Rockport in the winter

[Twindad]

Ted says I'm the only one who wants to play at Rockport in the winter. I told him I would ask. Speak now or forever be subject to 2400 CFS.

[okieboater]

Hi Twindad,

If you get a release, my bet is Ted's long time paddle hero "Horace Sheatt" would show up to keep you company!

[ckuntz]

I'm game for Rockport any time of the year Tom..
I'm sure half a dozen other regulars would be all for it as well

Chris K

[Jim Krueger]

Okie,

In another year or so, I will have been a member of this great club for twenty years. In all this time, I have just hooted at the mention of Horace's name. I hope one day to learn of his true identity. (Please visit privately, I don't want to give the newer members a leg up ) I finally learned of, and met the great paddler-friend Amos Turnipseed (his real name) several years ago. But Horace has been an enigma for me. This has been a Zen pursuit , so don't blurt it out , contact me at BR-946.


Best Regards
Jim

[sig]

Who wouldn't want Rockport in the winter, especially if they coordinated releases to coincide with low flows in other streams :)

[Cowper]

I would agree that the demand is much lower in the winter, but, you are not the "only" one, for sure.

Would I have gone to Rockport last week when Richland and the Cossatot and the local creeks in Hot Springs were also running? No. Would I have gone when it was 35 to 45 degrees and spitting sleet? No. But would I go this coming Saturday, if temps were scheduled to hit a high of 55 degrees and sunny, something that is not uncommon in this Arkansas season that we call "winter"? Heck YES!

Part of the reason I never go in the winter is because it is so unlikely that we would get a 3600 cfs, daylight release, that I just wipe the option off my mind. If it was there more often, I would take advantage of it some of the time.

There would be no tubers; there would be no families swimming with their kids, but I do think you would see folks playing there whenever the other creeks were too low to float.

[Twindad]

Chris, Bryan, Cowper, and Tom have requested 3600 CFS releases in the winter. Anyone else?

[okieboater]

Jim, having been sworn to silence, this open message board is not the place to divulge information other than a little public knowledge concerning one of Arkansas's legendary boaters - Horace Sheatt. Hopefully, you and I will meet up around a river side camp fire for more discussion.

Brother Turnipseed is indeed one of Arkansas's finest paddlers and all around good guy. One of my boating heros for sure.

When you consider Horace's wide range of boating first descents and over all creek plus big water runs, young Amos has a way to go. Amos tho is still quite young and Horace is getting a bit long of tooth. Who knows what heights of boating legend Amos will end up at.

Horace has not been sighted lately but back in the day his boating escapades were the stuff true legends are made up. I remember a ACC Newsletter article about Horace from long long ago. As far as going boating is concerned, when most of us were either in bed or huddled around a campfire, Horace was out doing the thing usually alone.

Often discussed in hushed conversations around late night campfires on the banks of obscure hair runs, Horace routinely boated the runs most of us Arkansas Boaters wish for just a one time run.

Way back when, on a Middle Fork of the Salmon run, I ran into a local who mentioned Horace had been seen in Idaho looking for more challenge than the MFS had to offer. Horace does get around.

Like Factor on the Grand Canyon, Horace just gets the job done with very little fanfare outside of a few long time boaters who knew him way back when Horace started boating.

A few of us still look for Horace. I think he is still out there chasing the ultimate boating experience. Ted is a very close friend of Horace. Ask Ted for more information next time you visit in person.

Similar to understanding the true meaning of Zen, understanding the true identity of Horace Sheatt takes time.

dave reid

[Jim Krueger]

Thanks Bro. Dave, I just love this stuff, so many fun paddling trips, and great folks!

Best Regards
Jim

[Twindad]

This thread is a survey. Those of you with ADHD/ADD need to FOCUS and say "I want a full release at Rockport when the lakes have enough water." Horace Sheahat (sp?) is not germaine.

- Schoolmarm.

[okieboater]

Sorry Twindad

If a full Rockport release gets you, Cowper and Horace out, count me in.

I might even show up with fortified hot chocolate for the play boaters!

[tsmethe]

Guys last time I talked to Horace he was convalescing in a rehab center in Rio trying to recover from inuries suffered from paddling the Amazon from it source to the ocean with no lifejacket, helmet or spray skirt.

As for Rockport in the winter the main problem is that one generator is out of service making it inconvenient to release 3600 CFS. The latest issue has been the switch to MISO which has so far made running per the published schedule an unpredictable proposition. We were releasing about 4200 this morning but are to shut down at 11 AM. None of which was in the planned schedule. So I am working with the dispatchers on resolving those issues.

If I get the opportunity, we'll try to do some 3600 CFS releases on the weekend, but no promises.

Ted

[Deuce]

Horace Sheahat (sp?) is not germaine.

- Schoolmarm.

Of course not. He's Amurcan. Duh.

[jonest]

Count me as a yes, though, the temperature will be a factor. Winter is defined by the days indicated on the calendar, not by the temperature.
Looking forward to the fortified hot chocolate, Dave.

Tim

[737driver]

Count me in. I'm only fifteen minutes away. I ain't skeered of cold weather. I've been plenty of times when I was the only sole there!