Monday, May. 02, 2011

Tuolumne River is running high for annual fete

Bee Staff Reports

A bountifully flowing Tuolumne River awaits the people taking part in the third annual Paddle to the Sea.

The monthlong event, organized by the Tuolumne River Trust, aims to raise awareness about the river and downstream waters.

It will start Friday with whitewater rafting near Groveland in Tuolumne County and continue in mid-May with rafts and canoes on calmer river segments near Modesto.

Sailboats and kayaks will ply the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in early June and wrap up the 241-mile event in San Francisco Bay on June 4.

Participants can join in one or more of the legs. The cost is $15 per day for trust members; $30 for others. Each person is expected to raise at least $60 from donors to help with the group's efforts on behalf of wildlife and other causes.

Paddlers can bring their own boats or use those supplied by the trust for some of the segments.

The Tuolumne has been flowing high this spring because of deep snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. To enhance safety, the organizers have switched from canoes to rafts in the segments from La Grange to Hughson, but they said many stretches are still manageable for novices.

Related events along the route:

• May 14, Groveland: Concert by bluegrass performer Laurie Lewis from 3 to 6 p.m. at Mountain Sage Nursery, 18653 Main St. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

• May 21, Modesto: Green on the Stream Festival, 2 to 6 p.m. at Tuolumne River Regional Park, 1200 Tioga Drive, near Modesto Airport. Music, children's activities, food, beer and wine. Admission is $5 for adults and teens, free for 12 and younger.

• May 23, west of Modesto: Local Fare Feast on the River, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Old Fisherman's Club, 10800 Maze Blvd. Music, food and wine. Free to that day's paddlers and to a limited number of other people.

• June 4, San Francisco: Grand Finale Party on the Bay, noon to 3 p.m., Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39 at Embarcadero and Beach streets. Beer and wine, food, live music, children's activities. Admission is free. Aquarium admission is free for the first 200 registered guests.

For more information on Paddle to the Sea, call (888) 994-3344 or go to www.paddletothesea.org.