01/02/2010 - Justins Bay

Launch: 5-Rivers
We had a GPS workshop at 5-Rivers today. Things went pretty bad. I was there to show participants how to create a track in Google Earth and transfer it to their GPS. Almost everyone brought their laptops but no one was able to access the internet. Some sort of network glich. Tried to make the best of it with a presention and discussion about GPS devices. Went out to lunch afterward to Ed's Seafood Shack. After lunch, Lee, Bob, Tom and myself braved the 47 degree temperature with a relentless little 10-15 mph wind from the Northeast to do a short paddle. Water levels were pretty low in Justins Bay.

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1) Lee heads north in Popcorn Alley (off Justins Bay) and a big heron not far ahead.

2) Bob, Tom, and Lee (left to right), on the way back through the cut between Justins Bay and Sardine Pass.

3) Tom in his sharp loooking NDK Romany kayak.

4) Because 5-Rivers locks its gates near sunset, I drove up the road about two miles to watch the sunset.

12/22/2009 - Justins Bay

Launch: 5-Rivers

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1) Wanted to explore all the nooks and crannies of Sardine Pass and Justins Bay today. This is Sardine Pass.

2) Waters were slick in Justins Bay when I started.

3) Unfortunately, pesky little coot kept disturbing the waters in front of me for most of the paddle today. Coot would fly off a few hundred feet ahead and land, I'd catch them, off they would fly another couple of hundred feet.

4) I was starting to creep up on an Owl and the noisy little pack of coot scared off the owl when they started to fly across the water.

5) There were a couple of patches of weeds I wanted to paddle through but the seeds of the Bur-Marigold served as a deterent. I didn't want to get plastered with itchy seeds that stick through the clothing.

6) Even in the wide open waters of Justin Bay, the coot constantly stay a few hundred feet ahead of me, flying off from time to time and disturbing the once slick waters.

7) The bright colors of many spent shells adorned the waters of upper Justin Bay.

8) After about an hour and a half, I finally got away from the Coot and the waters slicked off again.

9) Because 5-Rivers locks its gates at 5:00 pm, I had to watch the sunset from another location. I waited in anticipation for all the clouds to light up because there was an open slot on the horizon for the sun to shine through. 

10) The colors never materialized. It was still a pretty sunset. Coot can be seen meandering in the waters.

12/13/2009 - 5 Rivers Holiday Canoe & Kayak Flotilla

Launch: 5 Rivers

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1) HO HO HO!

2) Eleven enthusiastic canoe & kayakers braved the 70 degree temperatures and foggy skies on a windless day to participate in the 5-Rivers Holiday Canoe and Kayak Flotilla.

3) The sound of Santa filled the air. 

4) There was even some caroling heard coming from Sardine Pass.

5) This was a great event for the entire family.

6) This was a great event even for the Dogs.

7) That's me aboard "Red Christmas." Thanks to my Sis for letting me post this photo which she took.

8) Pets also joined the holiday fun. The majority of photos I took were over exposed like this due to the button on the camera being rotated to the wrong setting. Most of the other photos in this post were taken by my sister Ruth. Thanks again sis!

11/14/2009 - 5 Rivers

Launch: River Docs

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1) This hunter's boat was in Pass Picada. It is about that time of year to kayak with Hunter's Orange on. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Talked to a woman recently who said she once heard a bullet whizzing overhead while she was kayaking. No refuge for any animals or kayakers in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.

2) Run...Forest Coot, run! Today I kayaked over to the 5 Rivers facility to check up on a fishing tournament. Didn't see a soul connected with the tournament nor any fishing kayaks.

3) At the 5 River's facility, it is difficult to get in and out of a kayak due to the height of the dock. Very poor design for a kayaking facility.

4) This is one of the main buildings at 5 Rivers.

5) The 5-Rivers facility is the ideal place to have a wedding. Some happy couple was set up to have their wedding here this evening.

6) Some happy couple was blessed with a superb sunset for their wedding.

7) The sky was burning with fiery colors as seen from Pass Picada.

8) Can you imagine having a wedding and being treated to a sight like this? Wow!

12/27/2008 – Hobie Mirage Outback #2

Launch: 5-Rivers off the Causeway (Highway 90).
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: Back and forth on Sardine Pass to test and set up a new kayak.
Distance: 1.5 miles.
Average Speed: 2.0 mph.
Time: Approx 45 minutes.
Pace: Stop & Go.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 72 degrees,
SSE winds 15 mph, water temperature approx 62 degrees.

1) Winds were light in the protected areas of Sardine Pass where I was setting up my Christmas present – a new kayak. At the same time, a mother and her son were testing out a Hobie Mirage Tandem kayak. Several others kayakers were taking advantage of the nice 70+ degree weather.

2) The 5-Rivers facility can be seen in the background.

Having been without a kayak for the past year and a half, I finally took the plunge (no pun intended) to help the sagging economy and bought my second Hobie Mirage Outback pedal kayak. My first Outback was retired about 2 years ago after taking 5 years to wear it out. Hobie has been listening to owner feedback and has implemented many recent design improvements. The main improvement I was waiting for was a stronger pedal drive unit and that came out this year. So I’m supporting Hobie’s endeavors to improve their pedal kayak even more by getting another one. Hopefully these new pedal drive units will be much more reliable than the older ones. Hobie supports their kayaks 100%. If I get 5 years worth of enjoyment from this new Outback like I did the last one, you can't put a price on enjoyment and bliss.

For those of you who used to visit this blog to see new photos, the old format will continue - this is a photo journal of kayaking trips in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. Posts are open for public comment, so feel free to comment or drop suggestions.

08/16/2008 – 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center

Launch: 5-Rivers off the Causeway (Highway 90).
Launch Cost: Free (except for rental).
Route: East on Sardine Pass, North up Blakeley River, South southwest down the Apalachee River to Whiskey Ditch and back.
Distance: 9 miles.
Average Speed: 2.6 mph.
Time: Approx 3.5 hrs.
Pace: Slow.
Weather: Cloudy to Sunny with temps 80s. Minimal Tides, winds out of the south 10-15 miles turning calm after the clouds moved out.

1) 5-Rivers Outfitters facility.

2) Forecast called for thunderstorms and the skies at starting time were filled with heavy clouds. Winds kicked up significantly during the first hour of paddling.

3) The clouds sped off toward the horizon on the east.

4) Towering plants in the pea family were in bloom all along the banks.

5) By the time I made it to Whiskey Ditch Basin, the conditions were ideal. 

6) One of my favorite wildflowers, the Fen Rose, was in bloom in Whiskey Ditch.

7) Grass spikes stopped swaying as the winds calmed down.

8) On the way back, conditions were still perfect in a little cut north of Justin’s Bay off the Blakeley River.

9) That’s me in a Necky Eskia rental kayak. Hard to believe it has been over a year since I have been kayaking.

10) This kayaker was testing out a Native Watercraft canoe to see how comfortable it was to fish out of.