Ready to go – L to R: Karen, Mary, Calvin, Duane
Duane Heckelsberg, Calvin and Karen Doody, Mary Harrison and I met at the Glenwood cemetery take-out at 1:00 and executed a vessel consolidation plan for the shuttle and ran the shuttle. At the Caddo Gap Swinging Bridge put-in, we quickly got everything prepared and were on the river by 1:35. The river was at a mild flood stage, which we noticed immediately because we floated effortlessly through the cut to the river. This usually involves a slog through some gravel and mud.
Looking down the entry cut to the river
NOTE: Even though we started and ended at the same places, this was a completely different river from the one Sam and I paddled just two days ago.
Duane coming out of a buried rock garden
The river was swollen and running about 4 MPH. There was a lot of surface commotion almost the whole time – lots of chop, swirls, and many wave trains.
Most of the usual rocks were under water, so we did not have all of the back-and-forth, hunting ways to get through exposed ledges and moving from one side to the other to avoid gravel bars and to retrace false paths. This, along with the current, sped us on our way and clipped over two miles from the total GPS trip length.
Duane and Mary having conquered the most significant of the ledge systems on this segment
We all navigated and managed the currents and surface conditions successfully, taking a small hydration break after one long set of ledges (there were some exposed ridges).
Karen looking at the Gap at Caddo Gap by Camp Arrowhead
Duane enjoying a calm moment
Mary in almost still waters
We saw great blue heron, crows, turkey buzzards, kingfishers, a duck, turtles (cooters), a deer, and a large lab.
We arrived at the Glenwood take-out at 3:48 – 2 hours and 13 minutes to cover the 10.4 miles. Then the back-end shuttle, loading up the kayaks and saying goodbye.
It was a perfect day, and it was the perfect thing to be doing on a perfect day.
No lessons learned today that I am aware or – just a great time on the water.
The author, Kent Walters (photo by Mary Harrison)
Please see photo album here.