ADMIN: The details of this trip may change at any time in the near future!

This is an overnight wilderness canoe/kayak camping trip where you will have the opportunity to share some of Dawson County’s rarely seen riverine beauty with your fellow paddlers. No paddling or camping experience necessary (but they are helpful).

Here is your chance to experience a real river trip and have a great weekend outdoors!

Note: This trip will be limited to the first 25 confirmed paddlers.

If you would like to join me in supporting regional paddling projects and communities, please visit the Paddle Alabama website to purchase a ticket.  Ticket prices are an amazing $35 for a 3-day event!

This is what they say on their website:

“Don’t let the price of this event fool you. You’re in for 8 good meals, 2 nights camping, easy paddling in the great outdoors, camaraderie, instruction for beginners (expert paddlers on hand) night time entertainment, safe car parking,
shuttle, and more. And yes, it’s $35.

How so?  A grant Coosa Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council to cover the majority of expenses allows you, family, and/or friends a casual great time in a beautiful setting.  In this economy you’ll not find a better travel deal anywhere! Bring a camera.  Bring a friend!

Though you can do this for just $35, we will welcome you donating a higher amount to allow us to have future events.  Simply register below, fill in some forms and join Paddle Alabama June 11, 12, and 13 2009.

Cost $35. Free with your ASRT membership! In fact, the easy way to register for the event is to join the Alabama Scenic River Trail at our Membership button at the top of the page or in the trip page details below area. Read details below.

This will be the biggest event of its kind this year… “

ADMIN: The details of this trip may change at any time in the near future!

This is an overnight wilderness canoe/kayak camping trip, on a full moon weekend, where you will have the opportunity to share some of Dawson County’s rarely seen riverine beauty with your fellow paddlers. No paddling or camping experience necessary (but they are helpful).

Here is your chance to experience a real river trip and have a great weekend outdoors!

Note: This trip will be limited to the first 30 confirmed paddlers.

With the success of our pilot cleanup effort on one section of the 5 islands at Bush Head Shoals area, we are returning to continue the work and as usual, you are invited!

One of the local paddle outfitters wants to cleanup the Chattahoochee River south of Atlanta. I want to improve paddling opportunities for the regional paddling community.  It sounds like we have something in common that we can work together on!

• WHAT: New paddle-in campsite preparation/clearing/cleanup.
• WHEN: 6:00pm Friday, June 26 - 6:00pm Sunday, June 28, 2009.
• WHERE: 5 Islands@Bush Head Shoals.  Friday night meetup is at McIntosh Reserve.
• WHO: A local outfitter; Richard Grove and fellow paddle stewards.
• WHY:  Why?  Paddle-in primitive camping near the shoals +paddling community stewardship why.
• COST: $20.00 [Shuttle Fees + Hot dogs etc]. Does not include voluntary Friday night McIntosh camp fees. We’re not making any money off of this trip. If you want to contribute to chainsaw gas and parts -thanks!
  • Shuttle: Saturday: Local outfitter to Plant Wansley put in point.
  • Shuttle Sunday: Franklin take out point back to the local outfitter.
    

Plan A

This is a 2 night, 2 day trip (Friday - Sunday) so you will need rain-proof camping gear; drinks; food; work gloves and your favorite tools (that you will carry in your boat).

Meet at McIntosh Reserve on Friday, 26 after work, for a casual meet up and overnight camp. Richard has arranged for special camping privileges so that the group can camp close together (free camping and no park fees!). On Saturday morning, we will caravan to the outfitter’s lodge to park the cars and stage the gear shuttles. Camping overnight with us will save you making an early morning drive to the outfitter’s lodge where the cars will be parked in advance of the gear shuttle and 9:00am put-in on Saturday morning. To save our energies and time for the actual cleanup effort, we will be putting in at Plant Wansley, approximately 6 miles downstream of McIntosh Reserve.

If you decide to come late on Saturday, it is approximately 13.7 miles of paddling from McIntosh Reserve to the 5 islands above Bush Head Shoals. It is approximately 7.7 miles of paddling from the Plant Wansley put in point to the islands. There are no shuttle arrangements made for folks leaving their vehicles at the Wansley ramp or McIntosh Reserve… Your best bet would be to meet us at the outfitter (call me) by 8:00am on Saturday morning.

Before you paddle down to join us, make sure we know that you are coming. We love company, but we need to know how many are being shuttled back from Franklin on Sunday afternoon. The outfitter may join us later towing a canoe with extra gear. If you want to bring an unwieldy tool for him to take to the job site, then bring it with you and give it directly to him. Please be reasonable! You should be carrying everything you need (tents; water; camp chairs etc) in your own kayak!

Our last group on the water will put in by 9:00am.  C’mon downstream… We won’t be hard to find!

Don’t forget your gloves and shoes as you may reasonably expect glass and other sharp debris at the campsite!

When we arrive at the work site on Saturday, we will have to find/make a campsite for the night. Space is limited, so we are limiting this trip to 20 volunteers. On Saturday, we will do a trash cleanup of the island we’re camping on. We’ll camp overnight on the island. On Sunday morning, after breakfast, we’ll clean up some more before leaving the island at 1:00pm for the leisurely paddle down to Franklin.

We should arrive back in Franklin around 4:00pm for the shuttle back to the outfitter’s.

Plan B

On a river trip, everything doesn’t always go the way we may want it to. My advice is to just deal with it the best you can and go with the flow. Often, if you approach an experience with preconceived expectations, you may be disappointed with the reality. Everything will be fine. Time is priceless, so let how you measure time stop for this weekend and step back, to the good ole days, where folks relaxed and enjoyed life without all of the modern conveniences. Again, no TVs; radios and MP3 players (with/out headphones); electronic games; or computers.

Most of you know the drill, but if you need help, give me a call at 404-545-6633.

If you really want to do something instead of talking about it -then let’s go!

A local outfitter and I, talked about cleaning up the Chattahoochee River south of Atlanta. We have decided to dedicate this weekend (May 2 & 3, 2009) to the good planet Earth; the regional paddling community and the Chattahoochee River -and you are invited!

• WHAT: New paddle-in campsite preparation/clearing/cleanup.
• WHEN: 9:00am Sat, May 2 - Sunday, May 3 2009.
• WHERE: 5 Islands@Bush Head Shoals.  Put in is at McIntosh Reserve
• WHO: A local outfitter and Richard’s posse.
• WHY:  Why?  Paddle-in primitive camping near the shoals +paddling community stewardship why.
• COST: $9.00 [Parking at McIntosh $2.00/day = $4.00+ Shuttle back to McIntosh - $5.00]

Plan A

This is an overnight trip so you will need camping gear, drinks and food.

Meet at McIntosh Reserve on Saturday morning in time for a 9:00am put-in. If you decide to come late on Saturday, it is approximately 11 miles from McIntosh Reserve to the 5 islands above Bush Head Shoals. We won’t be hard to find.  Before you paddle down to join us, call me to make sure we know you are coming. We love company but we need to know how many are being shuttled back to McIntosh Reserve.  The outfitter will start later on Saturday about 5 miles below McIntosh Reserve at Plant Wansley and tow a canoe with the tools. If you want to bring something for him to take to the job site, then bring it with you and give it directly to him. Don’t forget your gloves!

We will stop at around noon, for lunch on Saturday and then continue on to the 5 islands; where we will find/make a campsite for the night. On Saturday, we will do a trash cleanup of the islands (the outfitter says that there is glass, so bring your gloves) and scope out the work for future clearing and cleaning efforts.  We’ll camp overnight on the island. On Sunday morning, after breakfast, we’ll clean up some more before leaving the island at 1:00pm.

We should arrive back in Franklin around 4:00pm for the shuttle back to McIntosh.

Most of you know the drill, but if you need help, give me a call at 404-545-6633.

If you really want to do something instead of talking about it -then let’s go!

If you decide to join in then please send me an e-mail Richard@georgiakayaker.com or call 404-545-6633 so we have a count on how many need to be shuttled.

Freeze or thaw, rain or shine!

This overnight paddle/camp trip is limited to 14 paddlers!

Update: This trip has sold out!

Final Details.

We have a full crew for this trip with a special welcome to the new faces (…that was the special welcome). We’ll say it again at the put-in point…
We’ll assemble with our gear in the CRNRA Powers Island parking lot (not the “Dog Beach” side of Cochran’s Shoals Park) by 8am on Saturday morning.

Paddlers who will be leaving a vehicle behind will probably be asked to park in a local hotel’s parking area (either way there’s probably  a daily parking fee involved, $4.00/day?).  The cars may be safer at the hotel.

We have made shuttle arrangements with a local outfitter.

The weather is expected to range from the low 40’s to 70’s on the first day with rain the next day.  Paddling is a water sport so you should be prepared to get wet!  Please check the weather report before the trip to help you plan.

There is an online map available for review in the next post in this series (click on series list below).  Remember to bring your camera despite the quicker paddling pace on this trip.  We would love for you to blog about your experience on this site, after the trip.

If you have any questions, contact Richard.

Remember, PFD’s are required by the National Park Service.

See you all on Saturday!