Sad news for the paddling community

[paddlinggoddess]

Bob Hedge aka(Mr. Cossatot passed away today. I am working on getting all the information about the services. I will post as soon as Ramsey lets me know all the details. He will be missed by many. I know I will miss him and that big smile. Prayers to his family and friends

Sabrina

[Jeremy M]

My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

[Roger]

Ahhhh, Cossatot Bob. Good memories with a lot of good lines through the falls. Family is in my thoughts.

[okieboater]

This news truely comes as a shock to me. I will be interested in hearing the cause of him going if the family deems it appropriate to publish.

Ran into Bob not too long ago it seems and chatted with him. I almost got him to paddle my RPM Max around the pool at the falls camp ground. He allowed " if his long boat ever gave it up, he just might be interested in a boat like that"

What a fan of the Cossatot he was.

King of the long kayak paddlers for sure. And, he could hit any eddy on the Cossatot in that long boat.

Another one from the "pioneers of our sport" and he will be missed.

[Fish]

Sad news indeed. Bob was simply one of my favorite paddlers that I ever had the pleasure of meeting on the river, and the Cossatot won't ever be the same without him. I'm sure Bob's paddling up there where it rains every morning and the sun shines on the rapids all day.

I'll miss him.

- Fish

[Roger]

Dave, check your pm.

[Tmuse]

Ole Blue was da man! He will be missed. My thoughts and prays go out to his family. Tim muse

[Cowper]

His runs up the Falls were almost as impressive as his runs down the falls. Once he shouldered his boat to head back up, you'd better be ready to run. He travelled at a fast walk, but he knew every rock, every spot he was going to place each foot, so he never paused. Any normal person trying to keep up would have to take a few running steps whenever you got a flat spot, or you'd be left behind.

I don't know a lot about his life away from the river, but what little I do know suggests that he was a deeply religious person who tried to live up to the high standards folks talk about in church.

The world would be a better place with more folks like Bob.

[canoe]

Amen. Dale

[tomcat]

very sad news indeed. Bob put on a good fight over the past couple of years dealing with his illness. I too will remember his smile and I am thankful to have known the man. He was truely unique and had a good attitude toward life. I will miss him very much.

Tommy

[depic]

One of the all time greats on the Tot and Bakers. He always had good things to say and that boy could paddle. Thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends. He touched so many lives , and enriched mine too. I will miss that big old smile.
Dennis

[L.A.paddler]

You will be misses "Cossatot Bob". Heart felf prayers for his family and friends.

[Danimal]

Very sad news. He was always happy to help a newbie on the Tot. I'll especially miss his unique and somewhat "dry" sense of humor. I'll never forget the time in the eddy above Eye Opener when he calmly told some kid " If you blow the line here, you will die." When the guy turn to look at the horizon line for a second, Bob turned and flashed us that toothy grin of his. Here's to Bob. Dan-o

[turboturtle]

Easily, the best paddling partner you could have on any river. He lived as close to heaven as one could get. Six miles if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure we will feel his spirit and energy for kayaking at the falls for many a year to come.



Bob Hoffman

[panicman]

Very sad news indeed.

I think a lot of people who have paddled the tot for many years has a colorfull Bob Hedge Story. The Arkansas paddling community has lost a great one indeed.