Kayaking in My Backyard

Rough Hollow Bridge Access on Pomme De Terre River; a 3-hour float from our home in Hermitage, Missouri

This was the year that I expanded my interest in Kayaking and found what was available in my immediate area to support that interest.  My husband bought his Wilderness Tarpon 120 kayak in the fall of 2012 after we both rented different kinds and found what we liked best.  I wrote about this in 2012 (key word: "kayak"in Search This Blog).  He spent the winter tricking-it-out for optimum fishing use and that proved successful the following spring.  I was still deciding what color I wanted!

Early in the summer of 2013, we heard about A Kayak MeetUP where we could take the leap with other interested Kayakers with all levels of experience.  The Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance (LOWA) had reserved the Ha Ha Tonka State Park shelter house on the lake the second Saturday of each month.  The purpose was to relax, learn, have fun and meet other Kayakers.  You could kayak on your own in peace and solitude or join up with friends.  Kayaks were provided if you didn't have your own.  Refreshments were provided.  This was all at no cost!  We went several times!  Why would they do this?  Basically, LOWA is a group that promotes clean watershed for the Lake of the Ozarks.  For more information about this group go to the LOWA web-site:  http://soslowa.org

Ha Ha Tonka Cove - the launch area and park as viewed from the Castle on top of the bluff.

Meet River Jim - The Man who sells kayaks in our area for the best price!  He provided most of the kayaks to try out at these events.  He lives on the Niangua River near Buffalo, Missouri.  riverjim.com

                                                 So many kayaks to choose from!  

LOWA helped to get this new kayak launch ramp built and it sure is handy!

I had decided that a Wilderness Tarpon 120 was the right kayak for me the first time I tried one out last year and that is what my husband, Keith, had bought from River Jim for a good price.  Now I had decided that lime green was the color for me!

Yes! This is the ONE for ME!

I wish I had just bought it at that time in August but I thought I would wait another month as it would have been better for me financially (I had just had some unexpected dental work).  When I was ready, River Jim was not.  There had been an unusual rain and River Jim's business and home on the Niangua River got flooded!  At the same time, he had some legal issues with his advertisement online which penalized him from selling for 30 days.  While River Jim got it together, we went to the races.

 We had planned to be in the race had I got my kayak when I wanted it.  I would have had time to practice and get my muscles ready.  It would have been one of the shorter races; maybe the Sweet 16 (15.5 miles) or at least the Anything Goes Sprint (3.5 miles).  The race had 7 levels with a total of 90 miles at the maximum level and is sponsored by LOWA.  It is an International Flat Water Championship and had $13,800 purse.  For more information:  www.2damdays.org.

Captain Ron's was the end stop for the first day.  All racers stopped here and started up again the next morning.  Good place to party!

I had taken many photos over the two days but this one shows the most kayaks grouped together.  Each had their own time and space with many watch boats to make sure they took the right turns.

Here's the winner in a 22' sea kayak.  He was a few hours ahead of everyone.  He had been in the Olympics.  Don't think I will be in that race level anytime soon!  Sure has some nice muscles :)

Now here's a pirate with a wooden leg at Captain Ron's! Keith and I cheered each racer as they came in and and got their time registered.  LOWA provided the coolest blow-horns that helped let everyone around for miles know this is where it's happening.   For more about Captain Ron's see their web-site:
http://www.captainronsatthelake.com

So now River Jim has sold me my Wilderness Tarpon 120 in lime green just as I ordered.  Keith and I picked it up on October 10, 2013 at River Jim's home and business on the Niangua River just outside Buffalo, Missouri.  I got it for 25% off the list price for $674.25.  The best price I saw it otherwise was $1200.  Well worth the wait!

We are now a TWO KAYAK FAMILY!

This is my Maiden Voyage the day after purchase on Pomme De Terre Lake.

The next Sunday afternoon, we put our kayaks in at the Pomme De Terre River's edge just below our home.  Then we drove both vehicles to the Rough Hollow Bridge Access and left the pickup.  We both hopped in my car and parked it in our carport and walked to our kayaks below.  The river was low this time of year and had several shallow areas and sandbars where we had to get out and walk our kayaks until deeper water.  This is about the shallowest area.  There were  few log jams but it was such a beautiful day, it was all good!

So many incredible photos were taken that showed the fall colors, crystal clear and reflective water.  I think this photo has some Vincent Van Gogh water color qualities!
This is where I want to be in my backyard.  This is where my Intuitive Nature meets Mother Nature.
This is HOME.