09/26/2011 - Gaillard Island

Launch: Home
Destination: Gaillard Island.
Distance: 26 miles (round trip).
Time Pedaling: 6-1/4 hours
Trip Rating: Difficult due to distance and open waters.
Weather: Sunny, temperature about 82-85 degrees, winds out of the southwest at 10-15 mph. Neap tides. Current to 1 mph. Waves less than 1 foot on the trip over to Gaillard Island and 1-2 feet on the way back. Water temp 84 degrees.

Header Image. Birds patiently await for the lull in shrimp boat activity to end. A few birds will squeal the alarm call when food is present and then they all fly over to the shrimp boat.

Didn't expect to see much of a sunrise this morning.

This was a pleasant surprise that caused me to stop and watch.

Ahhhh, deep breaths and total relaxation. What a show!

Decided to do a training trip today - a loop around Gaillard Island because it is a rather long trip and I love kayaking around Gaillard Island. The Phatwater Kayak Race is a rather long race - 42 miles, hence the long training trip. Weather pending, I'll be doing Phatwater in two weeks.

I slowed way down while pedaling around Gaillard Island - home of beaucoup pelicans.

Beaucoup of pelicans meaning a lot of them!

Pelicans are enjoyable to watch and if you go to Gaillard Island, you'll see plenty of flying pelicans.

A shrimp boat called Lady of Fatima was working the shipping channel area so I pedaled on over to take some photos. I'm not sure what they do on the shrimp boats, but at certain intervals the gulls, pelicans, and terns go wild. Wow, it is an experience to be near such a feathered frenzy.

Soon as I rounded the southeast tip of Gaillard Island, the wave size increased from 4 inches to 2 feet. You shouldn't paddle to Gaillard Island without expecting to deal with at least 2 foot waves some of which will slap the side of the kayak. You should be comfortable paddling in even higher seas if venturing out into Mobile Bay.

The nice looking sailboat Liza of Fairhope had just came out of Dog River and was heading into Mobile Bay.