Limestone Limbo ~ 21 Mile Hump Day ~ What a Blast!

We have officially reached the half-way point of Paddle Georgia 2013 with 3 days of awesome paddling behind us and 3 more ahead. Everyone really enjoyed their stay at Chehaw with their friendly staff, beautiful grounds and comfortable facilities and we were all sad to leave, but excited about the new digs in Camilla.

Although everyone seemed to cringe at the mention of a 21 mile paddle – the current was the fastest we’ve had yet and we scooted swiftly along.

Playful paddlers, as always we encountered hoola hooping in the morning and bubbles in the afternoon.

Red Tailed Hawks, Belted Kingfisher, Bob Whites, Pileated woodpeckers, and Green Heron could be heard and occasionally seen through the canopy that shrouded the winding river.

The limestone caves along this stretch were beautiful and mysterious with their tight crevices and dangling ferns that formed curtains on the rock walls surrounding the cave mouth.

Twisted, gnarly roots of Sycamore and Cypress trees reached out like fingers and hands holding back the river bank, their knees jutting up out of the water resembling mud castles at the beach.

And even with the usual swimming, lounging, and jumping from rope swings paddlers completed the trip in record time, and were shuttled to our new home of Mitchell County High School.

And what a better way to end the day than with an awesome street party in Camilla! It was great to see everyone boogying down and enjoying themselves so immensely.

Looking forward to another day in South Georgia paradise tomorrow!

Keep on rollin’ down the river,

Gwyneth Moody

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Join Georgia River Network and Flint Riverkeeper for the Paddle Georgia 2013 “End of Journey Celebration!” June 21, Bainbridge, GA

Join Georgia River Network and Flint Riverkeeper for the Paddle Georgia 2013

“End of Journey Celebration!”

Fish Fry and Party

Bainbridge, GA – Earle May Boat Basin/Cheney Griffin Park

Friday, June 21

2:00 PM – 8:00 PM with dinner at 6:00

Tickets – $15 and are available at: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6772090505/efblike#

Welcome the 350-member Paddle Georgia navy as it arrives at its final destination – Bainbridge, Georgia – after their 7-day, 106-mile adventure on the Flint River from Warwick to Bainbridge.

There will be live music, a fish fry with all the fixins’, games and celebration.

To purchase tickets for the fish fry go to: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6772090505/efblike#

Bring your lawn chair and join the fun!

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Awesome Experiences Headed Your Way! Register for the Chattahoochee Hidden Gems Paddle ~ May 18th

Have you REGISTERED for the CHATTAHOOCHEE HIDDEN GEMS PADDLING TRIP- MAY 18th?

Take a behind the scenes look at the work horse of Atlanta with not only an awe-inspiring presentation about this sections history – but also fascinating presentations on the wildlife that resides here and ways that you can get involved in water quality monitoring and river cleanups in your community.

Where: Chattahoochee River in Southwest Metro Atlanta (The stretch we are paddling is 13.1 miles and has beginner class 1 rapids.)
When: Saturday, May 18th ~ 8AM – 5PM
Cost:     
$50 ~ Includes Boat Rental, Lunch, and ACA Insurance ($35 kids- 18 and under)
$25 ~ Includes Lunch and ACA Insurance, Bring your own Boat
$15 ~ Includes ACA Insurance, Bring your own Boat and Lunch

May 18th… It’s gonna be AWESOME!

REGISTER HERE for FUN TIMES!

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Today is World Water Day! Help Georgia River Network celebrate…

Today is World Water Day!

Won’t YOU help Georgia River Network celebrate by sharing this post with your friends, making a donation, or by discovering your local river group on our website (www.garivers.org) and getting involved!

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TASTE the FLINT -River Trip Series- First paddle of 2013 kicks off March 23rd!

TASTE the FLINT -River Trip Series- First paddle of 2013 kicks off March 23rd! Explore and understand the natural diversity of the Flint River Join us for 2013’s first Taste the Flint River Trip Saturday, March 23rd Upper Flint, near Thomaston 8:00am: Meet at State Route 74 bridge 6+ hour trip to Sprewell Bluff Recreation Area Moderate-Experience Paddling Skills Required for this trip *Registrants will be sent additional details and directions -SPACE IS LIMITED- Register by emailing jayme@flintriverkeeper.org OR call 229.435.2241, 229.220.9796 FRk members who bring their own canoe $15 each FRk members who need to borrow canoe $25 each Non-members who bring their own canoe $35 each Non-members who need to borrow canoe $45 each FREE trip & boat usage for up to three volunteers who will help load boats and gear at the conclusion of the trip (non member cost includes one-year of FRk membership) *pricing includes kayaks, too More TASTE the FLINT River Trips are planned for the rest of the year, throughout the Flint watershed:   Saturday, April 20th: Middle Flint, near Montezuma   Saturday in May, TBA: Upson-Thomaston Chamber of Commerce 3rd Annual Poker Float   Saturday, June 15th- Friday, June 21st: Paddle Georgia on Lower Flint *this event is sold-out, but you can be included on the wait list and find other details here *Although sold-out, Paddle Georgia coordinators are seeking solutions to accommodate those on the wait list   Saturday in July, TBA: Baker-Mitchell Sheriff’s Home poker Float   Saturday, October 5th: Lower Flint, near Albany   -all scheduled trips are subject to change due to weather and flow conditions- We hope to see you on the river! BECOME A FRk MEMBER TO PROTECT YOUR FLINT RIVER! The mission of the Flint Riverkeeper® (FRk) is to restore and preserve the habitat, water quality, and flow of the Flint River for the benefit of current and future generations and dependent wildlife. Flint Riverkeeper is a fully licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance; a participating member of the Georgia Water Coalition; and a member-group of EarthShare of Georgia.

Copyright© 2009 Flint Riverkeeper. All rights reserved Flint Riverkeeper | P.O. Box 468, Albany Ga. 31702 | (229) 435-2241

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Paddle GA Registration is Now Open!

A Project of Georgia River Network Paddle Georgia 2013 on the Lower Flint!                                REGISTER HERE!!! Paddle Georgia Friends,We know how much you LOVE Georgia’s rivers and Paddle Georgia, and to celebrate that LOVE, we thought it would be appropriate on Valentine’s Day to let you know that Paddle Georgia 2013 registration is now OPEN! If you haven’t heard the news yet – Paddle Georgia 2013 will take place on the lower Flint River – from Warwick to Bainbridge – June 15-21, 2013. Read Joe’s most recent blog post for all the details. It’s going to be another GREAT trip, and it’s going to be a hot ticket.Registration will be open until all the spaces are filled. There will be 350 spaces available for thru-paddlers this year. Last year, we sold out in just two weeks – so please register before we sell out.   Watch our Fun Lovin’ Paddle Georgia 2013 Registration Video: http://youtu.be/hZcqVIB1v-w We will also have a limited number of Paddle Georgia Lite 2013 spaces that will be available by invitation only to our supporters, special guests, and by lottery. Paddle Georgia Lite is our abbreviated trip for just the first two days of Paddle Georgia – June 15-16. If you would like to be considered for a Paddle Georgia Lite invitation this year please fill out the request form at this link by April 1, 2013 and we’ll put you in the pool. Invitations will be extended by April 12. AND, A VERY EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! Canoe-A-Thon 2013 participants will be eligible for a very special reward for helping us accomplish two important goals of Paddle Georgia – introducing more people to our beautiful rivers and raising more money to protect these precious resources. Canoe-A-Thon 2013 participants who raise at least $200 will be GUARANTEED A SPOT ON PADDLE GEORGIA 2014* by being eligible to register during a special PRIORITY REGISTRATION period before regular open registration begins in Feb. 2014 for Paddle Georgia 2014 – our 10 Year Anniversary Trip and return to the Chattahoochee River where it all began. To learn more about Canoe-A-Thon and sign up for Canoe-A-Thon 2013 go to: http://www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia/pgcanoeathon.html. *Be sure to click here and read all the specific rules and policies for Paddle Georgia 2014 Priority Registration. As always, there will be additional fabulous prizes for our top fundraisers. Finally, please consider making a special gift to Georgia River Network to support the tradition of enjoying and protecting our rivers in 2013. It’s easy to do by just clicking this link. We look forward to seeing you on the Flint in June! The Paddle Georgia/Georgia River Network Team 2013 Sponsors to Date – Georgia Power; Hennessy Land Rover Centres; Patagonia; Oglethorpe Power Corporation; StreamTechs; Cedar Creek RV and Outdoor Center; Cellairis ; Len Foote Hike Inn; Chambliss, Sheppard, Roland & Baxter LLP; China Clay Producers Association; Sea to Summit; The Outside World 2013 Partners to Date – Georgia Canoe Association, Flint Riverkeeper, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, Project Wet ——————————————- Georgia River Network 126 South Milledge Ave. Suite E3, Athens, GA 30605 706-549-4508 http://www.garivers.org Become a Member Today – Join     Len Foote Hike Inn Chambliss, Sheppard, Roland & Baxter LLP

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The print edition of GRNs quarterly Newsletter CONFLUENCE is now available online… A MUST READ!

From Paddle Georgia news, River Spotlight, Upcoming events, and other goodies- Check it out!

http://www.garivers.org/files/confluence/jan2013.pdf

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This is the FINAL DAY to submit * YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO of 2012 * for GRN’s 2013 Monthly Photo Showcase and Staff Pick of the Month

Just in case you haven’t heard the word:

GRN is introducing the 2013 Monthly Photo Showcase and GRN Staff Pick of the Month!

This is the FINAL DAY to submit January’s Photo of:

* * *YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO of 2012 * *

Each month we will have a different theme and invite you to email us a photo that you think best represents the topic of the month. We will showcase everyone’s photos on our website and social media and one photo per month will receive the illustrious title of ‘GRN Staff Pick of the Month’ and the chosen photo’s author will receive a surprise token of gratitude.

So get those cameras poised and creative juices flowing. Email your photo submission to gwyneth@garivers.org.

Check out more details and a sneak peek of the 2013 Monthly Themes:
http://ow.ly/gKakg

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Join CRBI on a Paddle through a Proposed Shopping Center in Rome Jan. 19

Come Paddle Through A Proposed Shopping Center in Rome

THIS SATURDAY! Jan. 19, 10:30 AM. Join CRBI as we explore the Burwell Creek floodplain and wetlands that are slated for development into a 60-acre shopping center Recent heavy rains have forced the Oostanaula River out of its banks, spilling over into adjacent wetlands and floodplain, including the Burwell Creek wetlands adjacent to Riverside Parkway and Ridge Ferry Park in Rome. This 60-acre parcel of city-owned land is slated for development into a shopping center…we think that’s a really bad idea, and we think you’ll agree after you paddle over what could be the future home of a strip mall. Join us for this educational adventure, learn about wetlands and floodplains and help us protect these sepcial places! Complimentary boats are available. Those with their own boats are encouraged to bring them. To reserve a boat, please contact Joe Cook at 706-232-2724 or e-mail jcook@coosa.org Participants should meet at the Burwell Creek parking area at Ridge Ferry Park. Click here for more information. Annual Membership Meeting and 20th Anniversary Celebration Jan. 28 At Rome-Floyd ECO River Education Center Help CRBI celebrate 20 years of protecting the Coosa at our annual membership meeting Jan. 28, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. at the Rome-Floyd ECO River Education Center. The program will include our 2012 Annual Report, Election of Board Officers, Recognition of Key Volunteers and Supporters and a special program highlighting 20 years of CRBI’s efforts to protect the Coosa. This is a free event with appetizers and drinks, plus all the great fish, turtle and other wildlife exhibits at the ECO Center. Learn more by visiting the CRBI website!  Georgia General Assembly Is Now In Session! Keep Track Of Important Environmental Legislation by Joining the Georgia Environmental Action Network! It’s Free! The Georgia Environmental Action Network (GEAN) is a free service that will notify you via e-mail when an important vote on environmental legislation is pending. Then, with a few clicks of your mouse, you can send an e-mail to your legislator to voice your opinion on the legislation. Sign up for GEAN Now! and get ready for the 2013 legislative session!  Coosa River Basin Initiative 408 Broad St. Rome, GA 30161 706-232-2724 www.coosa.org

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Announcing GRN’s 2013 Photo Showcase and GRN Staff Pick of the Month

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January 2013

2013 Monthly Photo Showcase and GRN Staff Pick of the Month GRN is excited to announce our ‘2013 Monthly Photo Showcase and GRN Staff Pick of the Month’. Each month we will have a different theme and invite you to send us a photo that you think best represents the topic of the month.We will showcase everyone’s photos on our website and social media and one photo per month will receive the illustrious title of ‘GRN Staff Pick of the Month’ and the chosen photo’s author will receive a surprise token of gratitude.We will accept photo entries up until the third week of each month and announce the GRN staff pick and showcase all photo submissions the last week of each month. January’s theme is: * * * Favorite photo of 2012 * * * So get those cameras poised and creative photo juices flowing and submit your January photo entry NOW to Gwyneth@garivers.org Here is a sneak peek of the 2013 Monthly Themes: January– Favorite photo of 2012 February– The love boat paddlers photo March– Photo of a river problem that needs to be fixed April– Best ‘Weekend For Rivers’ photo May– Photo of creative way(s) of conserving water/How do you conserve water? June– River wildlife photo July– Favorite 2013 Paddle Georgia photo August– Funniest paddling photo September– Summer water fun with pet(s) photo October– Protecting and cleaning up rivers photo November– Fabulous fall colors photo December– The gift of water photo Georgia River Network 126 South Milledge Ave. Suite E3, Athens, GA 30605 706-549-4508 http://www.garivers.org Become a Member Today – Join

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