Wildlife sightings, history presentations and company of others keep paddlers smiling during the annual sojourn as it approached Reading
Despite soggy skies and a fast-flowing river, more than 100 paddlers enthusiastically launched into the Schuylkill River from Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township on Monday morning for Day Three of the 27th annual Schuylkill River Sojourn.
According to The Reading Eagle, the weeklong, 112-mile guided paddle from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia celebrates both outdoor adventure and regional history, with this year’s event honoring the 200th anniversary of the Schuylkill Navigation System under the theme “Canals and Campfires.”
Participants received a detailed safety briefing before setting out, learning how to navigate swift currents and avoid hazards like submerged branches, per the article. The high water levels, a result of unusually heavy spring rains, created more challenging conditions by eliminating many calm eddies.
Still, safety crews were in place to assist, and spirits remained high among the group, according to the report. Wildlife sightings, including bald eagles, and the shared sense of camaraderie among paddlers added to the memorable experience, even in the rain, according to The Reading Eagle.
Among the participants were families, longtime sojourners, and public officials, including all three Berks County commissioners, according to the report.
Notably, 83-year-old Donald Hendricks of Pike Township paddled alongside two daughters and three grandchildren.
The day’s journey included historic landmarks such as Kelly’s Lock and wrapped up with educational stops like Morlattan Village and an evening talk at the Allegheny Aqueduct, according to the article.
For more details and photos from the day’s events, read more here.
