SFLRed pics, obstacles removed

[Chester]

A few shots from our SFLRed trip, and link to more.
Cowper, just doing what he does...

Lucas, taking a well needed shower...


Wayne, obviously worried about his boat, but Elwood is so cooooool...


Enjoy more of the SFLRed adventure HERE if you missed it.

[Cowper]

Yeah, I think Stanley owes me a raft trip down SFLR, or down something, for creating raftable lines in all the rapids that apparently caused some concern on the last trip.

I'm not sure if Heather really thought a chainsaw was needed, or did she just say that to get me interested? At least this time she didn't promise beer which never materialized, so at least we're making progress....

If you see any pictures of the Governor visiting Scotland, check the background to see if there is a White Dodge with racks, or a Ford Explorer with 'yaks in the background. I suspect we're like the gnome in those commericials, you just never know where we might show up. The only good news is that the destruction, while devastating, is highly localized. Maybe these folks actually have a chance of getting the needed help, without it being spread too thin.

I know we try to avoid politics on the board, but I have to say that I think the Governor was doing exactly what he should be doing by visiting the storm damaged areas in person.

[Wildwood]

Yes, Mike Beebe was out today, along with the 911 Coordinator for Van Buren County, surveying the damage from a small plane. Whether it's politics or not, if someone has the power to help and makes the effort . . .

[fryingsquirrel]

All I can say is that the trip on Sunday will never be forgotten. I don't think I'll ever get those images out of my head that I saw in Scotland. the whole hillside there on 95 just before town was wiped out, and the town itself was decimated. It really makes me think how lucky I am not to be one of those who lost all that they own.
On a lighter note, I had a blast on the trip, and learned firsthand what it means to "piton" a boat... One of these days I'll return to claim my revenge on The Snag. Also, I'm sorry for letting Cowper down (I only swam twice). I'll try not to disappoint next time. All in all, I think it was a pretty good intro to moving water, and I hope to get better with practice.
Still a shame about the town of Scotland, though.
Jon Ellwood
Conway, Ar

[fryingsquirrel]

Yes, Mike Beebe was out today, along with the 911 Coordinator for Van Buren County, surveying the damage from a small plane. Whether it's politics or not, if someone has the power to help and makes the effort . . .

Wait a minute, if Mike Beebe was out there, why wasn't he paddling?
...Oh, wrong Mike Beebe. Sorry, Mr. Governor.

[davidbob]

Yeah, I think Stanley owes me a raft trip down SFLR, or down something, for creating raftable lines in all the rapids that apparently caused some concern on the last trip.

ARG (in the persons of Ranger Rich, Cap'n Downstream and I) R3ed the SFLR in a Super Puma on Saturday (with less water than the next day when you ran it), and we didn't need no stinking kayaker (spits on the ground) to "create" "raftable" lines (I've followed kayaker lines in an open boat enough (i.e., once) to ever fall for that again). Stewart and I just spin the raft around and push Ranger Rich's side into the snags, stobs, limbs, strainers, downed trees, rocks, low water bridges, culverts, etc. etc.

Then we went to the B Paddle N Ranch Saturday night to wait for the monsoon that was expected to bring Richland up to a perfect "ARGable" level on Sunday. Nothing happened, but if it had we would have been ready. (maybe not "ready" in the sense of being well-rested, fit and not hungover, but "ready" in the sense we think could have fed and dressed ourselves without assistance (well, maybe Pam), located the vehicles, avoided screwing up the shuttle (this can be harder than you might think) and made it back to Moore bridge by 11).

Politics or not, I agree with Cowper about the governor. The devastation has to be seen to be believed. Many of those people lost everything, and there we were driving through the middle of it trying to set the shuttle.

[Tmuse]

So your the guys who jinxed the rain!