Floaters Gone Wild!

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Trips on May 20th, 2013

Every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, thousands flock to Missouri Rivers in a mid-western version of the “Gone Wild” series. In the Show-Me state, it’s “Floaters Gone Wild” – where elements of spring break and Mardi Gras coalesce into something that’s definitely not your family float trip.

Saturday floats are rated PG-13 to R depending on the group and whether it’s the beginning or end of a float. Alcohol and innuendo are key components of the Saturday phenomenon. Although no glass is allowed on the river, mixed drinks and shots with sexy names such as “French Kiss”, “Slippery Nipple”, “Sex on the Beach”, or “Screaming Orgasm” figure prominently. Read the rest of this entry »

Get Popping with Campfire Popcorn

Posted by Will Hanke in Camping, Food on May 17th, 2013

One of the best parts of camping on a float trip in the spring is snacking on hot food on those cooler nights. While s’mores and marshmallows are the old standby, a far less sticky option is campfire popcorn. You may remember the old-fashioned popcorn poppers your parents used to have on campouts when you were a kid. But if you suspect that old-fashioned popper was sold in a garage sale or tossed in the garbage many moons ago, there’s still hope for campfire popcorn since you can produce a popper of your own with a roll of heavy-duty cooking foil and campfire forks. Just follow these simple steps and remember, you’re not responsible for burning anyone’s popcorn except your own. But if you cook the campfire popcorn just right, you’ll receive rave reviews with demands for an encore before the next float trip!
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Review: Texsport Yellow Float Bag 22″ x 16″

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Products & Reviews on May 12th, 2013

Ask anyone who has ever had the misfortune of flipping their canoe on a float trip and they’ll tell you how priceless the Texsport Yellow Float Bag is. The last thing you want to do on your next Missouri float trip is lose your cell phone or wallet. Read the rest of this entry »

canoes, dry, dry bags, float trip, kayak, river

Relationship Compatibility: The Float Trip Test

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Trips on May 9th, 2013

I have made a point of going on at least one float trip every year since 1978. After more than thirty-four years, I feel that I have achieved a certain expertise—not in the way I paddle, but in my observations of couples on the river. Read the rest of this entry »

Saving Money on Your Next Float Trip

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Trips on April 22nd, 2013

There’s nothing like spending time with your family and friends floating down one of Missouri’s picturesque rivers, camping in the great outdoors and sleeping under the stars. Though one of the most affordable ways for families to take a vacation, float trips seem to get more expensive each year. With prices at the pump soaring, increasing fees for camping permits and rising costs for boats and camping gear, many families are looking for ways to save as much money as possible so they can take more trips next year. Here are some money saving tips for your next float trip: Read the rest of this entry »

Review: Fresh Fog 80042 Electric Outdoor Cooling Misting System Kit

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Trips on April 18th, 2013

A Missouri summer isn’t complete without a float trip down one of the state’s many floatable rivers. Unfortunately, Missouri’s summer heat can be brutal. By the end of July the sun has heated much of the rivers’ water to temperatures that mimic bath water which is why having a Fresh Fog 80042 Electric Outdoor Cooling Misting System Kit on hand can make even the hottest of float trips much more bearable. When air conditioning isn’t available, a cooling misting system is a camper’s best defense when it comes to keeping cool and preventing heat stroke. Read the rest of this entry »

Tips for Catching More Fish in Early Spring

Posted by Will Hanke in Fishing, Tips & Tricks on April 15th, 2013

One of the best meals on a Missouri float trip is a fish fry. And what could be better than frying up the freshest fish ever from your catch of the day? Experienced Missouri anglers find that fishing in early spring requires different fishing strategies than those used in summer and fall. Early spring water is still generally cold. The following early spring fishing tips will help you with catching more fish. Read the rest of this entry »

catching fish, Fishing, lakes, missouri, rivers, spring, springtime, streams

Staying Warm in Your Tent

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Trips on April 8th, 2013

If you’re one of the diehards who enjoy taking a float trip in early spring and late fall, you know what a challenge it is to stay warm in a tent. While there’s nothing like the smell of a campfire and waking up to a silence that is only experienced when the crowds have all gone, nights can be dog gone frigid. The following tips can help to keep you stay warmer on those chilly nights. Read the rest of this entry »

Misinformation & Unanswered Questions About Floating

Posted by Will Hanke in Float Trips on April 3rd, 2013

On April 1, 2013, we published an article titled New Alcohol Law Targets Floaters which basically said the Missouri Department of Rivers & Streams (which I made up) had passed a law banning mixed drinks from the rivers. This article was simply an April Fools prank (and most were smart enough to get that) – yet it riled the feathers of many – from the ‘river purists’ to the party floaters. Nonetheless, it was simply an April Fools joke and nothing more. Read the rest of this entry »

An Open Letter to Pat Sutcliffe at MissouriCanoe.org

Posted by Will Hanke in Canoes, Float Trips on April 2nd, 2013

Name: Pat Sutcliffe

Email: pat@canoemissouri.com

Customer Comments:

As an advertiser on Float Missouri I was wondering if you might consider asking the people who maintain the site to put a retraction on the “real funny joke” they posted yesterday? It is causing tremendous problems.

It didn’t end up being very funny for the canoeing industry in Missouri.

Thanks!

Pat Sutcliffe

This letter was sent to one of our advertisers after our New Alcohol Law Targets Floaters April Fools post gained, let’s just say, a little attention. Below is my response to Mr./Mrs. Sutcliffe. Read the rest of this entry »

canoeing, canoes, Float Trips, missouri

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