The 35th Annual FloatFest
June 22, 23 & 24, 2012Heavy Metal
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The 35th Annual FloatFest began with all FloatFesters being randomly divided into two teams ... one team was called Metallica and the other team was called Iron Maiden. Each team elected a leader of their band who was responsible for all final team decisions.
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At selected gravel bars along the banks of the Current River, our flotilla pulled over and the games began. On these gravel bars, one metal detector was distributed to team Metallica and one to team Iron Maiden.
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Hidden beneath the surface of selected gravel bars were rods of metal rebar, and plastic containers were buried under each rebar pole. As teams set out to scour these gravel bars for one (or more) of these buried treasures, the first team to find and uncover any container rightfully owned that buried treasure and earned ONE POINT for their discovery.
Inside each container was a "Heavy Metal of Honor" challenge ... the challenge was actually a replica of a "Minute To Win It" television show task.
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After hearing a description about the challenge contained in the bucket, the team who owned that treasure had the choice to either accept the challenge OR force the other team to attempt the task. Whichever team attempted the task and completed the challenge in 60 seconds earned ONE POINT; however, whichever team attempted and FAILED the challenge was docked ONE POINT.
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But there was more ... just prior to attempting the challenge, that team was provided a chance to add 30 seconds on their clock by correctly answering a trivia question about our beloved Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Besides putting an extra 30 seconds on the clock, a correct answer to the trivia question earned an extra ONE POINT for the team attempting the challenge.
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Team Metallica and Team Iron Maiden battled it out on numerous gravel bars to see who could complete the most Minute To Win It challenges and earn the most points in the FloatFest's Heavy Metal competition.
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As tradition has it, unsuspecting FloatFest rookies inevitably get cold feet about the Bapitism of the Virgins ... a ceremonious rite of passage for every newcomer.
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And every year, the FloatFest provides ample time to figuratively chill out on every stretch of the river and commune with each other and Mother Nature in one of the world's most be beautiful cathedrals.
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On the final morning of the weekend, the FloatFest manager collected the score sheets, tallied the total points earned by team Metallica and team Iron Maiden and emerged from backstage to announce the winner. Names of all members of the winning team were entered into a drawing and Mike Hurley's name was randomly chosen ... as such, Mike won a FREE TRIP to the 36th Annual FloatFest.
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The last order of business (and pleasure) on the FloatFest is presenting the infamous MOP Award ... this dubious distinction is annually bestowed upon one FloatFester who has been deemed to be the Most Obnoxious Person ... in 2012, Gavin Poppen had a fast break out of the gate and became the run-away horse who clearly earned the MOP Award trophy.
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The 34th Annual FloatFest
2011
Famous Foursomes
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The traditional GROUP photo at our put-in point, Akers Ferry ... the Mop Tops and the Rat Pack are preparing for battle.
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FloatFest veteran, Scuba Linneman, pulls out a relic from FloatFest past ... an all-important "clue" from a year gone by when the FloatFest theme was The Pulltite Code. Amazing that you have kept this piece of memorabilia over all these years, Scoobs!
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Jim "BroHead" Higgins and Jay Kelleher are CAPTAINS of the competing teams called The Mop Tops and The Rat Pack, respectively. Let the FAMOUS FOURSOME games begin.
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Good grief --- this is only the first gravel bar at Gladden Creek and the competition is already in full gear!
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Eli, Nanbo and Kally ponder the navigation ahead.
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Coby and Kristin --- thumbs up from the stern.
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Capatin Jay of the Rat Pack suddenly discovers an answer to our of the FAMOUS FOURSOME quizes.
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Is this heaven? Uhhh no, but it's pretty damn close --- it's the Current River.
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COBY: "Oh crap, I should not have eaten that raw crawfish."
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"Shazbad" and his earthly mate, Caroline, enjoy a memorable moment on this planet as The Grays float downstream.
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It's another FAMOUS FOURSOME quiz ... anyone have a clue what this foursome may be?
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"BroHead" and the Mop Tops correctly identify the Mutant Ninja Turtles ... great job Mop Tops!
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Kally, BroHead and Kristin attempt to unravel the mystery behind yet another FAMOUS FOURSOME quiz ... with the most important BONUS question regarding our beloved Ozark Riverways lurking on the back of the quiz sheet.
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Scoobs angling for either a sucker fish or a blow fish.
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Perhaps his little minnow may attract one of the fish.
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Scoob's little minnow failed, so he pulled out his big worm.
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It doesn't get much better than this.
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Jay and the Rat Pack receive another FAMOUS FOURSOME quiz.
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The Mop Tops make an entry on a quiz sheet and heat up the competition.
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The Rat Pack reciprocate, and it's neck-and-neck on the river.
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A Famous Threesome on the FAMOUS FOURSOME FloatFest.
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Loving a little "LIMB"-bo action.
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Who's ready for the 58 degree water of Cave Spring? Can you say nippy?
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Lovely piece of rootwad and a river maiden near the mouth of Cave Spring.
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Standby --- someone wants a photo.
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Jay and Joan enjoying the mist rolling in near Fire Hydrant Spring.
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While Scuba may prefer the sucker or blow fish, BroHead is aiming for a small mouth.
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Ahhh, who said I'm cut off after only one more cocktail? I don't think so.
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A picture of beauty - and the misty river ain't bad either.
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Newt keeps watch as the mist thickens.
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Scoobs prepares some hollow wood for his always-incredible fire art.
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Jay and Joan: AMERICAN GOTHIC
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Kent, Caroline, Nan and Huck "peace out" at the dinner table.
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Santa Scuba receives a wish list from Nan by the fireside.
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Scoobs and Gavin crack out the tunes by the campfire.
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Breakfast with our good friend and Pulltite Campground host, Carrie --- will miss you Carrie and hope to see you and John downstream.
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The 33rd Annual FloatFest
2010
Classic Vinyl
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One of FloatFest's most treasured veterans, Scuba Linneman, kicks off the 2010 weekend with a most appropriate koolie-cup and a toast to the crowd gathered around the campfire.
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The Classic Vinyl theme activities are announced as the FloatFest participants are divided into two teams: The Needles versus the Groves. One of the competitions involved properly guessing classic rock-and-roll album art ...
game on.
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The teams begin reviewing their quiz papers and scratch their heads trying to recall all of those dim and distant memories of album art from the 70s and 80s.
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The 33rd Annual FloatFest puts in at Akers Ferry, grabs the traditional group photo and embarks on their journey downsteam.
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Kent "Shazbad" Gray pours a delicious and refreshing summer beverage from a plastic container. Kudos to Kent for obeying the National Park Service's strict rule of NO GLASS in your canoe.
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Lunch on the riverside provided more time for Classic Vinyl games ... at various gravel bars, teams heard short excepts from classic rock n roll songs and were challenged to name the title and the artist associated with each cut of music.
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FloatFest virgin, Elaine Wilkerson, gets "baptized" in the 58 degree waters of Cave Spring.
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Jim "BroHead" Higgins and Kent "Shazbad" Gray consult with Mike Hurley to confirm an answer on their team's Classic Vinyl trivia test.
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Katherine "Huck" Poppen expresses her dismay over her team's attempt to answer one of the brain-teasing questions on the Classic Vinyl quiz sheet.
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Nan Allen takes a break with a cushion float and "chills out" in the spring-fed waters of the Current River.
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One of FloatFest's favorite couple's, Joan and Jay, enjoy one of many romantic moments on a sunny gravel bar.
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Scuba is groovin' on the river in his well-equiped kayak.
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The Grooves confer on a trivia question while The Needles are skipping over themselves in the background.
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BroHead Higgins contemplates the relevance and accuracy of his team's Classic Vinyl trivia answer.
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Nanbo and Caroline take a POP STOP on the river and pay homage to their contribution to the riverways.
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Expert angler, Scuba Linneman, preps his pole in search of a small mouth (insert laughter here).
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The Needles and Grooves cruise down the river on the way to our Pulltite Campground destination where a full-filled night remained ahead.
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Eli Wilkerson (a FloatFest virgin in 2010) prepares to take the first whacks at the traditional FloatFest pinata.
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One more swing of the pinata pole and the Classic Vinyl competition is about to heat up ...
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The traditional FloatFest pinata had many secrets inside and a mad rush to pick up those treasures (quiz sheet answers) resulted in a wrestle-royal on the ground of our Pulltite campsite.
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The trio of Katherine, Nanbo and Caroline swoon the crowd with their American Idol-like singing talent ...
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With the Classic Vinyl quiz sheets completed, teams gather round for the final tally to determine who will be the winners ... the Needles or the Groves.
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As a result of being on the winning team, Elaine Wilkerson is randomly selected as the winner of the FREE trip to the 34th Annual FloatFest.
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Eli proudly displays her FloatFest "Classic Vinyl" Champion's plaque.
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And last but never ever least, the infamous FloatFest MOP Award for 2010 is bestowed upon Nanbo ... and this competition wasn't even close. Congrats to you Nance and thanks for earning this one in "classic" style.
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