It began in the heart of a 16 year old in a yellow ducky raft on the Chattooga River. Bob Brooksher has been in love with rivers ever since. Along the way, he has continued his love of all things river. He serves on the board of the Soque River Watershed, a former president of the association. He spends as much time as he can carve out of a busy life as a husband, father and business man, exploring the twists and turns, the hidden secrets and the teeming life that belongs to the river. His dream has always been to follow the Savannah River from its source near Whiteside Mountain in North Carolina to the Atlantic sea in Savannah. His long-time friend Joanne Steele has an upcoming birthday, her 60th, and she wants an epic journey to mark the seminal event. And so a long-time dream and a desired journey collide and Source to Sea, Savannah River Pilgrimage is born. Joining the pair on the journey are Joanne’s son, Jesse, and Bob’s dog, River. At home, Bob’s wife, Deana Brooksher, a Chiropractor at the Garden for Wellness in Clarkesville, heads up the support system.
The mission of the journey is: To explore the Savannah River from “source to sea”, connecting people and communities along its 400 mile length; celebrate and document the river’s beauty and diversity; and inspire action to address the many threats affecting its health. A film documenting the four and a half week journey is being made. To read more about the journey and to help support to mission, click on the following link: https://www.sourcetoseasavannah.com/home.html.
Why is this journey along the Savannah River important to Habersham? To begin, our beloved Chattooga River is a tributary of the Savannah River, as is Tugaloo and the Tallulah. It forms many of our beloved landmarks, including the Tallulah Gorge and it supplies water to many communities. Habersham is a little unique, the western part of the county, with our essential and beloved Soque River belong to the Chattahoochee whose waters end in the Gulf of Mexico. Our eastern land goes to the Savannah. The “water wars” of Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina, play out in large part along these two river basins. The health and well-being of the river and those along its shores are facing threats from many sources, politicians who want the essential water and navigation, pollution of many types. Joanne’s passion reverberates around nuclear waste. A planned event, “Oconee Nuclear: Fukushima on the Savannah River?” is planned for March 11th. See the website for further details. 
For those of us who dream of an epic journey, for those of us who live along the riverbanks, for those of us who love and care for the river, follow along with Bob and Joanne, Jesse and River Dog. Join them in their journey, support them as you can and learn about this beautiful river and its essential role in our community.
