Update 2022-09-20: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2022-09-10.
Leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle. It’s a Saturday, and it should be cooler, so join us on our watery living room.
When: Gather 6:45 PM, launch 7:15 PM, moonrise 8:17 PM, sunset 7:44 PM, end 9 PM, Saturday, September 10, 2022
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
Update 2022-09-06: Pictures: State Line to Turner Bridge, Suwannee River 2022-03-06.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division wants evidence of intentional full-immersion swimming to redesignate river segments from Fishing to Recreational for tighter pollution limits. OK, here are some movies. Plus grandmas in a tree.
![[Movie: Full immersion swimming, 16:30:59, 30.6006764, -82.6839565 (161M)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-05--fargo-downstream-suwannee-river/20220305_163101.jpg)
Movie: Full immersion swimming, 16:30:59, (161M)
30.6006764, -82.6839565
Here is a WWALS video playlist.
Intentional swimming, Suwannee River, Echols County, GA 2022-03-05
30.6006764, -82.6839565
Videos by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.
For more swimming, see the still pictures from the same stretch of the river.
For context, see the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. While the SRWT formally runs from White Springs, Florida, to the Gulf, WWALS maps the entire Suwannee River.
For more WWALS outings, see:
https://wwals.net/outings/
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Tickets are now available on eventbrite
for the WWALS Boomerang paddle race from Georgia into Florida and back
on the idyllic blackwater Withlacoochee River.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wwals-boomerang-2022-tickets-411307641227
That’s $20 online until October 15, 2022, then $30 online or at the event.
For everything else about this event, see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22–boomerang
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/
Update 2022-08-31: Tickets now available.
Hahira, GA, August 30, 2022 — Paddle down the Withlacoochee River from Georgia three miles into Florida, and back upstream, in the WWALS Boomerang! Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are welcome to register starting at 9 AM, Saturday, October 22, 2022, to be on the water by 10:45 AM. There will be prizes, and food, and drink.
“Bringing the outdoors community together and showcasing the recreational opportunities we have to offer locally, for the fifth year,” said Boomerang mastermind Bobby McKenzie. “You can blaze ahead and take first place overall, or push yourself for a personal achievement on the main course or one of the modified routes. Or just come do a leisurely paddle with like minded outdoor enthusiasts. Remember to make your way back within 2.5 hours.”
Tickets will be on sale soon,
$20 online until October 15, then $30 online or at the event.
For tickets and everything else, see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22–boomerang
State Line Boat Ramp is Continue reading
Update 2022-09-01: Videos: Intentional swimming, Suwannee River, Echols County, GA, 2022-03-05.
Swimming, tree climbing, lunching, and paddling on the first day of a Suwannee River camping trip.
Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for organizing, and to the landowners for permission to camp. Continue reading
Update 2022-09-24: Rescheduled: Chainsaw Cleanup Withlacoochee River, 2022-10-16.
We need volunteers with boats to pick up trash while a few people chainsaw some deadfalls.
We aim to collect the trashjams we didn’t have room for last time, and to chainsaw the remaining Withlacoochee River deadfalls between Sugar Creek and the Little River Confluence. Then we’ll paddle up the Little River to take out at Troupville Boat Ramp.
Unlike last time, we’re scheduling seven hours for the shuttle, for chainsawing and trash collecting, and for the four-mile paddle. With luck, nobody will get stuck this time.
All dependent on the weather, of course. Could be hurricane season finally by then, or could be plenty low to make this easy.
When: 9 AM, Sunday, September 25, 2022
Put In: Meet at the back of the Salty Snapper parking lot, 1405 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602.
![[Trashjam, deadfall, chainsaws]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-09-25--chainsaw-withlacoochee/many.jpg)
Trashjam, deadfall, chainsaws,
2022-07-30; Photos: John S. Quarterman.
Thanks to Scott James for half an hour of radio time Thursday, mostly about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. The Contest is 7-11 PM today, Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Turner Center Art Park, 605 N. Patterson St., Valdosta GA 31601.
For entry tickets and how you can get a raffle ticket for that Vibe Yellowfin 120 kayak donated by Georgia Beer Co., see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-20–songwriting/
Who’s going to draw the winning kayak raffle ticket? The one and only hippie, kayaking, radio Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson.
Which of the five Finalists will MC Chuck Roberts announce as winners Continue reading
Yesterday I went down to Sullivan Launch to see off three intrepid explorers led by Ken Sulak.
![[Three to go exploring from Sullivan Launch, 12:20:57, 30.5960286, -83.2599267]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-14--sulak-sullivan/20220814_122057.jpg)
Three to go exploring from Sullivan Launch, 12:20:57, 30.5960286, -83.2599267
They were seeking signs of old bridges and ferries. Don’t know if they found those, but Ken says they found around 8 shoals.
The Pinetta Gauge (which is right there at Sullivan Launch) read about 55.3′ NAVD88 or 8.7′ yesterday noon. The current WWALS lowest boatable recommendation is 52.5′ NAVD88. Maybe we should raise that.
I also drove across CR 150 into the SRWMD Sulilvan Tract and found park table and bench with trash can where the SRWMD map says. Continue reading
Thanks, Suzy Sparkman Hall, for the name: David’s Disappointment Spring, which we saw paddling from Florida Campsites to Allen Ramp, Withlacoochee River, 2022-06-04.
![[Human for scale, David's Disappointment, 13:15:04, 30.4747627, -83.2433016]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-06-04--florida-campsites-withlacoochee-pictures/20220604_131503.jpg)
Human for scale, David’s Disappointment, 13:15:04, 30.4747627, -83.2433016
And thanks to Suzy for why: Guy Bryant, A Cave Diving History of Little Known Springs, December 3, 2015, David’s Disappointment Spring,
David’s Disappointment Spring is named after David Nolan who was the first person to explore its small cave. The spring is located Continue reading
Update 2022-08-08: Pictures: David’s Disappointment Spring, Withlacoochee River 2022-06-04.
That was not far, but took a while, because there was a slough, spring, or sandbar every mile or so, Florida Campsites to Allen Ramp, Withlacoochee River 2022-06-04. Thanks to Robert Weldon for leading this one.
I think that was seven springs, including first magnitude Madison Blue Spring, and one distributary: Sullivan Slough. Didn’t get a good picture of Pot Spring; can’t really see it from the river, and too many people up there to climb up. I had the WWALS GOPRO360 going, so you’ll see those 360-degree views soon. Meanwhile, here are some ordinary pictures. See also facebook photosets by: Continue reading
![[Sunset and moonrise, 2020-10-01]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-09-10--banks-lake-full-harvest-moon/sunsetmoonrise.jpg)
![[Tickets]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22--boomerang/2022-08-31--tickets.jpg)
![[Flyer]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-22--boomerang/WWALS-Boomerang-Flyer-2022-0001.jpg)
![[Paddling, Swimming, Camping]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-05--fargo-downstream-suwannee-river/many.jpg)
![[Mayor, Plaques, Sponsors]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-18--scott-james-radio-videos/many.jpg)
![[Banners, River, Springs]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-06-04--florida-campsites-withlacoochee-pictures/many.jpg)