Paddle Georgia 2021 – Day 1

By: Sarah Taylor, GRN Communications Coordinator

Day 1 is a wrap! Today, we set out from Crisp County Power Dam for the first 18-mile stretch of a 7-day, 100 mile journey on the Flint River for Georgia River Network’s Paddle Georgia 2021.  

Being the first day, it’s only fitting to provide some background about the trip and some Paddle Georgia history, for those who may be unfamiliar. The trip began today, June 20, near Cordele and will cap-off with a delicious fish fry lunch with the Flint Riverkeeper on Saturday, June 26 in Bainbridge. 

In more than 15 years of annual Georgia River Network Paddle Georgia trips (the first one was in 2005), this year’s voyage is truly unique. We have about 30 paddlers in the group, but in a non-COVID year you could expect between 300 and 400 participants, ages ranging from 4 – 84. It is the largest paddle trip in the nation! Each year, the trip is held on a different Georgia river.

This year’s group is filled with veteran Paddle Georgia participants; two who have traveled from out of state and a few who have paddled every year since the very beginning, meaning they’ve paddled now more than 1500 miles on Paddle Georgia trips.

As promised, the Flint River did not disappoint, even with the challenging rain and wind for the first part of the day. This first stretch of the 100-mile journey offered beautiful limestone bluffs and shelves and a diverse array of wildlife. The way the maiden’s tale fern and other vegetation hung whimsically off the limestone was enough to make you stop and stare. And on occasion, a bright flower or two would pop out and add their own beautiful twist amongst the ferns, cypress trees and sycamore trees.

Some of the day’s animal spottings included alligators (one alive and one not so alive), an osprey with lunch caught and ready to eat, white-tailed deer, and a variety of turtles, birds and other critters. My favorite moment was towards the end of the paddle, when Joe Cook, Georgia River Network’s Paddle Georgia Coordinator, found a small turtle. After listening to these little guys plop off branches into the water and out of sight all day, it was amazing to hold one in my hands and see it up close!

The group arrived to Red Oaks Plantation, the evening’s campsite, in waves throughout the afternoon, and after 18 miles of paddling, we were ready to eat! The Canterbury Kitchen provided a delicious meal of chicken, stuffed mushrooms, beans, mashed potatoes and peach cobbler. Following dinner, paddlers enjoyed chatting with Jennifer King and her family about Red Oaks Plantation, which her father purchased back in 1994 to manage and provide hunting opportunities for family and friends. This 4,000 acre plus tract of land along the Flint River now, after years of careful cultivation, is home to trophy-sized whitetail dear. While hunting opportunities were previously limited to friends and family, the property is now open for business and has a beautiful Airbnb onsite that visitors can rent out. A huge thank you to Red Oaks Plantation for allowing a group of river enthusiasts to camp on their pristine land for the night!