The Happy
Paddler www.paddleflorida.org
Paddle
Florida's Monthly
eNewsletter July 2009
Paddle Florida staff
wowed by Paddle Georgia
Two Paddle Florida staff members traveled to Paddle Georgia June 19-26 on the Coosawattee and Oostanaula rivers for a week of paddling. The first day was full of excitement because most of the 13 miles was filled with Class I and Class II rapids. After that, the journey was a bit more subdued, and most of the 300 + paddlers had a terrific week on two great rivers in the Peach State.
Many Paddle Florida alumni were spotted among the participants as we traveled the trip's 92 miles. Unlike Paddle Florida, where we set up and take down our campsites each day, Georgia had just three overnight stops, as we were bussed from the take-out each day and to the put-in each morning. Kudos to the organizers of Paddle Georgia for their logistical acumen.
The most impressive aspect of the trip was that the Georgia River Network staff has done a different river watershed each of their five years. They plan to do a trip on the Broad and Savannah rivers next June. Paddle Georgia . . . we salute you!
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
Since we began doing Paddle Florida, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park has played an integral role in supporting paddling in the Sunshine State. James Cornett and Robin White have extended their warm hospitality for all of our Paddle Florida events. The park served as the kick-off point for the inaugural Spring Paddle Florida in 2008 and was our second overnight stop for our Fall 2008 event. This past spring, it served as our jumping off point and will do the same this coming October. The park hosts many music festivals during the year. Paddle Florida staff have had the opportunity to attend many of these festivals and the park's wonderful setting on the banks of the Suwannee River make it a venue we return to again and again.
Remember, you can subscribe to this newsletter from the homepage on the Paddle Florida website.
Remember, you can
subscribe to this eNewsletter on the homepage of
our website at
www.paddleflorida.org
Please click on the link below to view our short
monthly video
The second Fall Paddle Florida event
is scheduled for October 15-22, 2009
In our inaugural event last year, over 160 paddlers enjoyed camping, paddling, campfires and camaraderie while paddling 123 miles on Florida's majestic Suwannee River. Participants bring their own camping gear and boats and paddle each day on the Suwannee. Before and after each day's paddle, we feed our adventurers breakfast and dinner. An additional 'lunch snack' is provided on the river.
Everyone's luggage is shuttled to the next overnight stop and, after dinner, they are treated to some of the best music this side of heaven.
This fall, we have booked some new artists and some old favorites for our entertainment lineup. After our first night at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park on the 15th of October, the entertainment lineup begins with Jacksonville's Tammerlin at Suwannee River State Park.
Further downriver at the Suwannee River Rendezvous Campground and Resort, Paddle Florida favorite Magda Hiller will entertain us with her unique brand of off-beat, musical promiscuity on the 18th. Other surprises are being planned for the rest of the trip. Our final night's party at Fanning Springs on the 21st is always a crowd-pleaser, before we do the final nine miles and everyone departs near mid-day on Thursday the 22nd of October. Additionally, we will have all breakfasts and dinners prepared by our award-winning caterers, Jim and Cheryl Hollis.
For those who haven't had enough musically-induced relaxation they can go back to where we started, as the critically and musically-acclaimed Mag(nolia)fest will be beginning at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.
As ever, we will have our crack staff at the ready to address any and all issues that arise during the week.
All of our volunteers know that the reason the event is so much fun, is because the paddlers always rise to every challenge.
River travel and singing around the campfire has taken place on the Suwannee for over 12,000 years. We are just the humble inheritors of this tradition.
The Florida Park Service is a great partner in this endeavor, as we will be staying at many of the recently-completed facilities that make up the Suwannee River Wilderness trail.
It is going to be a great trip on Florida's beautiful Suwannee River this fall. By October the summer heat will be just a memory, so come join us, and. . . always remember to . . . go with the flow.
For more information, go to www.paddleflorida.org or call Bill Richards at 352.377.8342.
For those of
you who enjoy watching the Paddle Florida videos each
month, you have Tom McLaulin to thank. A Paddle
Florida alum, Tom took it upon himself to create these
videos for our eNewsletter. Tom also is the
driving force behind Paddle Florida's new experiment on
the Peace River. Without his outstanding
leadership, this new event would not be possible.
Tom McLaulin, we salute
you!
