Hey, I can't help you out from Melbourne, AUS but I do hope you get your paddle back provided the river trolls have been kind to it.
Hopefully, a kind hearted sole will find it, retrieve it and return it to you. Good luck!
I have never paddled "The Gun" but would love to one day including others on the bucket list such as the North Fork Payette and some classic Cal runs! I used to live in the SE (Fla) and hit up the classic Appalachian runs the likes of West Prong Pidgeon, Chattooga Sec4 and the hooty fun Upper G!
Take it easy.
Cheers
Mike