Soggy Bottom Gals : A Kayaking Adventure
In November 2024, a group of four senior women who call themselves the “Soggy Bottom Gals” completed their mission; they finished paddling all 652 miles of the Tennessee RiverLine.
Meet the Soggy Bottom Girls
A Hiking Group Turned Kayaking Dream Team
Their journey began years ago as a hiking group. Melanie Harmon, Pat Hart, Dee Prickett, and Terri Cox would accompany one another in hikes throughout the area before joining the Soggy Bottom paddling group in Tellico Village, TN. They decided to form a spinoff group between the four of them, calling themselves the “Soggy Bottom Gals.”
A few months into their adventures together, Hart was reviewing the spreadsheet the group had kept of their travels and discovered they were well on their way to having paddled the entire river. When she brought this to everyone’s attention, they decided that nothing could stop them from paddling each mile of the river–not Alabaman alligators, nor run-ins with massive barges, and certainly no lack of commitment or physical fitness.
Hart says she keeps hiking and regularly goes to the gym to “pump some iron” in preparation for their paddles, and her reward for her hard work is enjoying the nature she sees along the way and living in the moment. Happy hour drinks and dinner are also great motivators for reaching their destination, she jokes.
“The mindfulness I get on the river is incredible; just like when I’m hiking,’” Harmon adds.
Abundant wildlife and other traffic on the river always kept them on their toes. Hart remembers a time when big Asian carp were attracted to the reflection on her paddle, and kept trying to leap into her boat to get up close and (a little too) personal.
“Your mind is just absorbed in fear when it jumps up,” she says, noting that your instincts kick in when you aren’t sure what’s coming. Luckily she kept her balance and her cool as they pushed on.
Navigating the Tennessee River, Dam to Dam
Using “Plan Your Journey” to Stay on Course
The group paddled dam to dam along the river, making use of our Plan Your Journey tools (an interactive web map and trip planning resources) to figure out where they could put in, take out, and stop for food and attractions along the way.
Hart, the logistical planner of the trips, says “Your (Plan Your Journey) resources were invaluable for finding boat ramps.” Missing boat ramps could be a costly mistake as sometimes there wouldn’t be another accessible spot to get out and rest for miles.
Digital resources weren’t the only help these ladies received out on the river, however, as she also says they “met bunches of wonderful people” along the way. There was even a time they feared they’d gotten dangerously close to a barge had they not been warned by some fellow paddlers. They appreciated that sometimes people would recognize them once they made it to a shared destination.
“Sometimes old fishermen would see us loading and they’d keep telling us to be careful. It was funny they were worried about these four old grannies,” Hart says. “They would give us a landmark and they wanted to help and they’d look out for us.”
Keeping track of conditions was vital for planning, as sometimes they could paddle great lengths if the current and wind were favorable. They found that sometimes the forecast figures could be deceiving, and learned to always throw a stick in the water to see what flow was really looking like when they put-in.
They planned trips typically between five and 16 miles, averaging about 12 miles for a day of paddling. They could double their speed during high flow, and once even cut an entire day of paddling off their itinerary because TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) let out water at Chickamauga Dam. They once cut an entire day of paddling off their itinerary because TVA let out water at Chickamauga Dam and created a hasty flow.
Sometimes, the conditions created challenges too. Choppy, aggressive water and inclement weather could slow them down and put a damper on plans. “That darn wind was our biggest foe,” Hart says.
Highlights from the Water
From Guntersville Gators to Historic Landmarks
The Soggy Bottom Gals completed their journey in 61 separate trips over three years. For Harmon, the variety was the most exciting part of seeing the whole river.
“It’s special because it’s so different. It’s not all the same thing so everyone can experience every trip in a unique way,” she says. “The type of wildlife, the type of terrain, from huge cliffs with caves, to houses on stilts in cotton fields. Battlefields, and multi-million dollar mansions, and a person that has a little shack that’s been there in his family for generations.”
“That to me was what made the whole adventure spectacular all the time,” Hart adds. “Because we never knew going out what it would be, so there was always that anticipation and level of excitement.”
Visits from wildlife, including cranes, pelicans, and a staggering number of eagles, created some of the most exciting times for the paddlers. Sometimes brushes with animals were more anxiety-inducing, however, including a time their desired ramp near Guntersville Dam was covered in alligators and they had to correct course to keep their distance.
The human history along the way was just as captivating. They were impressed and moved by the Civil War battlefields along their route such as Shiloh National Military Park in Hardin County, TN, and stopped at iconic locations like Hellen Keller’s birthplace in Tuscumbia, AL.
“We gained a new respect for Northern Alabama and we wouldn’t have been to these places otherwise. Then you’re supporting these local economies and seeing these beautiful little small towns along the way,” Harmon says.
Wisdom from the Water
What the Gals Learned About the River—and Themselves
The perspective they gained from seeing so many different lifestyles and sights gave the group a rejuvenated appreciation for everything that makes up the Tennessee RiverLine.
“It’s so easy to lose things so quickly, and it’s critical to do what we need to do to keep this resource available for those who want to enjoy it. And I don’t mean that just in a wilderness sense. I mean it in the different ways of melding major commercial traffic and development, and places to recreate. I don’t just mean keep it rugged and rural and not developed,” Harmon says.
The accessibility of the river for many in the region is another reason Hart encourages people to get out for a RiverLine adventure.
“I think it’s right at our back door and there’s so much of it, so many different sections you can go to to paddle. It’s just a treasure,” Hart says.
Harmon doubles down on this idea too, saying that the journey waits for anyone willing to try.
“It’s doable. Whatever a person’s hesitation is there’s a direct solution or resource (to help),” she says. “And we can help alleviate those fears.”
Want to hear their story in their own words?
Watch the full news segment interview where the Soggy Bottom Gals reflect on their 652-mile paddling journey.
Inspired by their journey? Start your own Tennessee RiverLine adventure with our Plan Your Journey tools and resources or find a RiverTown to explore.