Canoe trip in May

“This entire region has been slammed by the weather, I think all the streams and rivers will be a push to float on. I'm open, but darned, I just got me a new floatin boat...I wanna use it...shoot and be tarned out!!!”

“it hasnt been so badin georgia!”

“What does the Buffalo look like?”

“It's probably too high.”

“Upon consulting with the great oracle...it has become apparent that paddling on the 11 points could be detrimental to ones health. The oracle says we should move to the Buffalo River. I called there and they have not and do not expect any heavy rain. It is no where near flood stage. If you all would like to switch to there, That is good for me. I have talked with Osa (real name) at Wild Bill's outfitters. there number is Wild Bill's Outfitter

1-800-554-8657

(870) 449-6235

23 Hwy. 268 E

Yellville, AR 72687

Please be aware that the lower portion that connects to the White River is a "NO ACCESS" area. Once reaching and continuing past the point of no return, you must go all the way to the white. I have maps of the river at home, I will study and consult the great oracle and present alternatives to the group...watch for the secret email.

If this was my fault, I would deeply apologize to you all, but since its not my doing, I won;t apologize. I hope that everyone will be able to make the switch.”

“Definetly looks like beautiful weather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EVERYONE IN!!!!”

“USGS 07056000 Buffalo River near St. Joe, AR
information”

“suggests that we hang in there and see how it goes by Wed, There is no rain expected to appear (heard that before) in his area. if the river drops a bit, he will have no fear putting us in. So...lets give it a day or 2 and see what happens...ok???”

“I can hold until Wednesday. If we have to scrub, I would like to start making alternative plans for the weekend by Thursday.”

“The lower Buffalo is a great float.
Statdewd and I have done it the last 2 years with our kids. 3 days (2 nights) is a must unless you really like to paddle hard. A lot less traffic on the lower cause you gotta commit to 2 days. Its a natural river - no flow control at all.”

“O Bufalo we come!!”

“There are several options on the Buffalo for either one or two nights.”

“lets see what happens, by wed, we can see what the situation is, it will be easy enough to switch to the buffalo. Chili and Mozark have rental reservations at the 11 points, and I am assuming that the sunday depart folks are set with shuttles.

The only downside for that section of the Buffalo, Garfum, is that you must see it through...3 days, 2 night...is correct, so the folk that wanted to leave on sunday would not be able too. BUT>>> there are other sections that are good, I will study and submit choices, but I'd like to give the 11 points a chance to calm down.”

“I think Grunt and I are in agreement to stay in the "wait and see" mode.”

“You can start at Gilbert or Maumee and still do either one or two day trip.”

“Good luck yall. I hope this trip works out for ya!”

“Walkindude, ya'll still haven;t got caught up at work yet???

I know what the problem is...ya'll spend too much time yakin on TT. If'n yude concentrate more on work and less on jawin, yude be comin on this trip.

We gonna miss ya man.”

“Well, Unlike SOME people here, I work at work. Besides, I'm a factory worker and don't have computer access at work.
We're still behind. I worked 9 house Saturday and 9 hours today. I'd say I'll be working late all week. We already have a full day schedualed Thursday & Friday and they're still not done adding on.

Besides, I'm not an experianced water rat and don't wanna even think about hitting a river in flood stage. I'm krazy, but not stupid!”

“i have the weekend free and a kayak with dry storage, so i am set to go anywhere that is chosen, within a reasonable distance form my home. i have been on the buffalo the past 2 weekends and it is not up. it is a beautiful float, the uppper bieng the most scenic. we could put in at ponca and float to erbie or pruit and have plenty of time to pull over and explore the hollows along the way. i had a freind wiht me 2 weekends ago float the upper portion with his physically disabled 5 year old, in a $20 rubber raft from wal-mart. i have floated the lower buffalo and it is not as scenic and requires alot more paddling. also, the upper buffalo dries up early in the summer and there wont be another chance to do it til next year. the lower stays pretty floatable all summer, with a normal rain fall.
either river, please still count me in. i am very excited about going on this trip.”

“we should go to the buffalo , i would like some clear water to fish!”

“wait and see, huh? i could have told you that it was going to rain six months ago when it was first being planned. all i know is im not spending this weekend in cincinnati.”

“Chili and Mozark, you will have to contact Kenny again and cancel the reservation if there is going to be a switch. I have no problem with switching locations, but I can't put my hands on my buffalo information, so you are on your own as for outfitters, check the nps website under buffalo nat river and look up the consessionaires, I will try to find my maps and pick out a camping location, We will have to be conscience of sunday departures. I do not know the place too well, so I will not be much help in picking out first night meeting spots until I can put my hands on my GD maps!”

“conessionaires

look towards the "upper buffalo"

Boxley bridge to Pruitt landing is @30 miles, is that managable for those staying on till monday or should we push for more mileage. I guess to answer that question, you all need the map that I just downloaded, I will send out an email with the attachment.”

“So whats da plan?
Is it weight and see on the 11points or is it on for the Buffalo? Inquiring minds wont to know.

PS just wonted to keep this kind of near the top.”

“this trip has been moved to the Buffalo, they have not gotten the rains, so the river is not wild.”

“this is turning into a nightmare, almost all of the rentals are taken from all of the middle consessions. Shuttle prices are 5 times what they were at the 11 points. In order to save $$$, We would have to all meet up at the rental place so that they can spot our venicles and then shuttle to the put in upriver in their vehicle(s).

I'm”

“I;m going to lunch and eat some food, then I am going to do some real work. I have wasted the morning on the phone trying to take care of this mess. Sorry, just venting.”

“Chili, you need to contact Jamie at "Buffalo Ridge Canoe Rental" # is 870-439-2617. and arrange for a canoe for sat and sunday. off river sunday at Woolum. Contact Kenny at 11 points and cancel. Cost at buffalo is $32.00 or thereabouts. You and I are still going to meet up at Hardy on Fri evening. I will need to call me when you leave your home, so I can depart also and be in Hardy at the same time as you. We will then drive to StJoe (where the outfitter is located). We will leave both our vehicles there and he will put them at the correct put out locations (I hope). He will then take you, grunt, me, our gear, your rental and my canoe to Hasty put in. If there are people that are present at Hasty(Prowler, Josh and company), the outfitter can then take their vehicle back to St.Joe and place them with your (or my) car for a sunday or monday put out.

Prowler/Josh...what are your plans for finishing...sunday or monday and how many cars will you have??? this will determine where the cars are shuttled.

Sonja, Is Kathleen coming with you and if so, could she be the shuttle back to your vehicle? If not, then we need to come up with a plan, cause $50.00 per shuttle is outrageous, but split between 3-4 persons is ok. I just can't seem to fit all the peices together here gang.

Jgiles, if your still in on this trip, you can paddle with me in my canoe and we will get you back to your car one way or another either on sunday or monday...I don';t see a problem with that. chili is off river on sunday.

Well that's it for me...I don;t think I can do anymore...I just need to know who's in and who's out so I can prepare the food.

Thanks all.”

“Two cars with us, we are going down Friday ealy morning! So I guess we'll be there around 4-6pm.

Im dont know the area so is it up to ourselves for directions?? Not a problem if you give a address for the place we are meeting.”

“The way I would go from cinci is all highway. I do not know what kind of road 50 is, but it is straighter than going up 74 to 70, that will be your call as the direction you want is to St. Louis. from there take 44 west (old Rt 66) to springfield and The BassPro shop, (bring your credit card, cause they don;t like cash) Then 65 south (this merges with 412 for a short bit) stay on 65 south to you past "western Grove" look for road #123 (right turn) take this to Hasty. If there are signs towards Jasper, follow them. Do not follow 123 towards Carver. The campground will be on the opposite side of the river.

If you got the pdf of the park map, if you expand it out, you will see what I am referring to. Call me if you want.”

“cool”

“Please grab 2 sites next to each other, we will split the costs when we are all there.”

“Just wanted to let you know that the bridge that crosses over the river at the campground is a low water bridge, so, don't be too alarmed if there is water running across the bridge, if its not too deep, you will not have any problems.

In speaking with Sonja (she's so smart) it was decided to meet at the camp site and then do the shuttling of vehicles, it will save a bundle of money. so see you all there on friday evening.

Chili, make sure you make the canoe reservation and Jgiles, you should call me. My canoe is open to you, if your still in.”

“Stikmon, why are you afraid to love?”

“I'll know tomorrow if that's not too late.”

“where does your question stem from...love is not something that I am afraid of. Why do you ask?”

“i have a sugggestion to save $$ on the over priced shuttle service charged by all buffalo canoe rental places....why dont we all just meet up at the campground friday night and work out our own shuttle amongst ourselves...for free!! i spoke on the phone with marc about this last night and i think he agreed that would be the easiest and cheapest solution. for those renting canoes, the rental place will drop the canoe offf at the starting point and pick it up at the end point, so you only need to let them know where and when. i beleive if we all work together and people are willing ot assist otheres in shuttling, this will be the cheapest and easiest for everyone.”

“Stikmon have you heard anything form Chili he has not been on ICQ? I was just going to see if he is still in or not. I will be out of pocket most of the day tomorrow I will check in when I can but you know how that goes.”

“what kind of weather are we looking at? what city do i check?”

“72601, but if you go to the nps site, you will find out all sorts of information, including water levels.

Grunt, I have not heard from Chili, and like a dummy, I didn't get his phone #. really stupid of me. The way he was talking, he was definetly in, and he had the reservation at the 11 points all set up, but he needs to move on the Buffalo. they are close to being sold out. I am waiting to hear from Jgiles weather he is in or out...hopefully in.

Prowler/Josh...are you staying on river through Monday or finished on Sunday? I'd hate for you to travel so far and only stay 2 days, but that is your call. If you are off river sunday, then Woolum is the exit point for you.

Thanks Sonja, for the quick thinking on the shuttle issue...$50.00!!! per shuttle. that's nutz!

APB for chili, you need to contact Jamie or Dawn at 870-439-2617, immediately. I have reserved a canoe for you. But they need the CC# to make it stick.

...and who and the he11 is chips76? I need psychological profiling like I need a second hole in my head...one hole is plenty good enough, and I've spent way too much money for more professional therapy. rank amatuer.”

“I'd be interested in joining ya'll if there are no objections. We have floated the buffalo contless times. I'm very familiar with all the places ya'll are talkin about( we named our 3rd boy Jasper-after the town). I'd prolly be coming with my wife & kids, who are all experienced paddlers(buckshot the mighty dalmation too) we have our own canoes & can shuttle ourselves so it wont strain the availability of boats from the outfitter.”

“i figured thats what we are doing for the shuttle! (meating on friday and shuttling that night, If Im not to drunk by then)”

“Just back from Huntsville (emergency trip to confer with extended ops),,,,looks like I will be back in the negotiation business for a couple of weeks to try to save our largest account. Have the information on the switch. Will cancel with Kenny tomorrow. Will confer with Grunt as to plans. Any forecast for weekend weather?”

“Looks like I am out. Havent been in the office since Monday, and have been on the phone all afternoon from home dealing with our legal department. We have a $23 Million contract on the skids and I need to devote full attention to this. Heck, I only work so I can afford to hike. When duty calls, I need to make sure I earn my keep.

Grunt may have to pass, but understands my delima. I really hate to miss this, but really dont have much choice.”

“give me a call!!! ASAP. You should have my number from the emails that I sent out.

Sorry to hear about the workage Chili, next time...lets plan a fly fishing weekend out near Hardy this summer.”

“Yah as Chili mentioned I am out as well. It was my plan all alone to ride with him and like the man said duty calls cant blame him for that. It looks like you will still have a real good group and I hope you have a great time so I will catch the next trip.


Grunt”

“you are more than welcome! see ya at the campground fri night.

Whoever is there first, make sure you grab 2 sites for camping.”

“new list:
Me
Prowler
Josh (plus 2)
Sonja
Stratdewd (plus 2 1/2)?
Grunt ?


See ya all there on Friday evening.”

“OK COOL! i have no idea what my wife will think of the idea, but dangit i got a gig next weekend so i wanna do something this weekend. she may send me alone(the dog goes wif me!)i'll bring my guitar for friday night(too bulky for da canoe)

http://wx.thehometownchannel.com/fts/sh/wx/popup_frame.cfm?ImageID=7258

that is a website for weather if anybody is curious, looks like no rain, maybe a little fri night.”