Grab your kayak, canoe, or rowboat and spend some time on the Muskingum River Sunday during a paddling and rowing tour with the Marietta Rowing and Cycling Club.
"We've done this tour for the last six or seven years. It's just a leisurely trip to promote paddling and rowing and for folks who would like to meet others who enjoy being on the river," said Dan Jones, president of the Marietta Rowing and Cycling Club.
The 14-mile tour kicks off at 11 a.m. from the beach below Lock 3 in Lowell.
"Some people come early to get some breakfast at the Lowell Octoberfest before we launch the tour," Jones said.
The annual Octoberfest is being held Saturday and Sunday on Buell Island, near Lock 3, in Lowell.
Jones said there is plenty of parking near the launch site but noted those participating in the tour might want to arrange ahead of time for transportation back to Lowell from the end of the tour at the Marietta College and high school docks off Gilman Avenue in Marietta.
Fact Box
If you go
What: Muskingum River paddling and rowing tour.
When: Begins at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Where: Tour departs from the beach below Lock 3 in Lowell and ends at Marietta College and high school docks off Gilman Avenue in Marietta.
Cost: Tour is free but there will be a $5 lock-through fee at Lock 2 in Devola.
Bring your own canoe, kayak, rowboat or shell boat, a personal flotation device and lunch.
For information, Dan Jones at 350-6418 or dannyjjones@suddenlink.net
"We usually have about 10 to 15 people on the tour who bring their own kayak, canoe, shell or rowboat," Jones said. "At Lock 2 in Devola each boat pays a $5 fee to lock through the dam. It's extremely difficult to portage around the dam, so that's not recommended."
Tour participants will take a rest at the Devola lock and are encouraged to bring their own refreshments (no alcoholic beverages) for a snack before proceeding downstream to Marietta.
"No reservations are required-people can just show up with their boats before the 11 a.m. departure from Lowell," Jones said.
In addition to boats, participants, except those rowing in racing shells, must wear a personal flotation device and should wear protective footwear at the put-in, take-out, and any portage sites. Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses are also recommended.
Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau director Jeri Knowlton said the paddling and rowing tour is a great, free local outdoor event in which anyone can take part.
"It's important to make these events available to people as a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy meeting other people with like interests," she said. "And our outdoor recreational opportunities are excellent resources that are receiving more and more attention from the local community as well as from visiting tourists."
