Rice Creek to Jug Lake - Sept 6, 2009
WHAT A GREAT AFTERNOON WITH A GREAT GROUP OF OLD FRIENDS. NORM & JANICE (BLAIRSVILLE GA), JEFF & LAURA (OREGON), HARRIET, FRITZ, TRACY, DAVID, NANCY AND MYSELF. THE RAIN WRECKED HAVOC EARLY IN THE MORNING BUT CHALK IT UP TO GOOD KARMA THE RAIN CEASED AND THE CLOUDS HELD THE SUN AT BAY.WE MET AT THE STAGECOACH AND WERE GREETED BY GENE AND CAROLYN ON THEIR WAY TO VISIT FRIENDS. WE MOVED ON TO THE RICE CREEK LANDING. THE WATER WAS UP AND RUNNING AND ONCE AGAIN WE WERE GIVEN THE RICE CREEK FEEL OF AN ENCHANTED PLACE. LEATHER WOODS, BUTTON BUSHES, EARLY CARDINAL FLOWERS, ASTORS, GLORIES AND MUCH MORE WERE OUT. LOOKED FOR THE WOOD STORKS THAT WE SAW EARLIER IN THE SUMMER IN JUG LAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. WE PADDLED AT A LEISURELY PACE OUT TO JUG LAKE PLATFORM. THE CURRENT WAS FLOWING GOOD IN BAYOU JASAMINE AND WE WERE GREETED BY WASPS AT THE PLATFORM. NO PROBLEM. WE HUNG OUT IN OUR BOATS. WE ALL SAW BABY ALLIGATORS AND NORM AND JANICE WATCHED AN OTTER. (THE POSITIVES OF COMING UP IN THE REAR). MOST OF US SAW A STURGEON LEAP OUT OF THE WATER IN TENSAW RIVER. WOW!! THE CURRENT GAVE US A GOOD WORKOUT ON THE WAY BACK TO THE RICE CREEK LANDING AND WE WERE OFF TO ED'S SHED FOR A GREAT DINNER AND BREW. JULI DAY
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Showing posts with label Jug Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jug Lake. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Rice Creek to Jug Lake (Fisher Island) platform
Saturday, March 19, 2005 brint.adams@us.army.mil
Bob, Paul, Rick and I met at Rice Creek Landing, north of Stockton, at 4:00 PM, for a leisurely paddle out to the Jug Lake platform for dinner and overnight camping. The afternoon was beautiful, with clear skies, 75 degrees, no wind and a fairly high water level. We took the direct route out to Briar Lake, took the cut-through to Tensaw River, turned left alongside Larry Island, cut over to Bayou Jessamine and took the right turn into Jug Lake.
At this time of day, we found very little current flow on the Tensaw or Jessamine, which suited us just fine. I had already done a workout paddle early that morning and the others were more interested in the ambience of the moment than when we arrived.
Along the way, we saw many Maples in full blood red color and beautiful new green growth bursting from the Cypress lining our way. The mullet were jumping and we heard what we thought were deer rustling through the woods. A new experience for me was to see the many flocks of Little Blue Herons and White Ibis heading to roost for the night. There were dozens who just kept coming, the Herons quietly, but the Ibis making noticeable wing noise.
We arrived at the platform by 6:00 PM, unloaded and started preparations for our evening feast. This wasn't typical freeze-dried trail food, as we had a huge fresh vegetable and lettuce salad, garlic french bread and a large pot of fresh shrimp boiled with sausage, sweet corn and fresh whole garlic. The bugs didn't have a chance with our breath, spread around while telling tall tales. Even with my appetite, we couldn't finish all of the shrimp.
The evening was perfect, with a half moon shining brightly in the still air. Close by, Bard Owls called to us all night, while we followed the sounds of coon hounds in the distance, chasing and treeing their prey.
Sometime after retiring to sleeping bags on the open deck, I awoke and jumped a foot in the air, to the sound of a large splash. Disoriented from sleep, I looked around to see if an alligator was nearby, and then saw Paul pop up out of the water and back onto the platform. He had taken an extra step, when approaching the rear side next to the cooking table, and found out the water level is about chest deep and the bottom is soft and muddy. Unfortunately, he grabbed the edge of the securely fastened table, which scraped some large hunks of flesh off of the fingers on his left hand. After climbing out of the cold water and getting dried off, we cleaned and applied antiseptic to the mangled mess of a hand.
Since Bob slept through all of the excitement, when morning came and while eating breakfast, we retold and enhanced the story at Paul's expense, while his hand throbbed in pain. Suggestions were made Paul was sleepwalking, taking a moonlight skinnydip or sleeping with the fishes.
We broke camp early, heading straight back to Rice Creek. The morning was again beautiful, the water in Jug Lake like glass. On our way out, the Herons and Ibis were flying overhead, back to their day feeding spots. The current on Bayou Jessamine was a little stronger and following on the way out, as we enjoyed the morning light slicing through the canopy.
As we arrived at the landing and were loading up, a Birmingham family drove up, who had reservations for Sunday night on the same platform. They asked for route information and day paddle opportunities. It is great to see use of the platforms are starting to gain some interest, which hopefully will continue to grow, as people become aware of, and familiar with, the public assets we have available for our use.
Saturday, March 19, 2005 brint.adams@us.army.mil
Bob, Paul, Rick and I met at Rice Creek Landing, north of Stockton, at 4:00 PM, for a leisurely paddle out to the Jug Lake platform for dinner and overnight camping. The afternoon was beautiful, with clear skies, 75 degrees, no wind and a fairly high water level. We took the direct route out to Briar Lake, took the cut-through to Tensaw River, turned left alongside Larry Island, cut over to Bayou Jessamine and took the right turn into Jug Lake.
At this time of day, we found very little current flow on the Tensaw or Jessamine, which suited us just fine. I had already done a workout paddle early that morning and the others were more interested in the ambience of the moment than when we arrived.
Along the way, we saw many Maples in full blood red color and beautiful new green growth bursting from the Cypress lining our way. The mullet were jumping and we heard what we thought were deer rustling through the woods. A new experience for me was to see the many flocks of Little Blue Herons and White Ibis heading to roost for the night. There were dozens who just kept coming, the Herons quietly, but the Ibis making noticeable wing noise.
We arrived at the platform by 6:00 PM, unloaded and started preparations for our evening feast. This wasn't typical freeze-dried trail food, as we had a huge fresh vegetable and lettuce salad, garlic french bread and a large pot of fresh shrimp boiled with sausage, sweet corn and fresh whole garlic. The bugs didn't have a chance with our breath, spread around while telling tall tales. Even with my appetite, we couldn't finish all of the shrimp.
The evening was perfect, with a half moon shining brightly in the still air. Close by, Bard Owls called to us all night, while we followed the sounds of coon hounds in the distance, chasing and treeing their prey.
Sometime after retiring to sleeping bags on the open deck, I awoke and jumped a foot in the air, to the sound of a large splash. Disoriented from sleep, I looked around to see if an alligator was nearby, and then saw Paul pop up out of the water and back onto the platform. He had taken an extra step, when approaching the rear side next to the cooking table, and found out the water level is about chest deep and the bottom is soft and muddy. Unfortunately, he grabbed the edge of the securely fastened table, which scraped some large hunks of flesh off of the fingers on his left hand. After climbing out of the cold water and getting dried off, we cleaned and applied antiseptic to the mangled mess of a hand.
Since Bob slept through all of the excitement, when morning came and while eating breakfast, we retold and enhanced the story at Paul's expense, while his hand throbbed in pain. Suggestions were made Paul was sleepwalking, taking a moonlight skinnydip or sleeping with the fishes.
We broke camp early, heading straight back to Rice Creek. The morning was again beautiful, the water in Jug Lake like glass. On our way out, the Herons and Ibis were flying overhead, back to their day feeding spots. The current on Bayou Jessamine was a little stronger and following on the way out, as we enjoyed the morning light slicing through the canopy.
As we arrived at the landing and were loading up, a Birmingham family drove up, who had reservations for Sunday night on the same platform. They asked for route information and day paddle opportunities. It is great to see use of the platforms are starting to gain some interest, which hopefully will continue to grow, as people become aware of, and familiar with, the public assets we have available for our use.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Rice Creek to Big Cypress to Jug Lake
March 5, 2005
by Gary Worob
Lots of people were out playing golf on such a beautiful day. Some were even playing a foursome. Four of us got together at the Stagecoach and had a great foursome.
We paddled on very placid waters from Rice Creek Landing, exploring new places for some of us and seeing lots of signs of spring. The cypress were just starting to open new leaves, as were the red maples. We saw a huge flock of pelicans, who were courteous enough to miss me with a fuselage of unwanted greetings. We saw lots of hawks and heard them screaming the sounds of spring, while scouting out the best hunting places. Best of all, we found marker number 5 on Bayou Jessamine, towards Jug Lake, and waded through calf-deep water to the giant Cypress, that truly was a grand sight.
The weather was in the mid to upper 70's, making for a perfect paddle from Rice Creek to Jug Lake and there was very little wind. What we did encounter, was a continuous change of currents and flow of water, to make it hard to predict whether we would be paddling upstream or down. Our trip leader, Tom Meyer, gave us lots of history, biology and botany lessons along the way and even a backwards entry into Jug Lake, from the platform, while in his kayak. My good friend Don, was visiting from Ohio, and had never paddled in the Delta. His comments were the same as mine, that it is truly a unique and wondrous adventure, but better done with someone who knows the way. We took about 5 hours to paddle the eight or so miles and had a very leisurely day, including shared lunch on the Jug Lake platform.
Don and I explored Blakeley State Park afterwards, and then went to dinner at Dave's Catfish House and had a great dinner. It was another perfect day in paradise!
March 5, 2005
by Gary Worob
Lots of people were out playing golf on such a beautiful day. Some were even playing a foursome. Four of us got together at the Stagecoach and had a great foursome.
We paddled on very placid waters from Rice Creek Landing, exploring new places for some of us and seeing lots of signs of spring. The cypress were just starting to open new leaves, as were the red maples. We saw a huge flock of pelicans, who were courteous enough to miss me with a fuselage of unwanted greetings. We saw lots of hawks and heard them screaming the sounds of spring, while scouting out the best hunting places. Best of all, we found marker number 5 on Bayou Jessamine, towards Jug Lake, and waded through calf-deep water to the giant Cypress, that truly was a grand sight.
The weather was in the mid to upper 70's, making for a perfect paddle from Rice Creek to Jug Lake and there was very little wind. What we did encounter, was a continuous change of currents and flow of water, to make it hard to predict whether we would be paddling upstream or down. Our trip leader, Tom Meyer, gave us lots of history, biology and botany lessons along the way and even a backwards entry into Jug Lake, from the platform, while in his kayak. My good friend Don, was visiting from Ohio, and had never paddled in the Delta. His comments were the same as mine, that it is truly a unique and wondrous adventure, but better done with someone who knows the way. We took about 5 hours to paddle the eight or so miles and had a very leisurely day, including shared lunch on the Jug Lake platform.
Don and I explored Blakeley State Park afterwards, and then went to dinner at Dave's Catfish House and had a great dinner. It was another perfect day in paradise!
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Friday, November 12, 2004
Rice Creek to Jug Lake Platform
Sunday, November 7, 2004
by Rich & Carol Gajek
We had an amazing paddle on Sunday, November 7th, and the amazement lasted until Wednesday (and probably beyond).
We planned to catch up with Bob on Sunday morning, on his Jug Lake paddle. We couldn't make the campout, but wanted to check out the camping platform. We got a late start getting to Rice Creek Landing, and Bob had already moved on from his campout, so we missed him. The paddle was an excellent adventure, in any case. We had a peaceful picnic lunch on the platform and watched some kingfishers working the lake. We saw only one mosquito the entire trip. The weather was exquisite and I have never seen the Tensaw so calm. The water level was higher than the last time I was on Jessamine Bayou, so there were less snags to avoid. We actually didn't see
anyone from Rice Creek Landing, all the way to Jug Lake and back to the Tensaw. We saw a couple of fisherman on the Tensaw, and that was it.
When we got back to Rice Creek Landing, we noticed Bob's truck was gone, so we figured he took a different route back from Jug Lake. We were mighty satisfied with our paddle, packed up and headed home.
But the story isn't over. Carol had to bring her car into the shop on Tuesday, when she noticed Bob left a card on our car windshield, with his phone number on it. I was curious to know what route he took (especially if Jessamine was open to Bottle Creek), so I called. Well! Was I surprised when during the course of the conversation, he asked if we missed our paddles. I got Carol to check, and indeed we left the paddles at Rice Creek Landing. Bob told me he received a call from Phil Day, asking him if someone had left kayak paddles at the landing.
I called Phil to inquire and indeed, he had our paddles. He arrived at the landing about 30 minutes after we left, and knew Bob was involved with kayaking. He was worried that if he left the paddles there, someone else would abscond them. Phil kindly told me he would drop off the paddles the next morning. When I tried to give him a reward for his trouble, he declined and said "just pass it on".
It just lets you know what kind of paddling community we have here in southern Alabama. It was just amazing that Bob left his card and number, I called him about his trip, Phil arrived just after we left, and knew to call Bob about the paddles left behind!
Sunday, November 7, 2004
by Rich & Carol Gajek
We had an amazing paddle on Sunday, November 7th, and the amazement lasted until Wednesday (and probably beyond).
We planned to catch up with Bob on Sunday morning, on his Jug Lake paddle. We couldn't make the campout, but wanted to check out the camping platform. We got a late start getting to Rice Creek Landing, and Bob had already moved on from his campout, so we missed him. The paddle was an excellent adventure, in any case. We had a peaceful picnic lunch on the platform and watched some kingfishers working the lake. We saw only one mosquito the entire trip. The weather was exquisite and I have never seen the Tensaw so calm. The water level was higher than the last time I was on Jessamine Bayou, so there were less snags to avoid. We actually didn't see
anyone from Rice Creek Landing, all the way to Jug Lake and back to the Tensaw. We saw a couple of fisherman on the Tensaw, and that was it.
When we got back to Rice Creek Landing, we noticed Bob's truck was gone, so we figured he took a different route back from Jug Lake. We were mighty satisfied with our paddle, packed up and headed home.
But the story isn't over. Carol had to bring her car into the shop on Tuesday, when she noticed Bob left a card on our car windshield, with his phone number on it. I was curious to know what route he took (especially if Jessamine was open to Bottle Creek), so I called. Well! Was I surprised when during the course of the conversation, he asked if we missed our paddles. I got Carol to check, and indeed we left the paddles at Rice Creek Landing. Bob told me he received a call from Phil Day, asking him if someone had left kayak paddles at the landing.
I called Phil to inquire and indeed, he had our paddles. He arrived at the landing about 30 minutes after we left, and knew Bob was involved with kayaking. He was worried that if he left the paddles there, someone else would abscond them. Phil kindly told me he would drop off the paddles the next morning. When I tried to give him a reward for his trouble, he declined and said "just pass it on".
It just lets you know what kind of paddling community we have here in southern Alabama. It was just amazing that Bob left his card and number, I called him about his trip, Phil arrived just after we left, and knew to call Bob about the paddles left behind!
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Rice Creek to Jug Lake platform, Bayou Tallapoosa, Tensaw Lake
Saturday & Sunday, November 6-7, 2004
by Brint Adams
Only the finest of the MBCAKC came out to enjoy the absolutely perfect weather in one of the prettiest spots in the Tensaw Delta. Bob and I started out at different times, but both put in at Rice Creek Landing Saturday afternoon. We found Rice Creek Road is now paved all the way back to the landing, which is a big improvement. The temperature at 1:30 PM was 77 degrees, there was no wind or clouds and the tide was falling.
I went out early and stopped along the cutoff between Briar Lake and Tensaw River to clear away some brush. Bob soon caught up with me and we continued to Bayou Jessamine and were pleasantly surprised to see it was clear up to the fork with Jug Lake. We knew Norman and Tom were coming later to meet us at the platform, so with some time to kill, we decided to continue paddling Bayou Jessamine on to Bottle Creek. After the fork, we were still surprised to see a fairly clear waterway for a good distance. For a while, we thought this area just didn't get much wind damage.
But, our luck changed as we came up against six major falls, one after the other. I cut our way through each, some over, some under and some around. It took us about an hour to go the last half mile, but we didn't have to portage, as we finally made it to Bottle Creek. It was a quick trip back downstream to the turn into Jug Lake. Just as the turn came into view, we came across Norman, who had missed it and was heading towards us up Jessamine.
The four of us leisurely paddled into Jug Lake as the sun started to set. The distance from Rice Creek Landing to the platform is 5 miles, while Bob and I added another 1.2 miles for the afternoon. We set up camp on the floating platform and ate dinner. Norman and Tom stayed around for awhile before heading out after dark to Rice Creek. The night was calm and cool, with the sounds of several owls keeping us company throughout the night.
After a quick breakfast, we packed up and were on the water at 7:20 AM for our second day of paddling. We decided to make a big loop, and were glad we blazed the trail up Jessamine the afternoon before, to make the first part of our paddle much easier.
We made it to Bottle Creek (2.2 mi.) in about 45 minutes and turned north to where it branches out of the Tensaw River. We turned west or upriver against a pretty stiff current and stopped to take a break at the land campsite on the southeast corner of where Middle River forks south from the Tensaw. We talked for awhile with a couple of hunters who were camped there, who had no luck searching for wild boar.
We continued fighting the Tensaw current for another almost three miles up around the curve until we reached Bayou Tallapoosa (4.2 mi. from Bottle Creek @ Bayou Jessamine. There is a large two story cabin way up on pilings on the northeast corner at the mouth of Tallapoosa. About a half mile before reaching Tallapoosa, and without referring to our map, we actually took a false right turn into a creek which was pretty clear and wide, with a good current. We paddled down it for about 0.8 mi., cutting our way through some tree falls and wasting about 40 minutes before deciding we needed to turn back.
Once we made it in Bayou Tallapoosa, the swift current down was a welcome relief after the hard paddle up river so far. Bayou Tallapoosa is a beautiful waterway reminiscent of Jessamine, although it is a little wider, which made it easier to get around the treefalls. We did have to cut our way through a couple, but it is now good to go for kayak trips.
After exiting Tallapoosa, we turned north up the west side of Dead Lake Island on Tensaw Lake for 0.5 mi., to the spot where there are two floating camp platforms. The distance from platform to platform taking this route is just under 10 miles. We stopped for lunch, before heading back down Tensaw Lake and taking the left fork around Richardson Island, down Briar Lake and back to Rice Creek, a distance of 3.2 miles. Our total paddle for the day was approximately 15.2 miles.
Waterfowl watching was plentiful, with numerous sightings of cormorants, wood ducks, egrets and herons, as well as hawks, osprey and many gators. All in all, we had a great weekend of paddling under ideal fall conditions.
Saturday & Sunday, November 6-7, 2004
by Brint Adams
Only the finest of the MBCAKC came out to enjoy the absolutely perfect weather in one of the prettiest spots in the Tensaw Delta. Bob and I started out at different times, but both put in at Rice Creek Landing Saturday afternoon. We found Rice Creek Road is now paved all the way back to the landing, which is a big improvement. The temperature at 1:30 PM was 77 degrees, there was no wind or clouds and the tide was falling.
I went out early and stopped along the cutoff between Briar Lake and Tensaw River to clear away some brush. Bob soon caught up with me and we continued to Bayou Jessamine and were pleasantly surprised to see it was clear up to the fork with Jug Lake. We knew Norman and Tom were coming later to meet us at the platform, so with some time to kill, we decided to continue paddling Bayou Jessamine on to Bottle Creek. After the fork, we were still surprised to see a fairly clear waterway for a good distance. For a while, we thought this area just didn't get much wind damage.
But, our luck changed as we came up against six major falls, one after the other. I cut our way through each, some over, some under and some around. It took us about an hour to go the last half mile, but we didn't have to portage, as we finally made it to Bottle Creek. It was a quick trip back downstream to the turn into Jug Lake. Just as the turn came into view, we came across Norman, who had missed it and was heading towards us up Jessamine.
The four of us leisurely paddled into Jug Lake as the sun started to set. The distance from Rice Creek Landing to the platform is 5 miles, while Bob and I added another 1.2 miles for the afternoon. We set up camp on the floating platform and ate dinner. Norman and Tom stayed around for awhile before heading out after dark to Rice Creek. The night was calm and cool, with the sounds of several owls keeping us company throughout the night.
After a quick breakfast, we packed up and were on the water at 7:20 AM for our second day of paddling. We decided to make a big loop, and were glad we blazed the trail up Jessamine the afternoon before, to make the first part of our paddle much easier.
We made it to Bottle Creek (2.2 mi.) in about 45 minutes and turned north to where it branches out of the Tensaw River. We turned west or upriver against a pretty stiff current and stopped to take a break at the land campsite on the southeast corner of where Middle River forks south from the Tensaw. We talked for awhile with a couple of hunters who were camped there, who had no luck searching for wild boar.
We continued fighting the Tensaw current for another almost three miles up around the curve until we reached Bayou Tallapoosa (4.2 mi. from Bottle Creek @ Bayou Jessamine. There is a large two story cabin way up on pilings on the northeast corner at the mouth of Tallapoosa. About a half mile before reaching Tallapoosa, and without referring to our map, we actually took a false right turn into a creek which was pretty clear and wide, with a good current. We paddled down it for about 0.8 mi., cutting our way through some tree falls and wasting about 40 minutes before deciding we needed to turn back.
Once we made it in Bayou Tallapoosa, the swift current down was a welcome relief after the hard paddle up river so far. Bayou Tallapoosa is a beautiful waterway reminiscent of Jessamine, although it is a little wider, which made it easier to get around the treefalls. We did have to cut our way through a couple, but it is now good to go for kayak trips.
After exiting Tallapoosa, we turned north up the west side of Dead Lake Island on Tensaw Lake for 0.5 mi., to the spot where there are two floating camp platforms. The distance from platform to platform taking this route is just under 10 miles. We stopped for lunch, before heading back down Tensaw Lake and taking the left fork around Richardson Island, down Briar Lake and back to Rice Creek, a distance of 3.2 miles. Our total paddle for the day was approximately 15.2 miles.
Waterfowl watching was plentiful, with numerous sightings of cormorants, wood ducks, egrets and herons, as well as hawks, osprey and many gators. All in all, we had a great weekend of paddling under ideal fall conditions.
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