Bay Minette Basin to Blakeley River
Saturday, August 28, 2004 brint.adams@us.army.mil
Full moon paddles are usually fun, exciting and well-attended. This one was no exception. Linda and I arrived at Buzbee's at 6:20 PM, and found a full parking lot and a beaming Mr. Buzbee with a fistful of cash. There were probably around 20-25 kayaks and canoes of all sizes and shapes. Most were newcomers and some even first-timers in a kayak.
After some instructions from Bob Andrews, our tripleader, we started out at about 6:50 PM heading west towards a cloudy sunset. We stopped to look at early blooming red cardinal flower and light purple water hyacinth along the way. Most of the newcomers were interested in seeing the several alligators we came across out in front of us.
We made our way along the north edge of Bay Minette and turned north up into Yancey Bay. About half-way up we turned west into a narrow un-named channel that Bob calls Gamewarden's Cut. This travels fairly straight until it opens up into the Blakeley River just north of the split between the Blakeley and Apalachee Rivers. On the way through the Gamewarden's Cut, I swatted a few deer flies and managed to swat my prescription glasses off of my face and right into the water. I got into the chest-deep water and tried to feel around for them with my feet, but to no avail. Another good learning experience, this time about bringing glasses along on a paddle without some type of protection to hold them around my neck!
We hung out in the Blakeley for about 15-20 minutes, waiting for everyone to catch up and gather for drinks and snacks. We started back after the sunset, with the moon partially showing through the light cloud cover. Our pace picked up considerably on the return, when thunder and lightening off in the distance, suddenly seemed to move towards us very quickly. When we made the last turn towards the visible Hwy. 225 bridge about a half mile away, it was every boat for itself, as several boats went into race mode to try and beat the approaching storm. All made it back safely, packed up and got out before the rain hit, so it was another successful and fun-packed moonlight evening.
Full moon paddles are usually fun, exciting and well-attended. This one was no exception. Linda and I arrived at Buzbee's at 6:20 PM, and found a full parking lot and a beaming Mr. Buzbee with a fistful of cash. There were probably around 20-25 kayaks and canoes of all sizes and shapes. Most were newcomers and some even first-timers in a kayak.
After some instructions from Bob Andrews, our tripleader, we started out at about 6:50 PM heading west towards a cloudy sunset. We stopped to look at early blooming red cardinal flower and light purple water hyacinth along the way. Most of the newcomers were interested in seeing the several alligators we came across out in front of us.
We made our way along the north edge of Bay Minette and turned north up into Yancey Bay. About half-way up we turned west into a narrow un-named channel that Bob calls Gamewarden's Cut. This travels fairly straight until it opens up into the Blakeley River just north of the split between the Blakeley and Apalachee Rivers. On the way through the Gamewarden's Cut, I swatted a few deer flies and managed to swat my prescription glasses off of my face and right into the water. I got into the chest-deep water and tried to feel around for them with my feet, but to no avail. Another good learning experience, this time about bringing glasses along on a paddle without some type of protection to hold them around my neck!
We hung out in the Blakeley for about 15-20 minutes, waiting for everyone to catch up and gather for drinks and snacks. We started back after the sunset, with the moon partially showing through the light cloud cover. Our pace picked up considerably on the return, when thunder and lightening off in the distance, suddenly seemed to move towards us very quickly. When we made the last turn towards the visible Hwy. 225 bridge about a half mile away, it was every boat for itself, as several boats went into race mode to try and beat the approaching storm. All made it back safely, packed up and got out before the rain hit, so it was another successful and fun-packed moonlight evening.
posted by brint @ 10:25 PM
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