NOTE: After reading, please leave your comments in the space
provided at the end of this article.
ROME,
Ga. — Dozens of winter-resistant paddlers are expected
for the 5th Annual Polar Bear Paddle on the
Etowah
River set for Saturday, Jan. 15 in Rome. Snow showers are
currently predicted for the day preceding the paddle.
The six-mile canoe
and kayak paddle down the Etowah
from Jim Dixon Landing at Grizzard Park to Heritage Park
in downtown
Rome
is sponsored by Keep Rome Beautiful, the City of Rome and the Coosa River Basin Initiative
(CRBI). There is no charge to
participate.
Paddlers will push
off from the landing at 11 a.m. following a safety briefing and
announcements. Complimentary canoes and kayaks provided by CRBI and the City
of Rome are available on a
first-come, first-serve basis. Participants must pre-register by visiting
the CRBI website at www.coosa.org or by
calling
Alan Crawford, CRBI volunteer
adventure trip coordinator at
706-291-7449.
Shuttles from Heritage Park
to Grizzard Park
following the paddle will be provided by CRBI. Motorized
boats will patrol the six miles of river to
ensure the safety of participants.
“We always have a big
crowd for this event,” said CRBI Executive Director
and Riverkeeper Joe Cook. “It’s a
hardy bunch. We’ve even had some participants swim the six miles in wet
suits. It’ll be cold but the river’s always beautiful.”
In past years, more
than 100 paddlers have participated in the event. Paddlers will receive maps
highlighting points of interest along the route. Hot chocolate and porta-toilets
will be provided at the launch and take out sites.
For more information contact Cook at 706-232-2724
or send e-mail to jcook@coosa.org.