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鈥淭he summer started a bit slow with all the rain we鈥檝e had, but things have really picked up the last week or so,鈥� Ken Phillips of Rome性视界传媒 River Ratz said. 鈥淢ore rain means more water, which can make things a little too fast. Safety is our priority.鈥�

Phillips was contacted by River Rats after new owners Corey Rhodes and Blake Alvey, who were considering purchasing the company, but only if he agreed to come aboard and run it.

River Ratz runs a summer shop located in Grizzard Park where people can rent tubes and kayaks at the boat ramp off Turner Chapel Road and the East Rome Bypass.

From Grizzard Park, it性视界传媒 a 3-4 hour float to Heritage Park, where rafters exit the river and are given a trip back to Grizzard Park. They also offer a shorter trip, called the Downtown Float, which starts at the Eco Center on Riverside Parkway and lasts an hour.

鈥淢ost groups like the long trip from Grizzard Park to Heritage Park,鈥� River Ratz Owner Corey Rhodes said. 鈥淏ut the Downtown Float works for families if they aren鈥檛 sure if their kids can handle four hours on the water.鈥�

Another popular float is from the Hardin Bridge Boat Ramp in Kingston off Hardin Bridge Road to Neel性视界传媒 Landing on Cartersville Highway.

On Saturday, several dozen kayakers and canoers were gathering at the upstream put-in at Harbin Bridge Boat Ramp, including several groups from Rome and Cartersville.

One of the groups was from the First Presbyterian Church in Rome性视界传媒 women性视界传媒 ministry.

鈥淏asically, we鈥檙e on the river as much as we can be,鈥� Jenny Long said. 鈥淚t性视界传媒 a great way to cool off, enjoy nature and spend time with friends.鈥�

Long性视界传媒 group consisted mostly of single kayakers who set off together, as well as a brave soul paddling a stand-up paddleboard, which usually requires more balance and skill than a kayak.

Long said leaving in the morning is important because of the heat of mid-afternoon.

鈥淗ydration, hydration, hydration,鈥� Long said. 鈥淧lus sunscreen, reapply every two hours, minimum.鈥�

The church group was followed by a group of friends from Cartersville who initially got to know each other because of ballroom dancing.

Jack and Amber Smith, with friends Brian and Julia Litzenberg, of Cartersville, said they started going out with their group, which met while taking ballroom dancing.

鈥淲e started with ballroom dancing, and then turned into more of an adventure group,鈥� Brian Litzenberg said. 鈥淲e do hikes and ziplines as well as some more whitewater type of rivers. But this is a nice way to spend a Saturday.鈥�

The trip from the Harbin Bridge ramp to Neely性视界传媒 Landing is about four hours, according to Zach Tyree of Euharlee Creek Outfitters.

鈥淲e offer a trip from the famous Euharlee Covered Bridge to the Harbin Bridge Boat Ramp, which is about 2-3 hours,鈥� Tyree said. 鈥淲e also offer a longer trip from the Harbin Bridge launch to Neely性视界传媒 Landing, which is closer to four hours, depending on how fast the water is.鈥�

Tyree said the float from the covered bridge to Neely性视界传媒 Landing has several surprises for first-timers.

鈥淲ell, we鈥檝e got several families of river otters as well as a bald eagle,鈥� Tyree said. 鈥淧lus a half-mile rock garden where you鈥檙e floating over a bed of river rocks of all sizes and a hidden spring where you can cool off.鈥�

They also offer both trips combined as one, which can take up to six hours.

鈥淎nd if you鈥檙e coming to Euharlee, check out our famous covered bridge and our new restaurants,鈥� Tyree said. 鈥淭he Outpost by Drowned Valley Brewing has a fantastic selection of craft beers.鈥�

In Cave Spring, Cedar Creek RV and Outdoor Center on Hwy. 53 offers kayak, canoe and tube rentals. Customers are taken upstream to a landing on Lyons Bridge Road and can float down, back to the outdoor center on a leisurely trip that takes anywhere from 3.5 to 4 hours.

鈥淥ur river business has been good and steady this summer despite the rain,鈥� owner John Pike said. 鈥淏ecause a low river is good for fishing, while a high river is faster, and good for kayaking, so we鈥檙e busy either way.鈥�

Pike said they consistently have 1,500 to 1,700 guests annually, with many groups returning year after year.

鈥淚t性视界传媒 a great way for the whole family to spend time together and cool off,鈥� Pike said. 鈥淥ur creek is mostly spring-fed and very crisp, very refreshing, and crystal clear.鈥�

For more information, River Ratz鈥� website is ; Euharlee Creek Outfitters is: , and Cedar Creek RV and Outdoor Center is .