You could win in any of a dozen categories. But you are not required to race: it’s a nice spring paddle anyway!

With the silent auction afterwards and a kayak raffle: it’s the seventh annual BIG Little River Paddle Race, a fundraiser for WWALS and Friends of Reed Bingham State Park (FORB).

Photo: Bret Wagenhorst, of BLRPR 2018.

Where: Red Roberts Landing
31°11’32.0″N 83°31’13.2″W
Rountree Bridge Road
Between Moultrie and Adel, GA
I-75 Exit 41 (at Sparks) to Rountree Bridge Road

When: 8AM-9AM Registration
9:30 AM Mass Start

Registration: Register on-line
Per boat registration: $20 until April 1, 2019; $30 thereafter (including on site).
Tickets online through eventbrite.
Plus $5 park entrance fee per vehicle payable at the event.

What: Canoes or Kayaks Only (overhanging branches make paddleboards impractical)
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) required of all participants.

Boat rental: available for separate fee at Reed Bingham State Park; contact the park in advance.

Photo: Phil Hubbard, of April Richards and family, BLRPR 2018.

Let people know: facebook event or the meetup.
But remember to register.

Cash prize: to the paddler who finishes first.

Photo: John S. Quarterman, of Benjamin from Bret Wagenhorst of WWALS to winner Lloyd Reeves, BLRPR 2018

Medals: to top finishers in several categories: male and female solo canoe, male and female solo kayak; male 2 person canoe, female 2 person canoe, mixed 2 person canoe, male tandem kayak, female tandem kayak, mixed tandem kayak.

Duration: Fastest paddlers will complete in under an hour, or even half an hour. Slow paddlers may take 1.5 to 2 hours.

The course: A scenic 3 mile, all downstream stretch of the Little River with winding, flat blackwater and some trees to go around. Alligators and/or snakes may be present. It’s flatwater through pretty south Georgia forest, under towering cypress trees, past live oaks, coppices of ogeechee tupelo, and majestic pines. The tannin stained blackwaters reflect the beautiful scenery and are typical of the coastal plain. Paddle it to win or just to enjoy the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT).

Food: Lunch provided at finish

Photo: Bret Wagenhorst, of BLRPR 2018.

For: Proceeds to benefit Friends of Reed Bingham State Park
and WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS),
which as Suwannee RIVERKEEPER® is the Waterkeeper® Alliance Member for the Little River
(and the Withlacoochee, Alapaha and Suwannee Rivers).

Park: Call 229-392-5513 or stop by Reed Bingham State Park Office.

Previously:

• 2018: The first-ever winner from Florida, 43 boats, 49 paddlers, 29 men and boys, 20 women and girls, from 10 watersheds, 15 counties, 22 cities, and two states.
• 2017: We had 54 paddlers, 31 men and boys, 23 women and girls, from eight Georgia counties.
• 2016: 34 paddlers, 12 cities, 11 counties, four states.

There’s plenty of room on the Little River for more paddlers! You can even win a Fallers Award.

Photo: Phil Hubbard, of Gregory Antonoplos & son Paul, Fallers Award, BLRPR 2018.

Backup: if weather gets in the way that weekend, we’ll shift to the following weekend.

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar or the WWALS outings and events web page. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Short Link: