“I don’t know which was more beautiful, the sunset or the full moon rising,” wrote Shirley Kokidko, after the Spring Equinox Full Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, 2019-03-20. Join us next month for the Banks Lake Full Pink Moon Paddle, 2019-04-19.
Update 2019-04-18: Due to low water, changed to Cypress Creek South (CR 6) to Cone Bridge, Suwannee River, still May 4, 2019.
This 15.6 mile paddle includes a strenuous portage around Big Shoals, the biggest whitewater rapids in Florida and paddling over a smaller set of rapids at Little Shoals. Due to the portage which involves climbing up and down steep, sandy banks with kayaks, carrying kayaks 300 feet and lifting over downed trees, this trip is listed as difficult. You must be physically able to get back into your kayak on the slippery edge of this swift moving section of the Suwannee River. We help each other as much as possible, but ultimately you are responsible for your boat. We will take a break at the shoals and enjoy the outstanding view. No one is paddling over the shoals and this portage is the only way around.
When: Gather 8:30 AM, Launch 10 AM, Thursday, May 4, 2019
Put In: Cone Bridge Ramp, From Lake City, travel north on US 441 to NW Cone Bridge Road; turn left and follow road to ramp in Columbia County.
Take Out: Suwannee Wayside Ramp, From White Springs, travel south on US 41 to the river; the ramp is on the south side in the town park. Hamilton County.
Bring: a rope to drag your boat, the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, Cone Bridge Boat Ramp, 2015-11-22
This paddle is on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). Continue reading
Update 2019-03-12: The #Trashtag Challenge: Cleanups are good, but throwaway plastic needs to be stopped.
Not bad for an idea from a few days before: a cleanup at Onemile Branch in Drexel Park during Azalea Festival.
Juan and Luisa from Colombia with the VSU English Language Institute waded into the stream, with Beatriz Potter holding the bucket and Tom Potter advising.
Sara Jay explained her WWALS water quality test kit.
Continue readingJoin us for the Spring Equinox Full Moon paddle at Banks Lake. The moon will rise at 7:32 p.m. so come early enough to prep your boat so that we are on the lake by 7 p.m. The sun goes down a few minutes after the moon rises so we have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and moon rise. We will enjoy the view while leisurly paddling through the cypress trees before it gets dark while we look for birds, alligators and bats.
When: Gather 6:30 PM, Launch 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Bring: the a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow stick, head lamp, or flashlight), and bring a rope for your boat. You must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark. Dress for cold weather, the temperature drops quickly after the sun sets. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Full moon through cypress at Banks Lake, 2017-07-08.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hahira, GA, February 13, 2019 — From next to the largest Suwannee River Basin city, Valdosta, to between some of the smallest, Mayo and Luraville, Paddle Georgia brings 300 people this summer to venture for the first time across the state line from Georgia to Florida, on the Little, Withlacoochee, and Suwannee Rivers, June 15 through 21, 2019.
WWALS Withlacoochee River outing 2017-06-24
“Five years ago I suggested our Withlacoochee River to Joe Cook for Paddle Georgia, and he went one better, adding the Suwannee River, past two of the few second-magnitude springs in Georgia, McIntyre and Arnold, and two of the famous first-magnitude Florida Springs: Madison Blue and Lafayette,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “Plus Spook Bridge and the orphaned railroad trestle near Madison, with many shoals and rapids at the GA-FL line! Special thanks to The Langdale Company for permission to take out just below Spook Bridge. Personally, I like that this paddle starts at my birthplace in Valdosta, Georgia and ends at my grandmother’s birthplace at the ferry site for Luraville, Florida.”
This event is organized by Paddle Georgia, with catered dinners and buses to and from the rivers. WWALS is assisting, for example by organizing the Spook Bridge takeout, and by pointing out many sites that non-locals might miss, ranging from springs, and Withlacoochee River agates, and the halberd-leaf rosemallow, whose blooms last only one day, to perpetual bothers such as Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Continue reading
Join us to see the full moon rise over Banks Lake. Sunsets are spectacular on the lake. Please plan to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to prep your boat so that we can be on the water no later than 5:45 p.m. We will enjoy the view while paddling through the cypress trees before it gets dark while we look for birds, gators and bats. The sun sets 6:23 p.m. and the moon rises 6:39 p.m.
When: Gather 5:30 PM, Launch 5:45 PM, Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Bring: the a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow stick, head lamp, or flashlight), and bring a rope for your boat. You must wear a PFD. A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark. Dress for cold weather, the temperature drops quickly after the sun sets. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
![[Better exposure, 18:08:57, 31.0229025, -83.1065178]](http://www.wwals.net/pictures/2018-12-22--banks-lake-solstice-moon-paddle/20181222_180857.jpg)
Better exposure, 18:08:57, 2018-12-22 31.0229025, -83.1065178
It rained, and the river rose a bit, so we will paddle Sunday morning instead, unless it rains again or rises too much. Still on the Little River from Troupville Boat Ramp, then the Withlacoochee River to Spook Bridge. That’s right, Spook Bridge, thanks to The Langdale Company, which has arranged for us to take out just below the bridge.
River swirling by access 30.7898100, -83.4517500
This is not public access. Langdale is making it available to WWALS for this February outing and for Paddle Georgia in June 2019. This takeout, while still up a steep riverbank, is much easier than climbing up those loose highway abutment rocks between the US 84 highway bridges. So I hope everyone will thank The Langdale Company.
See previous post for outing details. Continue reading
Update 2019-02-02: Delayed a day until Sunday morning.
Water levels look good, so unless it rains, looks like Saturday morning we will paddle Little River from Troupville Boat Ramp, then the Withlacoochee River to Spook Bridge. We will probably encounter deadfalls and shoals, so bring a rope and be prepared.
That’s right, Spook Bridge, thanks to The Langdale Company, which has arranged for us to take out just below the bridge.
![[Access and river, 14:47:36, 30.78981, -83.45175]](http://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-01-14--blue-springs-road-spook-bridge/20190114_144737.jpg)
Access and river, 14:47:36, 30.7898100, -83.4517500
This is not public access. Langdale is making it available to WWALS for this February outing and for Paddle Georgia in June 2019. This takeout, while still up a steep riverbank, is much easier than climbing up those loose highway abutment rocks between the US 84 highway bridges. So I hope everyone will thank The Langdale Company.
See previous post for outing details. Continue reading
Let’s complete this missing link in the Alapaha Quest, a stretch of the Alapaha River never before done as a WWALS Outing!
When: Gather 8AM, Launch 9AM, Saturday, March 23, 2019
Put In: Mayday Landing, 49 Howell Road, Stockton, GA 31649, in Echols County, Georgia. South of Howell Road, east side of the Alapaha River, north of the railroad bridge.
GPS: 31.82827, -83.017179
Take Out: Statenville Boat Ramp, 206 GA 94 West, Statenville, GA 31648, in Echols County.
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
![[Sand bank, 14:22:12, 30.82846, -83.01862]](http://www.wwals.net/pictures/2016-05-07--us84-to-mayday-alapaha-river/KIMG4896.jpg)
Sand bank, 14:22:12, 2016-05-07 30.8284600, -83.0186200
Waterfalls on the Alapaha River?
![[Movie: Waterfall (786K), 30.87078, -83.02267]](http://www.wwals.net/pictures/2016-05-07--us84-to-mayday-alapaha-river/KVID4839.jpg)
Movie: Waterfall (786K), 30.8707800, -83.0226700
Two weeks after the WWALS outing from US 84 to Mayday, some of us who didn’t make that one paddled the same stretch. The earlier crew had smooth sailing. We had rapids and waterfalls, because the Alapaha River was feet lower on the Statenville USGS Gauge. Continue reading
![[Beatriz assisting]](http://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-03-10--onemile-branch-cleanup/20190310_144703.jpg)
![[Sara explaining]](http://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-03-10--onemile-branch-cleanup/20190310_142225.jpg)