On Saturday morning I set out with some good friends, not to collect trash, but to safely get a group down the Perkiomen Creek. This sojourn is put on by the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy and for participants it offers a fun trip with a lot to see. I love volunteering for events like this because it gets people out and on the water. They get to see and learn about the wildlife and with this I believe they take home a greater appreciation of the natural world.
This year we had just over 40 boats on the water. I was happy to see the good turnout.
This is Andrew Curtis another volunteer who took the lead this year as the head river guide.
Before we started out another volunteer ran a yoga session. I got out of it by fading into the background and taking pictures. I thought it was nice for the group, just not my cup of tea.
Generally from the start as a guide you can see who is going to need help along the trip. This group was awesome, everyone said they knew how to paddle and they weren't lying. I think it was the first trip I have ever been on where no one had any difficulty with steering.
This participant was super excited right from the start.
The gentleman on the paddle board is Tim another one of the guiding staff. Tim works for EMS and I would like to point out that they donated their rental boats for the trip and Tim as well. I would suggest if you are ever in the market to buy paddling gear or other outdoor equipment, stop by the Eastern Mountain Sports in Collegeville, PA. You can find Tim there and he can help you out.
This is a photographer from The Mercury. You can check out his photos here. http://media.pottsmerc.com/2015/06/06/photos-the-perkiomen-creek-sojourn/#1
This is Steve Guris, another volunteer guide. I was very happy with the amount of guides we had for this trip, it was definitely the right amount for the group size.
There were several very shallow channels that we had to go through. This is just below a portage site below a small dam. All of the guides worked very hard pulling the participants through these areas.
Not wildlife, but the one that just walked into the stream and laid down gave me a smile.
Another guide, Paul Guris pointed this out to me. He explained that the hole towards the top of this bank is a Kingfisher dwelling. He also informed me of how the hole is angled to work to the benefit of the Kingfisher getting in and out. I do not remember the specifics.
This was the lunch stop.
Fowler's Toads of varying ages were all over this stop.
While the Conservancy was giving an educational talk I took a walk and collected some trash. Then I went out into the creek to try to find another herp to show the group.
My walk took me to a large downed tree and this beaver lodge. Around the edge of it I was able to find something cool.
This little Common Musk Turtle was a nice surprise to show the group. Of course it did not musk. It seems to be a rule. If you pick up a musk turtle, they musk you, if you pick up a musk turtle to show a group for an educational talk, they will not musk. I was even asked why it didn't smell. To that I had no good answer, some just don't want to musk when you pick them up, but most do.
The day was perfect for taking out a group. Not too sunny, not too hot, light to heavy cloud cover and no rain.
One nice thing about guiding trips with adults. When you see them without shoes on, you don't have to make a big deal about it. We were very strict with the personal floatation devices, but no shoes was fine for this kind of trip.
This is Tyler Sacks from behind, the youngest member of the volunteer guide staff.
A participant just floating along.
Leading as a guide really is the easiest position. You have the least interactions with the group, which means you do the least amount of work. I had the lead for a short time and it was nice.
Towards the end it looked like we might get some rain. Those clouds did not take long to pass.
As a guide there are several things that can be annoying. This is one of them. There are reasons guides are in the lead, there are reasons that the lead guide might be going slow. When participants pass and go on ahead there are several things they are doing. One, they are speeding the trip up for everyone. Two, they frighten wildlife and they end up being the only ones to see things. Three, they take the lead guides focus off of the group behind them. Four, they may take a wrong channel, which could cause problems for themselves, the guides and the rest of the group. This gentleman just would not stay behind the lead guide.
Sweep guides navigating the boneyard after the participants have been helped through.
End flagger making sure the group made the turn for the takeout.
Making it to the boatramp at Hoy Park.
More volunteers at the end helped participants out of their boats.
Packing up after a good trip on the water.
If you are interested in more of what the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has to offer check out their website. www.perkiomenwatershed.org The sojourn is a yearly event. If your interested contact the conservancy and get signed up. I might see you on the water next year.
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