Ohio River Foundation

ORF would like to thank the volunteers who make this event possible!

Ohio River canoe trip planned for September

from the Asheville KY Independent

Tuesday, July 29, 2003
By Kenneth Hart

PORTSMOUTH Canoeists and kayakers are being sought for a trip aimed at promoting the preservation and protection of the Ohio River.

Participants in the inaugural Great Ohio River Paddle will travel downriver from Portsmouth to Rising Sun, Ind. — a distance of about 140 miles — over an eight-day period.

Along the way, there will be a variety of activities for schoolchildren and the general public in the host communities.

The event, scheduled to begin Sept. 20, is sponsored by the Ohio River Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and restore the water quality of the river and its tributaries for the health and enjoyment of future and present generations.

Proceeds from the trip will benefit the foundation's River Explorer Program, the primary feature of which will be a 60-foot-long boat that will take people out on the river for a hands-on learning experience.

The first leg of the trip will cover the distance from Portsmouth to Vanceburg, about 20 miles. The following day, the paddlers will travel about 15 miles from Vanceburg to Manchester, Ohio.

The final leg of the journey Sept. 27 will be a 22-mile stretch from Sayler Park near Cincinnati to Rising Sun.

The foundation plans to make the Great Ohio River Paddle an annual event, and is exploring the possibility of expanding it both upriver and downriver in future years, said Rich Cogen, executive director and event coordinator.

He said the event was "getting quite a bit of interest" from sponsors in the host communities.

Participation in the event is limited to 40 paddlers, Cogen said. The cost is $220 for foundation members, $240 for American Canoe Association members and $250 for anyone who is not a member of either organization. The registration fee includes breakfast, dinner and snacks each day, overnight accommodations at some stops, a free ticket to the Newport Aquarium and a Great Ohio River Paddle T-shirt.

The event is limited to experienced paddlers and campers ages 16 and over. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the same boat, according to Cogen.

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