Buffalo National River

Grabbed a picnic lunch and headed to scout out some of the Buffalo National River today - scouting for future floats. Starting at the Highway 14 bridge and then to Buffalo Point. This is the primo natural resource in the state in my opinion - on the week-ends it is loved to death by folks in canoes, kayaks, float tubes, etc. We are planning on enjoying it during the week when crowds are minimal even during the summer season. Charlcie also grabbed some flower shots over the past couple of days.

Killin' Time

Generation from the dams continues to be too high to facilitate wade fishing and is expected to be that way for some time. Weather is too hot and humid to get too excited about many outdoor activities (enough sweat generated doing the mandatory yard maintenance). Too many ticks, chiggers, poison ivy and snakes keeping us from working on the property. To keep from becoming too lethargic we have engaged in activities to get us out of the house and to learn more about the area: early-morning picking of blueberries (yummy - and healthy!), live music on the square, live music at the library coffee shop, bird-watching, and scenic drives are some of the things that fill our days. We're always sure to encounter wildlife such as young wild turkeys, herons, doe with tiny twin fawns. Lately, we have been invited to join the weekly Sunday pm "Ramp Party" at Rim Shoals - which offers some respite from the heat as the cool mist is carried by breezes off the river. This gathering of new and very interesting friends tops off our week as we assemble on one-half of the ramp,and in between issuing performance scores for trailer-backing skills for the departing fishermen, there is lively discussion, storytelling, wildlife/bird/fish spotting, and hearty laughter. Have I said that we are having fun?

I can fish again!

After weeks of flood control releases from the Dam, the Corps has initiated some hours of zero generation until the lower White gets back to normal levels. This opens up some wading opportunities to chase hungry trout that have been eating well with little pressure from people like me. The result was an amazing day of fishing with friends Bruce Ritter and Clay Henry who drove over from Fayetteville. On the river by 6am on a beautiful day (nothing so refreshing as standing waist-deep in 60 degree water on a 95 degree day). We were so successful that we stopped counting early and many of the fish, primarily browns, that were in the 14"-17" range. My highlight was catching a dozen of these beauties on a dry fly during a prolific sulphur mayfly hatch. As far as I'm concerned there is no better thrill in fishing than sight-casting to a trout with a dry fly - and feeling that line zing off the reel!


Sunrise on the river - the mist lasted for a couple of hours - very soothing

Not a good picture, but these brown trout are a great combo of brawn and beauty

Butterscotch fins and vivid spots

37 Years

37th Anniversary! How to celebrate? Go out to dinner and eat until we're in a semi-coma, get a dessert to go to finish before bedtime. Does it get any better than that? By the way, the chocolate coconut cake was mighty tasty! And we are still in love after all these years!

Celebration Week-end in Branson

We traveled to Branson for the week-end to spend time with Charlcie's sister Tami and her husband Kevin - and to celebrate Tami's birthday and our 37th anniversary that are coming up this week. It was a full week-end starting on Friday night with our participation in the Relay for Life - Tami and Charlcie were troopers; Tami was there from 3pm until 5am the following morning, and Charlcie lasted until 3am - and both of them walked several miles in the stifling heat. Kevin and I lasted 'til midnight after helping to set up several of the participant tents - he returned at 5am and I slept in. We don't know many people whose lives have not been touched by cancer. Our families have certainly been impacted, so we were thankful to be able to participate in a small way to honor those that have been affected and to help raise money towards the search for cures. The lighting of the memorial luminaries and the silent walk around the track to view them was an impressive and moving moment.


Luminary lighting




After some sleep on Saturday morning we went to see the Legends show at the Dick Clark Theatre. I'm not one that necessarily gets excited about Branson shows, however all the ones that Tami and Kevin have taken us to have been very good. This Legends show featured some very talented impersonators and was a real hoot - featuring The Blues Brothers, Martina McBride, The Temptations (these guys can perform anywhere!), Michael Jackson, and Elvis. Capped off the evening with an excellent meal at Red Lobster - we would highly recommend their current 4-course $15 special - one heckuva good meal for the money.
We capped off a really cool week-end with a 4-hour Table Rock Lake tour on T&K's pontoon boat on Sunday morning.


Sun gazing: Charlcie couldn't resist showing my expanding forehead!