02/10/2007 – Dauphin Island

Launch: Public beach just west of Dauphin Island Pier.
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: West along the south side of Dauphin Island to Katrina Pass, and back.
Distance: 12.4 miles round trip.
Average Speed: 2.8 mph.
Time: Approx 4.5 hrs. 
Pace: Slow.
Weather: Sunny, waves were small except around the end of the island where the north winds were kicking up a 2 foot chop, minimal current, rising tide, temperature about 50 degrees, winds from the north 15-20 mph, very low humidity.

1) At DPIA1 early in this morning (I was there for a 5k run), winds were blowing 20-25 mph from the north. Bienville Blvd is still closed at Fort Gains. I can’t get to the jetties launch site so I launched the kayak later in the afternoon at the public beach.

2) This was taken from Katrina Pass. Hurricane Katrina cut Dauphin Island into two. To see before and after satellite images, click here.

3) Early morning photomerge of the rock jetties just south of Fort Gaines.

4) Sunset photomerge taken just west of the pier.

5) Can you believe this is the beach at Dauphin Island? It is beginning to look like Gulf Shores.

6) An American Oystercatcher bird.

7) Inland ponds on Sand Island.

8) A pelican prepares to dive for fish near the Dauphin Island pier.

9) A wonderful sunset on a breezy and chilly evening.

10) Trip Track. Photos 1 and 3 were taken on the east end of the island and are not shown on this trip track image.

02/03/2007 – Mobile River

Launch: Triple public boat ramps in the middle of the Causeway on the North side.
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: Cross the Tensaw River, across Delvan Bay, up Spanish River, down Mobile River, around Choctaw Pass, and then back up to the Causeway via Tensaw River.
Distance: 19.7 miles.
Average Speed: 3.8 mph.
Time: Approx 5 hrs.
Pace: Moderate.
Weather: Overcast, winds from the north about10 mph with a few gusts. Tide was just starting to rise from a below normal low tide – earlier winds had blown a lot of water south out of Mobile Bay. Currents were about normal. Temperature stayed about 45 degrees all afternoon.

1) Got in parts to fix the pedal boat today. Chain started slipping shortly after launching. I stopped here to adjust the drive unit. Winds were gusty which is why I stopped on the alee side of this low tide peninsula.

2) Saw a lot of coot and other birds today, but when the sun isn’t out, they are not as colorful.

3) A couple of white pelicans taking off.

4) When kayaking in Mobile River, one should never get too close to big ships or docks. The amount of water this pump was pushing out could easily capsize a kayak.

5) I decided to kayak down Mobile River today in order to see this ferry. The new Hawaii Superferry, manufactured by Austal, won’t be here for long. This is no average ferry – check out some of the interior photos here.

6) Sure glad the Superferry doesn’t operate here. I can only imagine what it would be like to have this ferry zipping by at 35 knots while in my kayak. I wonder if their radar picks up a kayaks.

7) I was also hoping to see the Holiday take off as it usually can be seen heading south around sunset.

8) As I passed by, bundled-up passengers were yelling and waving at me. They must have been impressed with my little cruise kayak.

9) It is almost a ritual for me to take a photo of the RSA building as I pass by. I’m still waiting for the upper scaffolding to be removed.

10) Trip Track (green line). Although it is a little long, this is one of my favorite kayaking loops – it is always an adventure with a lot of industrial action and engineering marvels.

01/27/2007 – Bay Grass

Launch: Causeway by the public boat ramps near the old Exxon station.
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: Northwest across the Tensaw River and Delvan Bay. Up Spanish River to Bay Grass Creek, up a tributary to the end, and back out across the Spanish River, through the Polecat Bay cut, south along the east edge of Polecat Bay, then back to launch site.
Distance: 11.9 miles.
Average Speed: 2.8 mph.
Time: Approx 4.5 hrs.
Pace: Leisurely.
Weather: Cloudy with rain. The temperature was 52 degrees; winds were out of the northeast about 0-10 mph. The tide was almost high and there was minimal current.

1) Light rain started within minutes of starting the paddle. Winds were calm. The clouds were beautiful.

2) I led a kayak club paddle today and no one showed up. The weather radar showed plenty of rain was expected. Does a little rain stop you from paddling? Some of my most memorable paddles have been during rain. Rain tends to dampen sound waves which allow paddlers to get even closer to wildlife.

3) This is a cypress tree with some unique knees.

4) A Barbers ice cream truck about 3 miles in the Delta. I wonder if they know this truck is here. I also wonder why this truck is allowed to deteriorate – spilling its hazardous fuel and oil into our water. If it was on the side of a roadway, tow trucks would have removed it about 75 weeks ago.

5) This is the Mobile skyline as seen from Bay Grass Bay.

6) Further up into Bay Grass tributary, the lush greens are early signs of spring. Oh boy, the days are getting longer meaning more daylight time to kayak!

7) This is a duck hunter’s blind used to hide their boat. They make hunting blinds with real reeds and grasses shoved into the mud. When done hunting, hunters leave their hunting blind as is. Both fish and birds make use of these old hunting blinds.

8) I’m not sure what these birds are – they were plenty of them swarming the waters and making use of the hunting blinds.

9) This is the first time I have kayaked in the back of a pickup truck. Again, I ask why are these trucks rotting in the water? The pickup truck on the right had a 12 volt battery in its truck bed. Is acid, gas, and oil good for the water?

10) This was a really nice paddle today – lots of birds. After 4 hours in the rain, all that was wet was the bill of my hat, my hands, and kayak exterior. All you need to stay dry is a good spray skirt and a good rain jacket. Mountain Hard Wear makes some really lightweight, wind stopper, breathable, waterproof jackets. I don’t let a little rain dampen my passion for kayaking.

11) Trip Track. Numbers indicate where above photos were taken.

“Don't take your toys inside just because it's raining.” -Cher

01/20/2007 – Fly Creek - Fairhope Pier

Launch: Fairhope Yacht Club.
Launch Cost: Free.
Route: Northeast into Fly Creek, aka Devils Hole to a log jam and back. Then out into Mobile Bay, south to Fairhope Pier and back.
Distance: Approx 6.2 miles round trip.
Average Speed: 2.4 mph.
Time: Approx 3 hrs.
Pace: Slow.
Weather: Cloudy, 55 degrees, winds from the east 10 mph to calm, incoming tide, very little current.

Statistics indicate that only 7 percent of the viewers of this blog are using 800 x 600 resolution screens, the majority being 1024 x 768 or higher resolution. Therefore, I'll be uploading photos in the 1024 x 768 size from now on. As always, you can click on a thumbnail photo to see the higher resolution photo.

1) There were quite a few lazy pelicans on the rock jetties at Fly Creek.

2) A little ways up Fly Creek, it looked like this Duck was waving at me as I paddled by. Then again, it also looked like it was about to pass the gas. Those webbed feet are so thin that you can see the blood vessels in them.

3) A confused Cormorant cannot decide what to do with kayaks coming at it from both directions.

4) Kayaking is becoming more popular.

5) This log jam, about a mile up Fly Creek, is the turn around point.

6) Out in Mobile Bay, near the Fairhope Pier park, seagulls fight over a piece of bread which one of them just dropped.

7) The sun was shining 5 miles to the south. Over by the Fairhope Pier I met David who was fishing from his green Prowler ocean kayak. Interest in kayak fishing is picking up. If you are interested in fishing from a kayak, here are two links to check out – Mobile Bay Kayak Fishing Association and Forgotten Coast Kayak Anglers (Tallahassee area). There are some good photos on those sites.

8) Even though the sunset was hidden by the clouds, as the waters laid down the hues of blue and gray were beautiful as the reflections slowly swayed in the waters.

9) The new Fairhope Pier is sturdy enough for a pickup truck. A new roof was being put on the Yardarm Restaurant. Note that the old July 4th gathering point now has a row of rocks between the water and the yacht club pier.

10) Dusk at the Fairhope Pier. Why wasn't anyone fishing off the pier? Oh, that's right - the smart ones are fishing from their kayak.

"Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
- Henry David Thoreau

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.