The Estonian Volcano

While Chris is working on all the little perfections to Proud Mary, we had an acquisition requisition for yet another (heavy metal) item we had no idea how much we needed until Stuart stumbled across it.

Here are the instructions:

The video is must-watch TV:   Swedish Torch

I know you don't need any convincing, but think about how this is going to revolutionize our afternoon tea fires and Matzah ball lunch stops.    Instead of gathering a bunch of wood (large, small and Squaw wood), then building a big fire to generate coals, letting it burn down, setting up the grate and then maintaining the fire at cooking level all in the middle of the day . . . we split one log and fire up Paul Bunyon's Stogie. 

All  those in favor...?

All those opposed...?

Good, because we already bought it.

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If you need anything more to get you in the right frame of mind for the Fall trip, check out one of the books we're reading off the RRCC bookshelves.

[Notice him shaving with his ax]

[Mind boggling]   

Also want to mention that Goodbye to a River is now available as an audio book which adds a really interesting twist.  It's amazing how you hear something new by listening to someone else read it, even after reading it seventy times before.  And the narrator seems pretty legit. 

We are just under a month away, which is the perfect amount of time and perfect time of year to hear the whole thing on your way to work and back.   But I'm warning you, it will make you start looking at maps and river gauges and drinking your whiskey in enamel cups with honey and lemon a month early, too.

Fall 2017

The Fall 2017 trip will be Friday, Oct. 20 - Sunday, Oct 22.

We have 20 river miles left to complete the entire Buffalo River as a club - from the highest floatable section at the Natchez Trace Pkwy (David Fox's farm) to the mouth where it flows into the Duck River.   I think I may have said that before but this time it's true.

So let's get you oriented.   Here's the Buffalo River watershed:

Here's the only section we have not floated:

It begins at River Mile 63 which is called "Slink Shoals" and was our take-out on the Fall 2015 trip (to refresh your memory, our put-in and Friday night camp that trip were across the river from Crazy Horse Canoe Rental; Pete brought crawfish from NOLA).

RM 63 Slink Shoals: 

It ends at River Mile 43 in Linden, which was our put-in for the Great 25th Trip 3-nighter (Fall 2016).  

RM 43 Linden:



So that is what's left, putting in at Slink Shoals and taking out at Linden. 

Here is the question though.   Do we want to knock out the last 20 miles in one trip?   That is about 25% farther than we usually go before the whining starts.  We could certainly do it with a float plan of something like 5-12-3 Friday through Sunday.  But it could possibly cramp our style with respect to long lunch stops and slow cooking dinners not to mention slow cooking cooks. 

There is a semi-public launch option at the mouth of Little Opossum Creek at RM 59 that would reduce our trip to 16 miles.  

That would take the pressure off our Friday shuttle and launch and make for a truly leisurely float.  There are a couple of other reasons to favor the 16 mile trip.   One is that the Boy Scout Canoe Base is at River Mile 56, so if we put in at RM 61 (the 16 mile option) we could get past it on Friday.  Having led some of those Boy Scout trips I can say it is probably desirable not to share their most popular section of the river any longer than necessary.   The other reason:  there would still be 4 miles of river we've never done!  That would justify another Buffalo trip in the spring.

In other business:

Pete and Phil, don't forget you have a $300 investment budget for the horses.   We do need to decide when the RRCC fiscal year begins and ends I guess.  Someone remember to bring that up around the campfire.

We have some new gear and new member announcements we're excited about so stay tuned about that.

Proud Mary is back in the hands of her creator for a makeover.   Chris is going to be putting on wider feet, adding a second, removable paddle wheel, and completely redoing the spit that will be much narrower in diameter and have every imaginable size and shape meat forks for every imaginable size and shape of varmint the Night Varmint might want to cook.   Even Little Opossums. 

 

Spring 2017 Pictures

Click for Pics

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The Final Countdown

Tomorrow morning looks like this:

-  Skip, Josh, Phil, Mike Cronin and Water-wheel Chris will meet behind my house at 7:00 am.  Cronin has been downgraded to maybe but may try to join us for Friday night only, in which case the above still applies.  We will drive with the canoe trailer to Bucksnort Trout Farm.

-  Mullowney and Vernon will drive separately and meet us at the Bucksnort Trout Farm by 9:00 am.

-  Rob H will pick up Pete F'ing Feldman at the airport at 8:30, make one kitchen stop, and then meet us, probably at the put-in.  

-  Rob C will skid up to the put-in in a cloud of dust just before we shove off.  We haven't heard from him but that's what we expect to happen.

DIRECTIONS TO PUT-IN

Take I-40 West to Exit 243/Hwy 13

Turn south (left) on Hwy 13 and go about 9 miles into Lobelville, TN

Turn left on 8th Ave. E (County Road 1777)

Go about 1/2 mile and turn left on the unnamed road into Leeper Bottom (last left turn before crossing the river)

There's a gravel boat ramp next to an RV that is under a permanent roof (see map and sat photo below)

The RV belongs to John Goodson who has given us permission to launch there (or at least he has in the past).   Leave a note on your truck saying as much, and leave my name and cell number as well.

DIRECTIONS TO BUCKSNORT TROUT FARM:

It's in McEwen, TN.  Follow your GPS.

Here's a sneak preview of the new and improved water wheel.

It will grill all night, hold your beer, suck your dick and do the dishes.   I think you will like it. 

More Trip Week

Tim is out now, also due to family reasons.   However, our water wheel craftsman, Chris, is going to come along on the trip so we're still at 9 souls.  Apparently Proud Mary comes with a service contract as well!   Tim's canoe is already on the trailer so it will be easy for Chris to just use that.

Small correction from last post:  those of you who were meeting us at the put-in should actually meet us at the Bucksnort Trout Ranch.   9:00 am Friday.   Rob is picking Pete up at the airport at 8:20 so they will meet us at the put-in.   We'll try to have the shuttle run by the time they get there too.

Hot Rods and Cadillacs have confirmed they will let us use their private landing for our take-out Sunday.   They said they will "dummy" the lock on the gate so if you pull up first it should open.  Not the same kind of dummying that Ol' Bert and Ike Atterbury made to trick Sam Sowell and got Davis Birdsong stomped. 

I was trying to decide whether to bring the Chuck Box or not, which is a very useful item as a command center to run these trips out of.  I was leaning toward not bringing it to save space.  Then I tried out the new river accordion for size and the decision was made for us.

Vernon has located some wild mushrooms and is bringing them on this trip.  Not that kind of mushroom.  They are morels, and Rob promises to work them into the menu.

Here is the rest of the menu for the weekend: (from Pete)

Friday dinner:

Rotisseried chickens on Proud Mary

Shrimp fried rice with tasso and turnip greens

Bourbon and pie for dessert

Saturday dinner:

Lamb or goat on Proud Mary, not sure which one yet, but it'll be some real Semitic tribal riverman shit

Stir fried greens a la Charlie

That white trasher dessert you rivermen like with some more bourbon

Trip Week

Jim Myers' dad died unexpectedly this weekend.  Very sad news for Jim and the RRCC.  Condolences from all of the rivermen, who are your brothers.  We will stop and recognize both you and him at the appropriate time this weekend.

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Current roster, presumably without Myers, would be 9 paddlers.

Thanks to recent additions to our fleet, we are in good shape for all-solo paddling:

Rob H. - blue Dagger

Skip - wooden Old Town

Vernon - Grumman

Tim - own boat

Josh - own boat

Mullowney - own boat

Cronin - own boat

Phil - own boat

Pete - own boat

For those of you meeting at my house we will leave at 7:00 am on Friday.  

We will be stopping at the Bucksnort Trout Farm in McEwen on the way, where we will catch our lunch that we'll fry up in Big Daddy once we're on the river.

They normally open at 10:00 but have agreed to meet us at 9:00 am Friday so let's be punctual with our departure because that only leaves time for about one beer and ice down stop.    Bring a fishing pole if you have it.   They rent them there but it's better, easier and cheaper to bring your own.   Also, they'll clean the trout we catch for $1.00/fish, which is a 500% increase over the going rate at Beaver Creek in 2000.  Next thing you know they'll be charging for corn!

Who is picking Pete up at the airport?

Rob H, we'll come by your house on the way west or meet you at trout farm unless it's you picking Pete up.

Vernon, will you meet us at the put-in?   Maybe you never left!

Mullowney is picking up Proud Mary tomorrow and the assumption is he will meet at the put-in also with his canoe.

I picked up the trailer from Josh so if you've got a canoe that goes on it drop it off sometime this week (Vernon I have one loaded for you).

Phil, bring Old Glory when you drop your canoe or bring it with you on Friday.

Tim may or may not have to pull out Saturday which could affect our lunch situation.

Jim has a message for 2017.