So paddle boarding is something I would have never thought to attempt given my graceless exits from kayaks and canoes. Standing and mounting or dismounting a floating device is always a challenge for this girl.  But, Darby wanted to paddle board back in June for her birthday and Pomme de Terre, where we had her party, was busy enough to buck me out of a kayak, let alone off a paddle board.  Then an intern at work mentioned Show Me SUP (Stand Up Paddle boarding) out of Ozark and the great time he had floating with TJ and company in July.  So, I figured I’d give it a try and take Darby out for a sunset paddle this last Tuesday.

TJ, the owner of Show Me SUP, met up with us at the small boat dock in the Finley River Park in Ozark, MO right off Jackson Street.  From Springfield it’s only a 30 minute drive, so not bad.  In August, 6:00 p.m. is still pretty early and it was warm-about 94 degrees. He gave us a general overview of paddle boarding and what to expect, how long the trip would take and what we might encounter.  I’m generally not an anxious person and I’m a pretty strong swimmer so when the physical reality of what I was about to attempt rolled around and I was in the water getting ready to actually mount a paddle board, I was feeling pretty good….

Being first timers and less lean than other people, TJ gave Darby and I bigger paddle boards. They were wider and longer than the ones used by our more experienced cohorts who were joining us for their Tuesday date night.  On my knees, floating on the water, my heart finally pounding in my throat-TJ began to give me instructions on how to bring my dominant right leg up into more of a half kneel with the goal being to rise up on two feet while using the paddle as a “cane” so to speak.  I couldn’t do it.  My leg was tired from working all day and I had to adjust the paddle and lay it down to get that darn knee up into position with my foot next to the handle in the very center of the board.  Then came the even harder task of drawing the other knee and foot up and into a squatting position before finally coming up to stand with quaking knees and trembling thighs using the paddle for support all the way. I was very glad I had taken my blood pressure medicine that day as my adrenaline spiked into overload and I stood tall on the paddleboard (knees slightly bent) looking out over the river.  TJ commented that it’s better to look forward than down at your board as he left me to gain my composure while paddling over and guiding Darby to her feet.  In the end, we gained our feet, didn’t fall and began to feel more comfortable about actually using the paddle as more than a support for our quivering legs.

Then came the fun part; paddling up the Finley while standing and balancing on the paddle board.  TJ guided us up river to a little gravel bar where we could dismount and give our feet a break.  TJ mentioned that though he recommends wearing river shoes on the Finley, your feet will actually feel better if you can manage to paddle board barefoot.  Darby was able to take off her shoes and she much preferred it.  The small muscles of bare feet respond better to the balancing act they are attempting.  As tired as my feet and legs were, I spent the rest of the trip either on my knees or on my rear, paddling like I would a canoe.  I could definitely see that had I come into this in the morning fresh without 10,000+ steps under my belt already I would have been able to stand much longer.  Despite not standing for more than 20 minutes or so, I was extremely proud of the fact that I had actually done it; stood up and learned to paddleboard on a calm river.

The whole experience took about 2 hours and 15 minutes, watching wildlife and paddling around obstacles just as you would in a kayak or canoe.  Obviously, the chance to fall in and get wet is much higher during this activity, but neither Darby nor I fell off our boards which was a definite plus in my book.  TJ was a great teacher, calm and professional though I will also say that I am a teachable person as is Darby.  Going into this experience knowing you may get wet, expecting the unexpected and staying flexible (both mind and body) is the best way to have a great time.  So get out there folks and see what Show Me SUP has to offer.

Check out the Facebook page How to do the Ozarks and Instagram htdto2020 for more pictures and places to visit!

Ritter Springs Park, Springfield MO

Fellow’s Lake Springfield MO

Bluff on hiking trail above Shoal Creek, Joplin MO

Spring is coming, so I thought I would share my memories of my first float trip back in 2013 with my readers.  It was quite the exciting day and I felt like I had come through this trial by water with a greater appreciation for the power of water and the importance of preparing for any circumstance.  Pictures provided are scenery taken elsewhere as I did not take a camera with me on this first float.

In May 2013,  I was finally able to take my very first all day float trip down the Niangua River.  Of course, being involved with Scouting over the years, I know which way a canoe or kayak faces, the rudiments of how to steer, and basic first aid.  I had paddled around lakes and slow moving streams for a few hours, but never on a river swollen with runoff and full of obstacles.

As you may remember the Midwest had been inundated with rainfall that spring.  Although we chose to float at least a week after the last downpour, the river was running high and had accumulated debris from previous weeks.  Uprooted trees and boulders that the current had placed in the middle of the river made my first float trip one I will never forget.

The Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, my son Cole, two of his high school friends and me headed out to Niangua River Oasis (http://www.nrocanoe.com/) on the Niangua.  The trip only took an hour from Springfield’s north side straight up Hwy 65 to Louisburg and right on Hwy 64 to NRO.  They had marked the highways well with signs making it easy to navigate directly to their door.

NRO is a good size operation run by some helpful people.  They offer 6 man rafts, canoes, sit in kayaks, and sit on kayaks.  We paid $80 for two canoes for our all day excursion.  Updated prices for 2018 are $45 a canoe for 2 people.  We arrived at about 9:30 a.m. and had to be out of the water by 7:00 p.m.  Not a bad price.  They have two floats, one a 7 miler and the other 14.  The lady behind the counter mentioned that the river was running so well that people were disappointed in the 7 mile trip because it went too fast.  We had already decided on the 14 miler.

After loading our gear onto a short school bus, we were driven to the drop off zone and pushed off.  It was about 10:00 a.m.  I insisted everyone wear their life jacket, not just have it available.  A woman kayaking on Table Rock Lake had died the week before after being caught under some tree roots, even with a life vest.  When we made our stops along the way I told the kids they could take them off as long as they stayed out of the current.

The first part of the float was peaceful and gave us all a chance to remember our rusty canoeing skills.  Jamie, one of the kids, had never been in a canoe so it took a little while for her to work out what was expected.  The trip was definitely scenic and we had the river to ourselves for pretty much the whole trip.  If we encountered 30 different people that day I would have been surprised.

Cole had packed his gear in a bucket with a tight fitting lid, which turned out to be a Godsend.  We had a cooler full of food, a couple of backpacks, water and one fishing pole.  We also had a fire starting kit and first aid equipment along with bug spray and sunblock.  Cole had rope as well, which also turned out to be useful as the day went on.

Uprooted trees can be a big problem on a float trip.  I had never had any experience with them paddling around on lakes, so didn’t realize how dangerous they were.  Our first and scariest episode involved an uprooted tree standing about 8-10 feet out of the water, blocking part of the river and causing a backwash.  Trent, my partner for the morning, and I chose the wrong route and ended up swamping our canoe.  We almost lost our gear, but I managed to grab the backpack in time and the cooler floated into the eddy created by the backwash of the current.  We ended up hanging onto the roots of the tree for dear life while standing on our swamped canoe.  I managed to control my panic (I was the adult after all) and finally started backing up into the eddy which immediately relieved the pressure of the current on my body.  Trent followed me, backing up slowly and we stood in thigh high water trying to allow our adrenaline to diminish while deciding what to do about the invisible canoe being pushed into the uprooted tree by the incredible weight of the current.

I have grown up around water, first the ocean, then the Great Lakes.  Ocean waves and even waves on Lake Michigan eventually go back out allowing you to recover from the force of the water.  On a river, that water has only one way to go and it doesn’t give you a break. Ever.  It was an eye opening experience for me and one I will not soon forget.  Cole worked his way downstream and then upstream to us and using his trusty rope, Trent’s muscles and my guidance, we managed to pull the metal canoe out of the water.  The bucket came in handy for bailing and a fellow floater came to our rescue as well.

Back on track after about 45 minutes we continued our float, stopping occasionally to swim and eat and rest.  The river wasn’t running extremely fast in most spots, just in a few where debris had created rougher water.  Occasionally we noticed boulders in the middle of the river, but tree trunks were everywhere forcing us to pay attention and make sure we threaded through them.

Our second “incident” took place around a bend and was again created by an uprooted tree.  We had switched partners and this time Trent and Jamie took the lead only to swamp their canoe because they couldn’t paddle hard enough to keep out of the danger zone.  Seeing this, Cole and I jumped out of our canoe and portaged it to safety before again grabbing our handy rope and bucket.  While we were bailing, three more canoes came into contact with the tree, one other swamping as well.  These folks were not wearing their PFD’s and I pointed that out to my charges. One girl went under for longer than we liked and three of us began to move in to assist her to break free of the current and the tree she was pinned against.  Again, our fellow floater and his friend helped everyone bring their canoes to safety and continue downstream.  You just never know what’s going to happen when you’re out in an isolated area relying only on experience and the kindness of strangers.

This last incident forced us to think about the next one.  The four of us decided we would rather portage around such obstacles until we were more comfortable with our skills and on the last leg of the journey, we only encountered one more that gave us pause.  We beached our canoes and checked out the best way to handle the area.  Deciding on a likely course, we adjusted our canoes and traveled onward without incident.

The float was beautiful and took 7 hours, which surprised me.  I am usually good at telling time by the sun, but was about 2 hours off that day.  There were plenty of birds and wildlife to look at, tons of turtles sunbathing on rocks, grateful for a chance to escape the rain and warm up.  Sometimes it seemed that we were the only people on the river, it was so peaceful and quiet.  I prayed for our benefactor and his friend several times that day, I thanked God he was there and so willing to help.  Apparently, he was right where he was supposed to be.  I, for one, will never take another float trip without being a little more prepared.

Flooded Lake Taneycomo, Branson MO

Great Blue Heron

***Disclaimer  This article is in no way intended to be taken for instruction on how to kayak or canoe in the Ozark region.  Before beginning any kayaking or canoeing, the author took a Red Cross approved course in Small Craft Safety, first aid, CPR and had many years of swimming experience.  Always wear your life vest.  Never kayak or canoe alone.*****

Canoeing and kayaking, floating-in other words-is a great Ozark pastime.  Floating here can be beautiful in any season as well as dangerous.  Spring rains can mean fast running water, changed watercourses, debris such as downed trees, and displaced wildlife such as snakes, poisonous and non-poisonous. When floating in winter, you may likely be the only person on the water enjoying the beauty and stillness the rivers have to offer.  You will also be far from help if anything goes wrong, your canoe or kayak overturns, or you have a medical emergency.  Cell phone service on the rivers is sketchy at best if you don’t manage to get your phone wet at some point during your float.

Jack’s Fork, the North Fork, the Current, Niangua River, Hemmed In Hollow in Arkansas-there are plenty of great floats to be had in the region.  My goal with this  article is to guide you to one of the great places to learn how to canoe and kayak before you take on that float trip with all your friends.  Fellow’s Lake, a small fishing lake north of Springfield, MO off of Hwy 65, is a perfect spot to practice your kayaking moves, learn how your watercraft responds to other motorized boats, and is small enough and usually populated enough to guarantee help is nearby if needed.  A Corp of Engineers lake, Fellows is pretty, well kept, and comes complete with marina, fishing dock, hiking trails and multiple spots to park and enjoy the views of the lake.  One unfortunate caveat is that there is no swimming allowed in this particular lake.  Of course, if you’re kayaking or canoeing, you can beg your friends to splash you until you cool down or you can just dip your hat into the water and let it run down your back like I did.

The marina will outfit you with one of three options: sit upon kayak, sit in kayak or a canoe.  Kayaking is a solo sport, there is no one to help if and when you get tired.  Canoeing has challenges all its own, usually in how well someone knows how to steer which is handled from the back of the craft.  Steering a canoe is tricky and takes practice to become proficient, which is why learning in the relative safety of a small lake is a good idea.  Taking a canoe out on a fast running river with no experience (which happened to me 3 years ago) is a recipe for disaster, and is a story for another day.  Make sure you and your friends know what kayak or canoe option you want before you go.

I, personally, have no preference for sit upon or sit in kayaks.  Since I was carrying more gear with me on this kayaking adventure, I chose a sit in kayak as there seems to be more storage space by my feet than with a sit upon. Due to my goals of taking pictures for this article, having enough water to last me in the July heat, and carrying my phone and car keys-the sit in was a good choice.  My daughter, Em and I checked in at the marina, paid our deposit and collected our life vests and paddles.  A staff member helps you as you slip into and out of your kayak or canoe so no worries there, though leaving the kayak at the end of the trip made me feel as graceful as a walrus on the beach.

The best part of a float, even this type where you are almost constantly paddling, is the wildlife to be seen on the edges of the lake, in the trees and flying overhead.  Sunbaked turtles, Blue Herons, largemouth bass and sunfish all turn up consistently and close enough to almost touch.  We paddled around the east side of the lake, turning into the small tucked in cove areas to check out the wildlife and to ask the fishermen if they’d had any luck.  Even though it was a weekday, the lake was busy with small motorized craft and people fishing on the accessible ADA fishing dock.

We were planning on a two hour session, but ran out of drinking water after only an hour due to the heat.  This was unexpected as I had brought quite a bit of water and so had Em.  Being on a lake, you have wind to help you but no real current.  Constant paddling gets you where you want to go and that works up thirst and an appetite.  We pulled into the marina after an hour, my daughter gracefully standing up in her kayak right into the waiting hands of our helpful staff  member while I flopped out of my kayak onto the deck, knowing if I tried standing up, I’d soon be ticketed for swimming in a no swim zone.

It was a fun trip, though short.  I did get slightly sunburned even with spray on sunscreen, so make sure to take some with you to reapply frequently.  Sunlight on an open lake hits from all sides so it’s not unusual to get burned even under your nose.  Wear a hat!  I got to spend time with Em, get some good pictures, and get a good workout.  A few things to remember before any water adventure:  be prepared, take enough water, make sure everyone in your party knows how to swim, or is wearing a life vest and most of all have fun.

Check out the Facebook page How to do the Ozarks and Instagram htdto2020 for more pictures and places to visit!