Third scheduled time was the charm for the Second Annual Mayor’s Paddle, Withlacoochee River, Troupville Boat Ramp to Spook Bridge. In addition to the nice writeup in the Valdosta Daily Times, here are some pictures. Only two or three people capsized, nobody was mad, and everybody had a good time.

Troupville Boat Ramp, WWTP Outfall, Spring Branch, Lunch banners, Spook Bridge Landing, VSU CORE, Ride

The 2022 version will be the Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle, coming up Saturday, January 29, 2021 2022. Stay tuned. Update 2021-10-28: Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River, 2022-01-29.

Thanks to The Langdale Company for access at the lunch spot and at Spook Bridge. Thanks to the Boys and Girls Club for shuttling. Thanks to Steve Miller for his ATV for shuttling people up from the river at Spook Bridge to the road. Thanks to Bobby McKenzie for leading the outing.

We found some landmarks, such as where the Valdosta, Moultrie, and Western (VMW) Railroad used to cross the Withlacoochee River.

VMW RR bridge block on bank with VSU CORE, 10:36:05, 30.8410152, -83.3535460

I took out at the lunch spot to shuttle a reporter out, but on the way out we got to see a gopher tortoise.

Gopher Tortoise, 12:34:13, 30.8135890, -83.4190560

There are many more pictures on the WWALS website:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2021-03-27–mayors-paddle-pictures

See also facebook pictures by

• Valdosta Mayor Scott James,

  
  Troupville WWALS banners by Scott James

• WWALS outing leader Bobby McKenzie,

  
  VSU CORE, Mayor James, Spook Bridge Landing by Bobby McKenzie

• WWALS Testing Committee Chair Suzy Sparkman Hall,

  
  Spook Bridge by Suzy Hall

• and no doubt others.

Plus, for what the same stretch of the river looked like during flood, see Withlacoochee River flood paddle 2021-02-27.

This is all on the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Short Link: