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It was a cloudy spring day with rain in the forecast when a group of kayakers pushed off from the shore, the plastic hulls settling into the water as the noise of the outside world magically faded away.
The Savannah River stretched out ahead in soft greens and gray, the air damp and cool. Paddles dipped into the water with a steady albeit different rhythm, and before long, the clamor of daily life was replaced by rippling water, birds flying overhead, and the anxious anticipation of what waited around the bend just up the river.
Colden Watkins, better known as Cole, has been guiding kayakers on area waterways since 2011 when he launched Cole Watkins Tours. He routinely makes trips to Betty’s Branch, Stallings Island and the Augusta Canal. His tours are not simply about getting people onto the water. They are about helping visitors experience the river as a place of movement, wildlife, history and memory.
Before group members ever settle into their respective kayaks and venture from the shore, Watkins goes over a few safety rules. He explains the route, talks about what to expect and makes clear that Stallings Island is not a beginner paddle.
A paddle to Stallings Island is considered an intermediate trip because of varying currents. On the recent trip, Watkins said the current was a 2, enough to be noticeable if paddlers are not paying attention. He explained the river can catch a kayak and pull it offline, so he taught paddlers what he calls the “rainbow movement”.
Instead of aiming straight across and letting the current take over, kayakers angle themselves in a gentle arc, adjusting along the way so they do not get caught and pushed too far downstream. It is practical instruction, but it also gives people confidence before they get deeper into the route.
Watkins led from the front in his own kayak while Ryan, a member of his team, stayed at the rear as the safety guide, keeping an eye on the group, watching for stragglers and making sure everyone is doing well along the way. The front-and-back approach gives the tour structure and allows paddlers of different comfort levels to settle into their own pace without feeling left behind.
As the group moved upriver, Watkins pointed out more than just the route. He drew attention to the birds and other wildlife along the banks, encouraging people to notice the river corridor in its entirety rather than focusing only on the destination. That became part of the trip’s rhythm.
Guests weren’t simply paddling toward Stallings Island to see the island’s star residents – a group of donkeys – but they were drinking in what was around them.
Stallings Island itself carries more significance than many first-time visitors realize. The island is widely known for its donkeys, but it is also a protected archaeological site associated with some of the oldest pottery in North America. Guests can only experience the island from the water; they aren’t allowed to step ashore. Watkins folds in bits of history in a flow as natural as the water. The tour is not only recreational, but it is also educational.
On this outing, the weather added its own chapter to the story. Within about 20 minutes of launching, a steady rainfall moved in. It lasted less than 10 minutes, long enough to soak paddlers as rain tapped the surface and rolled off their boats.
Even so, it did not discourage group members. They kept paddling through it. One kayaker later said she should have dressed better and had not expected to get so soaked from the paddles during the tour, but she also said it was a good lesson for her. The brief rain became less of a problem and more of a reminder that being on the water means taking the experience as it comes.
As the group rounded part of the island, they eagerly looked for the four resident donkeys, but none were in sight.
Watkins whistled and called for them. The group waited. The shoreline stayed quiet. For about 10 minutes, everyone searched the island’s edge, hoping to catch a glimpse of movement. He had mentioned that, while it is very rare, sometimes the donkeys don’t meet the kayakers at all, depending on the weather or other variables. The steady rainfall that had moved through earlier may have played a role in keeping them out of sight. Eventually, with no donkeys appearing, the group moved on, disappointed but continuing the route. However, one slower paddler remained behind.
Then everything changed.
The last straggler heard a loud bray and looked to her right. Two donkeys stood at the top of a ridge.
They eagerly brayed in anticipation of receiving tasty treats. As the straggler turned her kayak back toward them, two of the donkeys galloped down to meet her and the rest of the kayakers, who were also making their way back toward Stallings Island. Watkins mentioned sometimes guests can even see dust clouds rise from the ridge as the donkeys run down to meet and greet them.
The mood on the water shifted immediately. What had felt like a missed opportunity turned into the moment everyone had been waiting for. Apples, carrots and celery came out of dry bags. The kayakers moved in close enough to feed and pet the animals while staying securely in their boats, and the scene unfolded with the kind of excitement that small children feel on Christmas day.
Watkins did not rush it.
He patiently watched the interaction unfold and took pictures of the participants, making sure everyone had something to feed the donkeys and enough time to enjoy the experience. People were able to look at them, feed them, photograph them, and stay in the moment. There was no hurried effort to move everybody along. Watkins seemed genuinely eager for his guests to have an amazing experience, not just to complete the route and head back..
Jenny is the eldest and the mother of all the donkeys. According to Watkins, she is the most reserved. She tends to hang back and is the least likely to eat from someone’s hand unless she is especially hungry. Abigail, Jenny’s oldest, is much more outgoing and often one of the first to come toward the kayaks. Buster Jr., one year younger than Abigail, is just as comfortable around people and, Watkins said, wanted to be held even as a foal. Hercules is the youngest, though not the smallest, and was born jet black. His coat has lightened some, but he still stands out as the darkest of the four.
Watkins also shared a darker piece of donkey history. An older male, Buster Sr., became aggressive and was eventually relocated after attacking the other male donkeys and injuring a female donkey that later died.
Watkins said via the Archeological Conservancy, Buster Sr. was harnessed and led by boat across the river, where he swam to shore and was placed at Big Oaks Rescue Farm in Hodges, South Carolina.
A later phone interview with Mary Moss of Big Oaks Rescue Farm revealed more about Buster’s life after Stallings Island.
“He was very aggressive and you could not touch him. But after a while in my care, he became very gentle and very laid back, We loved Buster and found him a forever home,” according to Moss.
The donkeys themselves are part of a larger preservation story. They were brought to the island as part of efforts to control vegetation and protect the site. At one point, goats were also on the island, and Cole said the donkeys were brought there to help protect the goats from coyotes and feral dogs. He believes the goats were eventually hunted down by the wild animals, leaving the four donkeys that visitors see today. Cole also said his team has assisted with vet and farrier visits for them.
For Melissa and Josh Reeder of Clarksville in the North Georgia mountains, the excursion was already special before the donkeys ever appeared. The trip served as a birthday gift for Melissa, who was drawn in by the unusual combination of kayaking and feeding donkeys after seeing the company’s Facebook marketing.
They had kayaked around ten times before and considered themselves moderately experienced, but this outing offered something different. Melissa Reeder said she wanted the trip to be a chance to “breathe, unwind, and enjoy the moment.” She and her son came prepared with apples, carrots, and celery, ready for the donkeys if they were lucky enough to meet them.
The setting itself also struck them. Melissa Reeder said she noticed the moss, the water, and the beauty of the river corridor while Josh Reeder saw something many visitors may not expect from the Augusta area at first glance: a scenic, peaceful environment that feels removed from the city even though it is not. Their takeaway was simple. The region offers more than some people realize, and outings like this deserve to be better known.
Diane Hoffmaster of Lilburn in Gwinnett County approached the tour from a family angle. Though she had kayaked before, this was her first trip to Stallings Island.
“We are here visiting my daughter and son, who live in Augusta, and they were the ones who discovered this adventure. And so, we just decided to make a day trip of it and do a family kayaking trip,” she said.
Cole Watkins Tours is one of several companies offering kayaking experiences. Others include Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental, Outdoor Augusta, Keg Creek Watersports and Clarks Hill Marina.
Nick Lovett is an independent journalist with over 20 years of experience in news media and marketing. A former writer for Aiken Standard and Fort Gordon’s Signal newspaper, she focuses on human interest stories that highlight resilience, community and positive change.
