We have returned safe and sound from yet another annual Easter Float Trip.  At least I would say we are no less sound than when we left.  We headed out Wednesday night and made the five-hour journey to Dora, MO, where Zim graciously housed us in his camper for the evening so we wouldn’t have to struggle with our tent in the dark.

Thursday we awoke to find possibly the best weather of the weekend;  Sunny and 40-ish.  We took advantage of this balmy climate and made the relatively short float from camp down to Dawt Mill.  I think this is becoming everyone’s favorite float anyway;  It is shorter than the other options, has some of the best scenery, (including the world famous monkey-deck,) and is generally devoid of river hazards…  With the exception of one rogue boulder that nearly de-canoed me.  I imagine we made for a rather interesting picture floating down the river in coats, pants and boots, but you gotta do what you gotta do.  It was no fashion show.  It’s a good thing we didn’t dump, we surely would have either frozen or sunk from all the clothes we were wearing.  Luckily it was a nice dry float though, and we returned to camp five hours later to a delicious dinner of fried chicken, mashed ‘taters and slaw.

Friday morning, after much spirited debate, the general consensus was “no float.”  It took roughly 2.7 seconds to talk me out of it, but there were a few die-hards who at least professed to wanting some river time.  When all was said and done though, only Zim and Chad actually loaded up a canoe and launched.  The rest of the group stayed back at camp and huddled around the fire, passing the time with several thousand rounds of cornhole.  I might take just a moment here to interject that at the end of the day I was the UNDEFEATED CORNHOLE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!!!  Or of Dora at least.  Actually there is an asterisk by my title though, as I did not win the championship round against Eisenbarger by two points.  I’d given my all at that point and simply didn’t have another throw left in me;  I was mentally and physically exhausted.  Beside that, it’s probably the only thing I’ve ever won in my life, save the speed-typing contest in Angel Fire;  Let me have my moment of glory.

Friday night proved to be the coldest of the trip.  While I haven’t been able to research it fully, most in the group generally agreed it was, overall, the coldest trip ever.  Granted, you’re taking something of a chance with the weather when you go camping every Easter, but we’ve had glorious weather for the last several years running so we’re a bit spoiled.  This year, however, the official low in Dora (the closest town) was 21 degrees.  I’d say it qualified as “bitter cold,” and I heard several other descriptive adjectives attached throughout the evening too.  There was an extremely short-lived conversation about sticking it out until Sunday, but that idea didn’t get a lot of support.  We were low on supplies, frozen, bored, and the firewood was gone.  BAIL!!!  We pulled into KC later in the afternoon and had a short victory celebration at the Brooksider.  (Outside on the deck in the freezing wind, naturally.)  When all was said and done though, still a good trip.  Hey, at least we didn’t have to make many trips for ice.  Always the optimist.

Sunday, after a refreshing 14 hours of sleep, (seriously,) we had Easter dinner at our house.  Somehow or another we managed to squeeze a dozen people in the dining room, and had a nice little feast of brisket and ham along with several sides and desserts.  Good stuff!!  After dinner Todd came over and watched the Sopranos, and that was a weekend.  Only 345 days until the next Float Trip, start counting them down.