MISSOURI RIVERS

Mar. 1	A quick trip to the grocery store started the day. Then it was off to Greer Landing to meet Al and Ana Donaldson for a 11.5-mile paddle on the Eleven Point River to Whitten Landing. Temperatures near 60, adequate water height and a great paddle (11.5 miles; 2 hrs. 50 minutes paddling). Good to be on the water again.
	Al and Ana Lunch
Mar. 2 - 3	Mother Nature exerts her will again. Sleet and freezing temperatures resulted in a stay-at-home day. It snowed over night and we saw this looking out the front door of our cottage on the morning of the 3rd.
Mar. 4	We encountered icy roads on our way to Walmart to drop off a flat tire for fixing, and then on to Boiling Springs. There we joined six other paddlers for a 14.7-mile paddle down Big Piney River to Slabtown Access. The temperature increased from 27 degrees at put-in to 42 degrees at take-out. It was cool, but sunny and turned into a beautiful day. Eagles, turkeys, hawks and deer were seen.
Mar. 5	Today was a day of many stories. As for the trip, we paddled the Big Piney from Dogs Bluff to Boiling Springs, a total of 18.1 miles in 5 hrs, 50 min. paddling time. The plan was for some to take out at Sandy Shoals Ford and those that wanted to continue the additional 6 miles to Boiling Springs. Al, Bill and Sharon decided to take out at Sandy Shoals Ford. We loaded the gear into Al's Scion and tied the canoes on top. And then the fun began. The road to the river was down hill and there was still covered with snow. At least a dozen tries were made to get up the hill (going forward, backward and with Bill and Sharon sitting on the hood...deer on the headlight...hanging onto the canoes, all trying to increase the weight on the front wheel drive vehicle. We got to within about 20 ft. of the road, but could not make it. Sooooooo, it was get back on the water and paddle on to Boiling Springs. We pulled in just as others were heading out so see what had happened. All was good and we did get a longer paddle. The other story was about getting our tire fixed at Walmart in West Plains. It took a total of three stops, first to drop the tire off yesterday, second to pick it up last night after canoeing (they were very busy and we did not want to wait that long to have it mounted) and this morning to get it mounted on our way to the put-in. Each time our canoeing was a topic of great concern. Last night Sharon was told "she was a brave woman" and this morning when we stopped a sales person I had not seen before said "Oh, you are the floaters" (Ozark for canoeist). Each time a lengthy discussion occurred about canoeing this time of the year, what they have done and our reassurance that we were experienced canoeists and were prepared.
	Successful otter slide
Mar. 6	We moved over to the Current River today and paddled from Akers to Pulltite, a distance of 9.7 miles with a paddling time of 2 hrs, 45 min. The temperatures were starting to warm up and the sun was shining. We saw a big otter get out of the water and scramble up a steep, rocky slope.
	Waiting for car shuttle Ana emerging from cave Otter heading up slope
Mar. 7	Norfork (North Fork of White) River. Distance of 17.0 miles; paddling time was 4 hrs, 40 min. (More to come)
Mar. 8	The weather forecast was for light showers in the afternoon was we decided to get an early start and paddle the short stretch of the Current River from Cedar Grove to Akers (7.7 miles). We arrived before eight and were on the water by nine -- temperature was about 32 degrees. The paddles were no more in the water when the rains came...not light, but not a down pour either. It rained for most of the two-hour paddle. The temperature was all of 38 degrees at take-out. All were well prepared for the rain and cold, but none-the-less, the warm car sure felt good.
	Al Ana Greg
Mar. 9	Eleven Point from Greer Landing to Whitten. 11.7 mi.; 3 hrs paddling time. (More to come)
Mar. 10	A beautiful day--it hit 70 degrees today! We put in at Simmons Ford on the Big Piney and paddled to Dogs Bluff. This was the most technical and challenging section of the Big Piney that we paddled. Lots of fun with none of the challenges presented any real danger. We paddled 10.9 miles in 3.5 hours paddling and a stop for lunch.
Mar. 11	Bryant Creek from MO-181 to Cook. 16.1 mi.; 4 hrs 12 min. paddling time. ht: 3.85 cfs: 340 75 degrees (More to come)