Gulf Islands National Seashore

"I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied."                     

                                                                                                                    -John Masefield

Never really been much on the beach, sand or the ocean but Sunday changed my mind a bit.  The beach that most people go and have their fun at is not the beach I experienced that day, it was almost like Bon Secour but it seemed endless.  Miles upon miles of undeveloped land and nothing but beauty as far as the eye could see.  White quartz sand surrounded by beautiful water, golden rods, and dunes.  Where is this?  The Florida district of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

A few friends and I headed down to Perdido Key to paddle out and see the earth, I had no clue it was going to be as amazing as it was.  We started the day by dragging our boats from the road through the sand to start off in Big Lagoon.  From Big Lagoon we would paddle around five miles or so to what was known during the Civil War as Fort McRee.  Halfway there we stopped to eat lunch and take a break on Redfish Point, an excellent island with so many colors and beauty as the sun shined bright above us.  The lagoon was a little choppy but nothing that couldn't be enjoyed.  During our break, we hung out around an old abandoned boat, probably washed up from one of the hurricanes in previous years.  I decided I would climb inside in hopes to find a sack full of money, no money but still very interesting to be inside.

As we arrived closer to Fort McRee, you could almost feel yourself going back in time as you looked upon the hill and wondered how rough it was for those soldiers during the most deadliest war in history.  Fort McRee was established to defend Pensacola Bay, along with Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas.  On November 22, 1861 Fort Mcree was bombarded by Union forces and ships Niagra and Richmond.  Though Richmond took heavy fire from the Confederate troops, Fort Mcree was no match and 5 p.m. that day the Fort was silent.  The next day Niagara resumed fire on the Fort as well as the Union controlled Fort Pickens, although the Fort survived it was badly battered.  With chunks of wall demolished by cannon fire and most of the wooden decks destroyed by fire the Fort was no more and the Confederate abandoned and set fire to McRee by 1862.  Battered and burned is how the Fort would stay for the next three decades.

In 1898 a battery was constructed with eight inch rifled guns, known as Battery Slemmer, also in 1899 a battery of rapid fire guns where installed known as Battery Center but by 1906 a hurricane destroyed most of the structures.  The guns where later removed for WWI and sent to Europe.  Later the sight of Fort McRee would be used during WWII as another battery, constructed but never used.  The war ended before the guns where even installed.  The remnants of this still remain.

After exploring the Fort, we paddled back across the lagoon and decided to take the Gulf back to the cars.  This would be a first for me and made me a bit uncomfortable, but I always up for new adventures and it was well worth it.  As we made our way back dolphins almost seemed to be following us, making sure we made it back safe.  There is nothing like watching the sun go down as you paddle back on the ocean.  I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, do something that you will remember for the rest of your life.  If you have never experienced paddling give it a try, if that doesn't intrigue you, everything I talked about can be reached by foot.  Overall it was an eleven mile paddle, but the benefits and the sites you get to see are well worth the effort.  This earth is not our home, but it truly welcomes us as guest.  With a little respect and effort your soul can be freed.  Try it, I promise you won't regret it.  Until next time, live to wander.

From the Causeway to the Alley

"Humans are disappearing from the outdoors at a rate that would make them top any conservationist's list of endangered species. "
                                                                                                                              -Tim Gill

I know everyone doesn't have as much free time as they would like, but what do you fill your free time with?  I hope from reading this blog I have challenged you to go out and enjoy the outdoors, enjoy mother nature and realize what great beauty this earth still holds.  It is a blessing to be able to go outside and see things from a different point of view, to know that this land still holds adventure, still holds a journey and most of it is free or worth the money you have to pay for it.

Sunday I met up with a group of friends with my wife to paddle the causeway.  I have paddled around the area but never what we did that day.  We put in on the Causeway just below the Oyster House which is know as Pass Picada.  From there we would head down the Apalachee River into Mobile Bay.  Once in Mobile Bay we would follow the Bay Bridge (I-10) all the way to Daphne Alabama.  Besides the constant sounds of the cars passing overhead it was amazing and a new perspective on things.  I will never see the the Bay Bridge the same way ever again.  Upon arrival in Daphne we decided to head into D'Olive bay into D'Olive Creek.  The creek is where many people walk a boardwalk in Daphne known as Alligator Alley, but we would paddle it, something I have always wanted to do.  Under the walkway and also HWY 98 we
would paddle up the creek talking about how prehistoric it looked and then all of a sudden the biggest alligator I have ever seen slides right into the creek.  No exaggeration it was almost as big as my canoe, which is thirteen feet long.  We kept going anyway and made our way to end, ends us behind the Jubilee Mall Shopping Center, we called it "Shopping Cart Graveyard" because of all the carts that were submerged under us.  Overall it was twelve mile paddle and on the way back we got to see the sunset over the bay and do a little night paddling.  This would be our first time to paddle at night and it was amazing to see the stars come up as we paddled along the water which was as smooth as glass.  The wildlife was very amazing despite the noise, I guess they are used to it, we definitely were not.  On the way back we cut up Shellbank River, which is very similar to BayMinette Basin.  Apparently a bald eagle lives out there, we saw the nest but not eagle, maybe next time.

Thank you Misty, Frank, and David for an awesome adventure and great way to relax and enjoy the Causeway, Bay Bridge and Alligator Alley in ways never imagined.  We are definitely the ones enjoying this great earth and all it has to offer.  Until next time, live to wander.

Little River/A.H.T.S Trail Cleanup

Have you ever seen a copy of "Hiking Alabama" by Joe Cuhaj?  If not I highly recommend it as a starting point if you are trying to get out and see Alabama.  My wife and I are trying to complete the whole book, within just this summer we have almost completed the entire Gulf Coast section.  I mention this because we are both members of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society and Joe is the president.  This past Saturday we were able to finally attend a trail cleanup with group and had a really good time.

We left the house around eight o' clock and heading north onto 65 to Atmore Alabama, a route I am very familiar with because this is the way we go to Camden Alabama, my hometown.  The trail cleanup would be located at Little River State Park, a place I have passed a many times but never stopped and I was really glad that we finally got to go.  Little River was built in the 30's as apart of Civilian Conservation Corps.  The C.C.C. was work relief program designed by Franklin D. Roosevelt which provided unskilled labor jobs for men across the United States in hopes of getting out of the depression and the conservation of nature.  Enlisting 250,000 works and planting 3 billion trees in just the nine years of service.  It also taught 40,000 illiterate men to read and write.  The C.C.C. still lives on in the hundreds of hiking trails, swimming holes and campgrounds that Americans still enjoy to this day.

There are two trails located at Little River, one is the C.C.C. Bell Trail and the other is the Gazebo Trail.  We mowed grass and cut limbs.  It was a great turnout and we were able to split into 2 groups and get the job done.  The cleanup day was led by Cheryl and Scott Gardner.  My group worked on the C.C.C. Bell Trail and Cheryl and her group worked on the Gazebo Trail.  After the work day was complete my wife and I decided to hike the Gazebo Trail and have lunch.  The trail is very short and leads to a gazebo on top of the hill that was originally built in the 1930's.  It is amazing that it still stands.  One of the members (Dave) was playing on his ham radio, we spoke, ate lunch and headed back to the car.  There is also a nice like to canoe, which we will hopefully do the next time we are in that area.

On the way back down we were met by the Boyscouts and they thanked us for the job we had done.  I like to personally thank Cheryl, Scott, Dave, Peggy, Marion, Emily, Eric and Randy.  I hope you all get to read and enjoy this.  Thank you for letting my wife and I be apart of something that brings good to this earth and nature.  Until next time, live to wander.

Back to Blakeley

This earth is not our home, we are but guests here.  I know you have read this before from me, but I will continue to say it until the day I die.  Being outside has taught me so much, about myself and the world around me.  I am more and more thankful that I get to wander this earth and can't wait until my next adventure.  Every time I truly experience nature I realize more and more how wonderful it is, how beautiful it is and how small I truly am.  Every word, every picture and every adventure I hope at least one person has been inspired to give nature a try.  I doubt I will ever get do this for a living, but if I can just get people to get out and find their own adventure I will be rich.

Paul and I are back at it again, and it felt good.  We decided to go back to Blakeley today and conquer it.  We hiked nearly six miles and almost stepped foot on every trail Blakeley has to offer and let me say Blakeley has come a long way and it is definitely worthy of some foot travel.  We got to talk to the park rangers today and every member of the staff have been more than helpful, they have also been very excellent people with great attitudes.  We started off at Hallet's and made our way all the way to the Tensaw River.  The river was beautiful and to be in the delta brings me great joy.  I am definitely learning the ins and outs of Blakeley and hopefully soon will lead a day hike there, I will let all of you know. 

Oh nature how you make me whole, I have found you and I will never let you go.  With the sun shining on my face and the ground beneath my feet  I will wander this earth until the day I die.  Until next time, live to wander.