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.