With an estimated 2,000 lifetime miles already behind him, Manning Minchew committed to a handwritten paddle log for the first time, recording mileage, water levels, weather, and lessons learned along the way.  What started as curiosity soon turned into a bold goal: 1,000 miles in a single year, all while working full time.

By spring, the miles were stacking up, and so was the community. Fellow paddlers joined in, some logging 100 miles alongside him, others 200, and one over 500. His Facebook trip reports documented the journey and inspired others to get on the water too.

Most of those miles—roughly 750 of them—were paddled right here in Alabama, especially across the rivers and creeks of Lower Alabama. From the Sepulga and Conecuh to Murder Creek, Little River, Whitewater Creek, and more, this journey highlights just how much adventure exists in our own backyard.

Overnight sandbar camps, Class I–II rapids, clay and rock walls, and even brutally jammed creeks (looking at you, Persimmon Creek) all became part of the story.

Along the way, Manning also expressed how he felt he evolved as a paddler. What began years ago as fair-weather kayaking grew into year-round exploration, four canoes, six kayaks, and a new skill unlocked in 2025: becoming a proficient single-blade solo canoe paddler, inspired by Bill Mason’s Path of the Paddle.

The milestone moment? A checkered “1,001 Miles” banner strung across the Indian Ford Bridge on Big Juniper Creek, thanks to friends who knew just how much the journey meant. By year’s end, the total climbed to 1,050 miles, with a few more paddles still planned.

This is what Alabama’s waterways make possible: challenge, growth, community, and unforgettable experiences just a couple hours from home.

We encourage all of you to set activity goals for yourselves in the new year! Even if it’s just getting outside and trying something new