Your Hurricane Creekkeeper: Bama Belle Dinner Cruise Was A Success

The annual dinner and cruise on the Bama Belle was a huge success this year. The event sold out within a couple of weeks after tickets went on sale.

Photo Nelson Brooke

It was touch and go for a while with a large thunderstorm looming just south of the landing but as the time drew closer, the clouds broke up and provided a perfectly beautiful evening for a paddle wheel excursion on the river the raise funds and awareness for the Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Friends of Hurricane Creek / Hurricane Creekkeeper.

We shoved off right on time and headed up river with a crew full of fun.

We were joined by a great band again this year.

Photo, Nelson Brooke

The "No Joes" played an assortment of classic rock, blues and even allowed me to break out my old Martin guitar to play and sing a few numbers with them. They were wonderful and very patient with me. (it's been nearly 20 years since I played in public) What a hoot to sing "Southern Smoke" while sitting on a paddle wheeler at the mouth of Hurricane Creek.

Photo by Casie Jones

Photo by Charles Scribner

Captain Craig Dodson was kind enough to take the Belle all the way to the mouth of Hurricane Creek and just float around a bit while I made my speech about the creek. For the first time I can remember for many years, I did not have my cameras with me so I'll have to use some older photos to show how beautiful the mouth of the creek is.

Capt. Craig Dodson. Photo, Nelson Brooke

Photo, Nelson Brooke

I took that time to acknowledge an elder in the crowd. Sam Curren, Grampa Sam to me, was someone who came into my life many years ago while fighting a coal mine in the watershed which was going to destroy a sacred historical site. We became hard, fast friends in just a short time. When I got seriously ill from toxic conditions at a work place, it was Sam who first recognized that I was sick. He told me how to find Yellow Root and make a medicine out of it. It kept me alive while the medical doctors figured out I had been basically poisoned at work. One of the doctors told me that if I had not been taking the Yellow Root diuretic tea to keep my liver and kidneys open I might have died.

Sam made sure I knew how to make it and insisted that I exercise by swimming in the creek. It worked and I am alive today because of Hurricane Creek and Sam's knowledge of the medicines here.

Grampa inspired me in those early years to stand up for what is right for the rivers and the environment but more importantly the people who depend on them.

While I was at Standing Rock, N.D. I was always seeing things and hearing songs that made me think... "I wish Grampa could be here" He admired a photo I took of a friends Tipi in the moonlight so I printed it out and surprised him with it on the boat.

Photo by Charles Scribner

Little did I know that he had a surprise for me as well. He gifted me a beautiful bear claw necklace with very old trade beads and 7 Black Bear claws. It is a token of strength, courage, and protection. Bear Medicine is very powerful, thank you Grampa for sharing with me.

The coolest part of it all was that it took place standing on the deck of the

Bama Belle at the mouth of Hurricane Creek.

Photo, Nelson Brooke

On the way back to town, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Nelson Brooke talked about the river and what we were seeing along the banks as we passed many of the industrial pollution sources there. Since Nelson stepped up as the Riverkeeper he has impressed me with his passion, knowledge, and tenacity when confronting the many pollution sources in the watershed. I have the rare honor of being able to share the watershed with him as Hurricane Creekkeeper. After all, Hurricane Creek is the crown Jewel of the Black Warrior.

A huge shout-out of thanks to Charles Scribner for handling all of the arrangements which made this event such a rave success. Charlie works hard at organizing chaos at events like this one. Thank you sir!

Another thank you goes out for all the sponsors and suppliers including, but not limited to;

PRADCO (The world's leading manufacturer of hunting and fishing products) Snows Bend Farm,

Bo Hicks, Druid City brewery for hosting a sampling of local craft beers.

Photo by Charles Scribner

The Levee came with tons of great food!

Photo by Charles Scribner

The food was definitely a crowd pleaser.

An artist, Gail Esch brought a hand painted piece that is connected to the river scene by DNA. She takes water from the subject river and actually makes the paint for her work. She has agreed to come and do one for us using Hurricane Creek water. I can't wait!

Photo by Charles Scribner

No event is complete without the volunteers who help herd us like cats through the process of setting up doling out free stuff and most importantly, seeing that everyone gets their free beer tickets ;)

Photo by Charles Scribner

It sells out every year. Captain Craig is selling the Belle but we all hope she will stay in the area and we can continue this fun-filled and productive event. Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Hurricane Creekkeeper are proud members of an international family of Waterkeepers. From both organizations, I'd like to thank all of the community of supporters. We can't do the work without that. Enjoy some shots from the trip and make plans to look for the next one!