From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., for a series of Saturdays (May 17, June 14, July 12, and August 16), the Mellow on the Yellow summer paddling series will be returning to Porterdale at the Yellow River. The length of the paddling is approximately seven miles.

The event was started by Tonya Bechtler. “I started this because I wanted to show how the river is a beautiful resource to the community” Bechtler said.

Registration and ticket options are required to participate, and those interested in registering can do so at Everbrite.com, and Bechtler is hoping for a big turnout this year.

“The last one [paddling series] we had only had 100” Bechtler said. “This year we’re going to space it out a little bit and hopefully we can get 50 per Saturday.”

The first ticket option is the $40 package which includes a boat rental with shuttle service to put-in, along with a sack lunch from Plain Nuts, insurance. The second ticket option is the $20 package, but participants must bring their own boat. However, the participants will still be entitled to shuttle service to put-in, sack lunch and insurance.

Everyone will meet at the Porterdale Yak Club at 10 a.m. every Saturday that’s available.

The funds and proceeds that will be going toward the event will not actually go towards any organizations.
“We have the Yellow River Water Trail non-profit organization, but none of the funds are going towards that” Bechtler said. “The funds will simply cover the catered lunch and the boat rentals.”

There will be volunteers from the local community on each paddle to provide Adopt A Stream information, water quality, river history, water trail development, etc. The volunteers will also be paddling with the participants.

All participants are being encouraged to come early if they wish so and enjoy coffee at Argyle’s Coffee House, stay for dinner and live music at Jimbo’s Bar & Grill, or just explore on foot and all of these destinations are within walking distance to the Yellow River.

For more information about the paddling series please contact Chairman& Public Outreach, Tonya Bechtler at 770-364-0911 or email her at tonyabechtler@gmail.com. Other information can also be found on yellowriverwatertrail.org and the Yellow River water trail can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.