This website would like to use cookies to collect information to improve your browsing experience. Please review our Privacy Statement for more information. Do you accept? Accept Deny. As the sun started to peek through the clouds, I was rushing over to the boat shop driving Betsy, one of the Pea River Outdoors vans that happen to be my companion for the final few weeks that I have left in Elba, to do a final prep before the big event. The idea for the event, which was the Living Democracy project in the city, stemmed from my first experience kayaking on the Pea River.
The event was aimed at highlighting and promoting Pea River Outdoors as an entity of the nonprofit, Restoration , with the goal of providing participants a fun filled day on the river.
White, yellow, and blue balloons were taped along the wooden rails and served as an accessory to the Pea River Outdoors signage. Kayak and Canoe Rental signs were situated along the entrance of the shop with Jamaican Reggae music by Ziggy Marley loudly setting the mood.
Justin Maddox was grilling hot dog sausages to compliment the chips, beverages and popsicles made from strawberry, honey, and basil that were on sale for the event. Before we knew it, the first group signed up for the competition arrived and was ready to go. I shuttled them to the river, helped them get in and started the timer. By the time I returned, another group had arrived eager to hit the water.
The four remaining groups arrived next. On the day of the competition, a total of 32 people arrived with 28 actively trying to be the Pea River Outdoor Champion for both sections of the competition.
