A dozen people paddled four miles around Banks Lake on Labor Day morning. We saw three trees with bats, and the old one with no bats.
![[Flyers, bat tree, etc. @ Banks Lake morning paddle 2023-09-04]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-09-04--banks-lake-morning-paddle-pictures/many.jpg)
Flyers, bat tree, etc. @ Banks Lake morning paddle 2023-09-04
I forgot the banners, so people are holding up flyers for the WWALS River Revue. Continue reading
Due to Hurricane Idalia heading straight for the Suwannee River Basin, Shirley Kokidko has cancelled tomorrow’s evening paddle on Banks Lake.
She wrote, “Even if the rain stops Wed. evening, gusty winds at the lake could be unsafe for paddlers, especially after dark. The full moon will not be visible with the cloud cover, bats aren’t active during rainy weather either.”
![[Cancelled: Banks Lake Full Blue Moon Paddle 2023-08-30]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-30--banks-lake-full-blue-moon-paddle/manycancelled.jpg)
Cancelled: Banks Lake Full Blue Moon Paddle 2023-08-30
Join us next month for the Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon Paddle 2023-09-29.
More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle. There may be bats.
When: Gather 6:20 PM, launch 6:50 PM, moonrise 7:43 PM, sunset 7:21 PM, end 8:45 PM, Friday, September 29, 2023
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake Boat Ramp, sunset, moonrise 2022-09-10]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-09-29--banks-lake-full-harvest-moon/many.jpg)
Banks Lake Boat Ramp, sunset, moonrise 2022-09-10
Thanks to “friendly, bubbly” Meredith Crosby for leading this outing, to Rebecca Galardo for reporting on it, to Tony Galardo for taking her out in the Lanier EMA boat to do that, thanks to James Barnes, Lanier County Code Enforcement, for unlocking the boats, and thanks to Lanier County for letting WWALS rent the boats to paddlers for free.
![[WWALS Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-01--banks-lake-full-sturgeon-moon-lanier-advocate/many.jpg)
WWALS Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle in Lanier County Advocate
Plus of course thanks to everyone who paddled on the Banks Lake Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, 2023-08-01. The next full moon paddle is at the end of August: Banks Lake Full Blue Supermoon Paddle 2023-08-30.
For more WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings
Rebecca Galardo, Lanier County Advocate, Banks Lake paddling event held August 1, Continue reading
Update 2023-08-29: Cancelled: Banks Lake Full Blue Moon Paddle 2023-08-30.
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle.
This will be the only blue moon of 2023 (second full moon of a month), and is expected to be the biggest and brightest supermoon this year. It will be the third supermoon of this year, “when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full.”. According to NPR, this will be the only blue supermoon of 2023, and there won’t be another until 2032.
There may still be bats.
When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 8:08 PM, sunset 7:58 PM, end 9 PM, Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Sunset 2023-03-07, Moonrise 2018-12-22; Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Lakeland, GA 2023-08-30]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-08-30--banks-lake-full-blue-moon-paddle/many.jpg)
Sunset 2023-03-07,
Moonrise 2018-12-22;
Full Blue Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, Lakeland, GA 2023-08-30
Thunder and lightning made quite a display to the south, but never came over Banks Lake, while we paddled out to see the sun set, the bats fly, and the moon rise over the cypress trees.
Plus we saw Mars and Venus.
![[Banner, boats, storm, bats, Venus, Mars]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-06-03--banks-lake-full-strawberry-moon-pictures/many.jpg)
Banner, boats, storm, bats, Venus, Mars
Thanks to Gee Edwards for leading this Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon paddle for WWALS, Saturday, June 3, 2023. Thanks to everyone who paddled, and to Banks Lake Outdoors and the Lanier County Commission for providing boats.
There are more pictures below.
See also facebook photosets by Continue reading
Regarding when and why the Suwannee River Visitor Center closed, I went to an authoritative source, Bryan Gray, Manager, Stephen Foster State Park (SFSP).
![[Ramp (south) end, Suwannee River Visitor Center, 08:25:45, 30.6823112, -82.5600485]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-12-29--suwannee-river-welcome-center/20221229_082545.jpg)
Ramp (south) end, Suwannee River Visitor Center, 08:25:45, https://www.google.com/maps/@30.6823112,-82.5600485,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0
He says it started with budgeting after the recession. Georgia State Parks had to operate more like businesses.
He started at SFSP in 2011, and the Visitor Center closed not long after that.
They tried to operate it in different capacities, such as Continue reading
Update 2021-07-31: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Strawberry Moon paddle 2021-06-24.
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our mini-Okefenokee, in Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Plus bats!
When: Gather 7:45 PM, launch 8:15 PM, sunset 8:39 PM, moonrise 8:59 PM, end 10 PM, Thursday, June 24, 2021
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
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.
Lights: You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset. You must wear a PFD. A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark. Mosquitoes can be bad at dusk so come prepared.
Boats: Kayaks are available to borrow but please let us know at least 2 days prior to the event. Bring your own if you have it. Thanks to Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members.
You can pay the $10 at the outing, or online:
https://wwals.net//donations/#outings
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by
becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/#join
![[Paddlers, Map to Banks Lake Boat Ramp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-06-24--banks-lake-full-strawberry-moon-paddle/many.jpg)
Paddlers, Map to Banks Lake Boat Ramp
Maybe a record for a Wednesday outing: 34 paddlers on Banks Lake to see the sun set and the Full Flower Blood Super Full Moon rise, and that red moon did not disappoint. Plus there were bats!
There are more pictures on the WWALS website:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2021-05-26–full-flower-blood-super-moon-pictures/
See also many facebook pictures by Bobby McKenzie and many others.
Next: in this series of full moon paddles is Continue reading
The bats should be flying again, as we amble by boat around our watery living room, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, to watch the sun set and the moon rise.
First, we will use the WWALS infrared thermometer to check temperatures. If you’re ill in any way, please stay home. Once you get there, there is plenty of room on the boat ramp to distance, and on the water everybody is usually pretty far apart anyway. Wear a mask on land, and we will have some available. No shuttle is needed.
When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:15 PM, end 9:30 PM, Sunday, March 28, 2021
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County.
Take Out: Banks Lake Boat Ramp
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.
Lights: You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset. You must wear a PFD. A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark. Mosquitoes can be bad at dusk so come prepared.
Boats: Kayaks are available to borrow but please let us know at least 2 days prior to the event. Bring your own if you have it. Thanks to Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members.
You can pay the $10 at the outing, or online:
https://wwals.net//donations/#outings
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by
becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/#join
![[Many]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-03-28--banks-lake-full-worm-moon-paddle/many.jpg)
Many boats, sunset, moonrise,
2020-02-27.
![[Banners, paddlers, moonrise]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-05-26--full-flower-blood-super-moon-pictures/many.jpg)