DAVE CREEK CONQUERED - BY FEMALE PADDLERS

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

High water sent the litter picking crew "second string" paddlers to the top of the Cadron Creek watershed after our highway cleanup, only to find the water too high up there also. What to do? Hit the lower half of Dave Creek in Fairfield Bay is what! The "first string paddlers who went up to the South Fork of the Little Red missed out some big fun. No one in our group had a camera, but dry creek photos are available at:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/570565672iOVxcA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With a drainage area less than 2 square miles and a drop of 97 feet per mile we figured it couldn't be too high. We were right; the water was perfect and the fun was outstanding. Four gals, Chris from Memphis, Tracy and Stephanie from Little Rock, and Gretchen from West Fork showed me and Conway Meacham how to handle the big stuff. No one swam, though Gretchen got separated from her 16' canoe once (that's right, she paddled a 16' canoe solo, from the rear tandem seat no less). The creek sharpened the paddling and body english skills of the group from the start since there were a lot of rocks showing. The learning curve was amazingly steep, steep enough to have everyone making successful runs over the several falls, none of which were straight runs (one had a ninety degree turn in the middle of it; I think it was Stephanie who caught the impossible eddy part way down that one). I saw the development of braces where there had been none, quantum leaps in reading the water in the rock gardens, and a major boosting of confidence with every fall cleaned. For me, it was the most entertaining mile of creek I have ever paddled because of the success of the others. The creek was major fun by itself, but watching everything that was going on with the group tickled me to no end.

For safety's sake, remember that the water level was perfect for our group, just enough to get through without being pushy. Also, I had walked the creek a week earlier and knew it was clear.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[A Savage spanke]

Thats really awesome, I'm jealous I didn't get to be a part of that

[Clif]

it was false advertisin'... no body told me such an adventure wuz afoot... or afloat
I swear, after we even helped with the collection...

[Cowper]

no body told me such an adventure wuz afoot... or afloat...

What do you want? A written invitation? Oh, wait, you GOT one of those: http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/mb/vie ... =1&t=11752" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[David Lewis]

So sorry I had to bug out. Next time NO 6 p.m. appointments. Here are a few pictures of the crew high and dry by the highway...
http://kcl.smugmug.com/gallery/7750104_ ... 4218_h4roD" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ChrisD]

The Dave Creek run was a BLAST! And the trip report didn't even mention that at one point it started to snow on us!
BIG thanks to Mike for making it happen and providing such excellent leadership! It was great to meet everyone in our awesome crew. I will definitely have to head to AR more often!
Chris from Memphis

[JTarver]

David, where is the last pic from in the album..is that a Dave Creek shot? Looks like a nice drop.
Joe

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

I forgot to say that two of the girls were in REC kayaks. You read that right. And one of them had lost its drain plug!

We started the run below the second set of culverts.

Captain A

[David Lewis]

Joe, that picture was of water flowing out of a pond about 100 yards from where the highway crossed the Cadron at our initial take-out point, prior to the decision to float Dave's Creek instead. I guess this would be a tributary to the Cadron, but not Dave's.

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

We had several drops that looked just like the pond spillway photo. I forgot to say that all the girls were quite athletic and coordinated, besides good looking. We didn't launch until nearly 4:00 p.m. after all the running around we did. Pizza at Joe's afterwards, of course, until after 8:00 p.m. (yes, I stayed up past my regular bedtime).

Cap'n

[webster]

thanks to mike and everyone for an amazing (and safe) time! i cant wait until i get to float with you guys again. im sure that i will still be in my drain plug-less rec boat, but i have started looking for a whitewater boat to purchase when im able.

[sugarmtngal]

Ya'll know the two guys loved having 4 chics along for the paddling!
Thanks to Mike for being a Safety conscious leader, yea I really don't think the bob wire putin would have been smart! Well, the canoe didn't get to haul off any tires, but it sure did get a taste of a creek, thank goodness it didn't get bruised or cut in half! Thank you so much Stephanie and Tracy for showing me Little Rock after hours, when you're up in the NW area holler at me! Chris it was great to meet you and I'll try to hookup with ya soon for some fast water! Conway- thanks for covering my back! Dave, we missed ya - next time though.

We did meet the owner of 200 acres on both sides of the Cadron (we have his card and he's going to join the ACC)! We were permitted to park on his paved boat dock area! Great contact!
Look forward to paddling with you all again!
gretchen