How did you celebrate Father’s Day? For Paddle Georgia participants, it was with a 17 mile float, making today our longest day. The many sweepers and strainers slowed the day down but brought us paddlers together on this long stretch of river. It’s easy to spread out along the water but the jams, after causing short frustration, spawned a new sense of comradery. Paddlers shared sunscreen and jokes referring to the hold up as “worse than Atlanta traffic”. With lots of strainers, miles, and boat traffic, a popular rope swing was a welcomed distraction from this hard paddle. 
Paddlers challenged each other to see who could jump farthest or who could do the best back flip. We also kept cool with frequent and welcome water gun wars. There is nothing like a little rivalry to boast morale.
This hard paddle took time to tackle, causing the buses to pull us straight into an evening full of great food and riveting talks. 
Megan Desrosier, the Executive Director for 100 Miles, presented about Georgia coastal conservation and activism. Tim Echols from the Georgia Public Service Commission spoke on the rising electric car usage in Georgia.
Finally, it was time to retire after a long day. Paddlers went to back to a village of temporary homes, commonly known as Tent City. a unique site created by paddlers. Tents are huddled in the shade, leaving the football field wide open and the goal post to be used as a makeshift clothesline. A strong sense of community is created here, as people sit outside tents in circles sharing opinions and telling stories. Neighbors with portable fans are the most popular. When one woman was attacked by a hill of ants, her neighbors in Tent City came to the rescue with unique home remedies to fix the problem – one of the many instances of generosity and helpfulness exhibited in our temporary home. Other campers have chosen to stay inside the cool gym, turning it into a mattress lined “refugee camp”. 
After a hard day of paddling, both Tent City and the cool gym are great places to conclude our successful Father’s Day on the Ogeechee River.
Amelia Lord and Jamie Rogers, Paddle Georgia Enthusiasts
the water- smiling from ear to ear. Be sure to check out the 
own exponentially in popularity in recent years, and Paddle Georgia paddlers are no exception.
elease of water from the bottom of Buford Dam, which has changed the historic warm waters of the river to a chilly 48 degrees and in turn the species of fish that are able to live here. Participants learned more about this at 
the Buford Trout Hatchery today, where millions of trout are stocked into the Chattahoochee and other Georgia rivers each year.
What an amazing first day on the Chattahoochee river…
We couldn’t do it with out them! H I G H F I V E!
number of novice paddlers join us every year and to assist in boosting their confidence we offer a paddling workshop, which this year was led by extraordinary paddler Steve Kramer.
y reunited with Paddle Georgia buddies from year’s past.
waste for the first time, thanks to help from Kevin S
mith with Keep Forsyth County Beautiful.
lds complete with pirate flags and mansion sized abode’s. Paddle Georgian’s don’t mess around when it comes to comfort after a long day paddling.
udes the young and old, and people of different abilities and backgrounds.
Paddle Georgia, A Project of Georgia River Network - Weblog 