The Ozarks are soaked! As I type this, it has rained non-stop for the last 28 hours. I just heard on the local news that today was the wettest March day in the history of Springfield! Seeing the rivers run out of their banks reminds me of a harrowing night I spent on Roubidoux Creek about 18 years ago...
I was 10 or 11 years old. It was Friday afternoon, and Dad and I were going camping. We slipped the canoe in the water, loaded with our camping gear, and floated down to the Bradford eddy, where Dad knew of a rock ledge for us to set up camp in. There is no better shelter in this world than a well-placed rock ledge.
I'm sure I was anxious to get fishing, but the rule was that you set up camp first. I distinctly remember Dad teaching me two things as we set up camp that afternoon... First, always have an escape plan. Dad took out his machete, and not only cut a path from the ledge down to the creek, but also cut a path from the ledge up to the top of the hill. Then we had two ways we could get out if we needed to. Second, if you set up camp under a ledge, always make sure it is higher than the opposite bank. This way if there is a flood, the raging water will spill over onto the other side of the creek, instead of pinning you against the rock wall... Little did I know that both lessons would come in handy.
After we set up camp, we caught some minnows and went fishing. While fishing, we heard a commotion in the sky above us, and looked up to see a rarity in those parts... an osprey. And this was one upset bird. He was circling, and screeching like crazy. We shrugged our shoulders and asked "Wonder what his problem is?" In retrospect, we were sure he saw it coming.
"It" was a line of severe thunderstorms that would come after dark. We, of course, were safe and dry, tucked snugly underneath the rock ledge. At first, it was simply rain. But hour after hour, the rain got harder and harder. Then the lightning came... Oh the lightning! To this day, that was the most intense electrical storm I have ever witnessed. Bolt after bolt of lightning crashed down around us, resulting in crackling thunder that would absolutely pierce our eardrums, and vibrate the rock wall around us.
Now we were in a dilemma. Every time it lightninged, we got a brief glimpse of the creek like it was daylight. Every time we got a glimpse, the creek was higher. Massive trees were rolling down the creek like toothpicks. It was truly an awesome thing to behold. Nevertheless, the creek was getting closer and closer to the floor of our ledge. I would say, "Dad, are you sure we're higher up than the field across the creek?" And he would assure me we were, but I think he was getting nervous too. We could have used our escape path up the hill, but the frequent lightning strikes made walking along the tall trees at the top of the hill a risky proposition at best. Until the lightning stopped, all we could do was wait and pray the water would spill over onto the other side of the creek. If we had to, we would take our chances with the lightning over the flood waters, but that was not a choice we wanted to make!
Long story short... As dawn broke, the water lapped at the floor of our ledge, but it came no further. The creek spilled over into the hayfield on the other side, and with the lightning finally at an end, we used the escape path to go up the hill, and walk the half mile or so back to our truck. Fortunately, the creek did not get our truck. Our canoe, however, was not so lucky. Dad always taught me to tie the canoe high to a tree at night, so if a flood came, the canoe could rise with the water level. We tied it as high as we could, but it wasn't high enough. The creek swamped the canoe, flipped it over, and sent our fishing gear bobbing down the creek. (A local old codger later went back and was able to find some of it.)
I left that night with a profound respect for the power of nature, but I've never been afraid of a thunderstorm since! I also learned a little forethought can be the difference between inconvenience and tragedy.
I've got some other good camping stories I'll share later on. Good night everybody.