Susquehanna North Branch River of the Year
I joined up with the folks from the Alliance for the Chespeake Bay and DCNR to help celebrate the Susquehanna North Branch as River of the Year in Pennsylvania, during the pre-sojourn kick-off events last Wednesday in Sayre, PA. We all gathered in the Sayre Elks (after registering and setting up camp in the local community park) for dinner and presentations.

Everyone partook in a buffet of potatoes, salad, a few meat entrees, pasta salad, green beans, and carrot cake for dessert. I met a great fellow Sojourner at my table who brought along some marinated tofu cubes which she shared with me, a fellow vegetarian. And one of the other pluses to this location was that you could also partake in the open bar if you so chose (with perhaps a Yuengling lager, a PA brew from America's oldest brewery).

Following Dinner were recognitions of Alliance staff such as Dana Lomma who was in charge of planning and coordinating the Sojourn, local officials and partners, myself reprenting POWR, Marian Hrubovcak from DCNR, Cindy Dunn from DCNR, and DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. Cindy also told the story of the history of Sojourns in Pennsylvania, since they got started right here in Sayre and on the Susquehanna a good 14 years ago!

Folk music followed for those who stayed at the Elks, while some groups slowly worked thier way back to the park which was about a 20 minute walk away. Darkness had fallen and small groups gathered here and there for conversation before hitting thier tents for the night and the next dawn's first day on the river. I paddled along for the day and wished I could have stayed longer but other duties called. And as I write this, the Susquehanna Sojourners are still at it, 5 days later, with one to go, before heading home giddy with sun, water, friendships and the Susquehanna in thier memories of another year's Sojourn.
- posted by frank cetera @ 3:52 PM