04/04/09 Float Trip

I got to float with Bill and Beth Howard and Chris Cearley down the Buffalo River this weekend. We went down Friday and Bill provided the kayaks for us all to float in. Got on the river at 2:00 starting at Steel Creek and floated down to Kiles where we were camped. We stopped to look at two fantastic waterfalls feeding into the river from Thursday’s rain and I had messed up and forgot my camera to take some shots which was disappointing for sure. The river was flowing fast and full and made for some good rapids the best I ever had been in solo in my own raft. We made the eight miles in three hours and Chris and I rescued an overturned canoe for two floaters just as we arrived at camp for our good deed of the day. Chris feed us kabobs for the evening meal and I consumed far more Alcohol than I needed as Bill was whipping up some pretty strong drinks. Breakfast was my treat Saturday and we got back on the river at around 1:00 for a 5.5 mile trip to Eurby where the rest of the gang had spotted the vehicle while I guarded camp. The swift water made the trip over to fast for me but it was fun anyway and I remembered my camera this time but no waterfalls on this stretch. The Howard’s made steaks and baked sweet potatoes for the evening meal and we all were in bed by 10:00. The next day we were leaving camp by 8:00 AM and the Howard’s followed me home as my Jeep had started to miss out just as we had arrived at camp Friday. It gave me no problems on the way home but I did need a new distributor when I got back home. We stopped at the Ponca Bridge and seen 44 Elk grazing there for Sundays treat. I did miss out on a Whippoorwill cave trip with the BMG Sunday though due to the Jeep giving me issues.