BUFFALO RIVER overniter-JAN 9-11 Dog Days of Winter-UPDATE 1

[Richard]

UPDATE #1:Those going so far.
Friday: Meeting at Rush - Launching at Spring Creek.
Allen + Raft + dog
Richard + canoe + 2 dogs

Friday night
Gretchen + dog
Ryan + canoe


This one will be different. Allen Rittman and I are taking Friday off and taking our dogs to the Buffalo. We will be camping on a gravel bar Friday night. Saturday we will paddle to Hwy 14 Bridge to hook up with anyone wanting to paddle with us Saturday and Sunday. Two big differences. Big dogs will be part of this. Friday night we will be on a gravel bar. Everything else remains the same.
http://good-times.webshots.com/slidesho ... 9368REHpQz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spring Creek to Rush. Yep! Been there done that. But this will be my first time to take the dogs and this stretch of the river will be ideal for what we plan to do.

We will have a full moon and the best place to experience it is on the downriver end of Bice Bend.

Updates will be posted on this first posting of the thread.

By now you know the drill. Arriving Friday is optional. We shuttle Saturday morning and do most of the paddling on Saturday. We try to be off the river and headed home by noon on Sunday. Sitting around a campfire Friday and Saturday nights and enjoying each others company has become a tradition.

Questions and suggestions are welcome. You may post them here or email Richard at rmmcfadden@yahoo.com

Some things you need to know. We have never had a problem but just so everyone knows on the front end:
1. For liability purposes this is not an ACC/Ozark Society sponsored activity. You and only you are responsible for your own actions.
2. This is a family friendly float. Children are welcome.
3. Alcohol is not forbidden but drunkeness and abusive conduct is.
4. If you use "fowl" language or need to smoke, please do so away from the group.
5. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Maybe even nicer.

On the floats so far, we have been impressed with how well everyone has adhered to #5. That is one reason we keep going back.

If you have never been, we look forward to meeting you on the river.

FOOD:
Because of the various arrival and departure times of participants the simplest approach to meals is for each person to be responsible for his/her own. That does not preclude participants from getting together and pooling efforts. It also does not preclude pot lucks. So if you want to get with others to plan meals thats good. If we decide to pot luck a meal or two that is fine as well. But the responsibility lies first with the individual.

Breakfasts and Suppers will be at camp. Lunches will be on the river.

This has worked well so far and creates the least hassle. And we can gather around the campfire after dinner. Campfires have been great.

If need be, we will have a kitchen tent set up with tables for food preparation.

GEAR:
Each person is responsible for providing their own food and gear appropriate for the weather and water conditions. If you are just getting into canoe/kayak camping and are lacking some items please let us know. So far no one has been turned away because of lack of gear.

[dwilson]

Would ya be interested in floatin Baker to Gilbert this is just short of ten miles.

[Richard]

Danny, That is an option. In that case: The Friday paddlers could put on at Baker and float to Arnold Island. The Saturday paddlers would put in at Baker as well then paddle to Arnold. From there we would all paddle to Lane Bend and camp. Then take out at Gilbert.

My concern there is the dogs. Lane Bend is a cattle ranch. Spring Creek to Rush is a lot more remote.
This is the first time for the dogs to be on the river overnight and I am being a bit cautious as a result.

[Jim Krueger]

Richard,

Since the only dogs we had on the farm, growing up, were 'Deer Dogs' and confined most of the year in a pen, I didn't realize the potential reaction with dogs and our cattle for some time. One day some relatives came for a visit from out of state, with their 'house dogs/pets'. I was just a kid but remember vividly what happened next... As I went across the yard to great them, the car door flew open, and Sparky and Muff bolted out, straight across the yard and under the barbed wire fence into the pasture toward one of our herds of cows, quick as a flash. As long as I had been around our cattle and tended them, I'd never seen their instinctive reactions to dogs. Quickly the cows, bulls, heifers and yearlings formed a solid circle around the calves, I just knew my cousins' dogs would be stomped into ' greasy spots' on the ground, all before I even had the chance to say hello... As it turned out, all was well when we got the dogs back but I was just mortified for a few minutes.

Best Regards
Jim

[dwilson]

Richard go with your orignal plan. As of right now I don't have anybody intersted in joining me on this adventure. Something bout kinda cold go figure. Might need ta borrow somebody or be somebodies co-pilot. So we'll see what turns up.

[Ryan Center]

I'm in and will meet you at the Hwy 14 bridge Saturday morning. Where is the closest place for me to camp from there? The same place we camped last time? I will probably come up Friday night. Does anyone want to tag along from NWA?

[Butch Crain]

Are the (hot) showers working at Buffalo Point these days?

[painterbob]

>lurking in the background!...i'm waiting for the last minute to say yes!.......(but, may only day trip with your group)

[Richard]

So far we have 4 dogs going. I think they are all large dogs.
Gretchen: one female
Allen: one female
Richard: one male, one eunuch

I need to see who is going and when. This is what it appears to be so far.
Friday:
Allen + Raft + dog
Richard + canoe + 2 dogs
Gretchen + dog

Saturday:
Ryan + canoe

Saturday Day trippers:
Painter Bob (not committed)

Inquiring Minds:
Butch Crain (LA)
Danny Wilson (OK)
============
Those planning to arrive and camp Friday night should consider staying at Buffalo Point.
There is no water. No hot showers. The only water and hot showers this time of year is at Tyler Bend.

[sugarmtngal]

I'm on also!

[sugarmtngal]

Ryan, can I catch a ride?

[Richard]

Looking at the weather it looks like it will be nearly identical to November's float.
Fri: Starting out nice, Windy and Cold overnight.
Sat: COLD and WINDY. VERY COLD overnight.
Sun: Very nice
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... adDay.y=13" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Water level should be good. At 3.50 you might lightly scrape bottom a couple of times. No scraping at all at 4.00
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_00 ... o=07056700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sugarmtngal]

O.K. I got myself organized!
I shall meet up with Richard and Allen Friday sometime. Look forward to a nice time on the water with the paddlers and the dogs!

[Richard]

This is the plan for Friday.
Gretchen, Allen, four dogs and I will meet at Rush. Gear will be transferred to Allen's truck. Four dogs and I will get acquainted in the back as we drive to Spring Creek. Wild Bill's will shuttle Allen's truck to Rush.

[Shark Attack]

I was talking to my dog about this last night during our happy hour I thought he always enjoyed paddleing with us http://image60.webshots.com/760/4/55/83 ... lpS_fs.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Then he went outside & barfed :shock:

Wes