Gleaning Facebook: Summer Camp for Grown-Ups

 Look at the first two days of te 2018 Paddle Georgia event! I may have to do this one. At 71 how likely am I to get a chance at paddling through the hometowns of my daddy and mother, through the swimming hole that figures so prominently in one of the stories I love to tell. Past the Milstead mill where my Daddy, granddaddy and great granddaddy worked not to mention a host of other relatives, past the "Dinky" narrow-gauge tracks. through the fishing hole where Mama Baird took my mama fishing in the twenties, past Porterdale's Osprey Mill where Mama Baird worked and the main Bibb mill where Papa Baird worked. Past the "Rock House" stone formations where my parents courted.

Maybe some of my relatives or friends would join me. If you are not familiar with Paddle Georgia I can sum it up thusly: Summer Camp for Grown-ups and lots of fun!

Gleaning Facebook: Joe Cook

Joe Cook, our former Riverkeeper and Executive Director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative, is now using his time exclusively for communication and advocacy for our rivers. To honor the work he has so eloquently led for years to protect our unique watershed, a bronze plaque has been placed in the sidewalk in front of the CRBI office. This morning we gathered there to surprise Joe, and "unveil" his plaque. Joe is very deserving of this honor. Few, if any, have done more for the environment of Northwest Georgia in the last few decades. Thanks, Joe Cook!

Tagging: Barbara Lamb, Nina Lovel, Perry B Lamb, Amos Tuck, Chad Johnfroe, Alan Crawford, Coosa River Basin Initiative

While we were celebrating Joe, the winner of the Kayak raffle came by to claim her gorgeous sit-on-top craft. And wow! Was she excited!

The kayak winner embraces the kayak donor, James Lossick of Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center. Thank you James for all you do for our rivers!

Gleaning Facebook: Polar Paddle

I am aggravated with myself for not staging a pic with my two former students who were along on the paddle. Tim Groves was my student back in the very early eighties or maybe even as early as 79 or so. It was so good to see him today. It's been many years. 
And Samuel Watkins who was my student just twelve years ago at Armuchee is a senior at Berry and a regular CRBI volunteer. What a great young man he has become.

Samuel Watkins

It was great to see you, Terrell Shaw, and your family as well! Why didn't we think to get a picture?!?!

Just starting out. Major victory… I managed to keep dry feet getting into my canoe. Brannon used my kayak. Sheila and I used a CRBI canoe.

I won a small ocean kayak in the CRBI Canoe-a-Thon last year (Thanks to all who donated to CRBI through me!!!) James Lossick at the Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center allowed me to pay a little extra and upgrade to this sweet river-ride.

I got lots of pics of the back of Sheila's head, but the one time she turns for a pic she closes her eyes. 

Amos, our new Upper Coosa Riverkeeper, and Joe Cook, the outgoing riverkeeper, agreed to take a January Polar Bear Plunge if we could raise $1000 for the river in one week. We did it.

At the right, Amos Tuck begins his swing out over the river as we paddlers's gape at the astounding stupidity of this otherwise sensible young man.

AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!

Joe Cook shed his clothing except for a bathing suit and life vest and started up the tree.

Off he goes...

Let go!

He tries to run on the rivers surface...

Whadya know. Joe Cook cannot walk on water.

Tersi Bendiburg
Oh my, that water has to be so cold!

Terrell Shaw
It was a wonderfully warm January day, but the water was frigid, Tersi. Thank goodness I managed to keep even my tootsies warm and dry.

 

After thunderstorms all night, by noon the sky began to clear, and for much of the float I had ol' Sol warming my shoulders.

This little family seemed to have a great time. The little girl paddled with her beaver stick and both children had a ball shouting to their echoes under each bridge.

I wanted at least one pic of moi, so I took a selfie as we floated under the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge just north of the Turner McCall bridge.

Gleaning Facebook: A CRBI Walk at Burwell Creek

 ---------------

 From Coosa River Basin Initiative Facebook:

Wow!!! What a turnout for the Burwell Creek Wetlands Walk!

I know it doesn't mean a thing without pics. Maybe Terrell Shaw will share some with us?

Comments:

April Saine Good Job! 

Terrell Shaw I counted 93 people! What a gorgeous walk. I wish Joe could have taken the pics and done his masterful job of 'splaining things!. I'll upload a few.

Nina Lovel I'm expecting some great pics from Mandy Loorham soon; will post them all here!

Mandy Wallace Sorry - had to fix dinner for all of my boys. Editing now - pics should be ready soon. Was a great turn out!

Beverly Niklasson wish I could have been there Nina..

Nina Lovel Bev it's okay; maybe we will do it again!

Terrell Shaw We need to invite our city commissioners and managers to walk with us.

-------------

From Mandy Loorham's Facebook:

--------

From Terrell's Facebook:

Today we took a walking tour of the Burwell Creek area that the Rome News calls blighted. Our city commissioners are pretty good guys (and Burgett Mooney of the Rome News, despite the editorial referenced above), want responsible, planned growth for our city. I believe when they tour this land, learn the truth about the value of it to the future of our city and our watershed they'll change their minds. Our job is to get their attention. 

You can be pro-business, pro-jobs, AND pro-environment. The strip mall at Burwell Creek is a bad idea. Target? Sure. All for it. Plenty of good locations for it without displacing beaver, deer, herons, foxes, fishes, salamnders, crayfish, and assorted other organisms. Not in our downtown wetland. Not on our beloved "Duck Pond". Not on our city greenspace.

Marilynn Ringstaff: Ahh! Look at Maggie- being a good little canine environmentalist! Thanks CRBI for the great tour of the Burwell Creek area.