Richland?

[Fish]

Some concrete channels to narrow down the wide spots (ala Upper Ocoee) and it would be good to go!

But seriously folks, sure it was hurt-your-boat day on Richland Cr., but we had fun anyway. Man, if you can't have some fun aiming for the deep spots and scooting a kayak down the creek through the beautiful country rather than sitting behind a desk or on a couch, then what the hell? And lots of great self-unpinning practice along the way too. Oh, and the waterproof laser pointer works quite well, but it won't start a fire with wet leaves and twigs (but apparently neither will a cigarette lighter and steel wool either).

- Fish

[paddledog]

waterproof laser pointer works quite well, but it won't start a fire with wet leaves and twigs (but apparently neither will a cigarette lighter and steel wool either)

They both have to be used properly in order to function as intended.
I the hands of amateurs the result is three cold paddlers shining green dots
on trees.

(Just pokin' fun at ya)

[Zach]

A lot of the rapids felt like a game of Plinko. You got to pick which two rocks you put your boat between to start, but after that you pretty much just bounced and slid to the bottom. Great fun though.

[Fish]

They both have to be used properly in order to function as intended.
I the hands of amateurs the result is three cold paddlers shining green dots
on trees.

I just provided moral support. It's gotta be a lot colder before I'll spend my energy trying to make a fire out there, but it sure is entertaining to watch others try. Otherwise, I'd have volunteered a couple of my emergency waterproof matches for the effort. ;-)

- Fish

[dcheshier]

Shelby, thanks for posting the pictures, and thanks to everyone for showing me the lines (and also places to avoid) on my first upper richland trip. The low water made it both easier and more difficult; lots of rocks to get tripped up on, but the right line was often easier to see as many times it was the only one with water.

Bryan - thanks for the ride back up!

[Zach]

If it weren't for those "grabby" river features, you'd have had a flawless day.

[Fish]

Diane, congratulations on your first run down upper Richland! I heard you successfully dodged all hazards, including trees, pin rocks, hydrauliccs, and Andy. :)

- Fish

[kayakcono]

Readin this reminds me of the fact that although I've been paddlin an partyin with Arkie Boaterz for many years, and have paddled a few spots in Arkansas, I've never gotten on Richland Creek. It usually runs bout the same time as the Saint Francis. I'm gonna keep my eye (the good un) on the guage, and come run that suckah. Do ya'll let Old, paunchy Hippies in MEGA Rockers paddle with ya ? An you folks get on up to the Saint more often this winter. We had stellar flows last year, from Mid December through the end of May you could paddle most every day. SYOTR - Freddie Carter - Carbondale

[Roger]

Readin this reminds me of the fact that although I've been paddlin an partyin with Arkie Boaterz for many years, and have paddled a few spots in Arkansas, I've never gotten on Richland Creek. It usually runs bout the same time as the Saint Francis. I'm gonna keep my eye (the good un) on the guage, and come run that suckah. Do ya'll let Old, paunchy Hippies in MEGA Rockers paddle with ya ? An you folks get on up to the Saint more often this winter. We had stellar flows last year, from Mid December through the end of May you could paddle most every day. SYOTR - Freddie Carter - Carbondale

You betcha, Freddie! Come on down and drag that newly elected Missouri state representative with you!

[Crane]

Are you saying they actually elected the open-boater with the longest swim on record under an open-boat thru (and past) Lava? That means I actually gave a dab of money to someone who WON!... Whodathunkit! Chris will do a great job...

[shelbyjohnson]

Shelby, thanks for posting the pictures, and thanks to everyone for showing me the lines (and also places to avoid) on my first upper richland trip. The low water made it both easier and more difficult; lots of rocks to get tripped up on, but the right line was often easier to see as many times it was the only one with water.

I can't remember if we mentioned or not but the line we ran at Cindy's Hole (AKA Bill's Thrill) was NOT the normal line.

When the water is higher the hole gets bigger, and then when the water gets a little higher the hole gets a little bigger, and when the water gets really high the hole gets really big, and then when the water is monster high... :shock: welll umm you get the picture -

So we alter that line by running left of center with left angle when the water is higher. Or when the water is bigger we can run the far left sneak route and when the water is really big we can run the right side sneak route or the left.

(NOTE: All other things being equal in this case, at this spot both left and right sneak routes do not equate to easy. They just happen to avoid the boat munching hole.)

(Also NOTE: Higher, bigger and really big are relative to 2.7 feet at the takeout like it was on Tuesday. I think really big to run the right side sneak is somewhere above 4.5 feet but don't remember for sure. At monster high we get to steep creekin' and then run Richland later that day or the next.)

[Fish]

I remember pulling someone out of Cindy's with the nose of my boat when the level was pretty low one day. Thought he was hot doggin in there until he started making gestures that indicated otherwise. Can't remember who that guy was, but I think he moved to Little Rock and got a job mapping stuff for the state...

- Fish

[kayakcono]

Thanx, Roger... I will be down this year. CK has vowed to spend more time paddlin in Arkansas, so we'll figure something out. Talked to Eli H. last week, he bagged the Green Race cause it was too low. I had Bilbos Tornado at my house and a hot MO. paddler (now living in Asheville) borrowed it to race with --- it got crunched in practice ,,, so Tornado dead,(although young Marquardt, raced a Green Boat and got 10th in Long boat and 6th in Short boat) this also explains why there were no OC1's racing on the Green this year. See ya at the Saint, the Tot or someday on Richland Creek ! Did ya'll see the photos on BT of the young Photog who fell in just below the monkey ! There is a link on the MWA Board. I'm too old school to figure out how to cross link it ! Poor sucker had the family jewels hangin out, when they pulled him out !! Freddie

[Roger]

Link to BT thread with photos!

http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1572329" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bad place to go swimming!

[shelbyjohnson]

I remember pulling someone out of Cindy's with the nose of my boat when the level was pretty low one day. Thought he was hot doggin in there until he started making gestures that indicated otherwise.

I can tell ya for sure that ole boy was glad to have the help outta that hole.