175 exuberant paddlers set off early this morning for our first day on the fabulous Flint river.
Although we had anticipated cool fall weather, temps warmed up to the upper 80’s today- a welcome delight for those that decided to brave the beautiful but chilly 68 degree blue holes we encountered at Radium and Wilson Blue Springs.
Some folks even had the foresight to bring their snorkels to peer down into the depths where the water spewed forth.
Camm Swift and Brett Albanese- ichthyologists extraordinaire- dragged their seine net and scooped up a plethora of shiner, sunfish, minnow, and bass, etc… 
not to mention the scorpion water bug that resembled a walking stick but had a powerful bite for those that accidentally made a misstep.
The limestone topography dotted the river banks resembling a moonscape, with Floridan Aquifer spring water gurgling up from the depths below. Lush green ferns and vibrant red and purple flowers hung
over the karst ledges and caves beneath like a garden, with the occasional waterfall beckoning us to come closer.
You never would have guessed that you were paddling through downtown Albany until we made a special detour to the Flint Riverquarium.
Paddlers parked their vessels under the overhanging branches of giant cypress and made there way 200 feet around th
e construction of a new riverwalk and boat launch to the Aquarium.
It was such an interesting experience to go from the secluded and intimate river corridor into revitalized downtown Albany with its pedestrian street signs marking points of interest only walking distance away- such as the James Brown Memorial.
The Riverquarium is a must see with very well done exhibits of native river life, such as catfish, gar, terrapin & alligator snapping turtles, albino alligator and even tanks with animals from the gulf- such as octopus, sea horse, piranha, shark, and urchin.
Fathers paddling alongside their daughters, mothers with their sons, such a heartening sight to see that these paddling adventures have become such a special family affair.
At the end of the paddle, the colorful assortment of kayaks, canoes, and stand u
p paddle boards were lined up on the sandy riverbank and the buses lined up to whisk everyone back to our lovely temporary home at Chehaw Park where showers and the evening festivities awaited.
We were thrilled to be joined by Flint river supporter, Representative Winfred J Dukes (Albany)!
Evening entertainment and educational presentations also included Brett Albanese, GA DNR and Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper,
What a fabulous day! Really excited about tomorrow’s journey…
Keep on rollin’ down the river ~
Gwyneth Moody,
Georgia River Network.
Community Programs Coordinator
fter a taste of the week ahead, day 2 of Paddle Georgia 2014 started out with even more excitement than the first!
uidance from our savvy safety boaters. The chilly water splashed our faces giving everyone a second burst of energy.
seats and fishing rods, but also mascots of all shapes and sizes. From Godzilla and King Kong to roses and flamingos, nothing is too geeky or posh for Paddle Georgian’s.
der turtles, Crane Fly larvae, Muskrat, and River Otter are just a few of the critters paddlers reported seeing along the way.
Paddle Georgia, A Project of Georgia River Network - Weblog 