Old and new . . . with questions

[Wildwood]

Hello. I'm new to ACC, old to this planet, and just getting started kayaking. Can't believe I didn't do this 35 years ago! I'm wondering if there is any "easy" water on Richland. I've only done class I and II (I think), and am not interested in doing whitewater. Kings River from 62 to Stoney Point is my favorite place to float, but I'm sure that will change with experience. I live near the North Cadron and really want to try a spot near home when the water is up, but don't know doodley about technique. I saw something here about a session for newbies at Spring River in the upcoming months. I plan to attend, for sure. I'm 65, a great grandma, old on the outside, young at heart. I look forward to meeting some of you folks Tuesday night. Thanks for any info on Richland. Also would like to know the easiest part of the Buffalo. Have not made it to Hastings to get the Buffalo River Handbook yet.

[Clif]

Hey there, Wwood! Had to reply as not many of us Bee Branchites on here... not too many Bee Branchites...anywhere?

Richland Creek down before the Buffalo I think is what you are looking for. Shuttles are not easy there, tho. Hopefully some more experienced there will holler.

With a bit of boat control The Buffy..Buffalo.. around Marshall is good to go. You need to be able to get in and out of the current to miss the occasional tree along the bank, aka strainer, and to stay in the deeper areas thru the shoals. Putting in above the hwy 65 bridge or from the bridge to Gilbert are great easy to shuttle floats... a little crowded in the middays of summer tho.

What kind of boat you got? Would be glad to show you a few things and even explore some of the Cadron with you. A section of it is near my backyard. I would say come over and we can have an intro lesson, but after the tornado a couple of years ago, our access is...difficult. Full of trees. There are sections right down the road that are not difficult, with that basic boat control happening, and beautiful. A couple in the Gravesville area are good, as well as Twin Groves. The section above hwy 65 is one of the most common here.

I am sending you a pm with some more info. Welcome.
Clif

[okieboater]

Wildwood, highly suggest you sign up for the ACC Canoe School (oriented more to white water boating) and / or The ACC Rec School (more oriented to rec boaters but plenty of technique training).

Just from reading your post, my opinion is the Rec School would be a great fit for you. Go to URL below for more info

http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/Defaul ... eId=490143" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Rec School is on fun but mellow water, usually a lot warmer and is great fun plus lots of learning.

Watch the message board for more info on the Rec School

[Richard]

Keep your eye on the message board and plan to go with anyone heading to the Kings, Cadron or Buffalo.

[GutIt]

Hey Wildwood!

Awesome 'tude and great first post!

You shouldn't have any problems hooking up here for what you want to do with your boat and exploring other runs. Put the lower Richland on hold for a bit and maybe do some other runs in the interim. Get your overnight thang happening, get out there and meet the people who have responded to you. You won't regret it.

I know I'm already looking forward to meeting you out there! I saw your post and it kind of reminded me of a song...

[Donna]

I too am new to the message board and club, but have been yakking alone for about 8 years. I am not a "spring chicken" either, but a tough old hen instead. I have paddled several sections of the Buffalo alone in the summertime and find it to be quite pleasant. Even though I don't know as much about the Buff as some of these nice folks, I may be able to relieve any fears you might have of floating it.

I am looking forward to joining some of these folks for floats now. I figure after I get a little older, it will be cool to have some young "fryers" about to help me up out of my kayak, or to open my

I am down south of you and my favorite river in my area is the Caddo River. I would love to have you join me for a float on "my river".

[Jim Krueger]

WWood,

I also invite you to join us on the Caddo River in Southwest Arkansas later this Spring. With your previous experience, I think you would be pretty comfortable and have a nice time. Like Okieboater's suggestion about Rec. School, I certainly agree.I'd also suggest/invite you to one of our impromptu Caddo trips this Spring prior to Rec.School, it might give you a 'leg up'. As a disclaimer though, I'm a little older too, and don't plan on much floating until it warms more


Best Regards
Jim

[Cowper]

I'm wondering if there is any "easy" water on Richland.

Uh, not really. Even the easiest sections of Richland still have some fast chutes with trees in the channel. All of the other suggestions you're hearing for things you should check out are good.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy Richland. There are multiple good hikes in the area, and if you just want some entertainment, you can easily hike in to two of the best rapids just to watch some of the crazies that run them. You'd need to go on a day when the creek is running good, but you could figure that out by monitoring the General forum on this message board, to see when folks are headed to Richland to float. And the hikes are good even if there is NOBODY running the creek.