Daisies and diamonds on the geo trail

Another nice Sunday morning and time to take some more backroads to pick up two more state park caches. I find it much more fun than zipping all over the state grabbing them like some geocachers do. A nice drive down the Amity Road and through Amity eventually led to Lake Greeson and Daisy State Park. I searched all over this sign because I forgot what size cache I was seeking. Then Leon spotted it almost in the open twenty feet away. There are also many Corps of Engineer campgrounds on Lake Greeson in addition to the campground at the state park. 

We took some more scenic backroads over to Murfreesboro and on out to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. I haven't been here in years and it has been updated and is quite nice.  The campground was lovely and if I were going to dig for diamonds, which I am not,  I would stay there. 

I was quite surprised to find this first class pool with a water slide on the property between the visitor's center and restaurant. Why wouldn't you want to bring kids here camping and then after they spend the morning digging in the dirt they spend the afternoon in the pool! Way to go, Arkansas.

 There is a thorough history in the visitors' center. Leon could listen to information about the various events throughout the history of the mine.

There were folks out in the field digging and washing their treasures but non paying folks aren't supposed to go out in the field. That would be us!

There was even an area that had been plowed to hopefully turn up some diamonds but there was nobody in that section. My understanding is it is best to go after a heavy rain. I can't picture being out there in mud! All in all a great morning as we looped back through Antoine and Delight and home.

Amazing Arkansas

We decided to enjoy a cooler day with high temperatures only expected to be 91, so off we went to pick up some geocaches along the back roads. It took a while to convince these cows along Old Mauldin Road that we were getting to Hog Jaw Road this way.

We enjoyed a nice wade in the Ouachita River at Oden. Nearby was a geocache but somehow my GPS had the wrong coordinates so we left without a first to find.

Not much business at the old Oden Bank these days. 

At Pine Ridge we could not resist a stop at the old Lum and Abner Jot'Em Down Store. I made sure to jot down my name on the geocaching log that was on the porch.

On along the back roads and we eventually ascended the hill at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. The views are amazing on both sides of the road and the scenic drive that extends into Oklahoma is a favorite in the fall. We were disappointed that the lodge is closed for remodeling this year. There must be no shortage of funds in the state park's money bag.

About thirty miles south we traveled 4.5 miles up a rocky unpaved road to reach the Cossatot River Falls area for another state park cache. We were the only ones in the area on this day as it is also the first day of school. Yahoo!!!  I have always wondered what this river looked like because I knew I would never float a class 4 or 5 river. The water is so low from the drought that it is easy to imagine how treacherous it would be in swift water with all the large boulders. Cossatot means skull crusher!

I have always said that when I got old I would explore Arkansas more and I am off to a good start!

Up the Pig Trail

I have wanted to visit Mt. Magazine for quite some time. The temps dropped a few degrees and away I went. My first stop was this overlook on a cloudy day.

 I did not let the clouds deter me from taking off down a nearby trail since it was only .4 mile to the state park geocache. I felt the need for a walk but .4 was as the crow flies. Silly trail!

About at this point I began to hear the thunder getting closer and still have .3 mile to go! I sorta wished I had changed out of my sandals but I was afforded a beautiful view of the Ozarks here.  Finally I found the cache and made it back to my van in the nick of time before the rains moved in. Actually I was lost but lucky.

 I traveled north on the Pig Trail which is now actually a designated scenic highway. We used to call it that as it was the shortcut through the mountains for all the Razorbacks going to and from the University of Arkansas.

In Huntsville I got a flash from the past. This was the motel that Orval Faubus' family owned. I hadn't heard that name in a long time. He was the governor who called in the troops when they tried to integrate Central High School in Little Rock.

I continued to Withrow Springs State Park and Hobbs State Park Conservation Area before finally arriving in Fayetteville. The next morning I joined my pals for crepes at Arsaga's. 

We caught up with a former student who Darla taught in art and had a nice visit with him and his family. Darla even chose some of his art for her collection.

While in Fayetteville I also made a trek to Prairie Grove Battlefield and Devil's Den State Park to pick up a few geocaches. The descent into Devil's Den caused my new brakes to smoke but the adventure at Prairie Grove was most pleasant. I could live in this house that overlooks the fields below and enjoy the breeze while visitors pick apples from the orchard out back. 

Darla, Cissy, and Chris all have August birthdays so here we are at Gracie's having an exceptional birthday party for the three.

What a fun evening it was. Between meals we all managed to shop and got in lots of visiting. Becky was a special guest who we enjoyed seeing again. If she had not lived so far away she would have been a regular!

What a fun few days we had!

Becky left with an empty bag after sporting her new Thirty-One bag with gifts for all!