SUNBURY — Torrential weekend rains, rising water and rapids couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 70 people who completed a six-day, 100-mile guided canoe and kayak journey called the North Branch Susquehanna Sojourn on Tuesday afternoon at Shikellamy State Park.
Organized by the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, the sojourn was meant for participants to experience firsthand the natural habitat along the Susquehanna River and to visit river towns along the way.
Nature lovers from as far away as McLean, Va., Corning, N.Y., Pittsburgh and Scranton joined local residents on the trip, which began at Vosburg Neck, Pa.
Two kayakers celebrated their birthday on the trip, Kathy Celli, 50, of Scranton, and Emmett Dingee, 75, of Clark Summit.
Cody Goddard, of Mifflinburg, paddled a solo canoe on the trip, his 15th year of sojourning. “There are 12 sojourns throughout Pennsylvania, and I’d say this North Branch sojourn has the best family atmosphere. Everybody really bonded,” he said.
Goddard particularly liked the scenery in the Endless Mountains region above Wilkes-Barre near Wyalusing and Tunkhannock. “Seeing the bald eagles, almost every day, was breath-taking,” he added.
Merrily Pierce came all the way from McLean, Va., to experience the beauty of the North Branch for the first time. “The river is such a valuable natural resource,” she said.
“The northern branch is so visually beautiful, the geography was worth coming this far to see,” she said. “I’m so impressed by the Susquehanna Greenway effort. The whole concept of connecting the river towns is a terrific idea.”
Joan Cashin, mayor of Wyalusing, has been on the North Branch sojourn four times. She said: “What I’ve liked about all of the sojourns is that it’s a tremendous educational experience and a time to connect with the river. It’s an opportunity for all of us to see that the river is a friendly place.”
Cashin’s favorite moments were the eagle sightings. “Over six days, we saw about 10 eagles,” she said.
The sightings also were a highlight for Celli. “This was absolutely the best time,” she said. “I’m a novice. This was my first kayak trip. I was a little nervous, but everyone pitched in and helped me when I needed it. I also enjoyed paddling in the rain. I wish we could have been in the river on Monday, but the water was rising rapidly and there were trees floating down the river. It was dangerous.”
Kayaking in the rain also was fun for Dingee. This was his first time on the river. “You have to travel the river to really experience the animals that live on and around it. We saw eagles. That was amazing,” he said.
David Kolar, of Pittsburgh, is working his way across the state, sojourning first near Johnstown, then Juniata and now the North Branch. “I like the fresh air over water,” he said. “The scenery is beautiful. And this is my way of getting away from everything.”
As the travelers gathered at the park to say their goodbyes, Trish Carothers, development and outreach officer for the sojourn and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, said this had been a particularly hardy group of participants.
“There were a few days when we had to keep people off the river for safety’s sake,” she said. That’s when some of the educational aspects of the trip came into play.
“We had experts on the river talk about the wildlife, the ecosystem,” Carothers said. “I believe everyone on the sojourn had a great experience, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of our first-timers come back for more next year.”
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North Branch Susquehanna Sojourn reaches end
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