Alapaha River is Dry!!
Sara and I investigated it yesterday (Sunday 4/26) and I’d like to invite everyone to join for a ride.
Sat May 9th 10:00 am
Meet at I75 Exit 460, Pilot Travel Center, West of the interstate.
We met on the East side last time but Pilot may have more available parking and better restroom capacity.
For those that have not ridden the Alapaha, it is a river that periodically goes completely dry. It can be dry one day and flowing the next day so I will monitor it.
It’s beautiful and can be a very mild drive in the run of the river or if you play on the rocks or in the ravines or on logs it can be wild.
The sand squeaks under your tires and your tires will be cleaner when you leave than when you arrive.
Sara and I ran upstream and happened upon a stranded Can Am so we extracted him and towed him all the way out.
It can take a couple hours to go upstream and back and then a couple more to go downstream and back depending on number of trucks, obstacles, photo ops, unforeseen ‘delays’. (I’ve had to remove and repair my radiator in the riverbed after my fan took a bite…)
There is only one way in and out so if someone has to cut out early you won’t get lost.
I will go investigate downstream from HWY 41 bridge as well to get intel on what limitations there may be due to obstacles.
We should plan to meet by 10:00 and allow 30 min to air down and hit restrooms. Arrive earlier if possible so we’re not delayed but I’m sure some may have a bit further drive.
We enter the riverbed on the northwest side of the Highway 41 bridge a few hundred yards south of where Highway 6 intersects with 41. Its just 5 minutes due East from Pilot.
Pack water & pack lunch that’s generally ready to eat. This isn’t conducive to setting up camp kitchen for cooking and it may be HOT.
Ensure you have a good spare and a good tire gauge/deflator. There is nothing but sand under the sand and so LOW pressure is essential.
I’ve attached some images from yesterday (80 series) and my 40 and 60 from decades ago…as far back as 1994… I plan to bring the 80 and the 40 (wheels down preferably)
Chase