Previously you saw the overall winner of the 6th Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, organized by WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) and Friends of Reed Bingham State Park (FORB), Saturday, April 28, 2018. Update 2018-07-16: Plus pictures of all the paddlers.
Here are all the winners:
The prize category is included for each winner.
A leisurely two-mile morning paddle from the recently reopened Langdale Park on the largest river through the biggest city in the Suwannee River Basin, arriving at the recently rediscovered Sugar Creek Landing, well in time for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in the afternoon.
When: 9AM, Saturday, June 23, 2018
Put In: Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 3781 N. Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA 31602.
GPS: 30.88747, -83.32395
Take Out: Sugar Creek Landing, 2410 Gornto Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602, recently rediscovered next to the YMCA, and just across the railroad tracks from The Salty Snapper, venue of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup. If you don’t have a boat, let us know; we may able to loan you one.
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!
Langdale Park Boat Ramp, 1 November 2017, when the water was much lower.
Locations announced! Follow this link.
Experience the wilderness via the Alapaha River Water Trail as we continue the Alapaha Quest. Due to river level variations, the location will be determined as we get closer to the date. Could be anything from rapids to flood to a dry river hike, depending on rainfall.
When: 8 AM, Saturday, August 11, 2018
Put In: To Be Announced (TBA)
Take Out: TBA
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.
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!
Continue readingPaddle 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!
Full moon cypress, Banks Lake, 2017-07-08
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).
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.
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hahira, GA, April 23, 2018 — Fifty children and adults helped WWALS clean up the site of old Troupville Saturday, with permission and thanks from the landowner where that former Lowndes County seat goes down to the Little River Confluence with the Withlacoochee River, just west of Valdosta.
Cleanup leader WWALS member Bobby McKenzie said:
We met at the signs for safety/execution briefing. I was able to talk about the signs and water trail to 50 folks and when I asked who knew about the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers and being able to kayak them, only 2 folks were aware. Now 50 more folks are aware…and half were kids…but some of the best kind of kids…Boy and Girl Scouts!
Photo: Bobby McKenzie for WWALS 2018-04-21, at
Troupville Boat Ramp,
by the WWALS
signs for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)
that
Phil Hubbard planted 2018-04-20.
Landowner Helen Tapp, whose family LLC gave permission for this cleanup, added:
What a fabulous turn-out of Earth Day workers! Thank you so much for Continue reading
Update 2018-04-23: More detail from cleanup leader Bobby McKenzie, a word from property owner Helen Tapp, about sponsors of the water trail, a press release, where WWALS was at three other events that same day, and how you can find upcoming WWALS outings and events.
Cleanup leader Bobby McKenzie reported from the Troupville cleanup this morning:
We had about 50 folks come out this morning. Thanks to the Boy Scouts Troop 429 and 454 as well as Girl Scout Troop 40267 for coming to help out. We also had a couple folks from Moody.
At Troupville Boat Ramp,
by the
signs for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)
that
Phil Hubbard planted yesterday.
The audience was amused at the thought of the Valdosta City Council racing at Reed Bingham, or of any of them writing songs. But it could happen! And any of them can come on down to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Valdosta.
You’ve already seen the videos of the two resolutions, for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT) and the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). Here are videos of three WWALS members thanking Valdosta Mayor and Council for those, plus three festivals. We call WWALS a coalition because many people are involved, from many backgrounds, doing many different things to conserve and advocate for our watersheds being swimmable, fishable, and at least our well water drinkable.
There’s a playlist at the end.
Update 2018-04-17: Online pre-registration for event fee (free to WWALS members) and shuttle fee. Space is limited. Register soon.
Beautiful two-day paddle trip with overnight camping at Holton Creek.
When: 9 AM, Saturday, June 2, 2018
Put In: Suwannee Springs, 3243 91st Dr, Live Oak, FL 32060
GPS: 30.39417, -82.93383
Take Out: Suwannee River State Park, 3631 201st Path, Live Oak, FL 32060
Bring: camping gear in addition to 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.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 a day ($20) to non-members, plus campsite fees and park entry fees.
All attendees must pre-pay a $10 shuttle fee. You can register here:
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Photo: Continue reading
Thanks to Bret Wagenhorst, here’s a printable flyer (PDF) for the Sixth Annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Reed Bingham State Park, between Adel and Moultrie, Georgia.
Paddlers can also register online or (for a bit more) at the event.
Sponsors welcome: get your name or your organization’s name on a banner at the event, mentioned on the radio, etc.
Sixth Annual
BIG Little River Paddle Race
Saturday, April 28, 2018Proceeds to benefit Friends of Reed Bingham and WWALS Watershed Coalition,
the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member for the Little River as Suwannee Riverkeeper®TIME: Continue reading
