And we’re off!
We listed the house on May 15. Three days later, we met our friends Bill and Diane at Longpool Campground on Big Piney Creek, north of Russellville, AR for three nights of camping and 4-wheeling.
On Sunday, after saying our good-byes, Jerry and I headed for Harrison to spend a few days retracing our footsteps from long ago in the upper region of the Buffalo River. We camped at Harrison Village Campground on the south side of town. Our first hike was to Big Bluff via the Goat Trail, 7.6 miles in length with a 900-foot drop in elevation. We reached the Centerpoint Trailhead via Highway 43, 3.5 miles north of Ponca. The walk in was pretty easy, as the trail slopes gradually. The hike up the slope was another story! But at 440 feet above the river, Big Bluff offered spectacular views of the Buffalo River and Jim Bluff, making the trip well worth it. Sitting on the bluff and enjoying our Vienna sausages and crackers, I was reminded of how lucky I am to be alive and healthy! Life is good.
On Tuesday, May 23, we decided to take an easier trek to Lost Valley, only 2.3 miles in length. It is a popular trail and we encountered a couple of school groups out for a day in the wilderness. This little area is truly special and it’s a pretty easy hike. The trail follows Clark Creek into its headwaters and passes through many large trees, including sweet gums, cedars and giant beeches. It also passes Cob Cave, named for the corn cobs left there by Indians many years ago. The culmination of the hike is Eden Falls, which flows out of Eden Falls Cave. There are beautiful mosses and ferns and, in wetter weather, it is a spectacular sight. Jerry and I are not into “caving”, but we are told that there is another waterfall inside the cave.
On Wednesday, we chose another big hike from the Compton Trailhead, off Highway 43, to Hemmed-In Hollow and the tallest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians. Our first hike into the Hollow had been almost 30 years ago, while on a float trip between Ponca and Pruitt . Hiking in from the river was much shorter and easier – or was I just much younger? The trail was new to us. Our hiking book called it “a steep trail, both going in and especially coming out”. We were happy that we had bought new day packs with hydration bags. They served us well. The trail drops 1,300 feet . . . that means it climbs 1,300 feet on the way out! Ugh. After enjoying the Hollow and the falls, we decided to take another trail down to the Buffalo to cool our feet before heading back up the hill. It was a beautiful spot and gave us the break we needed to face the hike out. According to author Tim Ernst, “the hike out on this trail will humble even the greatest of hikers.” He was right. The 6-mile hike was, in fact, a killer but seeing Hemmed-In-Hollow once again made it all worthwhile. Plus, we were pretty proud of ourselves for accomplishing it!
On Thursday, we moved Bubba to Cove Creek on Greers Ferry and headed to Little Rock for the night. On Friday afternoon, we caravanned to Toledo Bend Lake, south of Shreveport, with Bill and Diane to attend the Burk family’s annual Crawfish Boil. Saturday was great fun with music, games and Cajun cooking. The day was spent honoring and remembering Diane’s dad, Henry, who passed away last summer. It was a truly special day and we loved spending time with Diane’s family again.
Sunday brought us back to Bubba for celebration of Memorial Day with our friend Chris McCreight (aka Phred) and her parents, Greg & Ann Williams. It was great to spend time on Greer’s Ferry at the Williams’ lake house. The hospitality was great and a good time was had by all!
We took Bubba back to Harrison on Wednesday and ushered in June with a day trip to Branson on Thursday. I was so happy to finally get to see the Dale and Roy Rogers Museum! I know that may sound silly to some of my younger friends but, Roy was a true hero to our generation . . . a model of strong values and honor. I loved it.
Friday was another hike day, this time to Hawksbill Crag in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness area. The Crag is one of the most photographed spots in Arkansas, used frequently by the tourism department to depict the Ozarks. About 15 minutes into the hike, the thunder and lightning began but we would not be denied! We had wanted to find the Crag for many years and today we would do it, in spite of the weather. A light rain began shortly thereafter but, by the time we reached the Crag, we were in a virtual downpour! We didn’t care – we were free and in the Ozarks. How could life get any better? We didn’t complain, however, when our three miles was done and we were back at our truck. Hawksbill Crag was absolutely breathtaking and the hike in the rain was worth it.
We drove to Eureka Springs on Saturday to have lunch and to people-watch. Boy, were we in for a treat! Unbeknownst to us, it was Blues Festival weekend and the town was filled with bikers and their babes. I have never seen so many tattoos or so many scantily dressed fat women in my life! I’m sure glad my mama taught me better.
Needing to be back in Little Rock on June 6, we headed for Sweeden Island on Sunday for a couple of days of maintenance on Bubba. Sweeden Island is a Corps of Engineers park on the AR River, near Atkins. It is a well-kept secret, seldom having more than one or two campers. We love it – it has huge pecan trees and we love to watch the barges traveling the river.
Tuesday morning, we moved to Maumelle Park in west Little Rock. We decided to stay in Bubba, rather than stay at the house. We love being in Bubba . . . it is home now. Lunches and dinners with friends made the stay a pleasant one, in spite of doctors’ appointments.
We wanted to spend some time with Jerry’s Uncle Dan (the worldly traveler) so on Friday, we moved to Sequoya Park, just south of Morrilton. Dan came for dinner on Sunday with a menu that included purple hull peas, turnip greens, cabbage, Petit Jean ham, cornbread and fresh peaches. Dan loves Southern cooking and always requests a similar menu. As always, we enjoyed our time with him.
There were several friends we wanted to visit in northwest AR and southern Missouri so on Monday, June 12 we moved to Hickory Creek Campground on Beaver Lake, just outside Springdale. Tuesday morning, we had Anne Huff and little Robin (one of our former foster dogs) over for breakfast. Tuesday evening, Linda Watts, a friend of more than 30 years, came for dinner. The next night, we spent at Bill and Diane’s house in Fayetteville, where we were treated to another one of Billy’s great meals.
On Thursday, we hit the road for Springfield, MO to spend the weekend with James and Sally Hargis. James and Jerry have been friends since elementary school. On Friday morning, we got a call from the manager of Cantrell Mini-Storage, that our 4-wheelers, trailer and all, had been stolen. The thieves cut through a chained gate AND cut the lock off the trailer hitch. They were videotaped and the evidence turned over to the police. We contacted our insurance company. We were sick.
To console ourselves, we loaded the ice chest, packed some good wine and headed for Table Rock Lake and James and Sally’s lake house. It was a wonderful weekend but we forgot our camera and have no physical evidence of just how good a time we had!
Sunday, June 18 we moved to Eureka, MO where we spent the night, then put Bubba in a storage area for a trip back to Little Rock for follow-up doctors’ appointments. Dinners with good friends were our compensation. Late in the week the police called and told us they had recovered our 4-wheelers in unharmed condition. What a relief!
Through our travels, I have come to love the sayings that many churches place on their marquees. I will share my favorites throughout our journeys.
First Baptist Church, Greenbriar, AR marquee: Get right or get left.
