2011 Table Rock Report – Bull Shoals Pre-Event

 

Six boats with twelve classic boaters and two additional couples in vehicles–joining for the land stops– participated in the first Heartland Classics Chapter’s Bull Shoals Lake 80+ mile round-trip cruise as a pre-event to this year’s Classic Cruisin’ Weekend on nearby Table Rock Lake. Additionally, Don and Kathy Parker, chairs of Classic Cruisin’ Weekend, helped launch the boats from the Sugarloaf Harbor Marina at Diamond City, Arkansas before hurrying back to take care of last minute duties for the coming weekend.

Originally the Bull Shoals pre-event cruise of June 8th and 9th had been planned to be over 130 miles of round-trip cruising but record high water still had marinas in the upper reaches of the lake without power and services necessitating the revised float plan. With temperatures in the low to mid 90’s, a slightly shortened cruise seemed just right.

After a lunch stop at the Highway 125 Marina’s Wagon Wheel Cafe the boats over-nighted in covered slips at Lakeview Cove Marina at Bull Shoals Dam at Bull Shoals, Arkansas. The boaters enjoyed the fishing cabins, hospitality and dining offerings at Gaston’s Resort on the White River below the dam.

 We also had some great folks along for the ride.

Besides great boating we celebrated Bob & Millicent’s 60th wedding anniversary at dinner at Gaston’s.

Bull Shoals Lake is the largest of the White River chain of lakes in Arkansas and Missouri that also includes Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo. Bull Shoals Lake is lightly developed and very scenic, yet our boats ranging from 15 to 20 feet in length had no trouble with the big water.

This is the second large lake added to the chapter’s venues this year. As a pre-event to the lake Hamilton event earlier in the year a trip was taken on Lake Quachita in Arkansas.