I’ve said it before: Float trips on Missouri rivers pretty much almost always great, but some are even better.
Last Saturday, I was fortunate enough to experience a kayak float that I’m going to say was about as good as it gets.
Me, my wife, Wendy, and her friend Ruth Ann (from Blairsville, Ga.) did the run from Alley Spring to Eminence on the Jacks Fork River inside the National Scenic Riverways in Shannon County. Before sharing some details, let me point out that the weather was perfect (mostly sunny and in the mid-80s with low humidity), the water was perfect (we never had to drag a boat over a shallow spot and the temperature was exactly as you want it) and the crowd was nowhere near too large (or unruly).
Also with us on the trip were our Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Gertie (the Permapup), and her Scottish Terrier buddy, Scotty (yep, a Scottie named Scotty). Scotty isn’t yet a year old and was on his first-ever float trip. He was a bit nervous at first, but settled in nicely and thoroughly enjoyed observing people and other dogs, getting wet and generally being his cartoon-like self.
We got Scotty for Gertie last January, and before we all shoved off for the float, she told him he was under obligation to prove himself.
“You have to be a river dog if you’re truly going to be a part of this family,” she said. “Wimpiness on a kayak is simply unacceptable.”
We rented one kayak for Ruth Ann at Harvey’s Alley Spring Canoe Rental, and me and Wendy used out own. The Harvey’s people are always kind, and they charge a very fair fee to transport people who like to bring their own craft.
We put in near the pavilion at the Alley Spring picnic area, and in no time were in full float trip mode. Early in the run, the crystal clear water allowed us to view numerous beautifully colored native suckers darting here and there on the bottom. And throughout the trip, many species of fish could be seen enjoying life in an ideal environment, and several large aquatic turtles made cameo appearances on logs and rocks before plopping into the safety of the deep.
As we progressed downstream, we crossed the point where the Alley Spring Branch joins the Jacks Fork, and the water temperature dropped dramatically. As we passed numerous gorgeous bluffs and rock formations, I was reminded of how this run is clearly my favorite place to navigate a kayak.
For various reasons, Gertie fell into the river three times. Each time, she put up her tail (a.k.a. periscope) and swam easily to the nearest shoreline before playfully getting back into the front of my Perception Tribe sit-on-top kayak, wagging her tail and looking forward to continuing.
On one occasion when she went overboard, I swore she was “doing a Neymar.” Remember how during the recent World Cup soccer tournament, that Brazilian player with one name (Neymar) was being made fun of all over the world for time and again massively exaggerating how hard he was fouled (like rolling about 20 yards across the field after barely being touched by the sleeve of an opponent’s shirt)?
That was Gertie on one of her “falls.” I’m telling you, our boat just barely grazed a small rock toward the left side of the Jacks Fork, and she proceeded to catapult off of her perch up front, fly high off the starboard side, do a 180 in the air, and land right on her back in about 30 inches of water.
For me, it was hilarious. It unfolded so vividly in front of me and was kind of like watching a movie scene in slow motion.
I was like, “where the heck did that come from, dog? Wow, I think Neymar would be proud!”
For real, Gertie is a kaya king “pro” and has stayed on board dozens of time despite much harder impacts or jolts. In fact, people often exclaim, “look at that Corgi!” as we pass by with Gertie standing watch up front, and I often reply, “yep – she loves it and she’s a pro.”
As I caught up with her at the river’s edge and she got back in her position at the bow of the boat, I could swear she kind of smirked and chuckled and said, “not bad, huh?”
Several times during the run, I took notice of how many families were out on the river that day, and how many groups were floating in large rafts rather than canoes or kayaks. But, of course, there were also dozens of single and tandem boats of all shapes and colors being paddled by men, women and children who were obviously in great moods enjoying great times.
As we passed by people sitting on half-submerged folding chairs, or taking breaks during their own float trips, I’d often look at them and say, “how can you beat this?”
Inevitably, they would say something in return like, “I can’t think of a way” or they’d look at a companion, smile and nod, and say, “that would be pretty hard, you know?”
As always, we stopped a couple of times on gravel bars to enjoy some food and drink, gaze at the natural beauty and maybe take a swim in the ideal water conditions.
When we reached Harvey’s take-out spot, it was hard not to let out a big, “aaaahhhhh.” Not surprisingly, everyone around was saying something like, “that was just great.”
Interestingly, the float was the first of 2018 for Wendy and I. Believe me, it was worth the wait.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. His columns are posted online at www.houstonherald.com. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.