Outdoors notes
* Vail cuts off closing bay crossing: Only 45 days into his sea kayak adventure from Chattanooga, Fred Vail of Lookout Mountain arrived at Mobile, Ala., 10 days early last Friday, but dangerous flooding and high water kept him from making the last part of the journey into and across Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island. Parts of the island were being evacuated, in fact, so Vail decided to come home and go back later this year to finish his fundraising mission for Team River Runner. See his dawg.life website for more on the organization, the project and the trip.
Fresh air calendar
* Rapid Learning whitewater kayaking practice: Wednesdays, 6-7 & 7-8 p.m., Chester Frost Park, end of the swimming beach by the first boat ramp; family-friendly for ages 8-up; first-timers free, equipment provided, reservations not required; yearly membership $75, family membership $125. Email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call 643-6888.
* Soddy-Daisy chapter of Tennessee Trails Assn. hikes: July 8, Nickajack Connector Trail, moderate 5 miles ($5 parking free, meet at 8 a.m. at Food City parking lot in Red Bank; call Donna Pyers at 344-9271); July 11, Big Soddy Gulf, moderate 6 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy; call Patricia Appleton at 332-6517); July 15, Flipper Bend, strenuous 8 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Walmart lot in Soddy-Daisy; call John Politte at 304-8327); July 18, Signal Mountain MSHS loop, moderate 3.5 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City lot in Red Bank; call Kathy Daniels at 931-265-1661); July 22, Chickamauga Battlefield, moderate 7 miles (meet at 8 a.m. at Food City lot in Red Bank; call Georga Bonneau at 596-5972).