Current River Adventure Day 1

Current River Adventure:

Feeling at a loss for words, I have copied the description of the Current River from Wikipedia. It doesn’t come close of course, to the awesomeness of the paddling experience but  I guess you just have to be there.

The Current River is a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The uppermost reaches of the river are swift with numerous riffles broken by deep pools of crystal clear water, further downstream the riffles continue but get further apart. Hardwood trees, rock ledges, caves, springs, gravel bars, and towering dolomite bluffs line the banks of the river. Welch Spring, a first magnitude spring, enters the river approximately 14 miles (23 km) downstream from the headwaters, nearly doubling the flow of the river. Other notable springs to add to the river include Cave Spring, Pulltite Spring, and Round Spring. Downstream from the headwaters  the Current River receives its largest tributary the Jacks Fork from the west near the small town of Eminence, Missouri. Blue Spring, another first magnitude spring, empties into the river, 9 miles (14 km) downstream from the confluence with the Jacks Fork.
 
Monday (Day 1): Aker’s Ferry Access to Pulltite Spring (9.5miles). 
Our first shuttle was flawless and we were ready to go by 10 am. Some of our group was unfamiliar with downriver paddling and with the peculiarities of gravel bars, shallow shoals and “woot wads”.  Richard Sullivan led off with Butch and John Lorenz running sweep. It was easy to see the evidence of the 500 year flooding that had occurred just months before as huge trees were uprooted  and gravel had been swept into virtual dunes along the banks. The infamous “woot wads” are created by the massive roots of these trees that tend to get caught up in outer bends where the current is strongest. The unwary paddler gets swept around the bend seeking the deeper water and Bingo(!) right into the “wad”.
Thanks to all the experienced paddlers but especially to Kerrie for keeping an eye out for everyone. As we became more comfortable the group spread out and began to enjoy the challenges of learning to “read” the water (and avoid the “wads”)

Our first stop was Cave Spring. The spring at the back of the cave is 120 feet deep and the cave itself is big enough for several boats to enter, turn around and exit. This was just Too Cool. 

John & Leigh and Kerrie at the mouth of the cave.

John & Leigh inside the cave.

Mike in the cave

Butch leaving the cave

   
 The rock walls were constantly changing and we saw lots of small caves along the water and bigger ones up in the bluffs. There were beautiful fern falls and wild flowers growing in the rocks also. It was stunning. Not to mention the color of the water which ranged from absolutely clear to green to blue to turquoise. This is Usci floating along marveling at the beauty. 

We finished the day with plenty of time for showers before meeting at the Sullivan-Barloga-Douglas  Cottage for Happy Hour (and left-over lasagna).