A professional photographer returns to a favorite place from childhood to enjoy a romantic lunch date with her husband as they float in a canoe down a proverbial lazy river in Georgia.
Up a Lazy River Canoe Date with Charcuterie
As a child, photographer Ashley Hafstead used to go on canoe trips along rivers in the Georgia highlands, her father in back, she up front, their gear in between. “I just remember as a kid that it gave me this sense of adventure and self-worth going canoeing and also having the responsibility of helping to maneuver the boat with my dad. It was really great,” she says. (The whole family would also sometimes go in two boats, with an adult in each, their canoes tied together when they paused for lunch.)
Now, as an adult living in Santa Fe, she longed to reconnect with lush greenery, with the river, and to spend a long, languid day paddling with her husband. She used the same company, Appalachian Outfitters, that her family had when she was young. The outfit offers trips that depart from Dahlonega, a longer one along the Etoway (about 4 hours) as well as a shorter one on the Chestatee (about 2 1/2 hours), in lovely, old-fashioned canoes—or more modern kayaks. “You can pull off and go swimming and hang out on a sandy beach. It’s just really relaxing, honestly.”
How to Feast
Being something of a foodie as well as an avid cook, Ashley brought along an elaborate charcuterie board for lunch, to be enjoyed on the water. (The rivers are pretty calm so, if you’re not paddling, you’re almost sitting still.) She pre-cut everything and packed four small boards to rest on the canoe’s yolks to serve as an impromptu table. “Sometimes when I do picnics, I’ll make a cold salad—like a beautiful Italian chicken salad with an Italian vinaigrette—lots of herbs, cut up chicken, almonds, and then I’ll serve that with bread.”
She also brought along thermoses, a serving board, and two dry bags to hold everything. The couple left their coolers and other gear on a sandbar and then headed back out to have a super chill dining experience. “I love being around water. For me, anytime I’m on a river, it’s peace and solitude. It’s a way to disconnect from the sensory overload we have on a daily basis.”
The people at Appalachian drop you and your stuff off and then pick you up at a takeout point, so it’s an unstructured day, giving you ample time to paddle, swim, take in some sun, and recharge. “It was a romantic date for my husband and me—really wonderful.”
What You Need to Host Your Date
The road to a successful outdoor adventure—on land or water– is smoother with the right gear. Ashley Hafstead suggests some key items and sources.
Dry Bags
Top-loading dry bags in a range of sizes from NRS or Freelaxy keep your gear organized…and dry.
Thermos
A Classic Stanley insulates drinks (hot or cold ) with durable, double-wall vacuum insulation.
Enamelware Plates and Bowls
Barebones Living offers up timeless and unbreakable enamelware for an elegant lunch that generates less trash than paper plates.
Cooler
A steel Coleman cooler is substantial enough to sit on, insulated enough to keep your lunch cool, and durable enough to last countless trips into the wild.
Story by Stephen Treffinger
Photography and Styling by Ashley Hafstead
Canoes and Planning Courtesy of Appalachian Outfitters, canoegeorgia.com
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