A steady flow of paddlers spent much of Saturday enjoying time on the water Saturday during the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Summer of Paddling Event in West Alton. The event featured a free day on the water for any participant with canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and a few small sail boats at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary between the Clark Bridge and the Mel Price Locks and Dam.
Children of all ages and adults took time on the water either on their own or with one of the more than a dozen guides who were available to teach anyone how to safely go out on the water. St. Louis Boat and Sail, Big Muddy Adventures, the Sierra Club, and several other groups were on hand to offer assistance or information about using the vessels properly and even a history of the river in the Riverbend area. The event was part of a summer of events held all the along the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana in an effort to introduce more people to recreation on local waterways. To find out more, go to www.sop2012.org
