Category Archives: Outing

Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-05-31

Leave a reply

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room. If we’re lucky, there will be bats.

This is the second full moon of May, thus a Blue Moon.

When: Gather 7:45 PM, launch 8:15 PM, moonrise 9:14 PM, sunset 8:31 PM, end 9:45 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2026

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-30, Second full moon in a month is a Blue Moon]
Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR 2025-05-30, Second full moon in a month is a Blue Moon

Continue reading →

Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp, 2026-04-18

2 Replies

Tupelo trees are blooming in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge so let’s paddle the tupelo lined Suwannee River from the Sill to Griffis Fish Camp.

The river is very low and slow so we’ll take our time on this beautiful wilderness trail. There could be some dragging where the water is too low but there should be enough water to float our boats.

Honey bees are very attracted to the blooms, anybody with bee allergies need to be aware.

When: Gather 9:30 AM, launch 10:30 AM, end 1 PM, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Put In: Suwannee River Sill Ramp, From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to GA 177; turn left and travel towards Stephen C. Foster State Park. Go 11.2 miles and turn left on Suwannee River Sill.

GPS: 30.803978,, -82.418692

[Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp 2026-04-18, to Griffis Fish Camp, Low water but doable]
Tupelo Blossom Paddle, Suwannee River Sill Ramp 2026-04-18, to Griffis Fish Camp, Low water but doable

Continue reading →

Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-05-01

Come see the beauty of a sunset and full moon rising across the lake. There may be bats.

This Outing is honoring Teachers and Nurses, who get free entry.

When: Gather 7:15 PM, launch 7:45 PM, moonrise 8:30 PM, sunset 8:11 PM, end 9:15 PM, Friday, May 1, 2026

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia, 7:15 PM, 2026-05-01]
Full Flower Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia, 7:15 PM, 2026-05-01

Continue reading →

Atsena Otie Key paddle, Cedar Key Public Beach 2026-04-04

Launch at the soft ramp, Cedar Key Public Beach, and paddle around Atsena Otie Key of the original settlement. Stop at the island for lunch and paddle back to the beach.

When: Gather 10 AM, launch 11 AM, end 5 PM, Saturday, April 4, 2026

Put In: Cedar Key City Beach Park, Lil Shark Park, 192 2nd St, Cedar Key, FL 32625, Levy County.

GPS: 29.1369, -83.0296

I have done this paddle about 3 times. In good weather it’s pretty easy. Choosing a direction that works with the current and wind is best. That’s not always a straight line. If the weather is not fair, there are alternative routes that stay closer to land.

The channel between Cedar Key and Atsena will be will be the only challenge. It can be similar to paddling upriver. Inexperienced paddlers should use a sit on top, in instead of sit in kayak. But that is usually advised for saltwater paddles.

I was not really expecting inexperienced paddlers to travel as far as Cedar Key. If they were to show up in an inadequate vessel, they can rent a saltwater kayak locally. People paddle board this route often.

[Atsena Otie Key paddle, Cedar Key Public Beach, Levy County, FL, Saturday, April 4, 2026]
Atsena Otie Key paddle, Cedar Key Public Beach, Levy County, FL, Saturday, April 4, 2026

Continue reading →

Pictures: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle 2026-03-07

All 29 paddlers had fun, on the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Saturday, March 7, 2026.

We went from Troupville Boat Ramp, down the Little River to its Confluence, near where some day will be Troupville River Camp.

Then we went down the Withlacoochee River over some small shoals, to the cleaned-up outflow of Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Plant.

And out at Paul Deloach’s Private Boat Ramp; thanks to him for access.

[Pictures 2026-03-07, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Little River and Withlacoochee River]
Pictures 2026-03-07, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Little River and Withlacoochee River

Here are some videos:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QzGPpfQY6qOBC-qQF-M9gex&si=6QY4Fu4LslnLV_6e

Thanks to Continue reading →

Radio: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper on talk921.com 2026-03-05

Join us on the radio, talk921.com, at 8 AM tomorrow morning, Thursday, March 5, 2026, to hear about the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper this Saturday.

https://wwals.net/?p=69525

[Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper]
Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper

Here’s a facebook event to remind you:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2273100159762397/

Thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the generous grant that makes this paddle free for everyone. Thanks to Paul Deloach and The Langdale Company for river access. Thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority for shuttle vans. Thanks to Steve Miller for his 4-wheeler for the takeout. And thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this paddle.

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman may also talk about other current topics such as: Continue reading →

Radio: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper on talk921.com 2026-03-05

Join us on the radio, talk921.com, at 8 AM tomorrow morning, Thursday, March 5, 2026, to hear about the Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper this Saturday.

https://wwals.net/?p=69525

[Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper]
Radio: talk921.com, 8 AM, Thursday, March 5, 2026, Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper

Here’s a facebook event to remind you:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2273100159762397/

Thanks to Joe Brownlee and Georgia Power for the generous grant that makes this paddle free for everyone. Thanks to Paul Deloach and The Langdale Company for river access. Thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority for shuttle vans. Thanks to Steve Miller for his 4-wheeler for the takeout. And thanks to Phil Hubbard for leading this paddle.

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman may also talk about other current topics such as: Continue reading →

Videos: Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek 2026-02-28

We continued chainsawing downstream on the Withlacoochee River, starting at the train trestle.

Phil Hubbard and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman cut passage for kayaks, canoes, and jon boats through hurricane deadfalls. We got through a bunch of deadfalls, past the other train trestle beside the river, before paddling back up.

Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson came to see us off, wearing a tie, on his way to a day of funerals.

[Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek downstream, 2026-02-21]
Chainsaw Cleanup, Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek downstream, 2026-02-21

Here is some video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1458995909184651/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZGwxMiPky/

https://youtu.be/j1xd3FdCw-M

We are preparing for the Mayor andd Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, Saturday, March 7, 2026.

We used several of our own chainsaws, and the Husqvarna 460 Rancher 24-inch chainsaw bought with a generous grant to WWALS from Wild Green Future.

We will continue chainsaw cleanups later.

There are many pictures below.

For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading →

Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, Troupville to Spook Bridge, 2026-03-07

Back at the original date, because we got enough rain. And the old original route: Troupville Boat Ramp to Spook Bridge.

Suwannee Riverkeeper invites you to paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter on the idyllic Withlacoochee River.

Thanks to Joe Brownlee for a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.

[Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River, Saturday, March 7, 2026]
Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River, Saturday, March 7, 2026

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 9 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, March 7, 2026

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602.
From I-75 exit 18, go west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall; at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp.
GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536 Continue reading →

Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, Withlacoochee River 2026-04-18

Update 2026-02-27: Rescheduled back to the original date: Mayor and Chairmans Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge 2026-03-07.

Rescheduled due to low water, to Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Suwannee Riverkeeper invites you to paddle on the idyllic Withlacoochee River with the Mayor of Valdosta and the Lowndes County Commission Chairman.

Mayor Scott James Matheson and Chairman Bill Slaughter always seem to enjoy this outing, and you will, too.

Under towering oaks, cypress, and longleaf pines, we will pass the most populous city and county in the Suwannee River Basin and the site of the future Troupville Nature Park and River Camp, on the WWALS Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

Thanks to Phil Hubbard for once again leading this paddle.

Thanks to Joe Brownlee for a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.

Thanks to Paul Batts and Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) for agreeing to bring shuttle vans.

The city and county will probably also post their own announcements.

[Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, Withlacoochee River, Saturday, April 18, 2026]
Mayor and Chairmans Paddle by Suwannee Riverkeeper, Withlacoochee River, Saturday, April 18, 2026

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 9 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp or Troupville Boat Ramp
Which put in will depend on water levels and any remaining obstructions in the river.
WWALS will announce that decision in advance. Continue reading →