Cleanup: GA: Chattahoochee River: 5 Islands at Bush Head Shoals: INVITE: Cleanup 2

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!