By Doug Alderson, ARK Outreach & Advocacy Director
It takes a dedicated team to put on a successful RiverTrek. First, there is the initial organizing by Apalachicola Riverkeeper staff: establishing the team, setting the dates, lining up speakers and volunteer meals, etc. Then there are the trekkers themselves who gear up for months and begin raising funds for Apalachicola Riverkeeper in early July. This year, the team was highly motivated and exceeded our $65,000 goal, setting an annual record of more than $80,000. Of course, this couldn’t have been achieved without the generosity of hundreds of donors, so we thank you!
The RiverTrek support crew this year consisted of many people in various capacities. Harry Smith provided a shuttle for those who needed it. Ken Jones and John Alber volunteered as our excellent support boat drivers. RiverTrekker Cameron Lewis Barton provided social media posts during the trek. Mike Mendez cooked a spectacular paella for the group’s second evening, assisted by Katie McCormick. Pierson Hill gave an excellent reptile talk that evening, one that featured several live reptilian guests, including a diamondback rattlesnake. Cameron Baxley brought out the group’s day three meal, a delicious vegetable gumbo created by Georgia Ackerman. Roy Ogles spearheaded the low country boil on the last night with assistance from Cameron Baxley, Caitlin Snyder and Jeff Smith. Lynn Wilder provided homemade apple pie and banana pudding that evening and not a speck was wasted. Mary Balthrop provided two bags of delicious cookies for the group on day one and Diane Hines added rich chocolate brownies, so we were well fortified. And thanks to all who came out to welcome the group in Apalachicola!
We had several firsts on this year’s RiverTrek:
- A RiverTrek send-off concert organized by RiverTrekker Mary Allgire with assistance from Harry Smith and Haven Cook. It was a fun event of music, dancing and cake walks!
- Whitney Sanford of Gainesville was our first paddleboarder. Whitney recently completed a multi-day race on the entire Suwannee River and is gearing up for the Everglades Challenge in the spring, a race from Tampa Bay to Key Largo, about 300 miles. Go Whitney!
- On the trek, the team was able to visit Douglas Slough and East River and learn about Riverkeeper’s slough restoration project from project director Ken Jones, who also served as our volunteer support boat driver.
- As the group entered Apalachicola, they were greeted along the waterfront by The Flying Fish singing their popular tune “Apalachicola Bound.” Thanks to board member Lynn Wilder for lining up the surprise.
- As RiverTrek grows, this year’s trek featured the largest number of participants who live outside the region. We had trekkers from Asheville (North Carolina), Gainesville, St. Augustine, Bradenton, Pensacola and Punta Gorda.
- Woodworker Ray Jones gifted hand-crafted wooden boxes to all the trekkers with their names inscribed inside. Thank you, Ray!
- This is the first year we set up an alternate November time frame for RiverTrek in advance and we’re glad we did. The October time frame had to be cancelled at the last minute due to weather and rising river levels and everyone was able to make the November date because they had already blocked it off. The fall colors made it extra special.
- The last few miles of RiverTrek, often the most challenging, proved to be the easiest with a tailwind and outgoing tide. The end was marked by an immature bald eagle flying past and dolphins feeding near the bridge. Mother Nature put on a show, the weather was kind to us throughout the trek, and river levels were just right. We felt blessed!
For RiverTrek to succeed, it also requires a dedicated Riverkeeper staff and board of directors, and the support from family members for all those involved. We had all of that. Here’s to many more successful years!
