Flood on the Buffalo

By Pete Williams

Jeff and Mike have had many float trips on the Buffalo River in Northern Ark with their parents. Now they will celebrate their high school graduation with a full week of canoeing; just the two of them.  Little do they know that two other boys will soon join them.  These two boys, from New York City, have never been in a canoe.  When a flood strands the four of them, they must overcome one obstacle after another as they fight for their survival.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RyeCal Publishers
• Release date: Apr 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798988132219

Pete Williams

As with many writers, Pete Williams draws from a wide variety of experiences. Quite regularly, someone asks if there is anything he has not done. Some of the positions he has held include: serving those with special needs, carpenter, groundskeeper (of a ball diamond), farmer, data entry clerk, fine dining waitress, editor, columnist, taxi driver, truck driver, pastor, salesman, single parent...Pete Williams spent several months working as a Red Cross volunteer for several hurricanes.

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Author’s Note

I have spent time canoeing and exploring the Buffalo River in Northern Arkansas. The River may be a timid stream in times of drought or low rainfall, but a raging river that is too wild for anyone to canoe after periods of rain.  A major flood really occurred; to my knowledge, no one was caught in that flood as the boys in this story.  The story is fiction.  However, similar events could have occurred.  Many of the events related in this story are based upon events that I have either experienced myself or witnessed as mishaps to other people.  I would hope that those of you who enjoy this story might yourself be able to float a river.  If so, then I hope you will an understanding that one needs to be not only prepared, but also cautious.  Happy canoeing.

Chapter 1

STEEP GRADE NEXT THREE MILES—USE GEARS

Mike read the sign as his dad shifted from fourth gear to third.  The backpressure from the idling motor would help keep the brakes from overheating as they descended the mountain.

Mike, is everything still ok?

Mike turned and looked through the back window of the pickup truck.  The straps still securely held the canoe tight.  The tarp that covered their gear was still stretched tight over the bed of the pickup.

Yes, Dad.  He answered nudging Jeff who sat by the door.  You have had me check the load three times now.

I know, I know, just be safe, not sorry.  Your mother was a little apprehensive about this trip, an entire week by yourselves.  I told her that we had promised you this trip for your 18th birthday.  Jeff, your parents will meet you all at the 65 Highway Bridge on Thursday at noon.  They’ll bring some extra food in case you all run short.  You should have no trouble getting there by then.  This is Monday and that will give you four days. Then we’ll all meet at Buffalo Point on Sunday for a picnic.  There’s a radio and an extra battery in the glove compartment.  I want you boys to check the weather every evening before you make camp.  Make sure you camp where you can walk out to higher ground if the water would start rising.  If the water starts coming up or it starts raining, get to the nearest access point and wait to see what happens, OK?

We’ve heard this all before.  Mike countered.

I know, but it is spring and rain can come at any time.  Unexpected storms are more likely at this time of the year.

It’s not like we haven’t done this before. Mike said.

All right, but never for more than one overnight. His dad answered.

Jeff and Mike had lived in Harrison, Arkansas all their lives.  They had made many float trips, some with their families, at other times by their selves or with other high school friends.

The Buffalo River is about thirty miles south of Harrison, Arkansas.  It snakes through the Buffalo Mountains.  There are few access points because of the numerous mountains.  Usually, they would enter at one of these points, then spend several hours floating down to the next access point where someone would meet them.

As they neared the bottom of the mountain, the road passed a small store.

Are you sure you have everything?

Sure, hope so.  We checked and rechecked our list.  It’s the same list we have used before, and we never forgot anything on any of our previous trips.

They continued past the store until near the bottom of the mountain a road appeared on the left.  Turning onto this road, they continued down again until they reached the small stream that the beginning of the Buffalo River.  A slab of concrete had been poured across the small stream.   Most of the water of the stream flowed under the low water bridge, but even when the water was low, some water flowed across the bridge.[1]  They crossed the river, splashing water, then up a steep grade.       

Mike’s dad down-shifted as the truck struggled up the other side of the mountain.  As they went higher up the road, another