Barbershoppers Afloat
By Bob Binz, action reporter

This came from an old Monthly Chapter Bulletin - Valley H-Lites - July-August, 1977

     On the seventeen of June the major portion of our group arrived at the Circle B campground near eminence, Mo. Everyone got set up and at about 9:00 pm gathered around the campfire for a singout and bull session. Ben and Jenny Love arrived rather later and after much procrastination the group decided to help Ben erect his campsite. About 1:00 am Ben's was completed and the entire group stepped back to sing "Glory, Glory Hallelujah". About 1:30 am everyone hit the sack.

     At 7:00 am on the eighteenth of June, Fred Rowland and his son Steve started what many of our ladies said was the best part of the trip. Fred and Steve made breakfast for the entire group. Eggs, sausages, hot bread, sweet rolls and good ole camp coffee highlit the menu (Fred, you and Steve can do this every year). With everyone fed our party set out for Alley Springs, our starting point.

     By 9:00 am we were all off and paddling. About 200 feet from our starting point Larry Forristal fell out of his canoe and broke the suspense of who would roll first. The team of Larry Forristal and Charlie Buehrle must of really liked the water--they now hold the record for time in the water, not on the water. However, there were some in our flotilla who made the entire trip without turning over--how dull!! Ben and Jerry, because of their expertise, became custodians of the beer. Another reason was that they had the ice.

     The entire group of barbershoppers showed a great deal of concern for the welfare of John Matlock. As it turned out, he was our only baritone. John sure got to sing a lot that day.

     By 1:00 pm our party had arrived at the Circle B for lunch. Charlie Vark and his family arrived for the second half of the trip, and by 2:00 we were off again.

     The team of Buehrle and Forristal showed the team of Charlie and Evelyn Vark how to roll a canoe, and after a while Charlie V. and wife gave it a try. Charlie does a better job of piloting our chapter than a canoe. We sang our way down the Jacks Fork accompanies by our groupies. Several other canoeists were following and would request a song each time we pulled in for a pit stop. By 6:00 pm the float was over and after an exciting bus ride back to camp everyone settled down for dinner. By 9:00 pm the campfire was going again and another sing and bull session was underway.

     For those of you who enjoy fellowship and the great outdoors, the annual chapter float is a great opportunity for family fun. Even if you don't like canoing, why not just go camping with us next year? I promise you'll have a great time.