Canal Island Platform
Sunday, January 16, 2005 brint.adams@us.army.mil
On a beautiful, sunny, 60 degree afternoon, seven paddlers in six boats pushed off from Hubbard's Landing toward the Mobile Tensaw Delta's northernmost covered paddlers platform, placed last year by the State of Alabama. We traveled north on I-65 to exit 31 and turned north on Hwy. 225 to Stockton. After meeting at The Stagecoach Cafe, we continued north on Hwy. 59 for 5.5 miles and turned left on CR 98 for 3.5 miles to Hubbard's Landing.
Bob, Fritz, Gary, Tom, Rich, Carol and I headed from the boat launch north on Tensaw Lake against the moderate current and northerly breeze at 12:25 PM. After about three miles, we took a left fork on Big Beaver Creek, following about five s-curves for 1.5 miles. We passed Bear Creek on the right where we saw numerous abandoned fish/hunting camp structures. Just ahead on the left, we turned down Little Lake to the two entrances around Canal Island on the left. The first entrance is narrow and not easily recognized. Most of our group went down to the next entrance left and paddled counter-clockwise around Canal Island to the platform. There were a few trees down, but did not present any problems getting around them.
The platform is in a nicely protected area, where few powerboats would be tempted to venture. The platform is built exactly the same as the other two locations behind Dead Lake Island and Jug Lake. We stopped for a breather, snack and hot mint tea before the return trip.
Along the way, we were fortunate to see a nice v-grouping of about twelve White Ibis in undulating flight over us as well as numerous Cormorants and Snowy Egrets.
The return was much faster, with the current and wind pushing us along. The total trip was just under ten miles, taking about three hours to paddle. This will be a nice trip during other seasons, with numerous streams close by to explore.
On a beautiful, sunny, 60 degree afternoon, seven paddlers in six boats pushed off from Hubbard's Landing toward the Mobile Tensaw Delta's northernmost covered paddlers platform, placed last year by the State of Alabama. We traveled north on I-65 to exit 31 and turned north on Hwy. 225 to Stockton. After meeting at The Stagecoach Cafe, we continued north on Hwy. 59 for 5.5 miles and turned left on CR 98 for 3.5 miles to Hubbard's Landing.
Bob, Fritz, Gary, Tom, Rich, Carol and I headed from the boat launch north on Tensaw Lake against the moderate current and northerly breeze at 12:25 PM. After about three miles, we took a left fork on Big Beaver Creek, following about five s-curves for 1.5 miles. We passed Bear Creek on the right where we saw numerous abandoned fish/hunting camp structures. Just ahead on the left, we turned down Little Lake to the two entrances around Canal Island on the left. The first entrance is narrow and not easily recognized. Most of our group went down to the next entrance left and paddled counter-clockwise around Canal Island to the platform. There were a few trees down, but did not present any problems getting around them.
The platform is in a nicely protected area, where few powerboats would be tempted to venture. The platform is built exactly the same as the other two locations behind Dead Lake Island and Jug Lake. We stopped for a breather, snack and hot mint tea before the return trip.
Along the way, we were fortunate to see a nice v-grouping of about twelve White Ibis in undulating flight over us as well as numerous Cormorants and Snowy Egrets.
The return was much faster, with the current and wind pushing us along. The total trip was just under ten miles, taking about three hours to paddle. This will be a nice trip during other seasons, with numerous streams close by to explore.
posted by brint @ 9:20 PM
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