The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy and Keenan, Ciccitto & Associates law firm recently hosted the Annual Perkiomen Creek Sojourn.

There were experienced canoers and kayakers as well as canoe beginners on the trip, which began in Schwenksville and ended at Hoy Park on Arcola Road at the Skippack Creek confluence.
Conditions along the Perkiomen Creek can vary greatly depending on recent rainfall. A few good rains in the weeks prior to the sojourn helped increase water levels in the Perkiomen Creek for the adventure. The U.S. Geological Survey gauge at Graterford indicated that the water level in the creek was just about normal for this time of year, about 1.5 feet.

Thirty paddlers launched from Red Fox Park, just south of the Route 73 bridge in Schwenksville, after a safety lecture and demonstration. Two small dams were safely portaged at Plank Road and at the Graterford island dam.

Fortunately for the paddlers, the water level was high enough to minimize the need for boat dragging, which can be a standard part of paddling on the often low waters of the Perkiomen Creek.

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy hosts the sojourn to help provide a new perspective on the Perkiomen Creek. As one sojourner noted, "You get so accustomed to seeing the Perkiomen Creek from a bridge as you fly past, but being on the water for three hours makes you see the creek in a whole new way! It was great!”

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On Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors are invited to Pottsgrove Manor for a unique day of lectures to learn about the realities of daily life for those who lived and worked in early Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Humanities Council Commonwealth Speaker and storyteller Denise Valentine will share tales of African-Americans who lived, breathed and walked the streets of Philadelphia from the 17th century through the 20th in “From Richard Allen to Cecil B. Moore: Stories of Freedom and Hope.”

Food historian Clarissa Dillon will explore the domestic culture of a colonial household with “Many Hands Make Light Work,” detailing cooking, daily life, culture, and the women of the 18th century.

This program is open to the public free of charge, but seating is limited. To preregister, call 610-326-4014. Boxed lunches will be available for a fee and you should inquire about them when making your reservation.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 W. King St. near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422.

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Four students from Chester County's Kimberton Waldorf school, who were trekking for months with a group from Kroka Expeditions, are back at base camp after many travails. The four, Hagay Haut, Aidan Gross, Jacob Tucker and Hytham Hanna, had to ski and hike north with several dozen students from around the world, build their own canoe and travel back to base camp in New Hampshire.

To read reports on their progress, check out our Green Pages at http://www.pottsmerc.com/news/green.

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An annual U.S. Flag retirement ceremony will be held June 7 at 1 p.m. in front of the Vietnam Veteran's Gazebo Memorial Park rain or shine.