The Float

[Chief Grey Bear]

Well we made it. And what a trip it was.

KC arrived at my house around 10:00 Wed. morning. We started loading all of our grear and supplies and prepared to head east for the trip of the summer. This is Dylan's first trip outside of SWMO to float a stream. It is also is first multiple night trip on the river.

We arrived in Mountain View about 2:00 or so. We check into the motel and unload a few things and head on out to take care of our shuttle. After taking care of the shuttle, KC takes us to see the Alley Spring Mill. Great looking place. We then head back towards the motel and check out some sites on the way.

Back at the motel, we decide to head for the grocery store to pick up some grub for the trip. Boy did you guy's miss out on this trip. We got some great grub. We take the groceries back to the motel and ice them down. After messing with all that food, we decided we were hungry and got some pizza. After all of that and some weather watching on TV, we all crash around 9:00.

We rise around 5:00 am Thursday morning. Breakfast is not served at the motel until 7:00 so we turn on the news and weather. everthing is looking good but there may be some pop ups. Nothing to really worry about. Friday shows to have some action that could come our way. We re-ice our food and then head to breakfast. It is not really much, waffles and cereal and OJ. But it sure taste good and will stick with us for a while.

We head out and hit the put in at Blue Spring. We unload the grear and pack the canoes. By the time that is over, it is getting pretty warm and a good swim is in order. After that, we saddle up and head down stream. Dylan is quick to make the first strike on the brownies. And he would never look back. It was an all out assult on them. We stopped at Jam Up cave and went to have a peek. WOW! After a little fishing and a little swimming, we had a quick lunch and was off again.

The first was a long one. We didn't stop to set up camp until just past Rymers. It was a beautiful spot just across from a large bluff on a very quiet section of water. While KC and I were setting up camp, Dylan continued to reel in brownies, goggle eyes and long ears. After a fine meal of grilled pork steak and baked taters, it was time to relax, sip a on good drink, and just enjoy the sites and sound of nature. Daylight soon turned to darkness and the lightening bug turned the entire bluff into the most beautiful spectical you could imagine. Just awesome. Just before turning in for the night, we saw what we were hoping was heat lightening. But some very thin high clouds moving in.

Friday morning was as I had feared. Cloudy. And what worried me was that these were not clouds like with a pop up but, more like a long, slow, drawed out rain. And just as we had finished our breakfast of bacon, sausage, fried eggs(supplied by my own chickens), fried taters and onions and OJ, it began a light sprinkle. By the time we finished the dishes, it was raining a little harder. We waited about 45 minutes hopping it would move on.

I didn't like the gravel bar we were on with it raining. I wasn't sure of how much rain, if any they had gotten up stream from us and told KC, lets just pack up and start moving. That way if it does flash flood, we will be in much better shape than where we were. He agreed and thought we just as well just float and do a little fishing until it stops. I liked that idea. So out comes the rain grear and down goes the tent.

We get all packed up and head out. We didn't float very far until we had our rods out. And the bite was on. So we didn't really care about the rain. We just continued fishing like the sun was out. Finally around 2:00 it stopped. Slowly the clouds gave way to more and more sun. We made our way to Bee Bluff and found that to be our next camp.

What a great place to camp too. We got the tent set up and everything unloaded and started dinner. Tonight we dined on Ribeye steak and corn on the cob. Outstanding! This evening we have more time for relaxation and I take full advantage of it. It is a beautiful, cloudless sky and we are staring straight at Bee Bluff. I can't begin to descibe it.

Our last morning on the creek begins in a picture perfect fog. Just breath taking. We forgo breakfast today in order to get a jump on the float and have a chance of getting on the river at a decent time. And it worked. We were off the water and packed up headed home by 12:10. That put us back at my house at just after 4:00.

I'll have to put this on my list to do again next year.

[Paola Cat]

Awesome Chief ... right on!!!! Sounds like a great trip.

[steve l]

Thanks for the great report - brought back some memories of my own - few better camping experiences than the gravel bar after dinner - food sounded pretty darn good!

[eric1978]

Sounds like a great float. Glad you guys had a good one. Gotta love JF! But, um...where are the pictures? Any big smallies?

[KCRIVERRAT]

Sounds like a great float. Glad you guys had a good one. Gotta love JF! But, um...where are the pictures? Any big smallies?

I got a few pics Eric. Give me a few moments.

[Buzz]

Sounds like a great trip. I bet Dylan is still talking about it.

[Wheatenheimer]

Awesome report! Sounds like a great trip, wish I'd been there with you fella's! Thanks for sharing!

[Chief Grey Bear]

I wish I was a wordsmith and would take the time to present a report that is worthy of the description that needs to be written for this excursion. But it would be like reading a novel.

eric, yeah there were some nice fish caught. Dylan caught some in the 17 and 18 inch range. I have some pics on my camera but, at this time, I can't post them. As soon as I can, I will though.

[fishinSWMO]

Floating and fishing and camping, plus great food sounds like a great vacation. Glad you guys had a good time. looking forward to the pics.