Byrnes Lake to Causeway
Sunday, December 4, 2005 brint.adams@us.army.mil
A group of six kayak paddlers met at the Byrnes Lake public launch access off of Hwy 225 about nine miles north of Spanish Fort, AL. We had beautiful winter weather with partially overcast skies, temperatures in the upper sixties, a southerly breeze and an outgoing tide as we started out at 9:30 AM. Our spirits were high as we paddled briskly but easily out Byrnes Lake to the Tensaw River and started heading south.
We made good time at 4 mph down to Blakeley State Park, where we stopped for a late morning snack. The boardwalk along the river had large sections in ruins due to the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina. Fortunately, the small covered picnic spot at the southern end of the boardwalk where we stopped, was not damaged.
We continued downriver, where it turns into Blakeley, crossed over to the west side and entered the delta by way of Mudhole Creek. We immediately came across a couple of gators lounging around in the warm winter sun, protected from the wind. When we approached the southerly cut to Little Bateau Bay, we split up, as part of our group wanted to explore more of Mudhole Creek.
Those who continued up Mudhole, found the water level low, so we were not able to make it all of the way back north to the end. But, we did encounter a large gator whose head was sticking out of a hole in the side of the bank. As we approached, he backed himself into the hole and out of sight. I would guess by the size of his head, he was about a 10-12 footer. We paddled about 1.5 miles roundtrip and back to the cut-through where we met back up with the whole group.
Although the water level was somewhat low, we continued down to the north end of Little Bateau Bay. That is where the slow slogging started. We found little water in Little Bateau and depending on the type of kayak used, some of us had more difficulty than the others in mucking our way around. We cut across the west end and found our way into the most westerly of the three tributaries out of Little Bateau on the south end. Unfortunately, it is the shallowest, and we had to continue to slog through too shallow water and too much mud.
We finally escaped our punishment and got into some deeper water as we approached Conway Creek. We were all sufficiently tired with the mud-slogging ordeal, we opted to head straight down Conway and on to the Causeway. As such, we were sufficiently off to the eastern part of Chacaloochee Bay, which was also just about out of water. So, we were back to some slow slogging again for the last half mile.
The old Riverdocs parking lot along the Causeway never looked so good as we at least had enough water to get to the launch and park our boats in the lot. It was then off to Byrnes Lake in our shuttle car to retrieve our cars, back to Riverdocs to load and head home. At least we had very nice weather, had good supportive company and got in an excellent workout, covering the 14 mile trip in about four hours paddling time. I would recommend trying this trip again, as long as one goes with at least another two feet of water depth.
An alternative perspective in verse:
Mud in Mobile Bay
Well it's Sunday
December the 4th
Six kayakers have gathered
To paddle a course.
With GPS's in our packs
And kayaks on our racks
We are all so sure
That Brint knows all the facts.
Putting in at Byrne's Lake
Paddling to Blakeley
Eating lunch on the bank.
What could be more stately?
Making great time
Tide going out
Cut through Mud Hole Bay
Great to be out and about.
But Brint, out there things can happen
And frequently do
To people as experienced
And prepared as you.
Sadly it's true
Kayakers will get stuck
When the tide goes out
And leaves fields of mud ruts.
We are not having fun
Pushing through mud.
Where is the way out?
We could all us a Bud.
On we went
Though the alligators howled
And our arms got sore
With our kayaks covered in mud a galore.
At the end of the day
On December the 4th
With a tow from Brint
We finished the course.
A group of six kayak paddlers met at the Byrnes Lake public launch access off of Hwy 225 about nine miles north of Spanish Fort, AL. We had beautiful winter weather with partially overcast skies, temperatures in the upper sixties, a southerly breeze and an outgoing tide as we started out at 9:30 AM. Our spirits were high as we paddled briskly but easily out Byrnes Lake to the Tensaw River and started heading south.
We made good time at 4 mph down to Blakeley State Park, where we stopped for a late morning snack. The boardwalk along the river had large sections in ruins due to the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina. Fortunately, the small covered picnic spot at the southern end of the boardwalk where we stopped, was not damaged.
We continued downriver, where it turns into Blakeley, crossed over to the west side and entered the delta by way of Mudhole Creek. We immediately came across a couple of gators lounging around in the warm winter sun, protected from the wind. When we approached the southerly cut to Little Bateau Bay, we split up, as part of our group wanted to explore more of Mudhole Creek.
Those who continued up Mudhole, found the water level low, so we were not able to make it all of the way back north to the end. But, we did encounter a large gator whose head was sticking out of a hole in the side of the bank. As we approached, he backed himself into the hole and out of sight. I would guess by the size of his head, he was about a 10-12 footer. We paddled about 1.5 miles roundtrip and back to the cut-through where we met back up with the whole group.
Although the water level was somewhat low, we continued down to the north end of Little Bateau Bay. That is where the slow slogging started. We found little water in Little Bateau and depending on the type of kayak used, some of us had more difficulty than the others in mucking our way around. We cut across the west end and found our way into the most westerly of the three tributaries out of Little Bateau on the south end. Unfortunately, it is the shallowest, and we had to continue to slog through too shallow water and too much mud.
We finally escaped our punishment and got into some deeper water as we approached Conway Creek. We were all sufficiently tired with the mud-slogging ordeal, we opted to head straight down Conway and on to the Causeway. As such, we were sufficiently off to the eastern part of Chacaloochee Bay, which was also just about out of water. So, we were back to some slow slogging again for the last half mile.
The old Riverdocs parking lot along the Causeway never looked so good as we at least had enough water to get to the launch and park our boats in the lot. It was then off to Byrnes Lake in our shuttle car to retrieve our cars, back to Riverdocs to load and head home. At least we had very nice weather, had good supportive company and got in an excellent workout, covering the 14 mile trip in about four hours paddling time. I would recommend trying this trip again, as long as one goes with at least another two feet of water depth.
An alternative perspective in verse:
Mud in Mobile Bay
Well it's Sunday
December the 4th
Six kayakers have gathered
To paddle a course.
With GPS's in our packs
And kayaks on our racks
We are all so sure
That Brint knows all the facts.
Putting in at Byrne's Lake
Paddling to Blakeley
Eating lunch on the bank.
What could be more stately?
Making great time
Tide going out
Cut through Mud Hole Bay
Great to be out and about.
But Brint, out there things can happen
And frequently do
To people as experienced
And prepared as you.
Sadly it's true
Kayakers will get stuck
When the tide goes out
And leaves fields of mud ruts.
We are not having fun
Pushing through mud.
Where is the way out?
We could all us a Bud.
On we went
Though the alligators howled
And our arms got sore
With our kayaks covered in mud a galore.
At the end of the day
On December the 4th
With a tow from Brint
We finished the course.
posted by brint @ 8:33 PM
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