Nature festival a weekend of outdoor fun

Join the South Walton Community Council for a fun weekend of nature based activities Oct. 15-17. The Back to Nature Festival offers visitors and locals an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Walton County.

Kayak the dune lakes, take a river safari, go on an ecology walk, or bring the family to Seaside for a day of family fun.

Most events are about two hours long and cost $10 unless otherwise noted. Events will be closed after maximum participant limits are reached so register early! Registration will begin in mid-September. To register, Click here

Friday, Oct. 15

6 p.m. – Welcome Night at Bud and Alley’s - Come to the welcome night for the 9th Annual Back to Nature Festival at Bud and Alley’s Restaurant in Seaside!  Enjoy a strolling dinner with complimentary house selected wine or beer and cash bar.  You will have the opportunity to meet event leaders and fellow nature enthusiasts, register for events, and preview selected items for our silent auction to be held on Saturday.  All proceeds from the silent auction and a percentage of proceeds from the strolling dinner go to benefit the mission of the SWCC, to preserve and protect our natural environment.  $25 per person. ::MAP:: Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Photo by Chandler Williams of Modus Photography

If you have seen the exciting action here is your last chance for the season

The final race of the 2010 YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series kicks off at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the WaterColor BoatHouse off of 30A in South Walton.

This year’s series includes 14 Women’s teams, 11 Men’s teams and 4 Elite teams. Join the fun and watch the 29 teams compete in the finale event to determine who receives the champion title “YOLO Board Cup Series” in the Men’s, Women’s and Elite Divisions.  Champions will be awarded following the last race. The family friendly event is free and open to the public.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Photo courtesy West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club.

The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers a variety of paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. If you are interesting in becoming a member, you can go to their website at www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or contact Wes Mosteller at wesjane@earthlink.net

Guests are welcome on trips as long as they have the skills to safely navigate the waters being paddled.  Guests must sign a waiver form and have an Eglin Recreational Pass if the trip is on the Base.  Paddlers must supply their own boat.

Turkey Creek paddle Sunday, August 22

We will be paddling Turkey Creek on Eglin AFB near Niceville. Turkey Creek is one the best creeks in the Panhandle. It is narrow with lots of twists and turns. If you want practice steering your boat with great scenery in the background, this is it. It is not treacherous, but newer paddlers may be in the brush …  a lot.  It is also crystal clear and very inviting if it gets hot. No pets allowed.

EGLIN AFB pass required. Bring a pfd, paddle, boat, lunch, plenty to drink, raingear, etc. Plan on about 5 hours or so on the water.

MEETING PLACE: Meet at the Hippie Hole put-in at 10:00 a.m. (E-mail for directions if you need them.) Shuttle leaves at 10:15.
Please let me know if you plan to come so I can alert you in the unlikely event of any change of plans. Call Doug at 850-375-8209 or e-mail at dougwaggle@yahoo.com.

Florida Paddlers’ Rendezvous 2010, October 22-24

Mark your Calendars now — 
for the 2010 Florida Paddlers’ Rendezvous, October 21-24.

FL Sport Paddling Club (FSPC) proudly continues the Rendezvous tradition of bringing together Florida paddling clubs and paddling enthusiasts for a weekend of fun, friends and paddles.
This year’s base camp will be the Silver River State Park campground from which we will launch four days of trips that canoeists and kayakers of all skill levels will enjoy. Also join the potluck supper, program, nightly campfires, paddlers’ swap meet, and the wonderful exchange of friendship and paddling skills that evolves when so many with like interests come together.

The main event will take place Friday-Sunday, October 22-24, 2010. Make your reservations at Silver River SP now!! Pre-Rendezvous paddles will be held Thursday, October 21, for those who can come early. Trip details and a list of additional accommodations will follow when we have a website set up.
Please help us reach all who may be interested.   Send us any additional contacts you may have.  Please email Kathy, publicity chair, at KathrynVaughn@ATT.net with your questions, suggestions or information

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, paddle/surf/boat

YOLO board competitions fun for the entire family

Location: WaterColor Boat House, 5 p.m.

The YOLO Stand Up Paddle Series Family Day events offer a chance for family members to get out on the water and paddle together. Everyone is welcome from novice to advanced paddlers and children are able to try paddling on their own and/or ride on parent’s boards. The races are very casual and include events like parent/child races, sibling relay races and individual child races divided by ages. The event is interactive and the children are allowed to suggest races and board activities.

$25/child which includes race jersey and no charge for parents. Fun starts at 5 p.m.

For more information, go to www.yoloboard.com

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Tony D'eramo, Emerald Coast Surfrider board member and marine biologist takes water samples on July 10. Photo courtesy Michael Sturdivant

Organization hopes to enlighten on water health, seeks public support

With concerns of the oil and dispersant’s effects reaching the Florida Panhandle shores, both surfers and beach goers are anxious to know if it is safe to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Local surfing organization, Emerald Coast Surfrider Foundation started going the extra mile on July 10 to acquire a specific testing called DOS (details below).

The DOS test checks for the chemical compounds present in dispersant and can serve as an indicator of its presence. As of yet, no federal Environmental Protection Agency tests for DOS have been reported for Florida.

“We want to surf and know if the water is safe,” Michael Sturdivant said as he explained the motivation behind Surfrider to use the organization’s limited funds to do this specific testing.

“The earlier tests for dispersants had been looking for alcohol and ethanol associated with dispersants but according to the labs we spoke with, these would rarely show in any test as they evaporate very quickly” Mike said in referring to the EPA’s tests.

“I am not completely certain that these tests will be more accurate, but with multiple reports of illness in our surfing community, we must move forward and at least try to provide this vital health information. We asked the DEP, state, and county to do this over a month ago and they have been very slow to respond,” Sturdivant said.

Surfrider took samples from Okaloosa Island Pier, Miramar Beach at Pompano Joes, Blue Mountain Beach and Seaside on July 10. It takes two weeks for the results.

“We would like to test for other substances like oil, vanadium, benzene, and others, but our budget is very small, Sturdivant continued.

Each test cost $350.00, and with four tests in one day, Emerald Coast Surfrider will soon deplete their organization’s funds, and  are seeking contributions to help offset the costs of the tests.

Emerald Coast Surfrider is a local non-profit organization and is funded entirely by donations. Anyone interested in helping out can contact Surfrider at http://www.surfrideremeraldcoast.org/

Links to local water testing results from EPA and DEP:

http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/water.html

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/water.htm#walton

Read More…

Posted under Environment, paddle/surf/boat

Paddling down Holmes Creek.

Head up Highway 79 to Vernon for a full day of paddling fun

Holmes Creek is one of the most diverse paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle area.

As part of Florida’s statewide system of Greenways and Trails, Holmes Creek flows through a variety of diverse habitats.  The upper and lower portions pass high sandy banks while the majority of the tail is through low-lying swamplands.

Rich with flora and fauna, the creek is abundant with turtles and birds, including blue, green and white heron, ibis, warblers and woodpeckers. Read More…

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Karl Renelt and crew Bridget Precise, both of Santa Rosa Beach fended off Jim Gates of Ocean Sprigs, MS and crew T.J. Shaw of Gulf Port , MS. to take this year’s honors in the Rags To Riches Regatta race. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Local Santa Rosa Beach sailors win race

Elizabeth Savage, race organizer and daughter of the Rags To Riches Regatta originator, pulled together another event enjoyed by both participants and spectators off Gratyon Beach on July 3.

Several challenges were overcome both the week prior to and the day of the race, as Hurricane Alex proved a double edged sword. The remnants of the storm swells made for challenging surf launches, however winds associated with the storm drove the looming oil away from the area.

High seas also kept support boats from assisting in setting the course buoys.  Andy MacAlexander, local sailor from Point Washington loaded one of the five foot tall markers on his Hobie 16 and after a skillful launch managed to place the west mark, and  off duty Walton County sheriff’s deputies placed the east mark off Bud and Alley’s in Seaside.  The course was shortened this year to allow for support in the blustery conditions. Read More…

Posted under paddle/surf/boat

Stand-up paddleboard races, art show, free concert and silent auction will benefit South Walton Fire Department Junior Lifeguard Program

YOLO Board announces details of the 2nd Annual YOLO Board Seaside Celebration scheduled from Tuesday, September 14th to Saturday, September 18th in Seaside, FL.  The celebration planned includes five days of Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) inspired activities ranging from a Seven Mile Elite Race and a Three Mile Recreation Race with over $5,000 of prizes awarded for each race, a SUP inspired Art Show, a free concert, equipment demos and a Silent Auction Fundraiser to benefit the South Walton Fire Department Junior Lifeguard Program.   Special celebrity SUP guests will include Nikki Gregg and Chuck Patterson.  The family-friendly event is open to the public.
Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Photo courtesy Kevin Griggs.

Blue spring near Cerrogordo a boater’s favorite

Kevin Griggs, a local outdoor enthusiast from Argyle took this photo of Holmes Blue Spring run spring boil.

“Fishing, boating and canoeing are great on the river up there just have to watch what your doing when the water is low, not sure about swimming in the river I am sure it is done though,” Kevin said.

The Walton County area has an abundance of beautiful spring gems to explore. Thanks for sharing Kevin!

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, paddle/surf/boat

Watch 15-year old surf and stand-up paddle boarder phenom Slater Trout race with the SoWal Lifeguard team

Slater Trout (www.slatertrout.com) will make a guest appearance at the YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series Race Three Event on Friday, June 25th at Baytowne Marina at 5:00 p.m.

Originally from the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, Slater currently resides in Maui and is a celebrated up-and-coming waterman who can be seen on national competition circuits.  Recent accolades include winning the Gulf Coast Stand Up Paddleboard Championship in May 2010, winner of the  Sunset Beach Trials event at the first contest of the Stand Up World Tour Sunset Beach, Hawaii, 2010 and earning several titles at the famed Duke’s Ocean Fest.

Named as the ‘2nd Fastest Stand Up Paddler in the World’ at the 2009 Rainbow Sandal’s Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Race, Trout will race on the SoWal Lifeguard YOLO team in the Elite Division of the YOLO Board Stand Up Paddle Series (www.yolorace.com).

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat