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Buffalo National RiverKayaking the Buffalo National River upstream from Hasty to Flatiron Bluff and back
7/20/19
Let us imagine that just last week I paddled a section of the Buffalo National River. It would would be perfectly logical to go back again on this weekend to paddle just upstream from that section, I'm sure of it. After a breakfast of manly proportions at Ihop in Russellville...I...once again, headed north to Jasper. Just before 5:00 a.m. arrival was made at the Hasty access just east of Jasper Town. With 74° and mostly clear and dark skies, my boat moved with great rapidity in an upstream direction. Many treacherous rapids were bypassed. Occasional fog obscured my view adding even more danger. Towering bluffs and stunted bluffs rained down boulders as I passed, creating monstrous waves that threatened to capsize my craft and handily eject me from the safety of its hollow form. All these obstacles were easily avoided with advanced obstacle avoidance technology. Within a small amount of hours, my destination was reached...with death narrowly averted.
Before me was the point where the Buffalo and the Little Buffalo join together to create the Double Buffalo. Between this confluence, a rock outcropping angles upwards towards the clouds. This is the dreaded Flatiron Bluff. I say dreaded for many lives have been lost by canoeists attempting to scale its heights from river level. This bluff must be approached from behind and from the land, not the river. Heed this warning and ye shall live to tell the story of its grandeur. My kayak was offloaded here, on a bar of fine Corinthian gravel. Many lunker bass were landed in the shallows here. The skill and expertise required to produce such a bounteous harvest were learned during my days as professional bass fisherman. Please note that only the finest and most expensive tackle was utilized to achieve this task. My silk wrapped bamboo rod was crafted in 1927 by tiny woodsmen in the forests of Wales and was handed down to me by Jimmy McBeaver...great grandfather on my uncle's side. The attached reel was of fairly recent vintage incorporating the Deluxe Spin option sought after my many, but obtained by few. After the limit of bass was hit...the fishing ended. My creel was filled to the overflow mark...which is just below the top. I gathered my bounty of lunker bass and fine gear, tossed them into the boat and paddled with great haste downstream. At 10:45, Chimney Rock Bluff was before me. I marveled at its majesty for a moment...and then for two more moments. All my gear was carried up the hill in one trip...heavy and cumbersome, yes...but this is manly outdoor adventure, dammit! The miles were totaled at seven of those.
