Sea kayak invasion

[Eric Esche]

Supposed to have some sea kayaks come down from Kansas City this weekend to paddle on Beaver Lake. Plan is for them to camp out at Rocky Branch Camp ground Friday throught Monday.

Due to forecast temperatures (Mid 90's) and high humidity, I'm recommending they paddle the White River below Beaver dam to town of Beaver to be cooler and more shady.

Heard there will be BBQ and picking/grinning at the Angler's Inn Saturday night, but plans are still loose at this time. I'm taking over sea kayaks for Mary and I, but may also bring a canoe to haul coolers if it gets as hot as I think it will.

I'm also planning on taking over some firewood if I can get it loaded in the back of my Suburban for Friday night, but I will probably stay at home with AC and shuttle back and forth this weekend.

Let me know if you are heading that way so I will know to look for you. IF I have a phone number, I can try to call it if their plans change.

Eric Esche

[Eric Esche]

My plans with Mary, Stephan, and Stephanie have changes as the Corps of engineers is no longer releasing as they did this past winter and spring on what could be a somewhat reliable schedule. We may do the lower Kings river tomorrow. Call my house at 9AM if you want to see where we are going.

Eric Esche 479-986-8567 house or Cell 479-721-9101

Sorry about the change in plans.

[Eric Esche]

The sea kayaks are supposed to launch from Rocky Branch campground on Beaver lake around 11AM in the morning. Susan, Mary and I are going over around 10:30AM to give us time to unload and check rigging, and stow food and DRINKS.

And Mary, Stephan, Stephanie and I had a wonderful time on the lower King's river today from Rockhouse to Trigger Gap. WE used the shuttle services of Kings River Outfitters and THAT was also a very pleasant experience. NICE folks and just as nice in the hot afternoon when they are looking at many more hours of work cleaning up and moving boats. Suprised me no end to have 2 of their folks and then the owner offer to help us carry our personal gear AND our personal Boats up from the river when they knew we had not rented anything from them and it obviously was not rental gear. Cheerfulness at 6PM is something I rarely see and it was refreshing. And then 3 of their folks all took over calling a neighbor to let him know his dog had a barbed treble hook in it lip. They gently prevented the dog from getting the other barbs in it's tongue and lips and then got it out without them being bit or hurting the dog. They truely deserve cheers for that kindness. I would heartily recommend them to anyone, and expect I will be back for more trips.

And if you do go to use them, go to their website for a map. Seems that google, mapquest, and other mapping services do NOT give you accurate directions to their location.

Eric Esche

[Jim Krueger]

Eric,

I've always thought it would be nice to float the Kings, it's on my list for the future. From what little I've seen of it in the past, and the pictures from other paddlers, it looks just beautiful.
From my experiences with several of the Caddo River outfitters over the years, and the friendship they extended, it's especially nice to read your review of the Kings River Outfitters. Thank you!


Best Regards
jim

[GutIt]

Back in the mid/late 70’s & 80’s I lived in Berryville and then Eureka Sprangs for a number of years before I moved to Fayetteville.

Trigger was one of the places we found to go and play. That was back when the bridge was still there and before KRO. Funny, because Trigger is kind of a screw up. They blew the slab when they closed the road to through driving, but they blew it in such a way that the slab just dropped into the creek. That and the "choke point" is what forms the wave at Trigger!

At some point Ernie got into the land there and eventually opened KRO. Started out just leasing the land and as far as I know still does. He owns some land just around the bend from Trigger.

I’ve known Ernie for years and years and you just can’t find a better guy. The things he has gone out of his way to do for people would take a book the size of War and Peace just to list. Including allowing at Trigger a big Memorial Service for a mutual boater friend of ours who’s life was tragically ended in a motorcycle accident. This mutual friend spent countless hours at Trigger surfing, or just sitting in a lawn chair reading the paper and swilling a cold one! He figured he owned it since he had been going there since before Ernie got there and Ernie pretty much agreed!

I, too, would recommend KRO as one of the best outfitters out there and as we all know there are some really great ones.

I just wanted to mention this because I would be really hard pressed to say enough good about Ernie at KRO. Next time you are there be sure to check out some of Ernie’s artwork. He is a very accomplished and successful painter as well as entrepreneur.