Photo credit: Adam Mobley

The first time I paddled the Lower section of the Green River in North Carolina,  I knew that I had found what had been missing from my life.  The elation, relaxation, camaraderie, spirituality, and oneness with nature that I felt that day turned my world  upside down. 

After two years filled with a series of struggles that culminated in a divorce and a loss of faith, I had found something that made me feel whole again.  The sport of whitewater kayaking changed my life.  I found a skill to hone that challenges me and that I can strive to improve each time I put in on a river.  I found a release from the stresses and tension of every day life; the river washes them away.  I found a path to regaining my faith through the purity of being in God's creation and experiencing the beauty and greatness that rivers offer.  I also found an ever-expanding group of friends.  They support me, challenge me, and are willing to literally hold my life in their hands.  They are more than friends, they are family. 

All of the incredible experiences and emotions that have come every time I get in a kayak all seem to be encompassed in the common expression in paddling circles: SYOTR, or See You On The River.  It is not an invitation to join a trip.  It is not a question as to whether you will be there.  It is simply a statement of an understanding of our way of life.  

I want to share that with the world.

Owner, 

Mary Pedrick 

Read more about Mary's journey as an ACA Certified L4 Whitewater Kayaking and Hand-Paddling Endorsed Instructor:

• Hand-Paddling Legitimacy: My Journey

• Hand-Paddling Legitimacy: The Journey Continues

• Welcome to the first ever ACA River Kayak Hand-Paddling Instructor Endorsement Workshop