Myself and the other six park visitors celebrated on the water with sparkling apple cider and cookies and presented a commemorative award-a miniature canoe paddle inscribed "1,000th visitor"- to Bear.
I have been offering the two-hour interpretive canoe programs since 1995, soon after State Parks took over operating Navarro Beach from the now defunct Mendocino County Parks. I felt that the river offered a wonderful recreational opportunity as well as a unique way to educate the public about the great variety of plants and animals that depend on the river. Visitors also learn about the once thriving lumber mill and town that was at the mouth of the river over 100 years ago. During a typical morning or evening trip there's a chance to see ospreys diving for fish, redtail hawks, kingfishers, herons, river otters, harbor seals, deer and a variety of flowering plants.
No experience is needed, all equipment is provided and some easy to follow canoeing tips are given before groups go out on the water.
I'm surprised at the number of people who have never been in a canoe before. We get a variety of ages [the minimum age to participate is six]. We've had three generations of family members in a canoe many times.
Local scouts, 4-H groups, home-school families and the Mendocino Academy along with an inner-city church group from Richmond-many of their kids have never seen the ocean or been out of the Bay Area before-have taken advantage of the park canoe program.
The canoe program purchased all the equipment (trailer, canoes, paddles, lifejackets) with generous donations from local organizations and businesses: North Greenwood Community Association, Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too, Harvest Market, Navarro Canoe Co., Kiwanis Club of Fort Bragg, Navarro Vineyards, Roederer U.S., Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, and the Mendocino Area Parks Association. The San Francisco firm of Johnson & Higgins of California and their employees also played a major role in the initial fundraising.
The program runs from May through September and there is a suggested donation of $3.00 per person or $5.00 per family, to help with equipment repairs and upgrades. I try to make the program as affordable as possible and always tell people that if they can't afford a donation that it's OK and I'd rather they not miss out on the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Navarro River. Many visitors happily make contributions beyond the suggested donation. Fliers are posted at Navarro Beach, Paul Dimmick Campground, Hendy Woods State Park, Greenwood State Beach Visitor Center and at Manchester State Park Campground.
If you would like to join us, call 707- 937-5804.