The Ladies and gentleman of this pink raft were island-ready, during the annual River Run, May 22.

Hub Staff

The long standing May long-weekend “River Run” took place May 22 along the Saugeen River with hundreds of river-warriors in customized “vessels” or strapped together inflatable boats. Warriors made a quick stop at an island before reaching their destination at Country Road 17, Thede’s Bridge, where a R.I.D.E. check was performed by Saugeen Shores Police Department with the help of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) from West-Grey, Hanover and Owen Sound.

Police were also monitoring the popular launch spot on Concession 4, making sure that everyone going into the river was equipped with proper lifejackets, bailout buckets and whistles.

“This of course is a tradition on the May 2-4 weekend and it’s been going on for a very long time,” said Auxiliary Officer Terry Varga, who had a busy day monitoring the River Run participants. “We’re basically down here to make sure that everybody is being safe about the situation, with life jackets and proper boating equipment as they're going on a waterway. And we’re just making sure that there are no open containers of alcohol, no abuse of littering or anything else.”

Sergeant Dave Butcher of Saugeen Shores Police said that besides a cut on the leg there were no injuries reported. “It was a very good day. The people involved in the River Run were drinking, but they were reliantly well-behaved. We did some enforcement to ensure that everyone that left with a sober driver and that everyone was wearing seatbelts, everyone was quite compliant,” said Butcher May 23.

There were several R.I.D.E. stops throughout Saugeen Shores on May 22. Approximately 600 cars were stopped with three roadside tests being administered in which all participants were under legal limits. Eight provincial offence charges were handed out but none were alcohol related.

It took a village of river-warriors and their parents to bring most of the “vessels” into the Saugeen River at the popular Concession 4 starting point, May 22.

And so begins another journey down the river during this annual tradition.

Members of Knox Presbyterian Church in Burgoyne, Ward Cox (left) Doug Gowanlock, Heather Gowanlock and Peggy Karby (right) sold refreshments and hot dogs at the Bruce County Road 17 boat launch over the long-weekend. The church is raising funds for the roof restoration of the historical Dunblane Presbyterian Church.

From man-made rafts to canoes and kayaks, the Saugeen River was a busy place, May 22.