Sunrise Paddle on Weeks Bay / Fish River

My favorite time to be out on the water is at sunrise. We put-in at the Weeks Bay / Fish River boat ramp and leisurely paddled about. The photo above was taken on the Fish River.

We explored the little loop around a marsh (map location below). The side of the loop closest to the roadway was a little noisy with traffic, even at sunrise on a Sunday, but the other side of the loop (pictured above) was lovely.

After we exited the loop, we paddled up the Fish River. The photo above is looking back at the 98 bridge.

 

We explored the Fish River for a while then paddled back down into Weeks Bay. Coastal birds were sunning, hunting for breakfast, and posing for photos. People were out fishing off piers and kayaks. The water was vast and blue, mirroring the sky above.

The launch address is:

11470 U.S. 98
Fairhope, AL 36532

NOTE: The turn-off to the put-in runs parallel to 98 for a tiny little stretch, and under the bridge. The ramp is very nice and easy to unload, load, launch, etc. There are porta potties at the launch and they're well kept and decent enough, as far as porta potties go. Good parking, though I imagine it can fill up during peak times.

Free public launch

Wolf Creek Kayak Launch

We loved upper Wolf Bay at Wolf Creek. Even though there are some homes along the banks, there aren't very many people noises. It was peaceful and serene. The map above shows the put-in location and where we encountered a pod of four dolphins!

There were some other kayakers and a family out in their canoe that we spoke with. We also met a woman who was walking her dog along the water's edge. Very nice folks!

The wildlife viewing was amazing! We saw dozens of jumping mullet, heron along the shoreline, and large birds of prey diving into the water to fish, perhaps osprey. Did I mention that we saw dolphins? We saw dolphins! They came very close to us. I was so excited, my heart was racing and all I could do was sit in my kayak, motionless and in awe. I've asked Santa for a GoPro for Christmas so I can give a verbal command and capture those moments on the water without having to dig around in my pocket for a camera.

The launch address is:
9575 Wolf Creek Ridge, Elberta, AL 36530

NOTE: Our GPS took us past the turn-off, which, in retrospect, was marked with an easily recognizable sign. The park entry road was quite washed out, but once in the park, the roadway was flat and even. The water at the launch site was very dark and murky. We actually felt a little apprehensive until we got out on the creek. One of the kayakers we met said that an alligator does hang out around there sometimes, too. So be aware, but don't let that stop you from enjoying Wolf Creek.

Free parking, a picnic pavilion, and a decent porta potty

Byrnes Lake Landing to Gravine Island

I met up with a group of people from Gulf Coast Kayakers for a day trip down Byrnes Lake, up the Tensaw, to the northwest shore of Gravine Island. I've mapped out the entire trip so you can easily make the trek, too.

First thing to know: Byrnes Lake is actually a river (creek?) that flows into the Tensaw. The landing is easy to find with GPS, though there is no numerical address that I am aware of. Just plug in Byrnes Lake Road, Bay Minette, AL 36507 and drive all the way to the end of Byrnes Lake Road.

The put-in is nice, shaded, wooded, and very remote. Fishermen were peacefully enjoying the dock.

Byrnes Lake is a slow, meandering river.  Aside from a speed boat or two, there are no people and no people noises; no car sounds traveling over the water. It's very peaceful.

The view of the Tensaw from the mouth of Byrnes Lake is a beautiful and awesome sight to behold.  It's a little intimidating at first, but once you make it across the Tensaw and round the bend at the northern most point of the island, a sandy beach beckons.

Second thing to note is that nature provides the restrooms on this trip.

A quick, funny-not-so-funny story:

Once we arrived at Gravine Island, I really had to go. Some ladies from the group told me to follow their footprints along a sandy path and into the woods for privacy. I trekked up the hill and began following footprints in the sand. I was halfway to the woods when I realized that I wasn't following human footprints, I was following cloven footprints. Cloven footprints! Images of wild boar I had seen, from the safety of my car, off Battleship Parkway near 5 Rivers Delta flashed in my head as I turned heal and headed back toward the beach where I quickly squatted behind a sand dune before making a sprint to my kayak.

So just make a note that there quite possibly could be wild boar in the woods on Gravine Island.

A very talented photographer, Tracy Lannie, of Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club, was among our group and she snapped this photo of me on my Hobie as we made our way back across Byrnes Lake.

Below is a map, just for perspective, of where Gravine Island sits in the Delta above Mobile Bay.

All-in-all it was a fun adventure, and I got to meet some wonderful folks. I'd definitely enjoy paddling Byrnes Lake again.

Marlow Ferry Boat Ramp

The Marlow Ferry boat ramp is on the Fish River, opposite shore of Big Daddy's Grill. The launch site is pristine with paved parking, a picnic pavilion, and porta potties. On a calm summer morning, the water is deep, dark slow moving liquid glass. When the occasional speed boat goes by, the wake bobs your kayak on rounded waves of molasses. Beautiful river homes crowd the shoreline. It would be fun to put-in, paddle upstream, then back down to lunch on the porch overlooking the river at Big Daddy's.

16362 Honey Road, Summerdale, AL 36580
Our GPS took us directly to this address with no hiccups. 

This is a free launch site!

Buzbee Fish Camp

This morning, we put in at the Buzbee Fish Camp boat launch in Spanish Fort, AL. It's a beautiful, peaceful stretch of river to leisurely explore. We paddled upstream and saw flowering lilies, coastal birds, and jumping mullet. Didn't see any gators, only a few speed boats at sunrise on a Sunday.

The address is 32500 State Highway 225, Daphne, AL 36527
Our GPS was a little confused as to Buzbee's precise turn-off location, but we figured it out easily enough.

Note: The family that owns the property charges $5.00 per kayak, not per vehicle. Bring cash.

Comida at Sportsman Marina

We had a lovely view while dining on the porch with friends at Playa at Sportsman Marina in Orange Beach, AL. Kitty had the best view though!

Fairhope Fountain

                               Fountain at Fairhope Municipal Pier

The municipal fishing pier in Fairhope, AL is a great place to visit. There's a park to the left of the pier with a paved walking trail and a secret little beach hidden behind foliage at the end of the pathway. There's a beach to the right of the pier that stretches the length of N. Bayview Street. The beachy side of the park has playground equipment, a picnic pavilion, and a volleyball net. If you venture all the way down to the end, there's a sweet little duck pond and lots of chatty ducks and geese.

There is no fee to walk or fish on the municipal pier, but there is a fee to enter the beach if you are not a Fairhope resident. As of April 2018, the fee is $20 per car and $5 per pedestrian.