Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Strawberry Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room near Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 9:25 PM, sunset 8:36 PM, end 10 PM, Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Alapaha River Water Trail, Wednesday, June 11, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-06-11--full-strawberry-moon-banks-lake/fbmany.jpg)
Full Strawberry Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Alapaha River Water Trail, Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Pending reservations, Paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River in the Okefenokee Swamp for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island. Paddle back the next day.
You must RSVP on meetup to get a spot (clicking Going on the facebook event does not count as an RSVP).
Meetup RSVP will become possible once we get a camping permit.
This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.
You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.
Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Saturday, November 1, 2025
Launch 9 AM, End 1 PM, Sunday, November 2, 2025
Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park, in Charlton County.
![[Floyd's Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp, Suwannee River, Saturday & Sunday, 1-2 Nov. 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-11-01--floyds-island-okefenokee/fbmany.jpg)
Floyd’s Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp, Suwannee River, Saturday & Sunday, 1-2 Nov. 2025
Update 2025-06-25: Pictures: Florida Campsites to Allen Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-06-21.
Update 2025-06-20: It’s going to be hot, probably 92F in the afternoon with 100F or higher heat index. Bring lots of water. Even better, citrus juice. Wear a hat and long sleeves, or sunscreen. There will be springs to cool off in, but much of the time we’ll be paddling in the hot sun.
Join us to paddle by many springs and sinks in Madison and Hamilton Counties, Florida, on the Withlacoochee River, including first-magnitude Madison Blue Spring.
It’s not far, 5.39 river miles, but full of springs.
When: Gather 10 AM, launch 11 AM, moonrise 10:40 AM, sunset 8:34 PM, end 2 PM, Saturday, June 21, 2025
Put In: Florida Campsites Ramp, 2137 NW 47th St, Jasper, FL 32052, in Hamilton County, Florida.
![[Florida Campsites to Allen Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-06-21, Springs including Madison Blue]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-06-21--fl-campsites-allen-ramp-withlacoochee/fbmany.jpg)
Florida Campsites to Allen Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2025-06-21, Springs including Madison Blue
Join us for an 11.2-mile paddle on the upper Suwannee River.
This is beautiful part of the river has one section of small shoals to paddle through. There can also be some tree debris in the river to work our way around.
Everyone must wear a PFD while on the river. Both ramps are on long dirt roads that are usually well maintained. Please come on time, the shuttle leaves promptly at 9:30.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10:15 AM, end 3:30 PM, Saturday, July 5, 2025
Put In: Turner Bridge Ramp, From White Springs, travel north on SE CR 135; cross over SE CR 6 onto NE 180 Boulevard (Woodpecker Route); travel north to NE 38 Trail; turn right and follow road to ramp, in Hamilton County.
![[Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, July 5, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-07-05--turner-to-cone-bridge/fbmany.jpg)
Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, July 5, 2025
Here WWALS videos of the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, and the talks before the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle 2025.
We didn’t get video of Gretchen Quarterman giving the host talk, but she got video of Gee Edwards giving the Safety Lecture as the leader of this expedition.
And of the two elected officials: Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, and Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter.
And of Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, who thanked Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce for the then most recent WWALS chainsaw cleanups between Langdale Park and Troupville. TJ Johnson also led three of the ten chainsaw cleanups on the Withlacoochee River since Hurricane Helene.
Here are the videos:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QwGbCYD8RS6O2a9Gbde6KiW&si=3AXMuak4qXkl4DB5
Also thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the grant that kept this paddle free to everyone.
And thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for the two shuttle vans and drivers. And to Lowndes County Fire Rescue for paddling. And to Lowndes County Public Works for grading the access road to Langdale Park Boat Ramp.
Thanks to Steve Miller and son for bringing a golf cart to the take-out at Sugar Creek. They and WWALS President Sara Squires Jones held the fort at Sugar Creek while the rest of us were paddling.
Here are the individual videos in this playlist: Continue reading
Update 2025-04-28: Videos: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle 2025-04-19.
It went well, the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle on the Withlacoochee River.
WWALS is an advocacy organization, and the best way to get people to care about rivers and creeks is to get them out there on the water. So it’s great that 36 people signed in and paddled with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter. Young and old, they all seemed to enjoy it.
Later we will post video of the remarks by those two elected officials, as well as WWALS Board Member Gee Edwards as expedition leader, and me as Suwannee Riverkeeper, plus some videos along the river.
![[Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek 2025-04-19]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-19--mayor-chairmans-paddle-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Langdale Park, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek 2025-04-19
36 is less than the 42 last year, but not bad considering all the reschedulings and route changes.
Only three paddlers fell in, they all got back in their boats, and nobody was hurt. One cell phone took a dip, but Emily Arnold retrieved it, and it still works. Yay Emily!
Update 2025-04-21: Emily says, “I didn’t find the phone!! The lowndes EMS lady did! Can’t take credit for that one lol”.
According to Fire Chief Billy Young, Lieutenant Tommy Crump lost his phone, and Sargeant Krissy Sanders kept diving until she found it. Chief Young says the phone still works today. He says they really enjoyed it and will be joining us on more paddles.
![[Movie: Lowndes County Fire Rescue portages, 12:23:04, 30.8646489, -83.3157057 (25M)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-19--mayor-chairmans-paddle-pictures/20250419_122304.jpg)
Movie: Lowndes County Fire Rescue portages, 12:23:04, (25M) 30.8646489, -83.3157057
Thanks to Lowndes County Public Works for grading the road to the put-in, Langdale Park Boat Ramp. Thanks to Lowndes County Fire Rescue for paddling in their new kayaks. Valdosta City Manager Richard Hardy said he had a new kayak, but he also had a bad back and did not paddle.
Thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for the shuttle vans.
Thanks to Steve Miller and son for bringing a golf cart to the take-out at Sugar Creek. They and WWALS President Sara Squires Jones held the fort at Sugar Creek while the rest of us were paddling.
Thanks to Gretchen Quarterman for signing everyone in and hosting the start of the paddle, including videoing the speakers.
Special thanks to Phil Hubbard for 8 chainsaw cleanups on the Withlacoochee River since Hurricane Helene. Most recently including all the way up to Langdale Park and back down to Troupville the Sunday before this paddle.
Thanks to Phil Royce for another chainsaw cleanup Friday, in which we sawed several new deadfalls, but we discovered there was not time to get all the deadfalls revealed between Sugar Creek and Troupville with water 3 feet lower than the previous chainsawing. That’s why the final last-minute route change to Langdale to Sugar Creek. Continue reading
Same date, slight reroute: Sugar Creek to Troupville.
Please be at the bottom of the Bertas Kitchen parking lot by 8AM so we can try to be on the water by 9AM.
Join us for a leisurely paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter on the Withlacoochee River.
![[Chairman and Mayor's Paddle, Sugar Creek to Troupville, Withlacoochee River, 8 AM, April 19, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-19--mayor-chairmans-paddle-sugar-creek/fbmany.jpg)
Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, Sugar Creek to Troupville, Withlacoochee River, 8 AM, April 19, 2025
Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.
Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for shuttle vans.
Thanks to Valdosta Boys & Girls Club for bringing youth and boats to paddle.
Thanks to Steve Miller for bringing a golf cart to help put in and take out.
Thanks to Gee Edwards for leading this expedition, Phil Royce for being sweep,
and to Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce for chainsawing the route.
When: Gather 8 AM, shuttle ASAP, launch 9 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, April 19, 2025
Put In: Salty Corner Landing, at the bottom of the parking lot for Bertas Pizza Kitchen, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602.
Update 2025-04-14: Videos.
The weather was perfect, the river and springs were crystal clear, the company was congenial, and there were many turtles and birds (and tubers), on the Ichetucknee River in spring.
Thanks to Janet Martin for organizing this outing, and for some of the pictures here.
On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/1026695632691778/
On YouTube:
https://youtu.be/awFdQjOQGzo
These pictures go from Ichetucknee Springs State Park North Entrance, past many springs and tubers, past South Launch, to the south end of the park.
To be continued with the rest of the Ichetucknee River with many boats, and the Santa Fe River to US 129, with many power boats going fast.
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations
Update 2025-05-19: Okapilco Creek 2025-03-22.
We continued on March 22 from Paul DeLoach’s private boat ramp, the early takeout for the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, 2025-04-19.
On March 22, we stopped at the midpoint lunch spot and on to Spook Bridge, with several creeks, bridges, and other sights in between.
Thanks to The Langdale Company for access at the midpoint and Spook Bridge.
Stay tuned for Okapilco Creek and on to Knights Ferry Boat Ramp. The left bank is Lowndes County all the way, while the right bank and Okapilco Creek are in Brooks County.
Thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this expedition in the WWALS jon boat with the 9.9 hp outboard bought with a generous grant from Wild Green Future, along with the 24-inch Husqvarna chainsaw, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and the two LiFeO2 batteris.
Thanks to Phil Royce for bringing his jon boat and 3.5 hp outboard. We brought a bunch of other saws, too, but were happy enough not to have to use them for once on a chainsaw cleanup. Continue reading
Update 2025-03-30: Pictures: DeLoach private boat ramp to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22.
Last Saturday,
Phil Hubbard and Phil Royce and I took two jon boats down the Withlacoochee River on the route of the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle,
which will be April 19, 2025.
https://wwals.net/?p=67242
The water levels were high and fast. Even on the Little River, there were some risks for novice paddlers, and more on the Withlacoochee River.
These pictures go as far as the early takeout, at Phil DeLoach’s private boat ramp.
You’ve already seen some of them, along with some historical pictures and videos, in
Erosion and sign missing at Valdosta WWTP Outfall 2025-03-22.
https://wwals.net/?p=67276
Stay tuned for more pictures farther downstream.
The only time we used a chainsaw was when Phil Hubbard tuned the idle on the 24-inch Husqvarna, paid for by a generous grant from Wild Green Future, along with the 9.9 hp outboard, the 86lb-thrust trolling motor, and the two LiFeO2 batteries. Continue reading
![[Videos: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-04-19, Langdale Park Boat Ramp to Sugar Creek]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-19--mayor-chairmans-paddle-videos/fbmany.jpg)
![[Ichetucknee River, Springs, Turtles, Birds, Tubers 2025-04-05, North Launch past South Launch, to US 27 Bridge]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-05--ichetucknee-santa-fe-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
![[Deloach private BR, many creeks, Langdale Company midpoint landing, US 84, CSX RR, to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-22--deloach-to-spook-bridge-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
![[Expert high-water paddle, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22, Troupville Boat Ramp to Paul DeLoach private boat Ramp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-03-22--expert-paddle-troupville-deloach-pictures/fbmany.jpg)