Tag Archives: Bret Wagenhorst

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 →

Berrien Beach Landing (GA 168) to Lakeland (GA 122), WWALS Outing 2017-02-11

12 + 4 boats and about 18 paddlers went even faster down the Alapaha River than we expected: six hours on the water between GA 168 and GA 122, including a lunch stop. That’s about 3 miles per hour on a chilly morning and a fine breezy warm day. And there were bon-bons and kumquats!

WWALS banner by Gretchen Quarterman
WWALS banner at lunch stop; picture by Gretchen Quarterman for WWALS.

Lots of native vegetation, no invasive species, some birds (buzzards, ducks, heron, flycatcher, cardinals), no animals on the land or in the water. People fishing at Lakeland said they didn’t even get a nibble. I did see a few fish beds below a creek confluence.

The water level was Continue reading →

5th Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race with grilling and silent auction 2017-04-29

Update 2017-06-04: And the winners!

Update 2017-04-30: Summary of news coverage.

Update 2017-04-29: Pictures and videos.

Update 2017-04-27: Paddle or Race, Scott James Talk 92.1 FM radio 2017-04-27

Update 2017-04-26: River radio videos: Charlie Walker dried off in time on KIX 99.5 FM for the BIG Little River Paddle Race 2017-04-26 and Video: BLPR and Neighbor Steve Nichols, WVGA 105.9 FM 2017-04-26.

Update 2017-04-25: More river radio: BLPR on The Morning Drive with Steve Nichols, 105.9 FM, 8:15 AM Wednesday April 26, 2017, and you can get a kayak raffle ticket online or at the paddle race.

Update 2017-04-24: Hear about it on the Scott James Talk 92.1 FM radio show 8AM Thursday April 27th.

Back by popular demand! This year plus lunch grilling and a silent auction afterwards: the fifth annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, a fundraiser for WWALS and Friends of Reed Bingham (FORB). Last year we had 34 paddlers, and the traditional winner almost lost! Come on down and you can be a winner, if not first place, in one of many categories.

Ready! Where: Red Roberts Landing
31°11’32.0″N 83°31’13.2″W
Rountree Bridge Road
Between Moultrie and Adel, GA
I-75 Exit 41 (at Sparks) to Rountree Bridge Road

When: 8AM-9AM Registration
9:30 AM Mass Start

What: Canoes or Kayaks Only
Life jackets required of all participants.

Let people know: facebook event or the Meetup event.
But remember to register.

Registration: Register on-line Continue reading →

Okefenokee Suwannee River Outing @ Fargo, GA 2016-12-10

Update 2017-02-05 Pictures.

Okefenokee West Entrance Trails You can join WWALS for a fall Saturday paddle on the Suwannee River in the Okefenokee swamp. Bring a boat, PFD, and paddle, or you can rent those at the park.

When: 10AM Saturday December 10th 2016

Where: Georgia’s Stephen C. Foster State Park near Fargo, GA

What: Paddle from Billy’s Lake down through the River Narrows to the Suwannee River Sill.

Distance: About 7 miles in about 4 hours Continue reading →

WWALS Adopt-A-Stream Cleanup at Berrien Beach Landing (GA 168) –Gretchen Quarterman 2016-09-10

WWALS collected many bags of trash and four mattresses Saturday in the Rivers-Alive Cleanup at Berrien Beach Launch on the Alapaha River.

At Berrien Beach (with permission) Thanks to Bret Wagenhorst for organizing this annual cleanup. Special thanks to the three members of Valdosta State’s Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.) for joining in, and a student from UGA Tifton!

This outing was also part of the Great Suwannee River Cleanup, and we’ll have some more of those this year. This particular cleanup was at Berrien Beach Landing in Berrien County on the Alapaha River Water Trail. Thanks to Al Browning and the landowner for access to the sands of Berrien Beach in Lanier County.

See also the Video: #NoDAPL #NoSabalTrail —WWALS 2016-09-10.

More WWALS outings:

Continue reading →

Successful Cleanup at Berrien Beach on the Alapaha River 2016-09-10

We collected many bags of trash and four mattresses (not pictured) Saturday in the Rivers-Alive Cleanup at Berrien Beach Launch on the Alapaha River. Special thanks to the three members of Valdosta State’s Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.) for joining in!

Group picture

Continue reading →

WWALS at Rhythm & Ribs, Tifton, GA 2016-03-05

Until 5PM today, WWALS has a table at the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, at Fulwood Park, in downtown Tifton, Georgia. From points south, get off I-75 at exit 63B, and follow W 8th Street to Prince Ave. If you’re coming up GA 125 from Nashville, turn right at W 8th Street. If you’re coming west on US 82, turn right at Main Street (GA 125), etc. WWALS Ambassador Dave Hetzel is there with board member Bret Wagenhorst, talking about the BIG Little River Paddle Race May 21st at Reed Bingham State Park and all the outings before then, along the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail and the Alapaha River Water Trail. Plus how you can become involved!.

And we hope to see you at some of the other upcoming WWALS outings and events

-jsq

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

Winners, student logo contest, Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail, by WWALS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, February 28, 2016 — Two VSU students took First and Second Prizes Saturday for logos for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT), First prize: circle with trees, by Eboni Patterson at a Workshop at VSU, with an art exhibit and silent auction, and talks on history, archaeology, hydrogeology, and safety, organized by WWALS Watershed Coalition, the Waterkeeper® Affiliate for the Withlacoochee, Little, Alapaha, and upper Suwannee Rivers. “These logo winners reflect the beauty and unusual nature of our blackwater rivers,” said logo contest organizer Julie Bowland, a VSU Art Professor. She aded, “I’ve already heard talk that we may use both of these logos, one for color, and one for black and white.”

Logo Contest Winners

Logo winners with Julie Bowland (Gretchen Quarterman, Tom Potter, foreground) Eboni Patterson (center) won First Prize for the circle logo. Ann Reid (left) won Second Prize for the river trace logo. Both were congratulated by contest organizer Julie Bowland, who handed them checks from WWALS. The prizes were contributed by Continue reading →

Pictures: Withlacoochee River, GA 122 to Franklinville Road 2013-04-20

One of the remotest segments of the Withlacoochee River, yet with easy access, and when the water was high enough. Unter den acer Also one of the least-attended WWALS outings, because we hadn’t really gotten the hang of announcing outings yet. But that just made it more intimate for the three of us who went. I got especially intimate with the river, choosing to swim twice. I always choose to swim when the water comes up to meet me…. Eventually I learned not to lean towards the side you’re tipping towards.

The closest USGS gauge is Continue reading →

4th Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race @ BLRPR16

Update 2016-03-05: Poster, flyer, registration form, and a way to pay online!

7AM Saturday May 21st at Reed Bingham State Park, it’s the annual fundraiser for WWALS and Friends of Reed Bingham, back again by popular demand (facebook event, meetup event):

Paddling downstream A fun event for good causes. This four mile downstream paddle on flatwater takes you on a winding course through pretty south Georgia forest, under towering cypress trees, past live oaks, coppices of ogeechee tupelo, and majestic pines. The tannin stained blackwaters reflect the beautiful scenery and are typical of the coastal plain. Paddle it to win or just to enjoy. Cash prize to the paddler who finishes first. Medals to top finishers in several categories: male and female solo canoe, male and female solo kayak; male 2 person canoe, female 2 person canoe, mixed 2 person canoe, male tandem kayak, female tandem kayak, mixed tandem kayak. Entrance fee includes a free lunch at the end of the race. Fastest paddlers will complete in under an hour; slow paddlers in 1.5-2 hours. Bring your own boat or rent one from Reed Bingham State Park (advance reservations recommended).

There will be a registration fee, well worth it for the fun, community, and to support your friendly local watershed organization; details to come. Here are last year’s winners.

Meanwhile, these other events coming up sooner are free, Continue reading →