Category Archives: Blueway

Nankin Landing to Madison Highway: Withlacoochee River 2017-10-14

Update 2025-10-13: Pictures in updated format.

Back by popular request, 9.1 miles past two of the six second-magnitude springs in Georgia, into and back out of Florida, over numerous shoals, on the tea-colored Withlacoochee River in the fall, all on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

When: 9AM Saturday, October 14, 2017

Put In: Nankin Boat Ramp, MILE 36.3, 6899 Clyattville-Nankin Rd, Valdosta, GA 31601, in Lowndes County.

GPS: 30.675192, -83.394143

WWALS banner at McIntyre Spring

Bring: the usual personal flotation device, water, snacks, trash bag, and trash picker: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup! If you do not have a boat, let us know, and probably somebody can loan you one, or contact one of the many outfitters.

Free: This outing is Free! And we recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup.

Take Out: Madison Highway Boat Ramp, MILE Continue reading →

Rivers Alive Cleanup and Paddle Outing, Alapaha River 2017-09-10

Update 2017-09-25: Rescheduled for October 1, 2017.

Update 2017-09-08: Canceled due to Hurricane Irma.

A combination Rivers Alive and Waterkeeper Alliance Cleanup on the enchanting Alapaha River at Pafford Landing, Lakeland, Georgia, plus optional upstream and back paddle afterwards.

When: 2PM, Sunday, September 10, 2017

Where: Pafford’s Landing, MILE 71.73, east of Lakeland, south side of GA 122, into the woods, west side of Alapaha River, Lanier County, Georgia.

GPS: 31.043011, -83.042564

Pafford's Landing map

Event: facebook, meetup.

Cleanup: Cleanup materials will be provided, but if you’ve got a trash picker, bring it along.

Paddle: You do not have to bring a boat, and you do not have to paddle. If you do paddle, bring the usual personal flotation device, water, snacks, etc.

Free: This outing is Free! And we recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Host and Contact: Continue reading →

Pictures: Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle 2017-07-08

Lights! Full Moon! Paint! Rice and watermelon! Fun was had by all last Saturday on the WWALS watery living room, Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, GA on GA 122.

Only saw one gator, and he got scared away by all the boats. Didn’t see any moccassins, but I bet they were there in the lily pads on the west side across the lake, where we turned back.

Paddlers with WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper Banners, 31.0351925, -83.0965187

The total I think was seventeen paddlers in sixteen boats, some not pictured here due to not arrived yet, or something.

[Paddlers with WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper Banners]
Paddlers with WWALS and Suwannee Riverkeeper Banners

Movie: Tom Cramer and his wife Barb are the volunteers at Banks Lake Outdoors (26M)

Continue reading →

Paddle races, songwriting contest, water trails, and advocacy at WWALS Board Meeting 2017-07-12

Draft Agenda
WWALS Quarterly Board Meeting
7:30 PM Wednesday 12 July 2017, After Annual WWALS Membership Meeting
Wooden Nickel, 3269 Inner Perimeter Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602
Dial-in Number: (641) 715-3580
Meeting ID: 855-676
Event: facebook

Election of officers, paddle races, songwriting contest, festivals, water trails, and more.

[Under the cypress]
Under the cypress, in the BIG Little River Paddle Race

All WWALS members, especially committee members, are invited to attend, as is the general public.

All WWALS Board Members are expected Continue reading →

Hardee Spring and Plantation, Withlacoochee River, Hamilton County, FL

Yes, Hardee Spring is accessible by land, off of 34th Street NW, Jennings, Florida, aka Hardee Camp Road, but it’s on private land. It’s on one of four parcels totaling 305 acres, with 8,000 feet (1.6 miles) of river frontage and a lodge, which can be yours for a mere $8.5 million. Maybe Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) should buy it, since SRWMD already owns the next properties upstream and downstream on the Withlacoochee River. Or maybe it should be turned into a state park. Or maybe somebody wants to donate it to WWALS for an office location.

Map: River Error Farms Inc., Hardee Spring, Hamilton County, FL
Map from SRWMD PARCEL ASSESSMENT SUMMARY.

Continue reading →

Banks Lake Outdoors 2017-05-05

Yes, there are kayaks for rent! And Tom says he’s happy to stay open this Saturday, July 8, 2017, for the Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle.

Kayaks for rent: 10 foot Old Town

If the store’s not open, knock on the RV next to it. Continue reading →

Water higher than two years ago, Sullivan to Madison Blue, Withlacoochee River, 2017-06-24

Two years ago the water level was 41.27 feet and today it’s 42.56 at the USGS Madison (FL 6) gage, so the Withlacoochee River is fine for today’s WWALS outing from Sullivan Launch to Madison Blue Spring; follow the link for details. Also WWALS Outings Chair Phil Hubbard visited the put-in and the take-out yesterday, and reports the water is fine.

Here are some pictures from the same route two years ago, 24 October 2015.

Onwards

We won’t see as many rapids today since with the water more than a foot higher we’ll float over some of those shoals, but we’ll see some, and many springs. Bring swimming clothes and also trash bags, because every outing is also a cleanup.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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

Florida may require licensing of paddle boats and boards

Here’s a bad idea that doesn’t seem to die: making people pay to register non-motorized boats in Florida.

Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 29 January 2017, Florida may require licensing for kayaks, canoes, paddle boards,

USCG Vessel ID Sticker
No registration or permit needed for this U.S. Coast Guard Vessel ID Sticker

A citizens panel assembled by state-boating authorities will meet in Orlando on Wednesday to explore what could become a path to adopting registration and fees for small boats powered by humans, wind and currents.

“That sounds like Continue reading →

Improved Sheboggy Ramp, Alapaha River @ US 82

Here’s a pleasant surprise! The access road has been smoothed out and Sheboggy Ramp itself has been re-concreted. Thanks to Ben Warren, Berrien County Roads Superintendent, for doing the work.

Ramp with new concrete

[Ramp with new concrete]
Ramp with new concrete

Thanks to Bret Wagenhorst for these pictures, Continue reading →

Winners, BIG Little River Paddle Race 2017-04-29

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Adel, Georgia, June 4, 2017 — Dwight Griner of Berrien County, Georgia won for the fifth time. A dozen other boats received prizes, as a record number of people paddled in the Fifth Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, April 29, 2017. Tifton and Tift County had the most paddlers, but the awards show more boats from Moultrie and Colquitt County. Lowndes had the second most paddlers, and there were two people each from Cook and from far-away Houston and Harris Counties, and one from Thomas County.

[Dwight Griner winner closeup]
Dwight Griner winner closeup

This year’s BLRPR included three popular new attractions: Continue reading →