Lake Gillham - Big Coon Creek

Well, it was a great weekend trip up to Gillham Lake in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Mom, Dad and I set up camp then they sat down to relax and I set off to kayak.

I just couldn't wait to get out on the water. I was hot, tired, had a headache, and felt sick to my stomach(probably close to heat exhaution) ...but I HAD to get out in the kayak. After a good hour and a half paddle I felt much better. Midway through the paddle I pulled up on a rocky beach and took a swim.

It was a beatiful time. I stayed out until the sun went down. There weren't any clouds in the sky, so the sunset was pretty unspectacular. After that, I went back to camp and felt good enough to eat. We finished setting up the camper, got cleaned up and by that time it was 10:30 PM...much later than we usually stay up when camping!

The next morning I slept in until about 8 AM. Got up and ate my cereal and got out in the kayak. It was another wonderful day. As I was going out I noticed that I had a hitchhiker. I guess it was some type of aphid. He flew away after a while.

I saw alot of Blue Herons.









I paddled for about two hours and got out and swam on a deserted rocky cove about midway.

I made it about halfway to the dam, but decided to give it up, as it was just too far for me to paddle. But it sure was awesome looking at the dam from the lake. It was huge.


In the heat of the afternoon, we took a drive to all of the surrounding COE campgrounds and to the dam. We definitely liked the campground that we were in "Coon Creek" or "Big Coon Creek" instead of all of the others. I had camped in Cossatot Reefs before, and it is nice, but I really like a lake or river to camp on. The Reefs campground is on the Cossatot River, but the river is very small and docile at this point in it's journey.




We were driving past the garbage cans and saw a racoon getting an afternoon snack. He sure was enjoying it.







We went to the lookout at the top of the dam and took some pictures. I got a good one of Mom and Dad.

We got back to camp and I went kayaking for another hour and a half until the sun set. I saw a deer. I think she was a surprised as I was.















I saw a gorgeous blue heron...


Then I just paddled around waiting for the sun to set. There were some clouds, so I was hoping for a good sunset. And it was ok, not the best, but I did get some decent pictures.




The next morning I slept in again, but the morning light was beautiful as it illuminated the water below our campsite.


We began packing up, and getting ready for the trek home. We enjoyed camping this lake and I enjoyed the kayaking. It sure was nice not to have to dodge the big ski boats! So I will be back, but I think I will wait until it gets a bit cooler. Sitting around outside in 85-90 degree weather is ok, but packing up a camper and loading the kayak on top of the car is very hot work. So I hope to go camping next month a bit further north in Arkansas...and hope for cooler, less humid weather!

Until next time (going kayaking on Bistineau next Saturday for a midnight float)...Happy camping and kayaking! Cathy