The Withlacoochee River goes into and out of Florida twice before it makes up its mind. We saw karst, shoals, and rapids, into Florida and back to Georgia all downstream, Valdosta Railway Trestle, Madison County Four Freedoms Trail, and exotic invasive Japanese Climbing Fern, on a fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS.
![[White water, 2017-10-14, 13:58:34, 30.63457, -83.34178 --jsq for WWALS]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2017-10-14--shoals-into-out-of-florida/20171014_135834.jpg)
White water, 2017-10-14, 13:58:34, –jsq for WWALS 30.6345700, -83.3417800
This is Part 2, after Continue reading
Update 2025-10-13: improved image format, and separated the shoals into another post.
Tires and trash cleaned up at Nankin Boat Ramp, saw Clyatt Mill Creek, and swimming and diver tales at McIntyre Spring. This was also a Georgia Rivers Alive cleanup, all on a fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS Watershed Coalition and Suwannee Riverkeeper. Thanks to all who came to paddle from as far as two hours from Gainesville, Florida and four hours from Pine Mountain, Georgia.
![[A free diver, 2017-10-14, 12:47:33, 30.6416153, -83.3661699 --jsq for WWALS]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2017-10-14--wwals-nankin-mozell-withlacoochee/20171014_124733.jpg)
A free diver, 2017-10-14, 12:47:33, –jsq for WWALS 30.6416153, -83.3661699
Here are some pictures. There are more in the following two parts. Continue reading
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddla on our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia. Watch the sun set, the moon rise, and there may be bats.
Chris Adams, aka Turtleman, will be leading this paddle. He is a very experienced naturalist and former guide at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. He has often paddled with us at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. You’ll enjoy his insights.
This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.
When: Gather 4:45 PM, launch 5:15 PM, moonrise 5:39 PM, sunset 5:41 PM, end 6:45 PM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05, Sunset, Moonrise, and maybe bats]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-11-05--full-beaver-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05, Sunset, Moonrise, and maybe bats
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia. Come see the sun set, the moon rise, and probably bats fly from cypress trees!
This Outing is honoring Farmers, who get free entry.
When: Gather 6 PM, launch 6:30 PM, moonrise 6:53 PM, sunset 7:11 PM, end 8 PM, Monday, October 6, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
Continue readingJoin us for a 7-mile round trip paddle up the Little River at Reed Bingham State Park. We’ll meet at the boat ramp on the west side of the park and paddle up to the Red Roberts Landing bridge and back to the launch. Everyone must wear a PFD while paddling.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:15 AM, end 12:45 PM, Monday, September 1, 2025
Put In: Reed Bingham Sate Park West Ramp, 542 Reed Bingham Rd, Adel, GA 31620. Take I-75 Exit 39, turn west on GA 37, right on Evergreen Church Road (CR 99), left on Reed Bingham SP Road (CR 221), in Colquitt County.
GPS: 31.16703, -83.54647
![[Little River, Labor Day Paddle, Reed Bingham State Park, West Ramp, 2025-09-01]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-01--little-river-labor-day-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Little River, Labor Day Paddle, Reed Bingham State Park, West Ramp, 2025-09-01
It was a small but jolly group on the morning Black Moon paddle around the perimeter of Banks Lake, approximately 4 miles. Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for leading this one.
We saw a little gator as we were starting, and I saw a bigger one later.
We found again the same cleft bat tree we found September 4, 2023.
Plenty of water lilies and red maple turning red.
Two white birds, one probably a Great Egret.
Seasonal Black Moons happen about once every 33 months. It was the third of four new moons in a season.
See also pictures by: Continue reading
Update 2025-08-24: Pictures: Black Moon morning paddle, Banks Lake 2025-08-23.
Come out and join us for a morning Black Moon paddle around the perimeter of Banks Lake, approximately 4 miles. After we launch there isn’t anywhere to get out of your boat for a break until we get back to the boat ramp.
Seasonal Black Moons happen about once every 33 months and the next one is this Saturday. It’s the third of four new moons in a season.
Banks Lake Outdoors has kayaks and canoes for rent.
When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 8:45 AM, Sunrise 7:03 AM, Moonrise 7:18 AM, end 10:45 AM, Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Black Moon Morning Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-08-23, Third of four new moons in a season]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-23--black-moon-morning-paddle-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
Black Moon Morning Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-08-23, Third of four new moons in a season
I invited the County Commissioners and staff of the most populous county in the Suwannee River Basin, Lowndes County, Georgia, to the 2026 Mayor and Chairmans Paddle and to a chainsaw cleanup preparing for it, as well as to the WWALS River Revue and Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, both coming up September 6, 2025.
First I congratulated them on the discussion during a rezoning Public Hearing
earlier in
that same meeting two weeks ago.
See the video by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25109
I had been prepared to leap up and defend the Withlacoochee River from this rezoning just west of it, but between the citizens who spoke against,the speaker for, and the Commissioners and staff, they covered it. As I mentioned, I don’t necessarily completely agree with the decision, but it was a very civil discussion. Continue reading
Well, after watching lightning strike straight down onto Banks Lake, expedition leader Turtleman Chris Adams called it off, the Full Buck Moon Paddle, 2025-07-10. Nobody paddled onto our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.
![[Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-07-10, Called off because of lightning]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-07-10--full-buck-moon-banks-lake-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-07-10, Called off because of lightning
So many people had requested boats that I had brought one of the WWALS canoes and an extra kayak. As you can see, few people showed up, because of the weather.
Here is a video WWALS Outings Committee Co-Chair Kimberly Godden Tanner took
of us with banners.
You can see lightning flashes and hear thunder.
https://youtu.be/TB-PWP_Zauo?si=fKcaYfYaQgGs1tRx Continue reading
Shirley Kokidko sent these pictures of the 11.2-mile paddle on the upper Suwannee River from Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge. Thanks to her for leading. She remarked, “I didn’t take many pictures, just loved soaking up a beautiful day on the river with Joyce Ball and Steve Shaw.”
![[Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge, Suwannee River 2025-07-05, Thanks to Shirley Kokidko]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-07-05--turner-to-cone-bridge-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge, Suwannee River 2025-07-05, Thanks to Shirley Kokidko
Also, “It was perfect weather, we bobbled around in our PFD’s in the river just to make sure they are still buoyant enough to keep us afloat, talked about self rescue, assisted rescue and other fun things. Two kayak campers passed us going upstream for a couple of nights. Otherwise we were the only ones out until we got to the ramp at Cone Bridge. Lots of big bass boats with BIG motors, in and out of the water, nobody was there to fish, just river fun. Maybe it was a club, everybody very friendly. I love this Turner to Cone section. Easy shuttle and beautiful paddle. We should do it again sometime.”
See also Continue reading
![[Full Hunters Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-10-06, Just west of Lakeland, GA, sunset, moonrise, and maybe bats]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-06--full-hunters-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
![[Black Moon morning paddle, Banks Lake 2025-08-23, Gator, bats, red maple, lilies, and Great Egret flying]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-23--black-moon-morning-paddle-banks-lake-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
![[Come to the WWALS River Revue, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and WWALS Paddles, Suwannee Riverkeeper to LCC 2025-07-08]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-07-08--lcc-invited-to-paddles/fbmany.jpg)