Our last day on Fall Float 2014 had arrived with amazing speed and camaraderie. All 175 paddlers packed up their camp, loaded aboard the Baker county school buses and hit the Flint.
Folks who enjoy fishing were amongst the first to launch, ready to see what their lines would pull in. 
Shoal Bass were particularly exciting to see, given their threatened status.
The landscape of the 18 mile section that we paddled today had a bit of a different flavor than that of the previous 3 days. Long beautiful, golden sandbars and steep reddish bluffs jutted out of the river, as well as no shortage of farms, 
pastureland, and plantations.
The wind picked up significantly in the late morning as if the Greek God Aeolus decided we hadn’t had enough of a workout on the last 54 miles of paddling and wanted to make sure we returned home with chiseled muscles to impress our family, friends and coworkers.
Falling leaves swirled and danced above us gracefully before touching the water below and joining other leaves ebbing along with the flow of the rivers current.
Dobsonfly egg cases which resemble bird droppings could be seen on tree trunks and on the tips of leaves, soon to hatch out and fall into the water below to begin their cycle of life. Metamorphosing from ferocious swimming predatory nymphs called Hellgrammites (often used as fish bait), to flying adults, the males of which have 2 inch mandibles.
Other less conspicuous critters tha
t were spotted along the banks include tree frogs, turtles, giant spiders, and the chimney-like burrows of Crawfish. Just to name a few.
The Springs we encountered were small but pristine, and the water seemed to boil forth with more fury than previous blue holes we had seen.
We pulled into our final landing with a sense of accomplishment and a heightened understanding and passion for this mighty river and sensitive ecosystem.
As your head hits the pillow tonight- with a well-earned thump – we hope you reflect on the new friendships, experiences, and knowledge gained from this first Paddle Georgia Fall Float, and we look forward to seeing you on the next Georgia River Network adventure!
Y’all come back now, y ’hear?
Keep on rollin’ down the river ~
Gwyneth Moody
Georgia River Network
Community Programs Coordinator
Satterfields provided another sumptuous supper that left everyone feeling satiated, smiley and ready for the evening entertainment of S’mores and river trivia by the campfire.
The 15 mile journey today seemed like a breeze after 95 miles of paddling under 
our belts over the past 6 days.
to learning how to paddle, seeing owls and other wildlife, and working very hard.
n amazing and exhilarating feeling to go behind the water fall and look out from under the stream of water at everyone enjoying the pool beyond.
rovided by the 
Joe Cook gave a sentimental speech explaining their founding of Paddle Georgia together 10 years ago and how April’s unwavering support for going forward with the journey has in turn changed the course of his life and the future of Georgia’s rivers.
nted the riverbanks throughout the day’s journey- Swamp Hibiscus, Trumpet Vine, Queen Anne’s Lace – to name a few
ome lucky paddlers reported seeing beavers and we saw a beautiful Green Heron for the first time o
n the journey.
from the hot steamy weather of the last few days.
Trash Queen Bonny Putney. In the 10.5 mile stretch that we paddled- the shortest day on the water- paddlers collected a whopping 2500 lbs of 
trash!
But amongst all the trash, we found wildlife such as an adorable baby soft shell turtle as well as fascinating artifacts such as pottery shards, arrow heads, and milk glass.
instrumental in helping gather the large amount of trash overflowing from paddler’s kayaks and canoes with their snazzy motor boat.
y to ease into a lazy afternoon in a hammock with a book at Riverside Landing on the banks of the mighty Hooch.
fter a taste of the week ahead, day 2 of Paddle Georgia 2014 started out with even more excitement than the first!
uidance from our savvy safety boaters. The chilly water splashed our faces giving everyone a second burst of energy.
seats and fishing rods, but also mascots of all shapes and sizes. From Godzilla and King Kong to roses and flamingos, nothing is too geeky or posh for Paddle Georgian’s.
der turtles, Crane Fly larvae, Muskrat, and River Otter are just a few of the critters paddlers reported seeing along the way.
the water- smiling from ear to ear. Be sure to check out the 
own exponentially in popularity in recent years, and Paddle Georgia paddlers are no exception.
elease of water from the bottom of Buford Dam, which has changed the historic warm waters of the river to a chilly 48 degrees and in turn the species of fish that are able to live here. Participants learned more about this at 
the Buford Trout Hatchery today, where millions of trout are stocked into the Chattahoochee and other Georgia rivers each year.
What an amazing first day on the Chattahoochee river…
We couldn’t do it with out them! H I G H F I V E!
number of novice paddlers join us every year and to assist in boosting their confidence we offer a paddling workshop, which this year was led by extraordinary paddler Steve Kramer.
y reunited with Paddle Georgia buddies from year’s past.
waste for the first time, thanks to help from Kevin S
mith with Keep Forsyth County Beautiful.
lds complete with pirate flags and mansion sized abode’s. Paddle Georgian’s don’t mess around when it comes to comfort after a long day paddling.
udes the young and old, and people of different abilities and backgrounds.
Paddle Georgia, A Project of Georgia River Network - Weblog 