A 7 day/ 6 night kayak adventure from Ponca to Riley’s Station ( where Buffalo R. Meets the White R). Water low and barely floatable on upper portion. Had to initially walk a few parts of upper rapids, and definitely dodge boulders the first two days. Tough way to break in our new water crafts! A rare “cicada mania” was occurring in AR, from a double brood event- both 13 yr and 17 yr hatches- creating an eerie hum, like dozens of rain sticks tinkling In stereo. Saw a cow elk cross the river in front of us. Other noted wildlife included deer, raccoons, beaver, many snakes including water moccasins and nonpoisonous water snakes, wild hogs, animals like mink, turtles, frogs, toads, crawdads; Also, bird life was extra bountiful, seeing and hearing Chuck Will’s Widows, Whippoorwills, Barred Owls, Screech Owl, dozens of warblers, Bald Eagles, Yellow Breasted Chats, Indigo Buntings, Summer Tanagers, Red and White-Eyed Vireos, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Spotted Sand Pipers , Turkey Vultures, and multiple others. Rain was all around us this week, but fortunately all we encountered was a couple of hours of paddling through raindrops and awoke to a shower one morning. Sadly, a woman drowned from getting caught in a root ball in rapids just above Carver two days before we came through. Prayers to her family and loved ones. Overall, however, our float was a successful adventure which we can now scratch off our bucket list.
2 окт 2024
