Plan B turned out great! We camped in Brushy Lake Recreation Area, a small campground in the William Bankhead National Forest. The campground was empty when we arrived, very nice, with hot showers (a pleasant surprise) and only a dozen sites. Our group had the place to ourselves until the weekend ... which brought, families with squealing kids, barking pit bulls, generators and all night partying. The weekends help remind us how 
fortunate we are that we can camp on weekdays. On Thursday we paddled on Brushy Creek, so we put in on the lake behind our campsite and portaged a 20 ft concrete dam (not easy). The creek was very nice with clear green water very much like the upper sections of the Current River in Missouri, with limestone ledges and low bluffs. On Friday we paddled Thompson Creek which flowed into the North Sipsey Fork, where we took out. Another pretty creek with a few small rapids and one narrow chute the guide book indicated was a class III rapid due to a large rock blocking passage at the bottom of the chute. After a tough portage around the rapid it appeared the offending rock was missing. Myron was
disappointed we had not run it. Dang. We had a couple more pullovers, and then we hit the monster log jam. Where we crossed it was about 25 ft wide and 8 ft high. Even Matilda had to exit the boat to cross. After a long hard day everyone 
still agreed it was a nice trip and we were rewarded with a beautiful waterfall near the end. When we returned to camp each campsite had a notice warning us of the impending government shutdown and advising us not to pay ahead because we might have to leave. What would we do??? Later we learned that our federal government had reached a fiscal compromise, and we were safe once more. It was so very comforting.
fortunate we are that we can camp on weekdays. On Thursday we paddled on Brushy Creek, so we put in on the lake behind our campsite and portaged a 20 ft concrete dam (not easy). The creek was very nice with clear green water very much like the upper sections of the Current River in Missouri, with limestone ledges and low bluffs. On Friday we paddled Thompson Creek which flowed into the North Sipsey Fork, where we took out. Another pretty creek with a few small rapids and one narrow chute the guide book indicated was a class III rapid due to a large rock blocking passage at the bottom of the chute. After a tough portage around the rapid it appeared the offending rock was missing. Myron was
disappointed we had not run it. Dang. We had a couple more pullovers, and then we hit the monster log jam. Where we crossed it was about 25 ft wide and 8 ft high. Even Matilda had to exit the boat to cross. After a long hard day everyone 
still agreed it was a nice trip and we were rewarded with a beautiful waterfall near the end. When we returned to camp each campsite had a notice warning us of the impending government shutdown and advising us not to pay ahead because we might have to leave. What would we do??? Later we learned that our federal government had reached a fiscal compromise, and we were safe once more. It was so very comforting.Saturday we paddled Borden Creek about 6 miles for a nice gentle float that also flowed into the North Sipsey Fork (thankfully below the huge log jam). The narrow creek
had deep pools of mint green water and high bluffs with numerous water falls and springs. It was good to have an easy day after our hard work on Friday. Saturday night we went into town for a steak dinner and discovered the annual Moulton Chicken Festival in progress. What fun. 
had deep pools of mint green water and high bluffs with numerous water falls and springs. It was good to have an easy day after our hard work on Friday. Saturday night we went into town for a steak dinner and discovered the annual Moulton Chicken Festival in progress. What fun. 
Sunday's paddle was on the Sipsey River which is wider and flatter but very scenic with nice waterfalls. Dozens of other boaters put on ahead of us but we didn't see
them during our trip. There were no difficulties this day except for the class V take-out. Thankfully, we had two 4-wheel drive vehicles to haul everyone's gear to a parking lot high above the river. The scenic highlight of the trip was a 60 ft undercut, horseshoe-shaped, limestone bluff just before the take-out.
them during our trip. There were no difficulties this day except for the class V take-out. Thankfully, we had two 4-wheel drive vehicles to haul everyone's gear to a parking lot high above the river. The scenic highlight of the trip was a 60 ft undercut, horseshoe-shaped, limestone bluff just before the take-out. Each evening we enjoyed hot showers, shared happy hour with the group, dinners on our own, followed by river tales by the campfire. By nightfall each evening we were serenaded by a full chorus of tree frogs.
We had moved to this area because there was good water after the recent rains, allowing us to paddle some smaller creeks. The water has been dropping steadily however, and we are running out of creeks. On Monday the forecast is for storms in the afternoon. Some folks are going on hikes, some are leaving. We will likely pack up before noon and head for Arkansas for our trip on the Buffalo River.
We had moved to this area because there was good water after the recent rains, allowing us to paddle some smaller creeks. The water has been dropping steadily however, and we are running out of creeks. On Monday the forecast is for storms in the afternoon. Some folks are going on hikes, some are leaving. We will likely pack up before noon and head for Arkansas for our trip on the Buffalo River.
