We're Red Headed!

We are amazed and astonished that the water level never turned back up on the graphs after the rain Sunday night.  It almost makes one think Mother Nature is in charge not the United States Geological Survey.   

So we are almost certainly headed for the Red River.   99.9% certainly.   Fortunately, we still have some complicated logistics to work out to keep me interested.

The main group will gather at my house at 7:30 am Friday and depart from there just as soon as we can pull out.  That will include me, Ian, Josh, Mullowney, Rob and Vernon.  Unless Vernon you want to meet us north of town.

Phil and Tim, you will be the second wave and leave Nashville a couple of hours later.  We will unload the trailer, run the shuttle and load the canoes so you should come straight to the put-in and step into your boat like the Cleopatras that you are and the Egyptian slaves that we are.  Here is how to get to the put-in:

Put Keysburg, KY in your GPS so it takes you up I-24 West (or just start that way until your GPS gets the picture)
Take I-24 West toward Clarksville
Take Exit 19 (Hwy256/"Adams") and turn right at top of ramp
Make your way to Adams, TN
Take Keysburg Road north out of Adams to Keysburg, KY

When you are in Keysburg (population 1 Ser.Sta.Gro. in a Quonset hut) go east a couple of miles on KY Hwy 102 which turns into TN Hwy 161 just before the river.  The access road is on your left after you cross the bridge, which we will be directly under. 

Third wave is....surprise addition Jim Myers on Saturday!   Cooks plan for Jim plus one more guest unless you hear otherwise.  Jim, you will meet us Saturday morning at 11:00 am.  about two miles downstream from the Friday night camp.  

The meet up place will be the the farm where we stayed Fall of 2009 the last time we tried to do the Red River (but ended up on Yellow Creek).

This farm:

 

 The one where the Bell Witch tugged on Josh's sock...

You need to leave $10 and a note on the back door of the farm house that says "Lawrence, Jeff gave us permission to launch our canoe.  We are leaving our car by the river until Sunday.  Thanks!"   This is important.  Put your name and mine on it.

Be waiting with your canoe down by the river at 11:00.  If you're not there by 11:30 and we haven't heard from you we're going to assume you are not coming.  If you have to go back up to your car or something, put your Stormy Kromer on a stake as a signal.  It's ok to leave your car down by the river at the end of the road. 

Here are your directions:

Put Adams, Tennessee in your GPS and take I-24 to get there.
In Adams, go east on Hwy 41 a couple of miles to the community of Cedar Hill

In Cedar Hill, turn left (north) on Buzzard Creek Rd.
Turn left on Sturgeon Creek Rd off of Buzzard Creek Rd.
Turn right on N. Barnes Rd. off of Sturgeon Creek Rd.
Barnes Rd. ends at the farm.  Leave the gate how you find it.
If you have any trouble, call Jeff at (615) 389-9167.


Ok, back to float business.  We are taking 6 canoes for 8 people, not counting Jim Myers and his canoe.   They are all on the trailer (which Vernon just delivered without incident) so no need for anyone except Mullowney to bring any more boats.

We have some key new pieces of equipment, mainly a brand new German-made crosscut saw to replace the one you guys got stuck and then brutally hacked out of a log on the Duck last fall.  And a new, second full-sized coffee pot with an ominous message.

The trip is BYOB except for the coffee that goes in the possibly crazed coffee pot and the Saturday morning Bloodies and Drivers all of which Tim is handling.  

Remember to bring your cups, plates and utensils.  Rob says if you forget your bowl for his venison bourguignon he will set your boots on fire.