SSSHHHH...This is a secret trip trip rep ort

“Ok Stikmon, I am waiting on pins and needles both for my camera to come home with my pictures on it, and for you to post yours. You should have a good one of me paddling at the front of the group that I am eager to see how it came out.
last edited: 12/05/04 11:28:34 PM”

“I made my apologies to family and friends at a big Thanksgiving gathering on Friday mourning after turkey day. I told them that the river was calling and I had to go. I loaded up the X-Terra with the gear that I had brought along and headed for the river.

I decided to make a side trip to Vanburren MO to see the Big Spring there. I had been there before but it was a long time ago and as I was driving there the radio kept talking about a rainy forecast. So after photographing the spring I was debating on even going and put it all on the toss of a penny I found face up in the parking lot. Heads the river, tails home and warm bed a flip of the coin and off to the river the luck of the toss has me headed.

I arrived at the campground and there I met super troll who told me I was in the right place. Said the rest of the party was at Greer Springs for a short hike. I used the time to run into Alton MO to buy some groceries at the closest grocery store.
When I got back the hikers were just returning as I set up my part of camp. As I was setting up my tent and Dutch oven table, and stove the campers came up and made introductions. This was my first time to meet these individuals and they are a very likable group of people. Even though they did get a good laugh at the extra large Coleman inflatable mattress that I brought. I reminded them that somebody had already said all’s fair in car camping. Besides I just don’t sleep well on the ground. If it had been warmer and drier I would have just broke out the hammock.
That evening I had started to cook my own dinner when Dave came by and told me I was welcome to eat with them, that they had plenty of groceries. We also talked about Dutch oven cooking and Dave eyed the table that I had brought to Dutch oven cook on. I already had started a cobbler for desert so I suggested that I would offer that up to the hungry crowd of campers. After supper I found Dave and gave him some money to help pay for groceries.

Supper was barbequed chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, corn bread and strawberry peach cobbler. Everything was excellent and my compliments to all the chefs.
Later we all sat around the campfire enjoying some fine guitar music provided by Ethan, one of the paddlers. Divinity made hot chocolate with Baileys that was excellent on a cool evening. I crawled into my tent as the party was still going on and the guitar serenaded me to sleep. I awoke in the middle of the night to the sounds of rain falling on my tent. Didn’t sleep really well as I usually don’t on the ground.

Got up early the next mourning, I was the first one to stir in the camp a little before daybreak. Troll was soon up to and we restarted the fire from some of the still burning coals. The rain was stilling coming down lightly and the ground was soaked. Breakfast was scrambled eggs, Biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon, and tortilla and cheese to make breakfast burritos with. All of the food was excellent considering it was prepared in a steady rain. Dave had a large dining canopy that was an absolute necessity in this kind of weather.

Then we broke camp and headed for either hiking or floating to Whites Creek camp. I had hoped to see eagles on this trip and before we had all gotten our boats loaded and on the river the first eagle was spotted. The weather was still intermittent rain and drizzle. The heavy cloud cover and low visibility probably held the birds to a low altitude so that we could see them. By days end I had spotted eagles at least ten or twelve times. One bird I spotted I believe was a golden eagle, along with several large adult bald eagles. These are magnificent bird stand what looked about three to three and a half feet tall on the branches they perched on. I am sure some of these sighting were of the same birds as they flew down river to get away from us. Others simply sat perched in their trees as we floated underneath them.

Around mid day after navigating Mary Decker Shoals we arrived at Turners Mill an area that I had camped near on an earlier trip this summer. This summer I had wondered where the mill site was and what was left. I had camped on the south shore and had not explored the north bank of the river. Dave knew where to go and what was left of the old mill, an old overshot steel water wheel 25 feet in diameter and the remnants of the stone flume that steered the spring towards a wooden flume that delivered the water to the overshoot wheel. Very cool to look at and amazing to think that those parts where hauled in there by oxen. I got out my lunch and grabbed a quick bite by my yak, what else more beans.

We then got back in the boats and at a spot Dave calls dump Ewker went for his swim. The river takes a tight bend there with a strong current pushing you towards some trees along the shore. We were pretty sure Divinity was going to swim there too but she pulled off a minor miracle and just flirted with disaster. Ewker who struggled some with a new Perception Carolina 14.5 a long touring boat that while a usable boat on that river lacked some of the maneuverability that a shorter boat would have had. Dump is a spot where the paddler really needs to be comfortable at paddling sideway down current to set up for a strong paddle to avoid disaster by moving inside on the turn and away from the trees. If you wait till your in the middle of the turn and try turning and paddling away from the trees you just wont have time to get away cleanly. We all became concerned about Ewker safety after his swim because of the cold water and fears of hypothermia. Troll helped him recover his gear and after a quick dry off and change we were back under way. It was very impressive watching Dave maneuver his 17 foot long canoe through this and several other challenging spots on the river.

We arrived at camp about an hour before dark, the rain had finally quit, and started setting up camp. I had worn my wet suit a polartech base layer and a splash jacket. I was ready to get out of them and into some warm dry clothes. So getting my tent set up was high on my list of what I had to do. Once the camp was set up dinner was quickly started: chili, baked beans, minestrone soup, and later a chocolate cherry jubilee cake.

There also had been some very interesting campfire activities but because of the code what happens in camp stays in camp I am unable to give the details. Lets just say the quote, “I wasn’t giving you tongue I was just trying to taste the tequila you were drinking”, was the highlight of the evening. I should have stayed up for some cake but the evening was getting late and cold and I was ready for a warm tent and sleeping bag. As I drifted off to sleep the sounds of spoons clanging and shoveling where accompanied by some muffled damn that’s good was heard.

I woke up around three in the mourning to hear several groups of coyotes yelping at each other one of them must have been really close. I wonder what Katrew made of the strange little wild dogs.

I was close to the first up but waited until somebody else stirred first. Since someone had said something about how early I was up the previous mourning. House got up and was warming his toes by the fire when I got up and started to enjoy the same fire. In a little while Dave was up and started the coffee and cinnamon rolls. I thought oh great that will work for breakfast but he had just started. He later said that was just to get them going to help fix the rest of the breakfast, fried potatoes onions & ham, eggs, and Sausage gravy & biscuits, I was stuffed but it was all so good and I could not believe it all disappeared.

There was still more food left in those coolers that Dave carried on his barge of a canoe. I am not sure but I think the coolers could have been some sort of weird interdimentional boxes that were larger on the inside than the out because the food kept coming and there still was some left. After breakfast we began the process of breaking camp and packing up for the rest of the float.

We made good progress down the river and shortly before midday we arrived at Boze Mill the original plan had been to have lunch there but food was just not on our list of priorities. Besides many of us had already seen the mill pond, damn, and spring there. Well, worth the trip but we were all a little tired and ready to move on. So onward we went.

We arrived at Halls Bay Shoals around 2:20 pm I watched two of the group make flawless runs down this nice class II rapid. I started my approach river right and was moving river left when I got pushed over the shoal to far river right. I hung up on a submerged rock and quickly the boat began to swing around. When it got sideways to the current I braced strongly on the down stream side but I was still stuck on the rock. I really didn’t want to attempt the rest of the rapid over shallow rocks sideways as I was afraid I would get dumped. So I shifted my weight in the already aft heavy boat aft and the bow came around to be facing up stream. While backwards is not the best way to run a rapid with shallow rocks it was better than sideway. I made a couple of deep back stroke and the boat was free. I did feel the boat hit another rock which very well could have dumped me had I been sideway. With a big sigh of relief I found myself at the bottom of the rapid and ferried over to an small eddie river left that can be used to photograph paddlers has they come over the shoals. It also is a great place to approach a rather nice play wave at the base of the shoal.

I should have photographed the rest of the party but I had eyes on surfing the hole. I lost my nerve as I headed in, the thought of a possible swim on what was becoming a cool overcast day and my near swim on the way down the rapid contributed to my loss of nerves.

We finished up the paddle about 2:45 pm but found that our cars had not made the trip to the take out. There was some problem with the note that had instructed them to shuttle them down to the take out. Anyway, a quick phone call from one of the party and a ride was on its way.

This is where I did something really stupid rather than leaving my digital camera and GPS at the take out I grabbed them up and got in the van. I removed my jacket on the ride up to the put in and placed the camera in the floor to do so. I just forgot to pick it up. What a disaster that could have been but to Hufstedler’s credit they took care of me. The camera will be on its way and soon it will be back with me here in Oklahoma.

I stopped in Springfield where I spent the night at my Dads house in a warm bed and slept like a baby. Then back to Oklahoma and the daily grind of every day life but with a really well recharged battery.

My thanks to all and I know I can not remember all the names:

Dutch Oven Dave
Stikmon
JerBear
Ewker
Super Troll
Divinity
Boy Scout (Sod Buster)
Mary
Ethan (Great Guitar by the way)
Mozark
House
Jgiels
Bond
Katrew (the wonder dawg)

And the folks, one of being Mozarks wife, who helped provide the groceries/

Later Cobbler Guy
last edited: 12/07/04 1:02:17 PM”

“cobbler guy, great trip report. It was a pleasure to meet you. great cobbler by the way. Thanks for all your help. That was the first river I had paddled so it was a learning experience. I was ready to go and see if I could make it through the area that dumped me. Guess I will wait for warmer days.”

“yes, the days will once again get warmer, but the water temp will not change very much.”

“Dave, that is ok if the water temp doesn't change. It was the conditions once I got to a gravel bar. Sunny and warm would be better than cool, windy and rainy”

“someone wrote a monster trip report and it wasn't me. WTF!!! how dare he...I'll apologize to the group for not getting my photos up, but due to a mentally unstable mind right now is not a good time. I'm busy laying the foundations to my upcoming breakdown and ensueing insanity and don't really want to distract myself with things based upon reality. I hope you understand and can be patient...I'll get the photos up and email everyone seperately, or maybe I'll just post em up and not tell anyone...yeah...that sounds like a better idea, one that is nice, yet not so nice...hey, I kind of like that. bye.”

“Hope the MOATR (Mother of all Trip Reports) did not offend you to baddly. I just wanted to be thorough. As for the insanity when they come to get you with the jacket with the long sleeves that attatch in the back make sure to ask for the good medications. Also try not to offend the invisible people that the staff can not see they have a really bad disposition. Finally if you do post the pictures somewhere on the web you can email me at: lvok@cox.net

Later”

“I recommend a relaxing float down a familiar river to help the stress... it works for me”

“I think stik's burned out from 500 trips on the Elevenpoint this year. How about a change of pace like a weekend on the Buffalo? Or better yet, come on down a little further and get ya' some real whitewater!

The Mulberry should be at a good level for first-timers this weekend and even safe for the canine concubine.
last edited: 12/08/04 7:17:24 AM”

“I suggested to DOD and Stikmon that they try the Mulberry some time. Dave acted like he was game with his white water canoe. But Sticky did not seem as interested. I don't think he liked the whole shuttle then float then shuttle to camp and repeat the next day idea. Wanted a river that you could more easily do an overnighter on. I think you probably could, you would just have to come out at byrds or Turners bend. That could be done as a car camping trip with one shuttle at the start and another at the end. Maybe a run from High Banks to Turners Bend followed by a run from TB to Campbels cemetary.

Later”

“How about a float during the Christmas holidays?

Pulltite down stream to wherever on Current River.. Nice current and very little paddling.

Maybe that numbered pt river from Greer down stream again. I know that Sodbuster is planning on floating it during the holiday period. He mentioned planning a one day marathon float. I'm not sure of his plans yet.

Stikmon isn't the only one with photos to post.

Moz”

“Stikmon don't you have a Rio Grande trip planned over the Christmas Holidays?”

“Great trip report CG just change Ethan to Aaron. Plus, I don't believe you lost your nerve, you had that little kayak on every wave possible the whole trip.

So, House's (Brick) feet were cool Sunday morning. Could it have been sleeping in a hammock in 20 something temperatures?”

“Yup knew I would screw up with at least one name. Sorry about that. Say does Aaron have a mp3 file of his music on the web. His guitar was awesome. Might even listen to classical to hear his chello. Yes at Halls Bay I lost nerve right after the near swim on the way down and didn't have my helmet with me and only half heartedly ferry into the surf hole. In the words of Arnold Swarzeneger "I'll be back" some time this spring to surf that hole. As for trip plans maybe we should start a new thread and get some input. I would be up for a one dayer or two dayer if we could arrange shuttle and hotel for the overnight. Hate sleeping in the cold.
last edited: 12/08/04 1:10:02 PM”

“Hate sleeping in the cold.
last edited: 12/08/04 1:10:02 PM”
cobbler guy
1:04:42 PM
12/08/04

LOL...so take a heater along with your king size mattress.....

LOL..hahahahahahahahahh”

“I thought he did take a heater or was that Mozark”

“omg...someone really brought a heater?????

and I was cold Saturday night???”

“because there was none given. It was a great trip, no doubt.

I still haven't gotten to my photos, although I have looked at the prints...LOL. they are not too shabby. Maybe I should take a break from my meltdown thread and get them up. Ok..I twisted my arm and will do it tonight after the work out.”

“One packing for base and river seperate is a good thing.if you dont forget the stakes and pole for you tent.
two puting your wet paddling gear to dry out overnight doesnt work.(at least withtemps like we had)
three i needed a better sleeping bag for backpacking/paddling in these temps(fixed that this week)
And last but not least i need to try to camp less from my truck and more frome what i can carry with me.
i have such a pretty area in LBL. and have not seen but a small part of it.(even then based on whether i could drive or paddle to it)”

“Yes I did bring a heater for my tent and I still got cold so I bought a larger one and will add a better sleeping bag to the formula for staying warm. Also took sticky advice and bought thermals to sleep in that I will keep with the bag so that they will be warm and dry when I get ready for bed. Still I hate getting cold at night. Finally, My camera just made it home and I will post pictures tommorow in the a.m.”

“gee, thats smart. I would never be that smart. Ok, I tried to upload the photos to Matt's site here on TT and it wouldn't work, so, its gonna be another day, cause I was meditating all evening and didn't get back to the photos. Later...”

“Here are the pictures I took.

http://community.webshots.com/album/229542157xFJSCH/0

Later,”

“Pssst... thanks... great pics... I won't tell... my lips are sealed...”

“cobblerguy, good pics. i wanted to get a picture of a eagle but being the last one of the paddlers by the time I got close it was gone.”

“A Few Photos from White's Creek Campground.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/aeoieydu.php”

“Is that a heater I see in the tent behind Aaron. I am not the only weanie when it comes to getting cold.”

“and I was so cold Saturday eve........

next time I will sleep with who ever has a heater.......

(in her best Scarlett O'Hara voice)
"I will never be cold again"”

“I tried and it got stuck.”

“mini heaters- I found a trick to getting a good nights sleep in 0 degree weatehr is to use those one use chemical foot warmers...I slap em on my socks when I go to bed and my toes stay tosty all night long. Thats the only prob I have with sleeping in cold weather is my toes get cold...problem solved!”

“My tent flap is alway open for you. Just bring the Baileys and hot cocoa.”

“an offer that shouldn't be refused...where's the horses head? If you want, Khatru can find you a deer's head.”

“Hey I was talkin' to da lady. But offers ya shouldn't refuse and horses/deer heads. What branch of da family ya width? Cause yous needs to fugedaboutit. I am with the lacasaokies and we don't take kindly to no threats, capish. just kidding but keep the severed animal heads out of my tent.
last edited: 12/09/04 11:45:56 PM”

“LOL..hahahahaha.....thanks guys.......once again...TT men to the rescue!!!!!!...my heros!!!”

“Just zeros trying to be hereos. But like Avis we try harder. Say is there still a trip to the unnamed river on MLK weekend? How bout it Dutch Oven Dave? Stikmon? Hey stick if you can not get the pictures uploaded to the tbp page you might get with either myself or ewker and we could get them uploaded to webshots or maybe mozark could help you get them loaded to this site. Just some ideas. How is trip planning going for BB in Texas I see there are more committed to doing the trip. I wish I could go but the family has a big get together then two. I bailed on them TDay weekend to go floating. So I will have to be there at Christmas.

Later”

“I cancelled it except for those that have committed to ME. as for sending my photos off to others to do my work...no way..I'm stupid, not inept. I'll figure it out.”

“well have fun on your canceled trip anyway. I know you will eventually get the picture thing figured out just thought it might help if we removed some stress from an individual according to his own word with ensueing insanity and mental instability.”

“So....when is Martin Luther King Day???.....sorry..I don't have a new calendar yet......and I will be wanting something GREAT to do......

and....lets be nice.....”

“I think it is Jan 17, this year but can not swear to it as I left the new calendar in the tool box at work.”

“only the truely derranged say that they are mentally stable. hehehe.”

“Which one did you use for sausage and gravy and so on? This is a list from cabela's.

# 10" diameter, 4-quart
# 12" diameter, 6-quart
# 12" diameter, 8-quart deep
# 14" diameter, 10-quart deep
# 14" diameter, 8-quart
# 16" diameter, 12-quart”

“That question was for Dave or anyone else that does much cooking. :)”

“jgeils, the way we ate Sat night he could have used 4 of those 12 qt dutch ovens”

“Agreed. :) What would be the best size for a smaller group of 4-6 people or so?”

“I don't have a clue, try Lodge's website http://www.lodgemfg.com it might help”

“12, Dave has a 10, which barely holds enough food for Me, him and Khatru. But then again, we eat enough for 6. Make sure you get the FLAT top, lid, preferbly with legs, this way, you can put coals on top and also use the lid as a fry pan. Which is something I learned from Stalker that first Buffalo TT trip, so long ago. They make a style that has a center convection cone. I have that one, and have had surperb luck with it. mine is a 12. Dave is a traditionalist and has the regular style. The downside to the convection cone is that it eats up space, the upside is that it cooks alot faster. 6 of one, half dozen of the other. I like mine. It will hold a 4lb can of baked beans with all the fixins. So, I you think you'll be needin bigger, go for it. I'm likely to pick up a 10 regular. Thats the one thats good to make brownies and corn bread in. But, when in doubt...just go out more with Dave and Me. We got your back...no worries.”

“Thanks Stikkie. I'm getting one and my brother wants one too. I justed wanted to get the right size. I'm sure I will eventually get more than one though. :)”

“JGeils,
The Dutch that Dave used the most was a 14 inch 8 Qt. dutch. I have a 12 and that is a great size for a smaller group. The 10 inch is a great dutch for doing deserts in that's what I made my cobbler in. I would say that the best two sizes to start out with are the 10 and 12 inch dutch oven. They also make dutch ovens out of aluminium and I am looking at those for taking on float trips. They save a lot of weight. Oh, and get a lid lifter and a pair of welding gloves both are must haves. Lodge sells gloves just for dutch oven cooking but the welding gloves from a local tool store work just as well and are a lot cheaper, 9 bucks vs 20 buck. Just make sure and season the ovens once you get them unless you buy a preseasoned oven from lodge.

Later,”

“Thanks for all the advice guys. I think I will get one this week.”

“how do the aluminum ones compare to the cast dutch ovens?”

“yet E. none of us has one. and in a canoe...who worries about weight...and for the record...Daves boat is 20', not 17. It might even be 21, I'm not sure, but you can put my boat on top of his and Dave will still have 5' of space for his own gear. hehehe...we're gonna do that this summer and take a photo.

Someone wanted to know when MLK weekend is...it is the 15-17th. Catch ya all on the "Current River". Same bat place, same bat time. Hikers are welcome, but this Stikdude will be floatin. Khatru will stay home, unless we get a heat spell.

Hey, sodbuster, I "might" be up to an LBL trip on the 8/9. I'll be just gettin home from BB, but, I always take Khatru out the weekend after I've been away...I owe him and he'll deserve the trip out.”