Hundreds of kayakers to participate in Paddle Georgia event

STONE MOUNTAIN — More than 250 people will embark on a seven-day, 86-mile adventure down the Yellow and Ocmulgee rivers as part of Georgia River Network’s Paddle Georgia 2018 starting Saturday.

Regarded as the country’s largest weeklong canoe/kayak camping journey, the Paddle Georgia event will give river enthusiasts the chance to paddle from Stone Mountain to Macon, with stops near Conyers, Porterdale, Jackson, Monticello and Forsyth.

“This year’s event will highlight emerging recreational boating trails on the Yellow and Ocmulgee rivers,” Paddle Georgia Coordinator Joe Cook said. “The Yellow River Water Trail winds through Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties, while the Ocmulgee River Water Trail, once completed, will be the longest water trail in Georgia.”

Participants in the weeklong journey, who range in age from 2 to 82, hail from nine different states and at least one other country, Australia.

“On the river by day, at night, the participants will camp at nearby facilities,” a GRN press release said. “The group will tent at Yellow River Park in Porterdale June 15-19 as they explore the Yellow River through Gwinnett, DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton counties, and then move downstream for three nights at Danridge Farms near Monticello as they journey down the Ocmulgee through Jasper, Butts, Monroe, Jones and Bibb counties.”

According to Cook, the event includes educational programs about the rivers’ cultural and natural history, tours of facilities and historic sites located along the river, nightly games and entertainment, and even a research program in which participants will help collect chemical and biological data with the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program that will provide a snapshot of the rivers’ current health.

“This is the 14th anniversary for Paddle Georgia, and in the event’s first 13 years, GRN has introduced more than 4,500 paddlers to water trails on 13 Georgia rivers,” Cook said. “Along the way, the event has generated more than $400,000 for river protection. The Altamaha Riverkeeper, Yellow River Water Trail and Ocmulgee River Water Trail will be the local groups benefiting from this year’s event.”

The trip culminates June 22 with a journey’s end celebration and feast, hosted by the Altamaha Riverkeeper, at Amerson Park in Macon, according to event officials. Members of the community are invited to attend the traditional low-country boil.

The celebration is scheduled from noon until 6 p.m., with a midday meal served at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for the meal ($16) are available at https://squareup.com/store/georgia-river-network/item/end-of-trip-feast.

On Sunday, the city of Porterdale, Nomadic Flow Outfitters and volunteers with the Yellow River Water Trail will host a downtown street party from 6-9 p.m. at the historic Porterdale Gymnasium.

“The free festival will feature food vendors, canoe and kayak demo rides, and canoe tug-o’-wars in a massive portable pool provided by Cedar Creek Park & Outdoor Center and live music from Scarlett Stitch,” the GRN press release said. “Four-person co-ed tug-o’-war teams can register at the event for $20 each. Proceeds from the tug-o’-war benefit the Yellow River Water Trail.”

Being the 14th year for many participants, Paddle Georgia has allowed enthusiasts the opportunity to journey more than 1,300 miles on Georgia rivers.

According to Cook, organizers hope the event will highlight the efforts of local individuals and groups who are working to improve access to these rivers and to promote them as amenities for residents and visitors to the area.

“Both the Yellow and Ocmulgee are often overlooked as boating destinations,” Cook said. “But both rivers are actually home to some great paddling, and both are within an easy drive of metro Atlanta. As these trails are developed, local communities are realizing the economic development potential of river recreation.”

For more information, visit www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia.