Blue Winter and Cold Water

Pictures to wet the appetite 

Man, this March has been as cold as it was hot last March, and I'm going just a little crazy. It's snowing right now with nothing showing on the radar, and it has snowed at least 8 days in March so far.  But, we have not gotten a really good snow, mostly just pretty to look at because the Gorge looks awesome dressed up in snow. I guess we were lucky to squeeze out 4 days on the river this past week during spring break, although I would have liked more. The wind has been ferocious since last thursday, and combined with temps in the 30s, have made going outside unpleasant. I need to get out bad, going crazy in this house, guess I'll just bundle up and drop into the Gorge, where a man can escape the wind. Hoping to get a big enough rain to test out the new raft on the Hailstone run on upper Buffalo soon, that would get me going. April can't come soon enough, it's time for the blue winter to be over, and the beautiful Ozark spring to begin. I need sunshine and water!!!!!! the Hollohead

Spring Break Fun

So, just got off 3 day trip on the river with the kids, last hour was in a driving snowstorm, I tell you these kids are tough as nails. Of course, Scott and I had taken our sweet time getting on the river, wouldn't want to risk our reputation as the crack of afternoon club,  but the odds caught up with us as the storm was already late. I had forgotten my rain gear, and I became soaked to the core quickly, a dumb mistake that could be serious in the wrong situation. By the time we were getting off the river, it was snowing in huge flakes that was building up on all the boats and gear and ourselves. Everyones hands were cold, but mostly everything else was dry so the kids did fine and impressed me greatly. At Steele Creek on tuesday while Scott and I prepared to get on the river, several   people made comments about how the kids were obviously very experienced outdoorsman, and on the river Matt and Cooper make big impressions on folks in their blue kayaks. They are getting better all  the time and are starting to have good enough boat control to run the meat on purpose. Kinda humorous  to see folks who just had a unintended swim watch the boys run the same little rapid that made them swim, with no problem.  Folks will ask, "how long have they been coming to the river?" and I reply, " Matts first overnight trip was when he was 18 months old, and all of them started around the same age",   that always brings a smile to peoples faces and the overall sentiment seems to be "so cool". They are completely comfortable and adaptable to the outdoors, running around in shorts and barefooted even in 40deg. temps, made me cold just watching them. I never miss an opportunity to teach them a lesson about the woods or river, and they soak up all that, and the history of the river especially. Our hike on the river took us to Granny Henderson's homesite,and they were fascinated. Matt always asks me "is there any history on this hike?", makes me happy because I love history so much. We also  went up  Sneeds Cr. and checked out the cool bedrock rapids, Cooper  said, " we got to run this, we can't just say we are", and I agreed. This is an adventure I can't miss, I am making arrangements with Charles Clark to shuttle boats and overnight gear down the 3 mile trail into the canyon, I WILL bag this one. Unfortunately, the rest of the week has sucked for weather, and we have been stuck inside most of the time. I am really ready for spring, and have grown tired of winter, I need good weather to complete all of the exterior projects of the house, and I'm ready to get it done. I'm getting antsy and restless, which for me always signals that it's time for another project, and I have them lined up and ready to go. one thing that I am becoming determined to do is to get a CD recorded, the music scene up here SUCKS,   and I am quite sure I am the only person who likes music other than country. Also, the musicians up here are not supportive of each other like they were in Little Rock, every time I hear someone playing anywhere I always tell them how I'm enjoying them and offer some encouragement, never has one of them said anything to me about my picking or songwriting or well anything . NO ONE likes original music unless it's country and sounds exactly like other country. I have got to find an avenue to perform, Eureka Springs and Fayetteville are probably my best chances, but I'm getting a little perturbed by folks telling me about these incredible musicians only to hear them and say to myself," no originals, strumming guitarists, twang voice, and song selection from the 80s". Not saying that is bad, just wondering, is there anything else they enjoy? Guess not. It's up to me to find my audience. Well, enough complaining, spring is coming and everyone needs to get out and enjoy. Later, the Hollohead