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Paddle the Historic Etowah near Atlanta




The Basics:
Event Type:Water
Event Location: Euharlee, GA
Date(s) & Time:Sat, May 25 2013  8:45 am >> Sat, May 25 2013 3:30 pm  (Carpool Departure: 8:15 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Sun, May 12 2013 9:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, May 24 2013 12:00 pm
Event Duration:6 Hours 45 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Bobby Marie
Charlie Cottingham
Sharon H
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:28
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 15 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

We'll float and paddle 10 miles from the small town of Euharlee, GA, just west of Cartersville, starting at the new ramp on Euharlee Road and run West and North on the Etowah to the Highway 411/20 bridge for the take-out. Please see http://www.notatlanta.org/euharlee.html for information about the town! There is a restored Covered Bridge and Museum crossing the creek just across the river in the town of Euharlee. We can enjoy it and lunch at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse after our paddle!

This section of the Etowah is near Cartersville, GA just up I-75 from Atlanta and is a regulated flow from the dam at Lake Allatoona. It has a constant current, with Class I and low Class II's, to make for an enjoyable day for beginners and experienced paddlers alike. We'll see and experience pre-historic fish weirs all along the route as well as a Civil War era bridge that was once the longest iron bridge in the south. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife too!

This is a "BYOB event"-so, rent, beg or borrow, but please BRING YOUR OWN/A BEGGED/ A BORROWED/ OR A RENTED BOAT! (Kayak or canoe, no inflatable rafts please). We have a limited number of extra paddles and PFD's if you need to borrow. Please email if you can, to bobbymarie@bellsouth.net if you can provide an extra boat, space or gear OR if you would like to join us and need to obtain a boat or gear.

EVENT PLAN:
This will be a "rain-or-shine" float, and I intend not to cancel it unless the weather is really terrible. Paddling in a bit of rain or on a cloudy day is kind of fun. Wassa matter, we gonna get wet? We will take a break for a snack and some playing during the paddle! Especially if the day is warm and sunny!   

Pace is moderate, I mean it! Plan to spend the day on this event... If you decide to run off ahead just let me know so I don't worry or have to look for you! HOWEVER, if your idea of a river paddle is to lag behind the sweep boat and make everyone wonder where you are and whether you will ever catch up again, please advise the sweep or plan your own day on the river. We love you and want you to be part of our day!!  'Nuf said I hope.... :-)


WHERE & WHEN?
We'd like to meet promptly at 8:00 AM at the Busbee Park and Ride at the Chastain Rd. exit of I-75. We'll plan to leave the Park and Ride at 8:15 AM for the short trip through Cartersville to Euharlee where we will stage the boats and set the shuttle and meet and greet. If you meet at the event, please be at the ramp by 8:45 to be part of the shuttle set-up.


SHUTTLE SETUP: From 9:00 AM to 9:30 we'll send a group of volunteer "shuttle drivers" in their vehicles to the 411 Bridge take-out lot, about 6.5 miles from our Euharlee put-in. At least one of our drivers will then return all those drivers to Euharlee. After the float the vehicles left down-river including Bobby's with a trailer will facilitate a speedy return to Euharlee for those who may still have vehicles at our put-in and want to enjoy lunch and a look at the Covered Bridge and Museum!

LAUNCH & TAKE-OUT: We plan to launch by or before 10:15 AM from Euharlee and take out at about 3:00 PM or there-abouts at the 411 Bridge (on the right bank of the river).

OPTIONAL Late lunch/Early Dinner at Johnny Mitchell's Smokehouse in Euharlee (after the paddle): Check out their menu at www.johnnymitchellssmokehouse.com Great food, tea and desserts and reasonable prices! We'll depart at our leisure for the ride back to the carpool location or on to town! Every one who has gone on this paddle in the past usually says, Bobby Who?, after we have had a meal at the restaurant.

Personal Preparedness and Responsibility:
Be a competent swimmer.
Wear a life jacket.
Be practiced in self rescue, individual paddlers are ultimately responsible for their own safety, and must assume sole responsibility for their decisions.


Required Items to Bring:
  • Wear your Swimsuit, old Athletic Shoes or tight-fitting Sandals, a visored Cap or Hat, and if you like,a short-sleeve synthetic-fabric T-Shirt. If you wear sunglasses or prescription glasses, be sure to attach them securely to a "Croakie" strap. Don't forget to apply and reapply Sunscreen! If showers are forecast consider bringing a lightweight Raincoat or Poncho.

 

  • Please bring your paddling gear including a kayak or canoe, paddle and PFD minimum. If you have a kayak to share let the trip leader know and we will try to accommodate another person to introduce them to the joys of paddling!
    ANYTHING not water-protected and secured is likely to get soggy or washed overboard!!!
  • Consider bringing a small soft-sided cooler with a couple of beverages and perhaps a couple of pre-frozen plastic pints of water to keep things cold.  GLASS is A STRICT NO-NO on the River (carrying potentially a stiff fine) and cans should also be avoided. A few snacks, pieces of fruit, etc.in your small cooler or Ziploc might also be appropriate.
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Camera, snacks, and liquid libations.... we're not Saints you know. Just remember the no glass thing..

Money for late lunch/early dinner at Johnny's afterward.

A fun state of mind!

A good relaxing day to spend on the river away from pressing engagements in the ATL. Please don't overbook your day at the expense of everyone else.... just sayin'...... It IS a holiday...

 


How to Get There:
Event Directions:


DIRECTIONS from ATLANTA to our New Euharlee Road Ramp
PUT-IN" on Euharlee Road at the river near Euharlee, GA
1) From the I-75/I-285 Interchange in NW Atlanta, take I-75 North about 24 miles and get off at I-75 Exit #283 toward Emerson.
2) Turn Left onto Old Allatoona Rd SE and go 0.7 mile.
3) Continue onto GA-293 N and go 4.0 miles.
4) Turn Left onto West Avenue and go 2.6 miles.
5) Turn Right onto Euharlee Road SW and go 5.5 miles to the bridge over the Etowah.
6) Turn Left just at the bridge and into the NEW(!) parking lot at the ramp.
8) For a Map and/or Customized Directions to the Put-In from your point of departure:
Go to Google.com/maps and input as your DESTINATION the following "dummy address" which is just a few yards from our put-in:
998 Euharlee Rd SW Euharlee, GA 30120    The little side street is Dobson Dr. at the ramp

DIRECTIONS from the Euharlee Road Ramp to GA-20 ETOWAH RIVER BRIDGE TAKEOUT:
From our Put-In parking area
at the new ramp and parking lot.
1) Turn Left onto Euharlee Road and go 3.7 miles to Macedonia Rd (there's a church here on your right). 
2) Turn right onto Macedonia Road and go 2.6 miles to GA-20/US-411.
3) Turn Right onto GA-20, drive just 0.2 mile (eastward) across the Etowah River bridge and make an immediate hard Right onto the gravel river-access road and parking area by the Etowah. (NOTE: In order to return to the Euharlee Creek Put-In via the same route, you'll first have to drive eastward on GA-20 a short distance and make a U-turn before re-crossing the Etowah bridge to Macedonia Rd.)

"DIRECTIONS IN A NUTSHELL" from ETOWAH RIVER BRIDGE TAKEOUT back to ATLANTA:
1) Take GA-20 eastward in the direction of Cartersville. (Initially it will be concurrent with GA-411).
2) CAREFULLY follow the "GA-20 EAST" signs (through several ramps and turns in north Cartersville) to the GA-20/ I-75 junction at I-75 Exit #290. Total distance from the Etowah bridge to I-75 is about 14 miles.
3) Take the entrance ramp here I-75 South here at I-75 milepost #290 and return to Atlanta (about 30 miles to I-285 interchange).

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):60Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 8:15 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $24.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

Parking is free in Euharlee and at the take-out beside the River!


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.