First Day on The Conasauga

It was a day for patience and chats. In my past 4 Paddle Georgia’s I can’t remember a group of paddlers more polite, more patient, more laid back than the group today. It was a wonderful experience to paddle with such a group!

The patience started with the line for the bus but everyone was so excited and happy to be there that there wasn’t one complaint heard.  I heard paddlers meeting new friends, reuniting with old friends and sharing stories as we waited.

The next step was getting on the river. It was one boat at a time but there was a welcoming committee there to help with every boat and so the stories and friend meeting continued. Once on the river, the healing beauty of the water soothed and renewed all paddlers. And then the teamwork began to overcome the strainers! Each paddler had to pick their course carefully as not to scrape bottom and not to run into a strainer. But once again, every paddler was there to help. Only smiles could be seen and only encouragement and thank yous heard.

At the confluence with Sumac Creek, Katie Owens with The Nature Conservancy was there to share with every paddler the message of the river’s importance as well as some of the dangers the river faces. She would speak again at the evening program but her son, Ben dressed as a river darter stole the show as he danced around and “swam” through the audience.

Our hats go off to the many incredible folks who participated in the Paddle Georgia Canoe-A-Thon to help raise $30,522 which aids in protecting our many amazing rivers. Special recognition to the top fund raisers: Terry Pate, Jim & Debbie Fountain, John Branch, Alicia Evans, and Tom Beman.

Much agriculture and scrubby fields could be seen, past the buffer zone on the river’s edge – perfect habitat for the Yellow-breasted Chat. And yes, around every curve  a Chat sounding out his bells could be heard; whistles, rattles and – well – chats. A delightful bird! 

Some other great sightings included Indigo Buntings, Great Crested Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, Cliff Swallows, and many warblers I couldn’t identify from their calls, but the oaks and black walnuts, maples and river birch, and elderberries and water willow graced the river.
In all it was one wonderfully beautiful day!

Respectfully submitted by Ruth Mead

Happy Paddling!