Third Annual Tour de Yadkin Begins to Promote Safe, Clean Water
From June 6 to 23, Dean Naujoks of Yadkin Riverkeeper will paddle from the Yadkin River headwaters at W. Kerr Scott Lake down to the confluence of the Pee Dee River at Morrow Mountain State Park. On this tour, there will be celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act—the landmark environmental law that set the standard for all. Naujoks asks others to join him in helping keep the Yadkin American waterways fishable, swimmable and drinkable.
For 2012, the Yadkin Riverkeeper has teamed up with REI and local boat outfitters to make the Tour de Yadkin a continued success and provide a safe, enjoyable opportunity to all—even if you don’t own a boat. Quality boats, equipment and shuttle service will be available for all Tour de Yadkin paddle events. Music, nature hikes, wine tasting and vineyard tour, historic plantation tour, camping and more guarantees a good time to enjoy with family and friends. Come paddle as many legs of this journey as you like during the Tour de Yadkin and support Yadkin Riverkeeper to help ensure fishable, swimmable and drinkable water for future generations.
Tour de Yadkin seeks to promote local businesses and ecotourism throughout the river basin. You can stay “afloat” on the trip by following Yadkin Riverkeeper on twitter at @yadkinrivkeeper, and here, on Facebook. Read weekly blog posts during the tour at our website, www.yadkinriverkeeper.org.
Sponsor a Mile (or More) to Protect the Yadkin
For those who prefer to stay on land or are unable to participate directly, there are other ways to be part of the effort. For $10, you can sponsor one mile of the trip. There is no limit; you may sponsor as many miles as you want to support paddling the entire length of the Yadkin River to the Pee-Dee. Each mile may be dedicated to a loved one, a boating or fishing companion or simply for the river itself. All funds will be used to protect the Yadkin River as to help ensure clean water for future generations. Visit our website at www.yadkinriverkeeper.org to sponsor a mile electronically.
Paddle-a-Thon, June 16 at Tanglewood Park
As our signature event this year, we will have our first annual Tour de Yadkin Paddle-a-Thon. As a participant based fundraiser, paddlers are tasked to raise funds to support the Yadkin Riverkeeper in our efforts to protect the publics’ right to clean water. Paddlers can join this event by raising a minimum of $50 by securing pledges from a local business and/or their friends and families. Prizes will be awarded to paddlers according to five categories. Those that: raise the most money, solicit pledges from the most people, travel the farthest to paddle, are the most creatively dressed, and have the best decorated boat. Prizes include: a kayak, a helicopter ride over the Yadkin River, paddle gear, Maui Jim sunglasses and more. No paddler will be left out of the prize pool. Every registered paddler receives a free limited edition Tour de Yadkin t-shirt.
We will launch the Paddle-a-Thon at Huntsville and enjoy a leisurely paddle down the river to arrive at Tanglewood, where the Clean Water Act Celebration begins! Paddlers and sponsors are invited to join us at 4:30 p.m. for music and food at Tanglewood Park, where prizes will be awarded. A Paddle-a-Thon Pledge Form is included and is also available on our website. Please visit our website for more details about the Paddle-a-thon and the entire Tour de Yadkin schedule.
Visit www.yadkinriverkeeper.org for the comprehensive Tour de Yadkin schedule with trip details (Trip registration is mandatory if you require boat rental and/or shuttling).
