In my last post about the Magnolia River, we took a left at the launch and explored the upper Magnolia. Today we took a right at the launch and explored the lower Magnolia. It was a totally different experience, but just as beautiful.
(If you missed the other Magnolia River post, click here.)
There's substantially less tree coverage shading the lower Magnolia. It's a wider, deeper body of water with the occasional speed boat sending large rolling ripples through the still-as-glass water. It was beautiful at sunrise but got hot and bright very quickly. We will probably do this paddle again when the weather cools and the sun becomes a welcome source of warmth on a chilly day.
Did you know that the City of Fairhope has a municipal marina? I didn't! I always thought that the marina across from the Yacht Club was just Fly Creek Marina, but it is not. Sea Cliff Drive off of Scenic 98 will take you to Fairhope Docks Marina.
If you're a kayaker, you need to know about this place because they have a fantastic kayak launch onto Fly Creek.
You can temporarily park your vehicle at the launch site, which is located at the small building on the water that directly faces the Fly Creek Marina facilities. After unloading your kayaks, you'll need to park your vehicle along the fence, which is preferable anyway because it's shaded.
Here's a YouTube video I made that shows us using the launch:
Fly Creek is a short paddle on cool water, under a canopy of greenery. Depending on the tide and rainfall, the furthest you may be able to paddle is to the bridge which crosses over scenic 98. If the water levels are high enough and you do make it past the bridge, the creek narrows, creek side homes dwindle and the foliage becomes more dense. The cool, refreshing water flowing over a white sandy bed becomes clear and inviting.
My husband and I love Fly Creek. It's a short drive from our house, and in less than thirty minutes, we can have our kayaks loaded, unload, and launched. We like to take our dog Ellie, too. We often see people on Fly Creek with their dogs on paddle boards, in their canoes, kayaks, and fishing boats. But sometimes it's a solitary paddle without another person in sight.
A little strange, but I can't find an official address for Fairhope Docks Marina, but if you type Fairhope Docks Marina into Google Maps, it will lead you there with no problems. It's simple though, just drive to the end of Sea Cliff Drive. Easy peasy!
Here's a bonus video of us getting caught in a rain band while out on Fly Creek:
Pelicans have been on my mind recently. They are such fascinating, funny-looking creatures. I'll never tire of watching them lazily sunning on posts or flying over the bay and diving into the water to fish.
Pelicans often hang around the causeway and the I-10 bridge. As I drive over the delta into Mobile once a week for a work-related errand, I admire their freedom, out in the fresh air, surrounded by shimmering blue waters and open skies; knowing that it will only be a brief few days before I'm out on the water in my kayak, just as free to roam and explore.
I think I'd rather do a little less telling and more showing today, if that's alright with y'all. Follow along in the video below as we explore the Magnolia River in the sleepy little town of Magnolia Springs, Alabama. Some highlights of this trip were: me not getting my feet wet at the put-in (lol) and a little discussion about the mailboxes on the river.
If you've decided to put-in at this location, please consider that there are only four designated parking spots. One might think it looks rather innocent to park on either side of the quiet gravel street, but the people who live on the street say otherwise. My advice is to be aware and to be respectful of the residents' wishes for people to not park on their property; have a plan B kayaking adventure in mind if all of the spots are taken.
You can find the location of this public launch on the Go Paddling App or here on paddling.com.
