By Doug Alderson
October 2024–For this past RiverTrek, I was able to gain a new perspective. I served as a one-armed first mate on the support boat since I fractured my left arm playing tennis the week before. When I fell on my arm, my first thought was “Oh my God, RiverTrek!” X-rays the next day confirmed my worst fears and the doctor tried to suppress a smile when I asked if I could go on a kayaking trip. “No lifting anything over five pounds or putting any pressure on the arm for three months,” he said. Three months! But Georgia Ackerman soothed my hurt feelings by inviting me to ride on the support boat, and so I packed my food and camping gear, minus kayaking equipment, and embarked with the rest of the group from Chattahoochee. After all, the weather would be near perfect and river conditions were just right.
Riding in the support boat, you are a bit more of a cheerleader for the group and you try to stay out of their way on the water. We often zoomed ahead and then just floated for a spell and I soon realized this was the easiest RiverTrek ever. I took photos, steered the boat on occasion, and offered snacks to the group during sandbar breaks. I missed the connection with the paddlers on the water, but thoroughly enjoyed the campfire circles with them and marveled at how my paddling muscles didn’t ache at all! We had a very fun group, a mixture of generations, and all seemed to enjoy each other’s company. They even tolerated some of my ghostly yarns, even if they didn’t believe all of them, and I enjoyed Chris and Greg taking turns on a small guitar that Chris had stashed in their kayak.
The community dinner at Estiffanulga was exceptional, the way this small community has embraced Apalachicola Riverkeeper and RiverTrek. Afterwards, I walked over to Fran Davis, the main organizer, to thank her, and she just gave me a huge hug. I could tell this was a labor of love. Pierson Hill’s annual reptile show after dinner was captivating as usual with special guests being a couple of cottonmouths and a young rattlesnake.
A highlight, and a first for RiverTrek, was on night three when fish biologist Dave Warneke drove down from Auburn and camped with us on a sandbar near Wewahitchka. After dark, we unfurled a seine net and pulled it across the shallows. The diversity of minnows and young fish was astounding, ranging from hogchokers to striped bass. About a dozen species were represented and it gave us an appreciation of the incredible diversity of life in the river.
On the fourth day, we visited with former Riverkeeper Dan Tonsmeire and his partner Lynn Womp at Douglas Slough and learned about the slough restoration project from Riverkeeper Cameron Baxley. Dan is the on-site construction manager, living on-site on his houseboat, and we were thrilled to see that the deepening and widening of the slough entrance had begun, correcting damage done by Army Corps of Engineers dredging decades before. We also learned more about the fight to keep oil drilling out of the floodplain of the Apalachicola River.
On the last night, Roy Ogles and the rest of the dinner volunteer crew provided their famous feast fit for river royalty—a low country boil and sides along with Lynn Wilder’s apple pie and Dodie Alber’s carrot cake muffins. I was a bit concerned that I was eating well and not burning many calories on this trip, but not too concerned. A baked potato bar was also provided by Besty and Les Ryan, with other refreshments brought by friends and family.
As the group approached Apalachicola on Sunday evening and we heard the cheers and conch shell horns, and even saw a green dinosaur waving to us from shore, it brought tears to my eyes as it always does even though I wasn’t paddling. For some reason, it struck me more this time, standing on the support boat, that this was similar to how maritime communities had always welcomed their sailors home, thankful for another safe journey and eager to hear the tales. Afterwards, we enjoyed a chili cookoff at the Apalachicola Yacht Club where we honored Georgia Ackerman for her many years of service to Apalachicola Riverkeeper. While Georgia has retired from her position as Executive Director, I still expect to see her on future RiverTreks and in other capacities, because the river and bay is now part of her blood as it is for many of us.
Here is an album of RiverTrek 2024 photos.
Here is a RiverTrek news story by Doug Alderson.
A Big Loud Shout Out of Thanks to the RiverTrek 2024 Support Crew!. The RiverTrek campaign and expedition simply would not happen without the many people that bring the multiple moving parts together, sharing their time, talents, and care for the Apalachicola River Basin and each other. The 2024 Support Crew, Guest Speakers, Gear Providers, and Dinner/Arrival Day Hosts included: Fran Davis and Estiffanulga neighbors, Pierson Hill, Zoe Cross, Diane Alix, Dan Tonsmeire, Lynn Wamp, Carrie Jones, Clayton Mathis, Chris Matechik, Georgia Ackerman, Earl Morrogh, John Alber, Rick Zelznak, Dave Werneke, Roy Ogles, Betsy Ryan, Les Ryan, Cait Snyder, Jeff Smith, Dodie Alber, Lynn Wilder, Bonnie Gauthier, Susan Anderson, Susan Macken, Cameron Baxley, Billie Macken, Deb Bur, Katie McCormick, Anita Grove, Susan Doyle, and Mike Mendez.
The 2024 RiverTrek paddling team included Ashley Leonard, Chris Watkins, Benny Gresch, Caitlin McCauley, Paula Carroll, Lee Rigby, Rebecca Means and Greg Krivonak. The 2024 RiverTrek campaign raised $75,000 for the essential advocacy, outreach & education, and collaborative research work of Apalachicola Riverkeeper. This includes the continued fight to stop oil drilling in the floodplain of the Apalachicola River. Thank you, thank you for your steadfast support. Together, let’s continue to protect and preserve the Apalachicola River Basin!
Author Doug Alderson enjoys hiking and paddling in the Apalachicola River Basin. He is a long-time volunteer of Apalachicola Riverkeeper, including serving as a RiverTrek co-coordinator. He can be reached at [email protected]
