This past weekend we went to Eminence, Missouri to float on Jack’s Fork river. We left our son Beau, behind since he does not have a life jacket. We camped at Alley Springs Campground and although it was cold, we did just fine when the Dad got the fire going.
- Jacks Fork, Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Campground: Alley Springs Campground
Canoe Rental: Harvey’s Canoe Rental – They were helpful but make sure you and them are both clear on where they are picking you up. We had a little miscommunication but it all worked out!
When we toyed with the idea of floating during anytime besides summer, I was unsure. Yes, I love the outdoors, but I am also a super baby about the cold. I need ALL the gear to stay happy. We picked a beautiful weekend and were lucky it wasn’t too bad. The fall colors were amazing. We started the morning with a car ride to the place where we dropped the canoe in. Once we got on the water things went smoothly. Bree sang quite a few Pocahontas songs as we floated along. We kept her busy with the usuals; snacks, songs, and a drawing pad. She had a lot of fun dragging her hand in the water after we repeatedly told her not to, but whatever works, right? The float was 7 miles long and took about 4 hours. We stopped for some bathroom breaks, and I am still nursing my son and needed to pump(use a hand pump). We found a nice sunny spot for lunch half way through. Bree needs her lunchable that she only eats the cheese out of. As we finished, we spent a bit of time on a playground and drove the 3 hours back to St. Louis.
