Day One – Setting Forth
I was not quite prepared for this trip. As we rounded our 10th, 11th, and 12th miles of the day, I realized that when I saw “Paddle Georgia” I thought “Float Georgia.”
My dear friends, paddle means paddle. Ozark river float trips are a distant relative of what we are doing here. We covered over 14 miles of river today, mostly flat and nearly motionless.
No kicking back and cruising through riffles, no idly watching the current gently carry you downstream. Reality quickly set in that this week will require some endurance and grit.
Aside from this startling revelation, the scenery and conditions were beautiful. It was hot, but a consistent breeze and frequent shade from towering cypress trees made the heat tolerable. Even the act of launching a boat with hundreds of other people was an exciting experience.
