MAY 2017

We were so happy to see my son, Darrell, who works for G.E. and travels extensively worldwide, when he dropped by for a visit before heading back to Egypt.
                                Darrell and his friend Norri

                          
                                Me and Darrell, my handsome son......

                          ........always delighted to see him!

Tom still enjoys planting a big garden.  I always tell him he has the prettiest garden around here!

Going for a walk......crossing the new bridge that crosses the creek below our house.

We enjoyed having Carla and Devin join us as we made a trip to Rosevine to put fresh flowers on my daughter Candace's grave.

                     We stopped in a Dairy Queen along the way and saw this sign!

After Rosevine, we made it a point to go to New London since Tom and I had just read a book about this tragedy.

 It gave me chills to think of how horrific this was for all the many families who lost children, some lost multiple children, on that tragic day in 1937.

 The names of all those who died that day are engraved into the low marble walls surrounding this monument.

At the end of May, Tom and I went to Oklahoma to maintain a section of the Ouachita Trail (from Horsethief Springs westward for a couple of miles) that our Trail Captain said may need a little work.  It didn't really need much since there had been a mountain bike event pass thru this section recently.  We did see some beautiful flowers along the way!

             As usual there were plenty of rocks and boulders.

Every time we go on the Ouachita Trail I always tell Tom how much it reminds me of the Appalachian Trail......rocks, roots, hills, valleys. 

That night we set up our tent and camped at the Winding Stair Campground.

Amazingly we had the place to ourselves.  Not a soul here but us!

I am so grateful to Tom "Pyro" for always building us a great campfire.

  
The next morning we packed up and drove the short distance over into Arkansas to do some exploring around the Cossatot River.

 We parked at the Visitor Center and went for a short walk on the trails we accessed right from the parking area.  Deep into the wooded area we descended to the banks of the Cossatot River.   We could hear some truck traffic overhead on the bridge high above the riverbed. 

                  We followed the trail to a low water crossing.

 Pretty cool to be way down here unnoticed by anyone passing by on that high bridge!

 Such a tranquil setting, crystal clear water flowing beneath our feet.

Next we drove on the other side of the highway and along a Forest Road in search of Cossatot Falls.  We found a Campground on the river, parked our car and struck out on foot to see what we could see.  In the beginning the trail was pretty well maintained......

 ...but as we climbed the trail following the side of the canyon wall overlooking the river far below, the trail quickly became single track....

 ....with sporadic glimpses of the Cossatot as it flowed over and around the many boulders in its path.

 After awhile we decided to head back to the car the way we came. 

Next we drove further along the Forest Roads to the Sand Bar Bridge.  When we got to a parking area Tom decided to take off his shoes and ford the stream to the Sand (rock) Bar (island). 

 After walking around a little he came back across.

                    We then drove back across the Sand Bar Bridge......

 ....and continued our way northward on the Forest Roads and came upon a major log cutting operation.

Once we finally reached a paved road we circled back around and headed down to Gillham Lake, called "The Bright Spot on the Cossatot". 

                    We checked out the area surrounding the Dam.

We decided to pitch our tent for the night at the Cossatot Reefs Campground which sits at the southern end of Gillham Lake and right on the Cossatot River.

 A staircase led right down from our campsite to a green space along the river.

We really enjoyed our time at this awesome campground.

The next morning we packed up (we are getting very efficient at setting up/packing up our campsite, yay!), and checked out the spillway on Gillham Lake.

We then
traveled southward on the "backroads" toward Millwood Lake State Park.  We checked out the White Cliffs Natural Area on the Little River just before Millwood Lake.

 We walked along a trail for a short ways along the White Cliffs high above the Little River.

The Saline River flows into the Little River at Millwood Lake and just south of the Lake the Little River dumps into the Red River.

                                    Millwood is a very large lake!

Isn't this the most unusual tree?  It was growing right beside the Visitor Center at Millwood State Park.

 Another lovely campground, right on the water, and only one other campsite taken besides ours.  I like camping in State Parks because the sites have water and electric (for my little coffee maker!).

               Love those cypress knees along the creek bank!

Also love the campfire that "Pyro" always builds!  It started to sprinkle rain.  I got my umbrella and kept enjoying the fire!

Later after the rain quit I ventured over to the other camper, a woman alone, introduced myself and invited her over to enjoy our fire with us.  Vicki, Assistant Professor of Geography, at Jacksonville State University, in Alabama.  She said she enjoys traveling (with her dog) in the Summer each year all across America.  We enjoyed chatting with her.

Well as usual another great adventure exploring places we haven't been before and seeing more of this great country of ours.  We love camping and enjoy walking in nature.  I have to say I have really enjoyed Tom being off from work for the last eight months.  Since I only work a couple of days a week, and Tom not working, we have the freedom to do more spontaneous trips.

Next I will post about our June 2017 adventures!