ATLANTA - Scores of canoe and camping adventurers are expected to gather Saturday at Buford Dam for the start of Paddle Georgia, a seven-day canoe-camping trip down the Chattahoochee.
The Georgia River Network's Joe Cook is Coordinator - and says Paddle Georgia is to end 110 miles south of Atlanta in Franklin, Georgia.
Cook says about 150 people are expected to attempt the entire trip, while many others participate as "day trippers" - on the water for only a day or two, perhaps, and not camping out at night.
He describes the event, patterned after the annual Bike Ride Across Georgia, as an "educational adventure."
"We hope to get people on the river and have them learn about the river," Cook said.
He says the event will include educational programs on the river's cultural and natural
history and tours of facilities located along the river.
Participants will paddle each day and then be shuttled to nearby facilities where
they will camp, enjoy games, entertainment, educational programs and catered dinners
and breakfasts.
Georgia River Network hopes to create awareness of the issues facing Georgia's rivers and encourage citizens to become involved in protection and restoration efforts on their local rivers. Georgia Power is an event sponsor and is providing financial support for the event, as well a tour of Plant Yates for a limited number of trip participants.
Cook said Georgia River Network works to conserve Georgia's rivers by engaging people in local river protection efforts, empowering grassroots river groups with tools to make real change in the watersheds they work in, and serving as a voice for policy issues that transcend Georgia's watersheds.
Participants in Paddle Georgia will gather in Cumming Friday at Forsyth Central High School where they will camp out overnight before "putting in" Saturday morning between 7:00-9:00 at the Lower Pool Launch Site at Buford Dam.
Directions to the launch sites and campsites can be found by linking the Web site listed below.
Wednesday
October 23rd, 2024
1:22AM
