Forget the calendar
Spring is officially here at our place.
Heard my first cardinal of the year singing his ass off this afternoon. He lives year around in the tree outside the bedroom window, but he doesn’t sing during the winter.
He started singing about 4pm Wednesday afternoon: Purtee, purtee … purtee-purtee-purtee-purtee-purtee. He went on continuously for about an hour.
His singing says springtime to me. Even if we get another snowstorm I know the snow won’t stay around for long.
Time to start getting the racks on and the canoeing gear together even though my pond is still froze and there’s still ice in the rivers; but it won’t be there much longer 
Hopefully some day
I can make one of these. My problem is it always coiincides with my canoe club’s school of WW paddling and I can’t miss that. Sigh. Perhaps some day the stars will align.
Those stupid birds tell lies
I’ve periodically heard cardinals by my house during the whole second half of winter. It seems like any nice sunny day has the ability to fool a few of them. Same with chickadees. I started hearing their territorial call (the two-tone, two- or three-syllable whistle) in mid winter. Of course, I’m hearing both quite a bit more now that the temperature has hit 50 degrees a couple of times.
I saw a more reliable indicator of spring today. The merganzers are showing up on thawed patches of the local river. I bet a few buffleheads are among them. Those birds can’t “lie” about spring as easily, because they need open water. The melting ice doesn’t tell lies about spring, except in those extra-warm winters like we were having a few years ago.
New faces welcome?
I’ve been following this Rendezvous thread for a number of years and as it turns out I’ll be in the area during this year’s gathering.
So an opportunity looms for me and I’d be interested in camping and paddling with others on day trips. Hope I’m not too late to join the party.
Peepers the LAst Few Days…
…flocks of snow geese, and flocks of Canada Geese headed north…
Agreed
– Last Updated: Mar-13-15 2:31 PM EST –
Peepers were deafening in eastern Wayne county this week. And Snow and Canada's were intermingling by the thousands coming from Duck Creek.
daughter is moving at the wrong time
dont know yet but my vacation might not be a vacation after all .might be able to half and half it…and were having another grandkid (other daughter) a boy this time …i dont know if i can raise boys … never had to…thats going to be in july … i hope to lake paddle this weekend its wet out but temp is nice…
Twin Bridges!
I called and talked to Judy and they will still honor basic camping at $8.00 per day, per person. When you check in just make sure to see Judy and remind her what the price is (I think there was a little confusion last year). I don’t negotiate rates for electric sites, sorry you’ll have to do that on your own. The only thing they have really done is finish the restaurant which is up and running, no new bath house yet. But considering the options that you have for camping down there I still think Twin Bridges is the best and the location for shuttles works great.
Their phone is 417-256-7507 and website is www.twinbridgescanoe.com
See ya’ll soon!
Pam
Newcomer interested
I’ve been following this Rendezvous thread for a number of years but circumstances have made it not possible for me to attend.
This year my plans have me in the area around that time and I’d like to camp and paddle with others if new faces are welcome. I’m experienced up to Class III in solo canoe.
So if I’m not too late to join the party, my plans are to attend and see if I can’t find some folks to share the river(s) with.
Never Too Late…
…until it’s over (LOL)! Looking forward to it
Finally
Our pond is now wet and no longer hard. Looks like it will stay that way until next December.
Approaching the quarter pole, only five and a half weeks to the Vous.
Before & After
Still interested in floats both before and after the Rendezvous, and need to establish a good departure date from here (Alaska) to arrive in Missouri “on time”.
Based on initial responses, it looks like there is interest in either the Buffalo or the Eleven Point before and the Current after. Hoping to set up a firm meeting date and place for a “before” trip soon for planning purposes. Interested?
And/or early arrivals at Twin Bridges with a trip to the Jack’s Fork?
Brad
So what rivers are in the usual line up
during this gathering?
1st time for me, so curious about the character of the water.
North Fork and Bryant Creek
Here’s some links to previous Rendezvous to help:
http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/spring_2012_ozark_rendezvous
http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/spring_ozark_rendezvous_2014
http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/2013_spring_raindezvous
Interested
I am interested in meeting before the Rendezvous and would certainly like to paddle on either the upper Current, upper Jacks Fork, or both if water levels permit. The Big Piney in Missouri would also be a possibility. A trip on the Buffalo might be doable.
Unfortunately, I can’t make a firm commitment because I am unsure as to whether my wife will be home to look after our dogs and might not know until shortly before May.
others
– Last Updated: Mar-23-15 9:04 AM EST –
If the water level permits, some folks will probably do some day trips on the upper Jacks Fork River which is not too far away. Another option in the general area is Spring Creek, flowing out of Mammoth Spring in northernmost Arkansas. The Eleven Point and Current Rivers are not too far away either, although too far away to do day trips on from where we will be base camping at Twin Bridges.
For the most part, these rivers are moving flat water to Class I at common water levels. There is one rapid on the North Fork and perhaps one on the uppermost Jacks Fork ("Prongs" section) which might rate a Class II and there are some Class II ledge drops and a Class II rapid on Spring Creek. There really aren't any dangerous rapids. The greatest hazards are "rootwads" from fallen trees and other strainers which might require decent boat handling in tight spots. Scenery and water quality are generally very good.
Although longer trips can be done on the Jacks Fork, Eleven Point, and Current River, for the most part these rivers are best suited for day trips rather than overnight excursions.
Spring River
Just as a point of clarification in case someone looks for beta, it’s Spring River, not creek. South Fork of the Spring is also a nice little overlooked class I float with great fishing.
Thanks, very helpful
As I’m pondering how muscular a WW boat to bring.
Sounds like if you have decent boat control you shouldn’t need a deep, rockered canoe and that a general purpose cruiser will be just fine.
Yup
You might not want to bring an absolutely straight-keeled flat water cruiser, although if you did you could probably make it work.
If the water turns out to be high, there might be some standing waves on certain places on the North Fork, but the wave trains won’t be that prolonged so if you take on water in a shallower boat it shouldn’t be a big deal.
Some of the river bottoms can be rather gravely so you might choose to bring a Royalex boat if you have one, although plenty of folks use gel-coated composite boats.
I have paddled highly-rockered, deep whitewater boats on these streams, but there is no need to do so. I will likely bring a fiberglass Curtis Dragonfly.
An early trip
or 2 would be good as would some trips following the Rendz. We’re in the area anyway so might as well make the best of a beautiful part of the country. Mr. Webb knows the area well.