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ALBANY, GA --
The Flint River is a major feature here in Southwest Georgia but it very under utilized and many times under appreciated by the people who live here.

One way to get to know this amazing resource is to take a canoe trip like ones offered by the Flint Riverquarium; they are a great inexpensive way to experience this amazing waterway right in our own backyard.

The Flint River gets it's start in the world just south of Atlanta near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

So like many, the Flint's birth can be a noisy one as it flows under the airport runways as a trickle.  Much quieter and peaceful is it's path as it flows south through the state and into Southwest Georgia.

Two types of trips are available from June into November, a shorter paddle two Thursdays a month let you enjoy about an hour on the river then refreshments and conversation at the riverquarium.  The longer Saturday trips take about six hours. Trips are guided by self-proclaimed river rat Steve Rainey for very important reasons.

"I’m a river rat at heart and the whole idea was to attract people’s attention to the Flint River" said Rainey." As I said at the start of the trip a river can’t have too many friends.  And so once you get them down here and they see what it’s all about they can serve as ambassadors for the Flint River."

These trips are not just recreational; they are educational trips and that starts from the beginning with presentations of what to expect and to look for.  The introduction includes different insects of the river, snakes and very detailed ideas about the Flint River its status and important role as an ecosystem here in Southwest Georgia. This show and tell is a great preview of some of the thing you might encounter along the trip. Occasionally you might see an alligator or snake. The snake population has declined so seeing a snake would be a rare treat. The barber's map turtle is very plentiful along the river.  Those on the river can expect to also see deer raccoons, beavers otters.

Your river education continues the entire trip with show and tell at key locations along the river;  at different stops you will learn about local geology, plant life, see artifacts and much more about the river that you might not have already known.

"It’s a fun trip even if you have some experience as well.  Especially because of the guide.  He tells you about the history of the flint river the history of the tributaries and really educates you as well" says Rene Mussell. Canoe trips like this is a great and underutilized resource here in Southwest Georgia.  The trips are not strenuous and with breaks for swimming, lunch, wild life watching and show and tell, it is never a dull moment."

Rainey says that as for the the difficulty level; we have had 70 and 80 year olds paddle this trip so it’s not too difficult. These trips are available for you to experience and it is highly recommend that you take some time one day to float the Flint.