Tybee Paddlers Sweep Folly Comp

Yes, the Tybee surf crew won all major categories at the Folly comp the other weekend.

Alas, they did not bring home the Surf Kayak that was given away by Mega.

That prize went to Deb Mitchum of Charleston. She was thrilled and immediately launched the boat for a quick test paddle. The weather did not keep away the many spectators who gathered on the beach to watch the event in small but clean surf with a light drizzle.

2008 Folly Beach Surf Kayak Competition Results:

HP Expert Men:
1st: Nigel Law
2nd: Colm Acuff
3rd: Brent Fields

HP Expert Women:
1st: Cathy Ey
2nd: Deb Mitchum

HP Jr’s.:
1st: Will Rudisill

Open (Co-Ed):
1st: Nick Scoville
2nd: Colm Acuff
3rd: Ben Stone

HP Masters
1st: Nigel Law
2nd: Brent Fields
3rd: Cathy Ey

K-1 Int/Beg. Men
1st: Zachary Hughes
2nd: Kevin Hughes
3rd: Nigel Law

IC Masters:
1st: Brent Fields
2nd: Deb Mitchum

Power Outage Coming Soon

From Jason Buelterman.
Outage is planned for November 15th, 7am – 1pm. Both Wilmington and Tybee Islands will experience a total power outage for this period.
Rain date is November 22nd
Scope of work consists of replacing six spans of overhead ground wire (OHGW) on transmission structures across Turner Creek, adjacent to Islands Expressway.
OHGW provides lightning protection to the transmission line.
Transmission line is elevated over Turner Creek and more likely to be struck by lightning.
Multiple damaged areas have been observed over several years and temporary repairs made to mitigate the risk of failure.
Condition of OHGW has deteriorated to the point of needing replacement.
Replacing the OHGW in this section cannot be done safely with the transmission line energized, in service.
Only one transmission line exists to Wilmington Island and Tybee Island; loads cannot be served from any other source.
Approximately 12,000 customers will be involved in the outage.
Failure of the OHGW could result in an unplanned outage lasting two to eight hours and would only clear up the immediate problem; a scheduled outage would still be needed to replace the remaining OHGW.
Delaying this work only increases the probability of having a failure and unplanned extended outage.
Pre-outage work (i.e. access to structures, placing equipment, temporary guying, adding step bolts to structures, laying out material, grounds ready to install) will be done to make sure no time is lost once the outage begins.
Other maintenance-related work on this transmission line will be done during the outage to make the most of our opportunity.
Portable traffic message signs will be placed at strategic locations the week before the outage to advertise date and time.
Resume normal operation.

Surf Rider Meeting

Beach Renourishment –
COL. Ed Kertis of the US Army Corp of Engineers spoke on the new beach renourishment.
This is a Federal Shore Protection project that runs in 7-year cycles. A federal template for placing the sand was used.
Time frame is 45 days, working 24 hours a day. The borrow site was found by an outside contractor and is the same site used during the renourishment of 2000. This is an 11 million dollar project, with Tybee Island paying 6 million dollars and Chatham County making up the difference. National Surfrider is meeting with the Corp to discuss the recreational features of beach renourishment. Although recreation is not a high priority of our government in these instances, COL Kertis suggest writing and emailing your Congressman, your Senator and your Representative to make your voice heard. The question was posed to COL Kertis about a beachwater break being built and he had no knowledge of that happening with this renourishment. Mark Mosely will attend a meeting with the Corp to discuss wetlands management and protection on November 19, 2008.

Eastern Horizons - Smith on Wassaw

Bryan Smith is in town filming the last segments of his next kayak movie project, Eastern Horizons. Dave White and Richard Davis also flew in for the occasion. So after a few phone calls we got on the water and showed Bryan a slice of the GA coast. Mike Robinson was in fine form as he gave us the 50 cent tour through the Wassaw undergrowth.
Bryan is sticking around for the Tybee Symposium and then on Monday he will be coming on a trip with SC&K.

Skidaway Park to Close ?

By John Bennett.
Concerns about how budget cuts will affect Georgia’s state parks are being voiced all over the the state from Rome to Bainbridge to Albany. A letter to the editor in today’s Savannah Morning news frets about the future of the Skidaway Island State Park swimming pool. I agree with Kevin Clark that closure of the facility would be bad news. In his letter he writes, “The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is threatening to close it and several other lesser-used state parks because of budget cuts.”
I’m not sure if Clark’s “it” is the pool or the park as a whole.
If he is talking about the park as a whole, is it true that it could be closed?
According to an Atlanta-Journal Consitution story on the budget cuts, Skidaway Island State Park is the third most profitable park in the state. That would seem to work in the its favor. It’s not one of the five most visited, but it’s not in the five least visited either. Will this be enough to protect Skidaway?
While it’s true that Fort McAllister Historic Park, near Richmond Hill, is not too far away, I think Skidaway’s position just minutes from Savannah makes it a resource too important to lose. The park’s value will become increasingly evident in times of high gas prices. It allows city residents to spend a night under the stars without having to spend an arm and a leg on fuel. After all, if you pour all your money into a hole on the side of your car, how will you afford s’mores ingredients?

Primitive Weapons Deer Season

The weeklong primitive weapons deer-hunting season begins Saturday, Oct. 11.
During the primitive weapons season, hunters may use archery equipment (including crossbows), muzzleloading shotguns (20 gauge or larger) and muzzleloading firearms (.44 caliber or larger). Last year, more than 61,000 muzzleloader hunters harvested approximately 16,133 deer, increasing both the number of hunters and the number of harvested deer from the previous year.The Department of Natural Resources’ John Bowers says, “Our primitive weapons deer season provides hunters the opportunity to hunt with traditional or inline black powder firearms or to continue hunting with archery gear. Hunters are allowed to hunt either-sex deer during this weeklong opportunity. Primitive weapons hunters have a wide variety of options depending on their personal choices and needs without being burdened by complex regulations.” Participating hunters may harvest deer in counties open for firearms deer hunting. The season bag limit remains at 10 antlerless deer and two antlered bucks.

Alligator Flips Truck

Just over ther Tallmadge Bridge..
Around 5am, Jasper County, South Carolina and Savannah Fire emergency crews responded to a pick-up truck that had flipped over into the marsh, off the side of the bridge that crosses Little Back River along Hwy 17 on the South Carolina side.
Witnesses say a pickup approaching the bridge hit an alligator in the middle of the road, then ran off the bridge landing in the marsh below on its side. The driver of the truck was pulled from the marsh, and is being taken to Memorial University Medical Center. There is no word on his condition. The Alligator did not remain at the scene and the Police are looking for him.

Job Listing - ACA

American Canoe Association
Information Technology Manager & Webmaster
Date posted: October 6, 2008
Salary: $45,000 - $60,000 (commensurate with experience)
Location: Fredericksburg, VA Type: Full Time w/ benefits

Qualified candidates will ideally have related experience in workingwith large amounts of data in computerized database programs, as wellas a solid grasp of web content management and related skills.Pertinent training preferred. We need a creative, entrepreneurial,pro-active individual who also has good attention to detail, abilityto handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Interest / experience inoutdoor recreation is a plus. Experience in the nonprofit sector isalso of value, but not required.
This is a great opportunity to workin a fun environment, develop your skills, and be part of a growing team with a bright future.
Wow !

Little Gandhi's.

Children dress up as Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi during a peace rally in Amritsar on the eve of his 139th birthday.