Judges, Songwriting Contest

Update May 15, 2018: Deadline extended to June 1, 2018!

The Songwriting Contest Committee has chosen three judges. After the Committee picks seven finalists, the judges at the contest will pick winners from those finalists, all according to criteria listed in the Rules.

The judges are, in alphabetical order: Cindy Bear, Dan Crews, and J.J. Rolle.

  • Cindy Bear, Jacksonville, Florida,

    Cindy Bear Cindy Bear is an award winning singer-songwriter based in Jacksonville, FL, who performs at music festivals, house concerts, listening rooms, and charity fundraisers throughout the Southeastern U.S. She is a successful solo artist, and also half of Bear and Robert (pronounced “Row-bear”), a Blues, Folk and Americana duo with her husband, Franc Robert….

    Cindy Bear is also Continue reading →

Submissions, Songwriting Contest

Update May 15, 2018: Deadline extended to Friday, June 1, 2018!

The first to submit a song is David Pharr of Suwannee Canoe Outpost on the Suwannee River in Suwannee County.

At the Boat Ramp, Wanee Travelling Stage
Photo: John S. Quarterman for WWALS of Suwannee Canoe Outpost behind Wanee Travelling Stage 2018-04-21

We can’t tell you the title, lyrics or music of Dave’s submission, because that wouldn’t be fair to the other submissions which will be pouring in. And no, we won’t publish your name unless you agree to that, as Dave did.

Submissions are encouraged in Continue reading →

Friday Night Banks Lake Full Moon Paddle, 2018-07-27

Paddle scenic Banks Lake on a Friday night as the setting sun enhances its beauty and the full moon sheds a bit of light on its night time mysteries.

When: 7 PM, Friday, July 27, 2018

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.

GPS: 31.03492, -83.09619

Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, which is on the Alapaha River Water Trail.

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. And for this moonlight paddle: a light.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

Full moon cypress, Banks Lake
Full moon cypress, Banks Lake, 2017-07-08

Continue reading →

Pafford’s Landing, Alapaha River Water Trail 2018-04-26

Looks like plenty of water at Pafford’s Landing to do another leg of the 2018 Alapaha Quest.

Upstream, Sandbar

Upstream, Sandbar

The Statenville Gauge showed Continue reading →

Berrien County about ARWT Landings

WWALS would like to thank the Berrien County Board of Commissioners and staff for years of cooperation about the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT) and the many landings on it in Berrien County, as well as the one landing in Berrien County on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

Here is a letter from September 2016 granting WWALS permission to put signs on county property at all the water trail landings it names, and a Commission vote to change two access points from having Landing in their name to be called instead Sheboggy Boat Ramp and Berrien Beach Boat Ramp.

Letter from Berrien County 2016-09-14

Permission to put signs at all landings, Letter

Thanks to Continue reading →

Pictures: BIG Little River Paddle Race 2018-04-28

Update 2018-07-05: All the winners. Update 2018-07-16: All the paddlers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hahira, GA, April 29, 2018 — With the first-ever winner from Florida and a new record time, the next two categories one each from Tift and Lowndes Counties, Georgia, and a record number paddlers from 4 to 67 years old, the BIG Little River Paddle Race at Reed Bingham State Park Saturday was a fun time and a successful fundraiser for Friends of Reed Bingham State Park (FORB) and WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

Trophy, The winner: Lloyd Reeves, Crescent City, FL

Lloyd Reeves drove three hours from Crescent City, Florida, with a very fast kayak, to become the first-ever Florida winner, and he proved himself a winner in another way with the prize.

Trophy, The winner: Lloyd Reeves, Crescent City, FL

In addition to the First Prize trophy, winner Reeves got a hundred dollar bill from race organizer Bret Wagenhorst of WWALS. and a matching hundred dollar bill from Dianne Walters of FORB. Reeves then Continue reading →

Lakeland Boat Ramp road signs planted 2018-04-26

Thanks, GDOT, for planting the ARWT road signs!

Here are the signs for Lakeland Boat Ramp on GA 122 for the Alapaha River Water Trail, put in the ground by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) the other day, along with signs for eight other landings. You can help pay for these signs.

Turnoff in sight, Eastbound

Turnoff in sight, Eastbound

Continue reading →

Gretchen Quarterman on Scott James 92.1 FM radio 2018-04-1626

Yesterday WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman talked about

Education, Stills

Here’s the video: Continue reading →

Valdosta Committee meeting, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2018-04-29

Sunday 2PM in Valdosta, the Committee meets about the First Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. And song submissions are open!

When: 2-3 PM Sunday 29 March 2018

Where: Cheddars Scratch Kitchen, 270 Norman Dr, Valdosta, GA 31601
aka Cheddar’s Casual Cafe,
Off I-75 Exit 16, US 84, West Hill Avenue.

What: More judge candidates, and event logistics including sponsors, food, beverages, and the crawl afterwards, when finalists will play at local venues in Cedar Key.
Like every committee meeting, you can also participate by telephone; inquire within for how.

Event for the committee meeting: facebook, meetup

Event for the songwriting contest: facebook, meetup

Google Street View, Map
Map: Google Street View

The Contest

Continue reading →

Alapaha River Beauty should not be hidden 2018-04-07

Randy Patten used to say he’d never seen an alligator on the Alapaha River in Lanier County, but he just saw a log with eyes and a tail.

On Patrol, Stills

He also changed his mind about something else:

I have been against the publication and the making public of our river for people kayaking it, due to the fact that we couldn’t get people out of the river if they got in trouble.

Well, after a couple of years of planning with the assistance of the county commissioners, and volunteer firefighters, and everybody that would assist, we now have signs, 24 actually, up and down the river, from Atkinson County to Echols County. So every few miles you’ll see a sign with a phone number. And later on, when I get close to one I’ll go live again and show you what they look like.

But it makes it a lot nicer to know that if we have people looking at its beauty, which should never be kept a secret, but if something does happen, we have the ability to come get you. Continue reading →