreline isn't so scenic.

6) Football anyone?

7) Plastic bottles make up majority of trash.

8) Animals suffer from trash, too.

9) Styrofoam is easily blown from trash containers.

10) Some residents don't clean their shoreline.

04/30/2011 - Sunrise on lower Dog River

A progression of sunrise photos taken this morning from a kayaker's viewpoint on Dog River.

1) Started out the morning with a pair of owls watching me glide by beneath them.

2) About to enter a slight fog bank around the corner.

3) Sunrise through the looking glass window.

4) Nice calm waters this morning make for great reflections.

5) Rising sun casting long tree shadows onto the surface fog floating above the water.

6) Sunrise through the trees in a canal.

7) Sunrise through the trees from open water.

8) Aliens of this earth that we can't communicate with like this family of geese also seem to enjoy the sunrise.

04/29/2011 - McCullough Creek

Back to using the old editor. It is too frustrating trying to move photos and add text.

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1) Sunrise over Dog River.

2) Snowy egret posing for a foggy photo.

3) A vacant web wrapped among the pickerelweed leaves.

04/28/2011 - McCullough Creek

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1) Sunrise on Dog River on a wonderfully cooler morning.

2) Heron beginning to lunge for food.

3) A delightful morning sky.

04/27/2011 - Robinson Bayou

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1) Sunrise over Robinson Bayou.

2) Colorful Red Rattlebox (Sesbania punicea).

3) A gathering on aromatic Swamp Bay (Persea palustris) leaves.

04/26/2011 - Sunset Paddle on Dog River

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1) Mostly cloudy this evening - fast moving clouds.

2) This is all the color offered by this sunset.

3) The End.

04/25/2011 - Halls Mill Creek

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1) Already windy on Dog River at Sunrise.

2) Halls Mill Creek is more protected from wind.

3) There is usually a surprise on every kayaking adventure.

4) Round pupils means NON-poisonous. Good Snake!

5) Small rapids to negotiate under Hwy 90. Expect to do a little wading and get your legs wet to get around this obstacle.

6) Wonderful colors on this butterfly.

04/24/2011 - Easter Morning Paddle on Dog River

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1) Enjoying Easter sunrise from my favorite spot.

2) Saltmarsh type catepillar.

3) Sweet Bay tree flower - kin to the Southern Magnolia.

4) Yellow crowned night heron seeking breakfast.

5) Molted insect shell leaves a big shadow.

04/23/2011 - Dog River and Rabbit Creek

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1) Superb sunrise over the waters of Dog River.

2) Florida Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus).

3) Pearly Crescentspot butterfly.

4) Possumhaw (Viburnum nudum).

5) Beautiful Rabbit Creek.