A better yodeling contest

Jacks Fork - Sunset through the car window
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Karen was the only one who flipped, in the kayak against a log while out of sight of Jon and me. She took home some scratches on her leg as reminder of her first float trip - I hope those heal soon!

The van driver who drove us back to the rental center at the end of the float was trying to make conversation by telling outrageous tales, including being able to drive the 8 miles back in 4 minutes flat, and shooting his guns at "dogfighting" aircraft at night. Anyway, I was too tired and sore to argue with him, although I had to at least let him know I knew he was pulling my chain when he tried to retell this story. I'm not sure if he was trying to start an argument, or fishing for tales of gullible city-slickers to tell later.

Anyway, we ate at Ozark Orchard in town, which was pretty good. I had fish, Karen a burger, and Jon some kind of fish sandwich - and we all had root beer floats.

We rode highway 19 back, which was full of twists, turns, and impatient locals whom I fully willed to pass me when they had the opportunity. During the drive, Karen took pictures of our sunburned feet, which I will refrain from posting here. Mine look pretty purple today.

Here's a picture of the sunset someone managed to snap on the ride home. The sun was pretty far gone by the time we pulled up to my apartment at 11, but it was a beautiful day.

Jacks Fork - Kevin
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Here I am stopped in the kayak in the shadow of a bluff on the Kacks Fork. The upper and lower stretches of our float were quite scenic, but the middle section is not federally protected, and was filled with the sights and sounds of construction equipment replacing trees with campgrounds, as well as a throng or two of persons from those campgrounds. We paddled through those areas pretty quick.

Jon was far ahead on the kayak, which could go faster if you had the energy, and was of course far more maneuverable than the canoe. A woman by one of the campgrounds asked Karen and me "Are you children having a good time?" I didn't know how to respond to being called a "child". "Kid" I would have understood.

Jacks Fork - Karen and Jon
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Here's a closeup shot I got of Karen and Jon, but not before they both got their sunglasses on.

Jacks Fork River
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Yesterday, Karen B., Jon M., and I travelled many miles to float on the Jacks Fork river. We left shortly after 6 in the morning, fresh and ready to go, and returned around 11 tired, sunburned, and sore.

Since there were three of us, we rented a canoe and a kayak, and rotated positions so everyone could try out the kayak. Here's Jon and Karen early in the float.