Tugboat1
Senior Member
In the late 70's my father retired from the military and moved our family to Dublin, his hometown. The Oconee River caught my attention quick and I spent many nights on it's banks fishing for whatever would cooperate. For me, it had a Huck Finn mistique about it. An adventurous young man conjured up the thought of floating it from Milledgeville dam to it's confluence with the Ocmulgee.
In college, my two roommates floated the stretch from Milledgeville to Dublin twice. I loved it.
What about going all the way to Darien? It kept entering my mind throughout the years.
I unexpectedly sat in lockdown in Ireland during the beginning of the covid outbreak and stayed there seven months, unable to leave. I pondered freedom a lot. I thought about the upcoming year beginning my sixth decade. I decided to do it.
I just completed the 168.7 mile journey in a canoe from Brickyard Landing in East Dublin to Altamaha Regional Park, where the water begins being influenced by tides.. It was a wonder filled trip.
My only rule was that I would not be beholden to time nor itinerary. It was not a race. It was not a fishing trip. It was a leisurely float down two of Georgia's premier waterways as an observer.
I completed in eight days, in low water, by paying close attention to the current or lack thereof. My mantra became " The river isn't in a hurry, you don't have to be either". I had guessed it would take two weeks.
The rewards were many. From exciting animal encounters to meeting good and interesting people. A tranquil mind and a full heart. Beauty all about.
There's just something about moving water. It has a power.
In college, my two roommates floated the stretch from Milledgeville to Dublin twice. I loved it.
What about going all the way to Darien? It kept entering my mind throughout the years.
I unexpectedly sat in lockdown in Ireland during the beginning of the covid outbreak and stayed there seven months, unable to leave. I pondered freedom a lot. I thought about the upcoming year beginning my sixth decade. I decided to do it.
I just completed the 168.7 mile journey in a canoe from Brickyard Landing in East Dublin to Altamaha Regional Park, where the water begins being influenced by tides.. It was a wonder filled trip.
My only rule was that I would not be beholden to time nor itinerary. It was not a race. It was not a fishing trip. It was a leisurely float down two of Georgia's premier waterways as an observer.
I completed in eight days, in low water, by paying close attention to the current or lack thereof. My mantra became " The river isn't in a hurry, you don't have to be either". I had guessed it would take two weeks.
The rewards were many. From exciting animal encounters to meeting good and interesting people. A tranquil mind and a full heart. Beauty all about.
There's just something about moving water. It has a power.