01/15/2011 - Whiskey Ditch

Launch: Riverdocs on the Causeway (northeast of Ed's Seafood Shack)
Destination: Whiskey Ditch
Distance: 5.7 miles
Paddle time: A little over 2 hours
Weather: Mostly sunny, temp in the 60s. 5-10 mph winds. A beautiful day.

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1) Water levels were quite low at the launch site.

2) A couple of playful otters came swimming up to me in Whiskey Ditch.

3) Shore birds were taking advantage of the low tide.

4) Another shoreline bird.

5) It was suppose to be cloudy all day. Except for a brief line of clouds passing by, it was sunny all day.

6) The bandits were out.

7) A diving duck surfaced right next to the kayak and immediately took off running on the water.

8) A few minutes later the diving duck was on the mud bank playing dead as I paddled by.

9) It is hard to see big herons unless they move because they blend in so well with the dried vegetation.

10) Some hunters left a disgusting pig souvenir at the launch site. The only part it appears they took was the pigs head.

09/18/2010 - Whiskey Ditch

Launch: Riverdocs on the Causeway
Destination: Whiskey Ditch
Distance: Approx 5 miles
Paddle time: Approx 2 hours
Weather: Partly cloudy with temp in the 80s. 10-15 mph winds.

1) A new river house with a floor that sags about 4 inches. The asking price is $15,000.

2) Water fowl watching an intruder in a kayak invade its territory.

3) Climbing Hempvine (Mikania scandens).

4) Wildflowers line the banks of Whiskey Ditch. Marsh Fleabane or Stinking Camphorweed (Pluchea fletida).

5) Looking like a promising sunset.

6) A colorful sunset was blocked out by clouds.

08/29/2010 - Whiskey Ditch

Launch: Riverdocs on the Causeway
Destination: Whiskey Ditch
Distance: Approx 5 miles
Paddle time: Approx 2 hours
Weather: Partly cloudy with temp in the 80s. 5-10 mph winds.
Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

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1) After miserable weather Saturday, this afternoon turned out to be a little better. It brought out at least one fisherman.

2) Large plant in the bean family (red rattlebox) was flowering.

3) Conditions were pretty calm in Whiskey Ditch.

4) Water Hyacinth.

5) Decided to stick around the little pond at the end of Whiskey Ditch and watch the sunset.

6) This was a relaxing sunset.

7) Beautiful colors were put on display in the atmosphere reflecting on the still waters.

8) I never grow tired of watching sunsets. Wish you had been here to see it.

06/15/2010 - Whiskey Ditch

Launch: Riverdocs on the Causeway
Destination: Whiskey Ditch
Distance: Approx 5 miles
Paddle time: Approx 2 hours
Weather: Hot and humid (90s) with nearby thunderstorms.
Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

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1) Picked up the Necky Looksha 17 Outfitter kayak that I ordered back in March today and had to try it out despite nearby thunderstorms. There was a distinct and sickening smell of petroleum in the air related to the BP oil spill.

2) A yellow crowned night heron on a post in Pass Picada with the Oyster House Restaurant in the background.

3) An eye catching wildflower in the Pea Family on the bank of Pass Picada. 

4) The flower of the Swamp Dock in the Buckwheat Family (Rumex verticillatus) which had many medicinal purposes in the past.

5) Higher up on the stream bank the white flowers of the Crimsoneyed Rosemallow are visible.

6) A closer look at the Crimsoneyed Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos). It is a large sized flower.

7) Peering inside the flower, you can see where the Crimsoneyed Rosemallow gets its name.

9) Floating Primrosewillow or Water Primrose (Ludwigia peploides) - this plant can literally clog streams. The color of the Water Primrose flower matches the color of the new kayak.

10) At the end of Whiskey Ditch is a small pond and at times it is full of surface scum that is teaming with microscopic life.

11) Another thunderstorm forming nearby meant it was time to head back to the launch site. Overall the Looksha Outfitter handled well although I need to make some adjustments to improve seat comfort. I got this kayak to use in open waters with larger waves. It is suppose to handle a 4 foot chop.

10/06/2009 - Whiskey Ditch

Launch: River Docs

1) It was a hot sultry day to kayak. The humidity was so bad that it added moisture content to sweat. With no breeze, it was difficult for the body to cool off no matter how much sweat it produced.

2) The backside of a Bur-Marigold also known as Beggar Ticks (Bidens laevis).

3) This great egret was getting its nourishment from bugs on the smartweed vegetation along the banks.

4) Closer shot of the egret.

01/13/2007 – Whiskey Ditch

Launch: River Doc launch on the north side of the Causeway near Ed’s Seafood. It is a mud parking lot.
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: East along Pass Picada, northeast along the Apalachee River, then west to the end of Whiskey Ditch and back.
Distance: 5.6 miles.
Average Speed: 2.6 mph.
Time: Approx 2.5 hrs.
Pace: Slow.
Weather: Winds from the south 5-10 mph. Temp in the lower 70s and partly cloudy. I have to grin after reading a message from a kayaker who was cussing because it was 5 degrees where he lives. I love Mobile weather.

1) I dropped off the broken Hobie Outback kayak and loaded up the Necky Zoar. There was no way a broken kayak was going to ruin this absolutely beautiful kayaking day. Photomerge taken after launching – this is the entrance to Pass Picada. The barely visible building on the far right is the Oyster House restaurant.

2) After passing the Bluegill restaurant, I met Mike and Sherry. They had just launched and they too were headed to Whiskey Ditch.

3) Nice puffy clouds combined with calm waters made excellent reflections.

4) This photomerge was taken near the end of Whiskey Ditch. Some of you will recognize the trees.

5) There was a lot of bird activity today. These were red-winged blackbirds.

6) In Whiskey Ditch lake, looking back southwest toward the sun, a bright spot appeared in the clouds to the right of the sun. Could this be the sun’s reflection off of a big lake shining back into the clouds?

7) On the way back, flocks of birds were still making noise.

8) Not far from the launch site, I thoroughly enjoyed a colorful ending to a wonderful kayak trip.

9) I think all kayak trips should be timed so they take in the sunrise, or the sunset, or if you are lucky, both.

10) After getting out of the kayak, upper level clouds turned several shades of pink before disappearing into the darkness of night. I didn’t see much wildlife today but the ever changing scenery made me forget all about it.

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."
-Martin Luther