01/21/2010 - Bay Minette Creek & Basin

Launch: Buzbees

Header Image

1) Barry, a kayaker that I met on the Isaac Creek Ghost Paddle last year, was in town today. We got together and kayaked from Buzbee's Landing. Yesterday evening this area had flash flooding and today Bay Minette Creek had a 2+ mph current - worst I've ever seen it.

2) We found one tributary that didn't have much current and the normally dark water was quite turbid.

3) After lunch, Barry tried his luck at fishing for a little while and never got a bite.

4) Lichen.

5) After Barry left, I went out into Bay Minette Basin and Yancy Bay. A fog bank started rolling in and this was the last time seeing the sun today. Winds picked up to a steady 15 mph. Had to put on the spray skirt. Conditions on the water can change without warning. Always take your spray skirt with you - and a GPS with a launch site waypoint.

6) Another photo of the fog bank rapidly approaching.

7) This is what it looked like in the fog bank. Fog banks can appear quickly and limit navigation to compass, GPS, sound and wind/wave direction.

8) I kept hearing birds overhead but rarely could they be seen. This flock was close enough to the water to be seen.

9) Had planned on watching the sunset back in Bay Minette Basin but the fog obscured the sunset.

10) Kayaking in the fog is fun but it can be dangerous along busy waterways. When in dense fog, keep your noise maker (fog horn, whistle, etc.) handy.

10/11/2009 - Yancy Cut

Launch: Scott's Landing

1) This paddle was a MBCKC trip (Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club). It was the first time I've ever used Scott's launch site which is on the north side of the Causeway near Spanish Fort. There is only one boat ramp and it was pretty busy. Launch fee is $4 but the owner did not charge us for launching so long as we didn't interfer with motor boat launching. It's a concrete boat ramp. There is a small area of bank to launch but it is muddy.

2) The group of kayaks, and a canoe went up to the southwest corner of Bay Minette Basin. Most turned around and headed back. Three kayaks and a canoe continued north up through Yancy Bay, across the cut and returned to Scott's by way of Blakeley River. Conditions were cloudy which took the edge off the recent heat. The waters were calm. Many in the group headed over to Ed's Seafood Shack for a bite to eat after the trip.

12/28/2008 – Buzbee's

Launch: Buzbees in Spanish Fort
Fee: $3.
Route: West to Blakeley River via Yancy Bay Cut, then back up into Bay Minette Creek into Muddy Branch.
Distance: 7.6 miles.
Average Moving Speed: 3.3 mph.
Exploring time: 3.5 Hours.
Pace: Leisurely to idle.
Weather: Cloudy to Sunny, 60-70 degrees, calm winds, water approx 60 degrees.

1) Bay Minette Creek Bridge and the Necky Looksha Sport kayak that I was testing.

2) It was a dreary looking day. Weather radar showed a line of showers in the county north of us. Figured I try out the kayak for 30 minutes or so before it stormed.

3) After about an hour on the water, the clouds melted away and the sun began to shine.

4) Winds abated to less than 5 mph and the waters slicked off. What a great paddling day this turned out to be.

5) Not long after I put on a layer of sunscreen, a voice called out from behind me. Tom, relatively new to kayaking, saw me from afar and came over to visit in his sharp looking Solstice GT kayak. 

6) We chatted for a time and then paddled back to Buzbees. Tom landed at Buzbees and I proceeded up Bay Minette Creek.

7) Bay Minette Creek was one of my favorite places to paddle because it was so untouched by modern development. There are almost no houses, docks or boat ramps to be seen along this creek. Unfortunately, the above left photo is the look of the future. More boat docks protruding into the creek and more power boats noising up the environment.

8) An old branch sticking out into the water took on the characteristics of a marine animal crying out, "Please, no more power boats!"

01/14/2007 – Bay Minette Basin

Launch: Buzbee’s which is just a few miles north of Spanish Fort on Hwy 225.
Launch Cost: $3.
Route: This was a club paddle (Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club) led by Harriet through Bay Minette Basin up into Yancy Bay.
  Distance: 5.7 miles.
Average Speed: 2.2 mph.
Time: Approx 2.5 hrs.
Pace: Leisurely.
Weather: Mostly sunny, temps in the 70s, winds out of the south about 10-15 mph, rising tide, minimal currents.

1) These two future kayakers proved that a canoe or kayak is not necessary to have fun on the water. They were sitting on piece of plywood that was lying on top of an inflated tube.

2) As the youngsters were heading home on their inflated tube, local kayakers were gathering for a short kayak trip on a very beautiful Sunday afternoon.

3) It appears the Baldwin County building boom will affect the Spanish Fort shoreline as trees are replaced by Condominiums. In this photo, double rows of both hay bales and silt fence indicate a contractor’s strong commitment to protecting these waters. 

4) Tom tests his new GPS which is advertised to be waterproof and floatable - it worked.

5) A nice tailwind pushes Fritz and the rest of the Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak club members north up Yancy Bay without having to paddle much.

 6) If you have never been on a club trip, note that there are all types and colors of kayaks used. Jan, in the blue kayak, was having a great time pedaling his kayak.

7) This photomerge was taken at the end of Yancy Bay before we got out and stretched the legs. Note the land-locked houseboat in the photo.

8) “He’s safe!” No…Fritz is not indicating someone is safe, it is a reaction to sinking fast. Fritz and Tom entertained us by trying to walk to the houseboat. Both were unsuccessful as vegetation gave way to water waist deep.

9) All of us, in our vibrant colored kayaks, were thoroughly enjoying the nice warm day in the middle of winter.

10) Jeff, who was fishing alone from his kayak while we were at Yancy Bay, watches the sunlight fade into the horizon. During our chat, Jeff made an interesting statement, saying he has had more fun using his kayak than he ever had using the motorboats he has owned. If you have never been in a kayak, you ought to give one a try! Check the following websites frequently to see when group paddles are scheduled: Mobile Canoe and Kayak Club Blog or join their Yahoo Group.

09/17/2006 – Bay Minette Basin

Launch: Buzbee’s. Launch Cost: $3. Route: This was a club paddle (Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club) led by Juli through Bay Minette Basin up into Yancy Bay. Distance: 4.8 miles. Average Speed: 2.7 mph. Time: Approx 2 hrs. Pace: Leisurely. Weather: Hot, partly cloudy, breezy winds out of the southwest, little in way of tide or current effects. Thunderstorms were off in the distance.

(1) Above left. Paddle participants eagerly waiting to get started. (2) Above right. As we headed west, Harriet pointed out that the land shown in the background of this photo could soon be a thing of the past. This tree line may be replaced by a multi-story condominium.

(3) Above left. Harriet to the left and Juli to the right stay close to the west shoreline keeping us out of the wind. We enjoyed pleasant kayaking conditions. (4) Above right. Over a dozen kayakers came out on this beautiful day. There were a few cardinal flowers blooming along the shoreline.

(5) Above left. A single tree grows out in the water, a survivor of several recent hurricanes. (6) Above right. We had participants come all the way from Gulf Shores to go on this trip. Check out the front passenger.

(7) Above left. The dog wasn’t paying much attention to the scenery. The heat of the day was starting to dehydrate it. The kayak captain had to turn around and to get the dog in some shade. (8) Above right. The group heads north up Yancy Bay.

(9) Above left. Eventually, Yancy Bay narrows down to the point of having to turn around and go back. (10) Above right. Clouds provided a nice backdrop on the return trip. A good time was enjoyed by all. Thanks for leading the trip Juli!

03/18/2006 – Bay Minette Creek

Launch: Buzbee’s. Launch Cost: $3. Route: Up Bay Minette Creek to the Bromley bridge and back, then to Yancey Bay and back. Distance: 15.1 miles. Average Speed: 3.5 mph. Time: Approx 4.5 hrs. Pace: Variable. Weather: 60 Degrees, cloudy, 15-20 mph winds out of the north then subsiding later in the afternoon.

Today I tested a Hobie Mirage pedal kayak Adventure, about four feet longer and six inches narrower than the Outback. I give it a thumbs up!

(1) Above left. This is the Hobie Adventure, near the Bromley Bridge where I turned around. (2) Above right. A deserted looking fishing camp.

(3) Above left. The yellow pond lilies are out. (4) Above right. Blue butterwort was abundant along the banks of Bay Minette Creek.

(5) Above left. The banks along upper Bay Minette Creek were loaded down with white flowers. Think they were Titi shrubs. The white flower dotted landscape reminded me of the landscapes Bob Ross would paint. (6) Above right. Toward sunset, I went out into Yancey Bay and was treated to an aerial spectacle put on by thousands of birds that were feeding. How can it be that with so many birds going in different directions, there are no collisions?

(7) Above left. Wild azaleas in bloom on the river bank. (8) Above right. Not sure what this blooming shrub or tree is. The flowers are so small they are barely visible from a distance.

(9) Above left. A photomerge of Golden Club flowers as they lined the river bank. (10) Above right. A blanket of clouds had been pulled overhead and was just shy of the horizon to the east creating an image of a sunset – a nice colorful way to end the kayak trip.