Category Archives: Blueway

Cleanup and outing, Nankin, Mcintyre and Arnold Springs, Mozell Spells, Withlacoochee River 2017-10-14

Tires and trash cleaned up at Nankin Boat Ramp, swimming and diver tales at McIntyre Spring, a creek, 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, all on a fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS Watershed Coalition, 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, 12:47:33,, McIntyre Spring

The Quitman (US 84) Gauge was at about 2.6′ (86′ NAVD88).

Here are some pictures.

This post is just the first part; more pictures will follow are posted with diving and landowners at Arnold Springs, Old Clyattville Road Bridge Horn Bridge, and Mozell Spells (State Line Ramp). and a Google Map, and a few videos are still to come.

These are some of our many favorite spots on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

Watch wwals.net for more outings are they are announced, or see the WWALS calendar or the WWALS outings and events web page. We have outings at least once a month.

Banner and fourteen picker-uppers, 09:55:21,, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Cleanup 30.6749200, -83.3939200

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Four Freedoms Trail, Madison, FL to Withlacoochee River

Paddling down the Withlacoochee River from Nankin to Mozell Spells, the remains of the Valdosta Railway Bridge mark on the right bank the north end of the Four Freedoms Trail, one of the few hiking trails on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT):

Valdosta Railway trestle
Photo: John S. Quarterman for WWALS, 9 July 2016.

The Four Freedoms Trail in Madison County was constructed as a joint effort between Continue reading

Hagan Bridge Landing, Withlacoochee River, GA 122 2017-11-26

Pretty low at Hagan Bridge, the start of the WWALS outing down the Withlacoochee River to Franklinville, February 2, 2018.

Hagan Bridge, River bank

I took these pictures Saturday a week ago, November 26, 2017, when the Skipper Bridge gauge read Continue reading

Third Regional Plan Update: SGRC in Tifton 2017-12-07

If you haven’t been to one, here’s another chance to get your input into the SGRC regional comprehensive plan.

When: 10AM to 12:30 PM, Thursday, December 7, 2017

Where: Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce,
100 Central Avenue, Tifton, GA 31793

What: 3rd Regional Plan Update Workshop

Specific Areas, Threatened regionally important resources
Page 19, SGRC Regional Plan Update Workbook

The notes in red look familiar.

Reminder received yesterday: Continue reading

Paid permitting of paddle boats and boards Tuesday? 2017-11-28

One group wouldn’t do it, so its parent may: require paid permits for paddle boats and boards in Florida.

When: 9AM, Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Where: Mission Inn, 10400 County Road 48, Howey-in-the-Hills, 34737
That’s a golf club resort halfway between The Villages and Orlando, rooms $179 to $246 for Monday night.

Who: Boating Advisory Council (BAC) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Event: On the agenda under “Unfinished Business / Updates”:
“Non-Motorized Boat Working Group Recommendations Review — William Griswold”

TripAdvisor, Mission Inn Resort & Club, 10400 County Road 48, Howey in the Hills, FL 34737-3000
TripAdvisor, Mission Inn Resort & Club, 10400 County Road 48, Howey in the Hills, FL 34737-3000

How to Comment: Continue reading

Langdale Park open 2017-11-01

Back open after many months with much improved internal roads, and no sandbar across the boat ramp! Thank you, Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA). Downstream five miles on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail hang a right at the Little River Confluence and about a third of a mile upstream you’ll come to Troupville Landing.

No sand bar, 11:13:35,, Boat Ramp

There are still a few deadfalls. Next upstream Continue reading

Troupville Landing: Little River GA 133 Boat Ramp 2017-09-01

Thanks to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for fixing up the access to what it calls Little River Boat Ramp, on GA 133 west of Valdosta off I-75 Exit 18. WWALS calls it Troupville Landing, after Troupville, the Lowndes County seat before Valdosta, just downstream at the confluence with the Withlacoochee River. It’s the most downstream access to the Little River on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

Ramp exceeds 8% slope, 2017:09:01 14:07:11,, Ramp and river

It’s also called the prison boat ramp, after the state prison across the road. Here’s looking upstream to the bridge. Continue reading

Hagan Bridge to Franklinville, Withlacoochee River, 2018-02-11

Join WWALS for a leisurely Sunday 5.7 mile paddle on the Withlacoochee from Hagan Bridge Landing to Franklinville Road Landing, through a very rural region of Lowndes County, Georgia, on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

When: 10 AM, Sunday, February 11, 2018.

Put In: Hagan Bridge Landing, MILE 84.4, 5110 GA Hwy 122 E, Hahira, GA 31632, Lowndes County. 5 miles east of Hahira, GA. Between Hahira and Lakeland. Also known as GA 122 Withlacoochee Access.

GPS: 31.013966, -83.299306

Take Out: Franklinville Road Landing, MILE 78.71, 6560 Franklinville Road, Hahira, GA 31632. Lowndes County. Between Hahira and Moody AFB on dirt Franklinville Road off of Skipper Bridge Road. Do come in from Skipper Bridge Road: Tyler Bridge on Franklinville Road is closed, so you can’t get to the landing there from Cat Creek Road. On the way out we will view the Franklinville Monument, marking the original county seat of Lowndes 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! And we recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

Three paddlers, Withlacoochee River, 2014-04-20
Photo: Gretchen Quarterman, 2013-04-20.

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Capt. Henry Will Jones Bridge, Alapaha River, Lakeland, Lanier County, GA

Nobody seems to know the bridge just east of Lakeland has a name: Captain Henry Will Jones Bridge. Just below it is Lakeland Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). We’ll be going by there in a few months on the Alapaha Quest.

Scott Thompson, Pieces of Our Past, November 30, 2015, CAPTAIN HENRY WILL JONES,

Captain Henry Will Jones

Henry Will Jones was born about 1917 in what became Lanier County just as our country was entering World War I. After Continue reading

Hike to Spook Bridge 2017-11-11

We made it to Spook Bridge from US 84! It was a small group, four of us, on a cold November afternoon. And we saw the sad remains of Wade Spring.

Banner, 13:36:38,, On top

Paddling upstream was not practicable, Continue reading