By Eric Fleming w/ Photos by Nancy Packard and Eric Fleming.

The Flatwater group had two great paddles this month–first on the Conasauga, then on Sale Creek.

Conasauga Report.  On Saturday, May 13th, 18 TVCC and 23 NERA paddlers paddled the Conasauga River near Dalton, GA.   The river was high and muddy from the rain the day before, and overcast, which later turned into sunshine for a great paddling day.  We had a good current for the eight-mile trip and the few obstacles were about two feet underwater, which made for an easy, peaceful paddle.  Although the muddy conditions and narrow ‘ramps’ made for a difficult put in and take out, we got a system going and it went smoothly.

Thanks to everyone who helped unload and load boats, run shuttles between the put in and take-out and manned the ramps, helping paddlers into and out of their boats. We couldn’t have done it without you.  All in all, it was another fun day on the river in the books.

Sale Creek Report.  

Twenty-two paddlers enjoyed a perfect paddle day on May 5th on Sale Creek.

We put on and paddled up the right side of the Flatwater creek to the 27 bridge where we’d planned to take a break, but the mosquitos were waiting for us so we kept on paddling up the creek for another mile.  (Ruthie and I got chewed up at the ramps last week on the N Chick also. All this rain is producing a bumper crop this year).     We then turned around and paddled down the actual River Right behind the islands that led us back to the put in.  Sale Creek is a beautiful creek with big trees on both sides providing nice shade cover.  We paddled about seven miles with another great group.