Category Archives: Outing

Pictures: Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, 2025-02-12

Warm and choppy was Banks Lake, until we found glassy smooth water beyond the cypress, where we watched the moon rise after sunset with Venus and Jupiter, on the Full Snow Moon Paddle, 2025-02-12.

[Full Snow Moon, Banks Lake 2025-02-12, Thanks, Janet Martin, and all who paddled]
Full Snow Moon, Banks Lake 2025-02-12, Thanks, Janet Martin, and all who paddled

Thanks to Janet Martin for leading, and to all who paddled.

Thanks to Turtleman Chris Adams for capturing the one piece of trash when it escaped my paddle spoon. It was a plastic juice bottle.

These pictures are by John S. Quarterman except where labled SJM for Janet.

The next one is Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-03-14.
https://wwals.net/?p=66887 Continue reading →

Pictures: Troupville upstream Withlacoochee chainsaw cleanup 2025-02-08

Update 2025-04-01: Clean Franks Creek 2025-02-26 and Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers 2025-02-27.

Yesterday from Troupville Boat Ramp around the Little River Confluence and up the Withlacoochee River, we were stopped by the same CiHiG Deadfall that stopped us back on November 23, 2024.

[Troupville upstream Withlacoochee River chainsaw cleanup, Saturday, February 8, 2025]
Troupville upstream Withlacoochee River chainsaw cleanup, Saturday, February 8, 2025

The lower log was partly exposed yesterday, but not enough to get two cuts out of it.

The water level was 119.88 feet NAVD88 on the Valdosdta Gauge.

We also went up the Little River a few miles and back. More on that later.

Meanwhile, today you can join us for Langdale Park Downstream Withlacoochee Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-02-09.

Yesterday, TJ Johnson, leading this expedition, got one good cut in with wedges to keep it from jamming the saw. Continue reading →

Full Pink Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-04-12

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle, probably with bats.

When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 7:56 PM, sunset 7:59 PM, end 9 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2025

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 Pink Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2024-04-12, Lakeland, Georgia, Probably with bats]
Full Pink Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2024-04-12, Lakeland, Georgia, Probably with bats

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6th Annual Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle Set for March 15, 2025 –City of Valdosta PR 2025-01-28

City of Valdosta press release:

The City of Valdosta and Lowndes County are excited to announce the 6th Annual Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, a collaborative event promoting clean waterways and outdoor activity. This year’s paddle will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, beginning at Langdale Park Boat Ramp.

[6th Annual Mayor Chairmans Paddle]
6th Annual Mayor Chairmans Paddle

Participants are encouraged to gather at the boat ramp at 8 a.m., with the paddle officially starting at 10 a.m. The event offers two options for paddlers: a two-hour trip to Berta’s Kitchen or Sugar Creek or a full four-hour journey ending at the Troupville Boat Ramp. Along the route, paddlers will travel under the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, past the Wood Valley Subdivision, Sheri Run, and under the I-75 and GA 133 highway bridges.

This annual event highlights the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship and the importance of maintaining clean and healthy waterways.

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Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-03-14

Update 2025-05-11: Pictures: Full Worm Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-03-14.

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle. Maybe the bats will be flying.

When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:20 PM, moonrise 8:14 PM, sunset 7:40 PM, end 9 PM, Friday, March 14, 2025

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 Worm Moon, Banks Lake 2025-03-14, Kimberly Godden Tanner, Maybe with bats]
Full Worm Moon, Banks Lake 2025-03-14, Kimberly Godden Tanner, Maybe with bats

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Withlacoochee River upstream from Troupville Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-02-08

Update 2025-02-08: Pictures: Troupville upstream Withlacoochee chainsaw cleanup 2025-02-08.

Join us between the Little River Confluence and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.

You can collect trash, take pictures, or just paddle along.

If you do have a chainsaw and know how to use it, bring it along. Or a sawzall or a handsaw: especially good for underwater small limbs.

We will be using the WWALS jon boat with 9.9hp outboard, bought with a generous grant from Wild Green Future.

Kayaks and canoes are welcome. You can also participate by walking along the riverbank. If you have a jon boat and outboard, you can bring that.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, February 8, 2025

Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, 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, in Lowndes County.

GPS: 30.851842, -83.346536

[Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-02-08, Troupville Boat Ramp, You do not have to saw]
Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2025-02-08, Troupville Boat Ramp, You do not have to saw

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Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, 2025-02-12

Update 2025-02-13: Pictures: Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-02-12.

Join us or a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our watery living room, Banks Lake, just west of Lakeland, Georgia, on GA 122.

When: Gather 5:30 PM, launch 5:55 PM, moonrise 6:35 PM, sunset 6:18 PM, end 7:30 PM, Wednesday, February 12, 2025

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 Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-02-12, Sunset, Moonrise, Possibly bats]
Full Snow Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-02-12, Sunset, Moonrise, Possibly bats

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Rescheduled: Ichetucknee to Santa Fe Rivers 2025-02-22

Update 2025-02-15: Because the river was still closed for hurricane debris removal, Rescheduled: Ichetucknee to Santa Fe Rivers 2025-04-05.

Rescheduled to February 22, 2025, because of park closure.

Join us on a leisurely paddle on the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers, starting at Ichetucknee Springs State Park North Entrance, past many springs, taking out at the US 129 Boat Ramp.

When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, February 22, 2024

Put In: Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North Entrance, 8294 SW Elim Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038.

GPS: 29.986107, -82.760109

[Ichetucknee River to Santa Fe River 2025-02-22, Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North to US 129 Boat Ramp]
Ichetucknee River to Santa Fe River 2025-02-22, Ichetucknee Springs S.P. North to US 129 Boat Ramp

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Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle: Langdale Park to Troupville, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-15

Update 2025-03-10: Rescheduled due to low water to March 22, Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle: Troupville to Spook Bridge, Withlacoochee River 2025-03-22.

Join us for a leisurely paddle on the Withlacoochee River: three miles to Sugar Creek with early takeout, and another four miles to Troupville Boat Ramp, around all the river frontage of the land recently purchased by Lowndes County for Troupville River Camp and Nature Park.

Paddle with Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson and Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter. Shuttle vans provided by Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA). Thanks to a generous grant from Georgia Power, this outing is free for everyone.

Boats: Bring your own if you have it.
VSU CORE Outdoors will bring some boats for free.
To reserve a boat, please use this eventbrite ticket:
https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=1272573675119

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 10 AM, end 4 PM, Saturday, March 15, 2025

Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602.

GPS: 30.88747, -83.32395

[Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Langdale Park to Troupville 2025-03-15, Early Takeout Sugar Creek, Withlacoochee and Little Rivers]
Mayor and Chairmans Paddle, Langdale Park to Troupville 2025-03-15, Early Takeout Sugar Creek, Withlacoochee and Little Rivers

Safety: Be on time. If you miss the safety briefing, you cannot paddle with us.
Each person in a boat, no matter how young or old, must wear a PFD. Continue reading →

Little River upstream 2014-06-28

Thanks to Chris Graham for leading this one, and to Edwin Brunot for the pictures.

[Little River Upstream 2014-06-28, Troupville Boat Ramp, GA 133]
Little River Upstream 2014-06-28, Troupville Boat Ramp, GA 133

We got maybe a mile and a half upstream from Troupville Boat Ramp, on GA 133, St. Augustine Road, west of I-75 Exit 18, at Val Tech Road.

We saw shoals, an island, high banks, narrow, and wide, sandy bottom, and of course the prison, just upstream from Troup Bridge.

Troupville Boat Ramp was then known as Little River Boat Ramp, before we got Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) to rename it.

It is still often known as the Prison Boat Ramp, due to Valdosta State Prison just upstream. Continue reading →