Missouri: Ozark Scenic Riverways, Part 1: Echo Bluffs State Park

Wild horse, Echo Bluffs State Park, Missouri. November 2017.

November 2017


I spent Thanksgiving weekend at Echo Bluffs State Park with my mother, two brothers, and a niece. My mom, a brother, and I stayed in the lodge; my other brother and his daughter camped in their camper truck.

Echo Bluffs State Park is a newly-minted state park that used to be a private youth camp, and there are many, many adults with fond memories of times spent at that camp.

The park is adjacent to Ozark Scenic Riverways, administered by the National Park Service.

There is a herd of wild horses at Echo Bluffs. The horses wander through the campsites at will. They poop there, too. Under normal circumstances, this might be an annoyance, but it's wild horse poop, so it has some panache.

Wild horse poop, Echo Bluffs State Park, Missouri. November 2017.

On my way to meet the family members, I drove by a dead snake. I, of course, turned around to take its picture.  I like snakes, and this was an especially pretty one. Given that it was November, I'm guessing it had sidled up to the road for warmth from the sun.

Dead snake, Echo Bluffs State Park, Missouri. November 2017.

Behind the lodge and cabins is Sinking Creek, which flows at the feet of Echo Bluff.

Echo Bluffs State Park, Missouri. November 2017.

I saw a fossiliferous rock. 

Echo Bluffs State Park, Missouri. November 2017.

A pretty sunset.

Echo Bluffs State Park, Missouri. November 2017.

Between you and me, I don't feel quite the same level of love that many express for Echo Bluffs, but I'm obviously not a reliable judge of fantastic-ness, given my ambivalence about Istanbul, which regularly hits top 10 lists of must-visits.  And it's possible that a quick trip in November doesn't show the park at its best.

So I encourage you to read this enthusiastic, well-written article about Echo Bluffs State Park. The author shares plenty of good pics, as well.

The Ozark Scenic Riverways area is beautiful, indeed. My camping brother, who's been to the area numerous times, directed our family quintet to his favorite spots.

One was Alley Spring and Mill, which is coming up in Part 2.

Arkansas: Lake Catherine State Park, Part 3: Squeaks and Squawks

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

October 2017
On the way to Missouri

Lake Catherine State Park

On Monday morning, squawking geese trundled into the lake. I guess, traditionally, geese honk, but that would mess with my alliterative gimmick for today's title, so I'm sticking with the squawking. I'd also like to throw in the possibility of "squacking," but that might be overmuch. Also, I can't guarantee I actually heard any squawking, honking, or squacking on said morning when the geese slid into the water, but let's say it could have happened.


On Monday afternoon, I took a guided walk in the woods. After a year in the high desert of El Paso, it was a wonder to be back in the land of the deciduous. 

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

The bridge offered up satisfying squeaks as one walked over it. As below:

As I walk over it again (in the video), maybe it's more of a creaking than a squeaking. But again, alliteration. You know what I love? That I can walk over this bridge again and again and again every time I watch the video. No, every time I feel and hear the video. Gosh darn, it makes me smile.

The bridge's squeaks and creaks remind me of the sounds of the carriage ride I took on Heybeliada Island off of Istanbul, here and here.

One of my co-hikers was a solo nomad like me! More on her later. 

In my campsite, a glittery butterfly drew my eye. Sadly, it was dead.

Butterfly, Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

Butterfly, Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

Butterfly, Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

Butterfly, Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

My best guess is that it was a black swallowtail. My research tells me, however, that in future, I need to examine the bodies more carefully to note the color and shape of the insect's torso and the wings' topside.

I'm also thinking that if I were to pick up a hobby in which my choice was between birding and butterflying, then despite my affinity for birds, 'capturing' butterflies and moths might be more accessible to me.

Arkansas: Lake Catherine State Park, Part 1: Nostalgia

Sunrise, Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

October 2017
On the way to Missouri
Lake Catherine State Park


After completing my South Louisiana visit, bound for Missouri, I intended to book an airbnb around Hot Springs, Arkansas, so that I could get some work in. I'd found a fabulous place: A congenial hostess, lovely digs, strong and reliable internet (which I need for my work), affordable, and a good base for exploring Hot Springs. But that's when I hit up against airbnb's new "we take security seriously" gate, and I decided that even the sweetest temporary home was not worth sacrificing the seriousness with which I  take my security.

After considering various options, I decided to hell with trying to find a place to land with fast, reliable internet, and just go camping!

Geographically speaking, Arkansas is a gorgeous state. Lake Catherine State Park caught my eye because it sparked a pleasant memory. Many years ago, my mother and a sister booked a cabin at this state park. My mother brought back a soft sage-green (one of my favorite colors!) sweatshirt for my daughter, which had "Lake Catherine State Park" on it.

Decision made. I'd camp at Lake Catherine State Park for a couple of nights.

I arrived on a Sunday evening, which is a good time to roll into a campground without a reservation, as the weekend campers have long since left.

It was after 5:00 p.m., and the park office had closed, but thoughtful staff had left a sign noting available sites:

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

With my snap of this sign, I drove over the campground to see which of the available sites made me feel good.

My criteria for good sites are:

• Close proximity to toilet;
• Shade trees;
• Flat area for tent;
• Prettiness of view or site; and
• Relative privacy from neighbors or frequent walk-through traffic. 

Having selected my site, I mentally expressed oohs and ahhs over the luxury of an electric site. Wow. I could bring out my coffeemaker for my morning coffee! Or a lamp!

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

It was especially pleasing to use my portable table, which I have schlepped with me to each of my year-long stays. This is the table I bought from my friend at her moving sale an eon ago. I sent her this picture. It is my office. It is my dining table. And in Arkansas, it was my kitchen counter. I love you, ma chérie table.

Speaking of nostalgia, the hanging dunk bag in the photo below is also a cherished item. My daughter and I made dunk bags together back when she was a Girl Scout Brownie. Only the one has survived, and I use it every time I camp.

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas. October 2017.

That's my tent in the background. On a flat surface. Foreshadowing: Engineering drama emerges later in my stay.

By the way, the fact that I had to attach my trash bag to a table leg and my dunk bag to the campsite reservation post should tell you there was a lack of (reachable by short me) resources to suspend housekeeping sorts of things. This is a pet peeve I have about some campsites.

Fortunately, I carry a l-o-n-g rope, and even though the distance between the two closest pairs of trees was also long, the length of my rope was up to the challenge. So later I was able to hang both my trash bag and dunk bag, plus other stuff like towels, in a right proper manner. 

Big Bend National Park, Texas: Goodbye Big Bend

Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Goodbye to Big Bend National Park.

Goodbye, tarantula.

Goodbye, lubber.

Goodbye, vinegaroon.

Goodbye, beetles.

Goodbye, cactus wren.

Goodbye, fox and bear poop.

Goodbye, grasshoppers and ants.

Goodbye, walking sticks.

.... and about the bears. I am weary of letting a fear of bear (or mountain lion or large feral pig) encounters affect my enjoyment of hikes.

Something must change about this. The fear limits me.

Chisos Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas. September 2017.

Van Horn, Texas: On the Way to Big Bend National Park

Van Horn, Texas. August 2017.

I spent my first night as newly rootless in Van Horn, Texas.

Van Horn, Texas. August 2017.

My first impression of Van Horn was rather ho-hum, but the town revealed whimsical charms in the early evening, after I finished settling into my motel room and then poked about a bit.

Right across the street from my motel was a city park. Mountain backdrop. A train track. Sturdy trees with muscular trunks. Globe lamps that glowed like moons. Squeaky squawky birds that loitered in a circular sand pit like loud adolescents with nothing else to do on a Saturday night except hang out in a park and stir up some trouble.

Van Horn, Texas. August 2017.

Further down the strip was a sculpture park at a business called Los Nogales.  Extra-terrestial insectiles and the like, along with a disheveled desk that looked artsy and intentional in the foreground of the mountain landscape.

Van Horn, Texas. August 2017.

Van Horn, Texas. August 2017.

Listen to these squeakers in the park!

A Van Horn slide show:

Colorado: Longmont: Roger's Grove Nature Area

View from Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Hoo wee, a spectacular mountain view from Roger's Grove Nature Area.

Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Roger's Grove is readily accessible off of a main thoroughfare in Longmont. Speaking of accessible, most of it's also, like Golden Ponds, friendly to wheelchairs, strollers, canes and the like.

Wildflowers. Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

May wildflowers blossomed.

Wildflowers. Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Wildflowers. Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Wildflowers. Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Wildflowers. Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Wildflowers. Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

The grasses were lush.

Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

A graceful stone mosaic showed the beauty in stones, hawks, and human artistry.

"Kestrel's Way." Roger's Grove Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Colorado: Longmont: Golden Ponds Nature Area

Wildflowers. Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

I took advantage of another warmish and sunny day in Longmont to check out the Golden Ponds Nature Area.

Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

 
Almost immediately, I was presented with this sobering sign:

Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Reminds me of a similar sign at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park outside Alamogordo, New Mexico. Where I was camping. Eek. Which led to this internal melodrama.

OK, I wasn't actually perturbed by the sign at Golden Ponds because the park is so open, it was daylight, and there were plenty of critters around that were much more tempting than me, such as geese, small dogs, and young children. Plus it is practically in a suburban subdivision.

Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Gosh, it was a pretty day. The walkways are flat and wide.

Wildflowers. Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Wildflowers. Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Because it was May, pretty wildflowers bloomed. There were baby geese.

Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

There is a mixture of open field and creek-side woods.

Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

There are ponds for fishing.

Wildflowers. Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

The mountains frame the views.

As I write this, it brings quiet peace to revisit some of the park's flowers in this video:

Along a path, I met up with this handsome fellow:

Grasshopper. Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

He reminded me of his gentlemanly cousins outside Morgan City, Louisiana, at Brownell Memorial Park.

Colorado: Longmont: Sandstone Ranch Park

Sandstone Ranch Park, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Longmont has a large park system.

Sandstone Ranch Park is one of many parks, green ways, and trails in Longmont.

I used to work for a nonprofit organization that served parks and recreation professionals. The three most important learnings I took from that experience are: 

1. The Declaration of Independence tells us that every one of us is born with "certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Parks, green ways, and trails are integral to our pursuit of happiness. 
2. There is a positive correlation between access to well-designed and maintained parks and the deterrence of crime, especially among our youth. 
3. One city in Missouri had a map of its parks. The parks and recreation director told a group of us that it was his city's goal to ensure that every citizen in that city had a park that was less than a mile from his home. This mission drove decisions about where and how to allocate money for parks.

Sandstone Ranch Park, Longmont, Colorado. May 2016.

Even for those only concerned about the bottom line, parks are good business for a community. From the American Planning Association, community parks bring these benefits: 

1. Real property values go up.
2. Municipal revenues increase.
3. Affluent retirees relocate and stay.
4. Knowledge workers and talent want to live and work in the community.
5. People want to buy homes in the community.

Perhaps it's an American cultural tendency to go punitive or rules-driven when considering the solutions to problems instead of going wider and, counter-intuitively, to less rules-driven measures. I am thinking, for example, of crime prevention or reduction - and also safer, calmer streets for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Instead of assuming that the investment of finite resources into more stuff for our community's police, consider how the investment of that same money into well-designed and maintained parks can reduce and prevent crime. AND provide simple enjoyment and quality of life for everyone!

Check it out:

• Green Cities: Good Health --> Crime and Public Safety: Fast Facts
• American Planning Association: Safer Neighborhoods
• On how good design and other variables affect the correlation between parks and crime prevention and reduction