River Update! July 31, 2009

Being the resident blogger of the store makes me one of the luckiest girls in the store.  Why?  Because on beautiful days such as today, my job is to walk to the river (a whole 100 yards..), take pictures, and then write about whats going on at the gravel bar.

As I walked down the dirt road to the Gilbert Landing from our location at the Gilbert General Store, in Gilbert, Arkansas, the birds were chirping, water was dripping through the leaves, and insects were humming in the air.  The sun was streaming in through breaks in the foliage, creating a truly beautiful scene.  As I walked onto the access point, it was surprising to see the place without the hustle and bustle of concessioinaires and tourists, but a nice surprise.  I did catch a glimpse of a few fisherman taking advantage of the quiet to cast a line; and an older couple were exploring the hiking trails and taking in some fresh air.  Due to the recent rain, the river has risen a whole foot!  That puts us back into the Ample Stage for floating. WooHoo!  It has made the water a bit muddy, but we expect that to settle in the next few days, making the river even more magnificent than it already is.  

With August rolling around, many are beginning to prepare to go back to the hustle and bustle of school, so use this weekend as an opportunity to spend a few days relaxing with the family at the Buffalo National River.  I know that as soon as I get the chance, I plan on taking a kayak trip from the 65 Bridge to Gilbert with just me, my camera, and nature to keep me company.  It should be amazing.

So, stop what you are doing, cancel all your plans, round up the family, and come visit us down here in Gilbert...we'll take care of all your camping and canoeing needs!  :D

-- Jade & the Gilbert Store Girls