For at least the last two years the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) organization has hosted a three part Discovery Series of guided paddling excursions down the Chattahoochee River. Susan and I completed part 1 of the series last year but were unable to join the other two parts of the series until 2015. We completed part 2 of the series last month. This is my report from the third and final part of the series on Saturday, August 1st which starts at Johnson Ferry and ends at Paces Mill.
I brought along my Garmin 910XT watch, Garmin Virb Elite video camera, Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 camera, and Samsung S5 cellphone to capture the trip. Most of the images were taken with the Olympus camera and only a few with the cellphone. All four devices are water tolerant to varying degrees. The map below was captured with the 910XT watch which was left on for the duration. I captured several snippets of video with the with the Virb and this time I've included the various data metrics for speed, distance, etc. I neglected to do that in the Kayaking the Hooch - Part 2 report.
Per my Garmin watch, this trip covered a distance of 7.31 miles and took just under 3 1/2 hours to complete, start to finish including breaks. The whole trip was 7 1/2 hours for Susan and I. We left home at 7 a.m. and returned at 2:30 p.m. It was a long day but what a treat. The north side of Atlanta is sooo nice. Beautiful homes, landscaping everywhere, friendly people, plenty of safe, clean recreational facilities, restaurants, shopping, etc. Susan was so content that even after stung by a bee during lunch she smiled afterwards. Not surprisingly, Susan had packed some Benadryl in our lunch bag. She took a pill to minimize her reaction to the sting.
We arrived at 8 a.m. at the put-in location at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Johnson Ferry unit, North entrance. We unloaded our boats by the ramp to the river and waited.
Unloaded - Wait here!
While Susan and a few others waited with our gear the rest of us caravanned to the take-out location at the Paces Mill Palisades Unit park off of Cobb Parkway. There is a mandatory $3 fee for parking at the park. Fortunately there is a credit/debit card machine if you don't have the correct change. After we were assured that all those who were planning to join us had arrived, we loaded into the trolley and headed back to the put-in location. The road distance between the two locations was about 9 miles or 20 minutes drive time due to traffic.
The trolley
Our guide, Ranger Jerry Hightower took the trolley ride as an opportunity to address a captive audience with tales about the river.
Trolley ride
Back at the Johnson Ferry ramp we finished any final prep before departing.
Final preparations of the group's gear
Ranger Jerry and trip organizer Tammy Bates addressed the group and went over a few safety tips. They also introduced the other volunteers that would be accompanying our group.
Safety briefing
The video below is the start of the trip. It begins at the Johnson Ferry boat ramp and covers the initial 11 or so minutes of the trip.
Here we go!
During the previous trip I used the waterproof case for the Garmin Virb. I elected to forgo that added protection on this trip. The little amount of water that splashed on the camera was well within its IPX7 rating which is defined as "Withstands incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes."
My kayak watch and camera setup
A brief lecture stop
One of the CRK volunteers
Ranger Jerry told the group about how the Union Army used the area to cross over the river to engage the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Ranger Jerry telling stories about the river at Sope Creek
Ranger Jerry and another paddler
Susan taking a picture
A muskrat den
Another CRK volunteer
Jerry giving some directions before lunch
Stopping for lunch on a small sandy beach
The list of animals we saw during the day includes; ducks, geese, blue herons, a kingfisher, and turtles...and dogs.
The ducks have learned to beg
Lunch break
It wouldn't be a party if someone didn't get wet!
A fellow paddler in a long boat - 17' long
Watching someone jump from a rock into the river
Awaiting further instructions
The I-75 bridge over the river
The take-out at Paces Mill
Although this is the end of the Discovery Series of paddling excursions for Susan and I, it should be the start of other adventures. The Chattahoochee Riverkeepers have other, longer and more challenging trips later in the year.
Back in June of 2014 Susan and I completed the first of three segments of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) - River Discover Series. That tour of the Hooch took us from Buford Dam to McGinnis Ferry. I wrote about that trip in my blog - Kayaking the Hooch. It was Susan and my first paddling excursion beyond the comforts of Lake Spivey.
This year our kayaking adventures started where we left off with the second segment of the series from Jones Bridge to Island Ford. Similar to the first trip, this was a 9 mile, or so, downstream paddling trek with CRK volunteers and Ranger Jerry Hightower as our guide.
The trips cost $35 per participant which is paid to the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers. Last year's trip included about 35 paddlers. Most of the paddlers, this year and last, were in boats designed for use on the river but there were other boats as well, including one 17' long ocean kayak. It was long, thin and probably very fast on the open water. Ranger Jerry paddled a canoe.
The paddling group for the Jones Bridge Park to Island Ford Park trip consisted of 37+/- paddlers several of which were CRK employees and volunteers. We also had along with us CRK Operations Manager Bonnie Jackson, Staff Attorney Kevin Jeselnik, Communications Director Celia Lismore, and leading the group was Outings Manager Tammy Bates.
This segment of the Chattahoochee is smooth and easy going. We had two tiny little areas where we had to shoot the Hooch.
The group met at the put-in location at around 9 a.m. at Jones Bridge Park. Susan and I unloaded our gear there. While Susan stayed with our gear, I followed the CRK vehicle to the take-out location at Island Ford Park. Me and others from our group left our vehicles there and took a trolley, that had been pre-arranged by CRK, back to the put-in point. Logistics is a major factor whenever kayaking the Hooch. Parking at Island Ford Park was $3.
The trolley
The trip from Buford Dam to McGinnis Ferry didn't have a trolley so the participants coordinated the put-in/take-out caravan of vehicles and people sort of haphazardly, but it worked out. The trolley on this trip is by far a better option.
The trolley ride back to Jones Bridge Park
When we arrived back at Jones Bridge Park Susan was waiting for me.
Susan is ready to go
Before we left on our adventure Tammy, the CRK Outings Director, gave us a safety briefing. Wear your PFD (personal flotation device) and watch-out for strainers!
Safety Briefing
The ramp at Jones Bridge Park
My Garmin 910XT watch and Virb Elite camera in place
CRK sweeper keeping the group together
Stop!
Ranger Jerry stopped the group to point out the abundant wildlife like Kingfisher birds, Great Blue Heron, Red Tail Hawks, Osprey, and the local flora and fauna.
Paddling
We stopped for about 30 minutes for lunch about 2 hours after we started paddling. Paddlers provide their own food and refreshments. Last year someone brought home made ice-cream and peach cobbler for everyone, our expectations were set from the first year, but unfortunately the bringer of that little piece of heaven on a hot day was not there. Susan baked some oatmeal cookies for us to snack on and to offer to our travel companions. We also had sandwiches, pickles, and chips for lunch. Start to finish we spent 3 1/2 hours on the river.
Lunch time!
The sandbar, located adjacent to Houseshoe Bend Country Club, was not quite as inviting as the rocky outcrop where we dined last year but it was about the best place to stop on this stretch of the river.
Lunch on the sandbar
Fellow paddlers
Whitewater... or not
Susan catching up to me!!
Susan says - Go get the truck, it's hot!
The ramp at Island Ford Park
One advantage of having a park ranger as part of your group is that you get full access to the locked/gated loading and unloading area of the park nearest the ramp. It sure beat having to haul two 50 lb. kayaks and gear 200 yards uphill to your vehicle.
Kayaks lined up for loading
The trip to Jones Bridge from our home in Jonesboro was about 44 miles or 50 minutes. It was well worth the trip. Susan and I enjoyed the whole group dynamic. There's a lot to see as well. I saw a muskrat swim under my kayak as I bumped up against the river bank near Holcomb Bridge Road. I saw one turtle sunning on a log. There were lots of geese, ducks, and baby ducks, and other birds. The homes along the river are also beautiful to see especially those in the communities which line Spalding Drive.
I took a few videos during the trip down the river. The first two video, both about 15 minutes in length were taken with the Garmin Virb. My Virb video doesn't include the available metrics like speed, elevation, etc. That data were captured with my Garmin 910XT and posted earlier in this blog. The third, last, and much shorter video was taken with my Samsung S5 cellphone.
Overall, this is a fun event for folks new to kayaking and the Chattahoochee. The Discovery Series helps promote the river and CRK membership is included with the registration fee. I would recommend one or all of these outings for anyone interesting in paddling. The water is cold so I wouldn't recommend swimming. The water is clean but I wouldn't drink it. Lastly, registration is limited and the trips usually sell out so register early.
Susan and I set off on our first river kayaking adventure on Saturday. We joined in on the first of a three part series sponsored by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper called the CRK/CRNRA River Discovery Series. Our trip is described as follows "Buford Dam to McGinnis Ferry (9 miles). Designed for beginners and advanced paddlers alike, the series consists of three trips running the length of the river within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA). Hosted by CRK in partnership with the CRNRA." The other two trips are on July 19th and August 16th.
We left home at 7:30AM and arrived at the drop-off point just below Buford Dam at the Lower Pool Park at 8:45AM. Everyone was instructed to meet at the park before dividing up to caravan to the take-out point north of McGinnis Ferry Road. Passengers stayed with the boats and drivers drove to the take-out point. Since McGinnis Ferry Road is south of the put-in point and closer to home I left our vehicle there and hitched a ride with another paddler back to the Lower Pool Park. Other drivers hauled the rest of us back to the start. We had already driven over an hour to get there. The logistics of kayaking seem to center around coordinating the retrieval of either boats or vehicles. It's a small price to pay!
Susan at Lower Pool Park below Buford Dam
The group consisted of about 30 paddlers including several riverkeeper guides and Ranger Jerry with the National Park Service.
We hit the water at about 10:30AM just as the fog cleared from the river. The water temperature was somewhere around 50-degrees. It was cold! Fortunately, Susan and I ended up in the "drink".
The planned course would take us about 9-miles over a duration of about 4-hours, 3 1/2-hours not including breaks.
Kayaks ready to to get wet
Susan is excited and ready to go
Paddlers line-up as they head down the river
Break-time as Ranger Jerry in the distance gives us some instructions
We stopped for lunch at the 5-mile point
Lunch-time on a rock outcrop
Susan made us some sandwiches
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper guides came well prepared. One of them had a bag of home-made chocolate chip cookies, peach cobbler, and... wait for it... vanilla ice-cream that he freely shared. You can see the bowls of ice-cream and cobbler being passed out in the image below.
Ranger Jerry on the left was the only canoe paddler
The rock outcrop had several small harbors
Susan and I at lunch rock
Two paddlers were in OKU kayaks. They are made of corrugated plastic and fold into something about the size of a large suitcase. When set up they seemed robust and were obviously well thought-out.
Two of the paddlers were in OKU Kayaks - they fold up
The Chattahoochee River from Lower Pool Park to McGinnis Ferry Road was very clean and almost devoid of any trash. That's likely due to the groups frequent planned river cleanups. There were fisherman all along our route. I didn't see any fish from my kayak but several fisherman showed us their catch.
The clear water - 2-feet deep here
Our group passes under Settles Bridge
I wore a long-sleeve shirt over a short-sleeve shirt, kayaking shorts and my Tilley hat all day and only felt warm a few times later in the day. The cold air off the water felt good.
Me in my kayak
The take-out at McGinnis Ferry Road
Folding up the OKU kayak
The headwaters of the Flint River start at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Clayton County just a few miles north of where Susan and I live. It's a shame that it is the 2nd most endangered river in the USA after the Colorado River. Apparently there is a Flint Riverkeeper organization.
I saw this Flint Riverkeeper sticker on another boat
Overall, the trip was a lot of fun. We got to do something new and meet new people. It was a nice way to spend a Saturday and far better than the lake paddling we had done previously. There were a few areas of very light rapids. Only a few of the paddlers had skirts on their boats. I probably accumulated about a gallon of water in my boat all day. Susan was a little less fortunate. The weather was great. We did have one brief period of light rain but not lightning or thunder. We're already checking our calendars for the trip.
