[Paddlewise] Arkansas River

The hubby and I had a great weekend paddling 10 miles of the Arkansas
(that's "R-Kansas") River with a few Friends of the Kaw Members.  Out of
ten people, I was the only woman (par for the course), there was only 1
canoe, and one little brown dog named "Bean."  The sea kayaks were great
for the windy conditions.  Half the time we didn't even have to paddle,
just float with the breeze to our back.  The water was cold (45F?) with the
air temperature in the upper 50's, and it gave us both a chance to try out
our new fuzzy rubbers (I feel like such a pervert whenever I say "fuzzy
rubber") and dry tops.  I have to say I loved
the fuzzy rubber pants, they were perfect with a layer of wickers
underneath.  The dry top needs to have the neck gasket stretched out a bit
more (does it always feel like that?), but that shouldn't be a reason not
to use it more often too.  Call us gear-heads, but out of the bunch (some
were in denim) we were the most comfortably dressed for the conditions.

We floated from just barely north of the Oklahoma border to just north of
Kaw Lake.  The tiny moss covered waterfalls that emptied into the river on
the banks were beautiful.  A couple of guys saw a family of beavers in their
home on a bank, complete with the mother nursing her baby.  Unfortunately we
had floated down the wrong side of the island to see it.  It was also the
shallow side, my hubby had to pole himself off a
barely submerged sand bar.  I didn't have any problems with it.  Hmm, the
advantage of being a "little" paddler. :)

At one point the river turned and headed straight into the strong wind.
With the current going one way and the wind the other, the waves kicked up
about 2 feet high.  That was the only time the trip had any problems.  The
canoe capsized but fortunately they were within 5 feet of shore.  They
pulled the boat out, emptied it, and quickly changed clothes.  Everyone was
OK.

Now I just need to get more of that fuzzy stuff for our next trip. :)

Julie



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