Monday, August 24, 2009 - Pine River: Peterson Bridge to Low Bridge
Participants: Rob Barker, Roseanne Bowman, Bob Fitch, Lois Goldstein, John Heiam, Jean Palmieri, Marlene and Marv Puska, Judy and Fred Swartz, and Jocelyn Trepte
Boats: 7 kayaks, 2 solo canoes, 1 tandem canoe
The eleven TAPC members met at Peterson Bridge as the sun climbed up high enough to strike the river and warm us as we prepared the kayaks and canoes. Grabbers and trash bags were distributed for the hopeful “treasure.” After a few introductions and instructions, we launched into the fairly swift current and the turbid waters.
Initially, only an occasional bottle was retrieved.
Before long, we encountered immense and frequent log jams surrounded by swift currents. These consistently provided the sought-after cans, bottles, plastic scrap, shoes, and bags. In fact, enough full cans of beer were found, that Bob Fitch was considering opening a party store. With the motto “No Can Left Behind”, Roseanne, Jocelyn, and Jean charged into the most forbidden pileup of logs despite tricky currents.
One logjam was so tenacious in holding onto its trash, that it caused a kayak to capsize. Despite the logs and current working together to drag down the boat, the rescue techniques were successful to the applause of the other members.
One reward of this trip was the fifteen large bags of trash collected by the time we reached Low Bridge. An even greater reward was Mother Nature thanking us by providing beautiful weather and scenery throughout the six hours of paddling this remarkable river.
Rob Barker
P.S. from Lois Goldstein - We cleaned this river just five weeks ago, so finding 15 large bags of trash was a bit disheartening. That doesn't even count the two cases of beer taken home by our club president and his wife (we thought about taking up a collection for them, but they kind of like the variety of brews), and the half-kayak full of cans taken by the trash queen for those 10 cent deposits. So it was good to know that we got all that stuff out of the river, but a bit sad to think that we had this section perfectly clean just last month. If cans and bottles and "Jello shots" were prohibited on the Pine, and if people were required to wear shoes that stay on their feet (note: Jean actually found a shoe identical to the ones she was wearing!), we wouldn't have to keep returning there. Still we all had a great time, and will continue to strive to make the Pine a pristine stream to enjoy year round.
