Thursday, March 15, 2012 5:00 am

The third annual, 22-mile Stones River Relay flows April 14.

The first leg begins on Short Mountain with a mostly downhill 4½-mile run. Stage two is an 8½-mile bicycle ride to the Arts Center of Cannon County where entrants will swap into canoes or kayaks for the final leg, a 9-mile downstream paddle to the Readyville Mill.

The entry fee is $20 solo; $25 for team of two; $35 for team of three.

The non-competitive, family event benefits the Stones River Watershed Association (SRWA), and entrants may participate solo or as a team to complete one or all three legs.

Open to ages 6 and older, but children 6-12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Check-in will be 8–8:30 a.m. at the arts center. Boats will be inventoried there; participants and their bicycles will be shuttled to the Short Mountain School where bikes will be inventoried, and runners will be driven to the top of Short Mountain for start of the relay at 9:30 a.m.

SRWA is a not-for profit organization whose mission is to protect, preserve, enhance and restore the natural resources within the Stones River Watershed. For more info or to volunteer to staff the relay, contact Neal Appelbaum at (615) 563-3276 or go to www.stonesriverrelay.com.

Canoes and paddles may be rented for the event. Check the Web sites below: www.mtsu.edu/camprec/outdoors/rental.shtml or stonesriverkayakrental.com.

First-Saturday Paddles

Following the April 14 Stones River Relay, Randle Branch, member of the Stones River Watershed Association, will host “first-Saturday paddles.” These events on the first Saturday from May to November will continue the float down Stones River to the Cumberland River. Visit the web site: stoneswatershed.org