Comments on: CROSS BAYOU KAYAK LAUNCH NOW OPEN! http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/ Adventure Awaits! Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:15:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Chris S. http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-7451 Chris S. Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:08:03 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-7451 Ive posted a few pictures of the canal on google earth if anyone is interested... there will be more eventually, panaramio takes forever. Ive posted a few pictures of the canal on google earth if anyone is interested… there will be more eventually, panaramio takes forever.

]]> By: Chris S. http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-6704 Chris S. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:50:04 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-6704 Dear Richard, thanks for your reply and understanding... i actually did a little research and come to find that the entirety of the cross bayou canal is under the ordinance as an idle speed/no wake zone, not a motor exclusion zone proof of ordinance can be found here - http://search.municode.com/html/10274/level4/PII_C130_AIII_D2.html i think ill print this out incase said homeowner threatens to call the police on me again. Im always looking for a someone to share the experience with, but not to many of my friends are the outdoorsy type. having an extra hand on the boat could be very helpful on one my next cleanup days. so Richard, if you want to shoot me an email chrissherman27@yahoo.com, maybe we can arrange something. Actually i want to explore north of the canoe launch but have found that some hedge clippers or some sort of saw is going to be necessary to make it passable. i dont know.... might go this weekend weather permitting... let me know! Dear Richard,

thanks for your reply and understanding… i actually did a little research and come to find that the entirety of the cross bayou canal is under the ordinance as an idle speed/no wake zone, not a motor exclusion zone

proof of ordinance can be found here – http://search.municode.com/html/10274/level4/PII_C130_AIII_D2.html

i think ill print this out incase said homeowner threatens to call the police on me again.

Im always looking for a someone to share the experience with, but not to many of my friends are the outdoorsy type. having an extra hand on the boat could be very helpful on one my next cleanup days. so Richard, if you want to shoot me an email chrissherman27@yahoo.com, maybe we can arrange something. Actually i want to explore north of the canoe launch but have found that some hedge clippers or some sort of saw is going to be necessary to make it passable. i dont know…. might go this weekend weather permitting… let me know!

]]> By: richard http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-6574 richard Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:05:50 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-6574 PS- If nothing else, I'll bring a broom to clear out the spiders and webs. That would be fun! --richard-- PS- If nothing else, I’ll bring a broom to clear out the spiders and webs. That would be fun! –richard–

]]> By: richard http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-6573 richard Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:02:29 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-6573 Dear Cris: Beautiful comment. It's never the boat that is the problem, it's always the boater. (As in: It ain't the car that's the problem, it's the driver.) I would love to see the path cleaned out more, but to do so I have to get out of the kayak... and it ain't worth losing my leg to a gator. However, as I've stated before, I want to do my part to help clear it... and if a second person in your boat would be helpful, I'd be honored to go along with you. You have a good philosophy, my friend. It's refreshing to hear. (And the homeowners don't own the water any more than they own the sky. You know in your heart that you are trying to do a good thing. I think the homeowners are just not used to having an open, public waterway in their backyard and obviously don't have anything better to complain about.) Again, let me know if I can help you clear. --richard-- Dear Cris: Beautiful comment. It’s never the boat that is the problem, it’s always the boater. (As in: It ain’t the car that’s the problem, it’s the driver.) I would love to see the path cleaned out more, but to do so I have to get out of the kayak… and it ain’t worth losing my leg to a gator. However, as I’ve stated before, I want to do my part to help clear it… and if a second person in your boat would be helpful, I’d be honored to go along with you. You have a good philosophy, my friend. It’s refreshing to hear. (And the homeowners don’t own the water any more than they own the sky. You know in your heart that you are trying to do a good thing. I think the homeowners are just not used to having an open, public waterway in their backyard and obviously don’t have anything better to complain about.)
Again, let me know if I can help you clear. –richard–

]]> By: Chris S. http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-6561 Chris S. Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:10:39 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-6561 i live only a couple minutes away from the launch and checked it out as soon as i saw the new signs on 66th street and 102 ave. ive taken the trip south several times now in my canoe. i would love to see more action taken to open the canal up for a more enjoyable experience for everybody. it is still very overgrown and the vegetation in the water can make paddling difficult to say the least. there is one very small tunnel through the bayou club golf course that is an extremely tight squeeze at high tide and infested with spiders and webs that are impossible to avoid, but more frequent use should detour the spiders from re-inhabitating the tunnel... on my trips i do my best to cut the trail for the next guy by clearing low lying branches that are impossible to maneuver around and knocking down the spiderwebs. i have a small motor and use my prop wash to dislodge large floating islands of vegetation that are blocking the canal. (i just push it with the prop wash, i do not chop up the vegetation with my propellor). well, today i was informed by an irate home owner on the canal that motors are not allowed in this area because of manatees none the less. i have not read anything or seen any signs informing me of this. so any legal issues regarding motors are un-enforcable with out some sort of notification. i.e. no motor zone signs... i can understand his concerns, but i do my best not to disturb the local residents, fellow boaters or the fauna and flora. i go idle speed, the canal is deep enough that i have never run aground (not saying that its not possible), and my motor is so quiet, i can sneak up on the wildlife just as easily as the unsuspecting home owner enjoying their water front properties. i know some paddlers have their issues with motorboats. some people ruin it for all of us by being negligent. but i am trying to rehabilitate and preserve this diamond in the rough. and i give paddlers the respect and right of way, just give me a little respect too i live only a couple minutes away from the launch and checked it out as soon as i saw the new signs on 66th street and 102 ave. ive taken the trip south several times now in my canoe. i would love to see more action taken to open the canal up for a more enjoyable experience for everybody. it is still very overgrown and the vegetation in the water can make paddling difficult to say the least. there is one very small tunnel through the bayou club golf course that is an extremely tight squeeze at high tide and infested with spiders and webs that are impossible to avoid, but more frequent use should detour the spiders from re-inhabitating the tunnel… on my trips i do my best to cut the trail for the next guy by clearing low lying branches that are impossible to maneuver around and knocking down the spiderwebs. i have a small motor and use my prop wash to dislodge large floating islands of vegetation that are blocking the canal. (i just push it with the prop wash, i do not chop up the vegetation with my propellor). well, today i was informed by an irate home owner on the canal that motors are not allowed in this area because of manatees none the less. i have not read anything or seen any signs informing me of this. so any legal issues regarding motors are un-enforcable with out some sort of notification. i.e. no motor zone signs… i can understand his concerns, but i do my best not to disturb the local residents, fellow boaters or the fauna and flora. i go idle speed, the canal is deep enough that i have never run aground (not saying that its not possible), and my motor is so quiet, i can sneak up on the wildlife just as easily as the unsuspecting home owner enjoying their water front properties. i know some paddlers have their issues with motorboats. some people ruin it for all of us by being negligent. but i am trying to rehabilitate and preserve this diamond in the rough. and i give paddlers the respect and right of way, just give me a little respect too

]]> By: richard s. http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-5578 richard s. Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:42:30 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-5578 Dear Kurt: It is an honor and a pleasure to report, I just wish I had been able to paddle more of it... but it's not worth having to get out of the boat and worrying about having my leg bitten off. I'm sure most people would agree with me. All somebody needs to do is take a small motorboat through there and clear it as they go. I'd even be willing to go and help. It's seems a sin to have such a magnificent waterway so close to us and not be able to paddle it. --richard-- Dear Kurt: It is an honor and a pleasure to report, I just wish I had been able to paddle more of it… but it’s not worth having to get out of the boat and worrying about having my leg bitten off. I’m sure most people would agree with me. All somebody needs to do is take a small motorboat through there and clear it as they go. I’d even be willing to go and help. It’s seems a sin to have such a magnificent waterway so close to us and not be able to paddle it. –richard–

]]> By: Kurt Z http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-5575 Kurt Z Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:49:33 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-5575 Hey Richard, We're hoping to get the city to do some work in the shallow areas and some help clearing the vegitation (most is not native). I think is a cool and unique paddle trip and it's nicer than Clam Bayou in differnt ways for sure, especially water quality, but that because the bayou is an estuary...supposed to be kinda muddy. And Cross Bayou is 1700 acres compared to Clam at 160. Ya'll gonna have to try Bear Creek in S Pasadena when we get that open! Close access to manatee and the Pasadena islands. Thanks for taking the time to report your trips! Kurt Z Hey Richard,
We’re hoping to get the city to do some work in the shallow areas and some help clearing the vegitation (most is not native).

I think is a cool and unique paddle trip and it’s nicer than Clam Bayou in differnt ways for sure, especially water quality, but that because the bayou is an estuary…supposed to be kinda muddy. And Cross Bayou is 1700 acres compared to Clam at 160.

Ya’ll gonna have to try Bear Creek in S Pasadena when we get that open! Close access to manatee and the Pasadena islands.

Thanks for taking the time to report your trips!

Kurt Z

]]> By: richard s. http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-5552 richard s. Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:23:02 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-5552 Tried the Cross Bayou launch last weekend. I agree with Theresa... water plants are very thick and almost non-passable in spots. In fact, had to get out of the boat once or twice to pull the boat through by hand, until it dawned on me that this is fresh water... and if I were a gator on a hot day, I'd probably be lounging under the water plants. Tried the Cross Bayou launch last weekend. I agree with Theresa… water plants are very thick and almost non-passable in spots. In fact, had to get out of the boat once or twice to pull the boat through by hand, until it dawned on me that this is fresh water… and if I were a gator on a hot day, I’d probably be lounging under the water plants.

]]> By: Theresa http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-5545 Theresa Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:05:35 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-5545 taking off from 102 ave was nice , more people need to get out there , the water plants are getting so thick , it is hard to get threw them in a Kayak , It is actually nicer than Clam Bayou taking off from 102 ave was nice , more people need to get out there , the water plants are getting so thick , it is hard to get threw them in a Kayak , It is actually nicer than Clam Bayou

]]> By: richard s. http://kayaknature.com/cross-bayou-the-next-big-clean-up-project/comment-page-1/#comment-4665 richard s. Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:06:17 +0000 http://kayaknature.com/?p=1943#comment-4665 Dear Friends: Got rained out for boating this weekend, but drove down to look at the launch site. This is the body of water that used to be accessable from the cajun restaurant next to the Wagon Wheel flea market, until they closed that access 10 to 12 years ago. If taken all the way down, it eventually leads to War Memorial Park next to the V.A. hospital, not too far from John's Pass. It is a beautiful paddle, and it's been years since I've done it. I am so excited that this area has been cleaned up, and I can't wait for the rain to stop. (And picking up some trash along the way is the very least I can do to thank somebody for the the effort that went into cleaning up this area and building the launch.) You guys cheered me up on an otherwise dreary, rainy weekend. Thanks again. (PS- Anybody out there interested in going with me? Let me know. The more, the merrier.) Dear Friends: Got rained out for boating this weekend, but drove down to look at the launch site. This is the body of water that used to be accessable from the cajun restaurant next to the Wagon Wheel flea market, until they closed that access 10 to 12 years ago. If taken all the way down, it eventually leads to War Memorial Park next to the V.A. hospital, not too far from John’s Pass. It is a beautiful paddle, and it’s been years since I’ve done it. I am so excited that this area has been cleaned up, and I can’t wait for the rain to stop. (And picking up some trash along the way is the very least I can do to thank somebody for the the effort that went into cleaning up this area and building the launch.) You guys cheered me up on an otherwise dreary, rainy weekend. Thanks again. (PS- Anybody out there interested in going with me? Let me know. The more, the merrier.)

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