Mike Stacy loves the Savannah River and welcomes any opportunity to show it to visitors.
"We get calls from all over asking about navigation in the river," said Mr. Stacy, the city's marina operator. "They're almost always interested in Savannah to Augusta."
The voyage, he said, is a long one -- but full of some of the finest scenery anyone could imagine.
"I finally sat down and wrote a book about it," he said of his publication, released this year, titled Explore the Mighty Savannah River.
Above Augusta is a series of dams and reservoirs. Below the city, just past the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam built in 1937, the channel winds through 200 miles of scenic wilderness and swamp.
"I've made the trip numerous times," Mr. Stacy said. "We've done it in small boats, canoes, houseboats. I've been up and down in lots of different things, and I've even gone with people to show them how it's done."
Closer to Augusta, the Lock and Dam -- and the old train trestle at the city marina beside Riverwalk Augusta -- are interesting sites that people can visit with or without a boat.
"The old trestle is something everybody asks about, how it swings open and what it was for," he said, noting that the motor was removed long ago. "It's probably one of the most photographed things in Augusta."
Also at the city marina, the stone pillars in the river are all that remain of the old Hamburg bridge that linked Augusta with a now-extinct city on the river's South Carolina side.
Mr. Stacy's book, which costs $25, is available at the Riverwalk Marina gift shop.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
MY AUGUSTA
For a week when guests are frequent, we asked several well-known local figures to share some of the favorite places they show. This week, watch for more stories to see what they had to say.
April 06, 2008: Janie Peel, commercial real estate broker 
April 07, 2008: Brian Graham, Professional Disc Golf Association
April 08, 2008: Terry Elam, Augusta Technical College
April 09, 2008: Scott Dean, former mayor of Harlem
April 10, 2008: Becky Shealy, Augusta Aviation
April 11, 2008: Mike Stacy, marina manager
April 12, 2008: Clay Boardman, building redeveloper
April 13, 2008: Allen Dean, U.S. Army Corps of EngineersYOUR AUGUSTA
Readers share their favorite places to take guests:
"If you want to see really pretty, well-kept, interesting, mostly native perennial plants, taken care of by our Augusta Council of Garden Clubs, go to the Perennial Garden at the Riverwalk. It is located under the trellis at the marina." -- Jil Powell
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE? Why not share it: bill.kirby@augusta chronicle.com
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