On the road again

We left Jonesboro fairly early in order to pick up three geocaches on our way to Helena for the King Biscuit Blues festival. Music was already ringing out over the river and we were running late!  First stop was Lake Poinsett State Park where we found the cache, copied the code and moved on. Here I finally spotted the obvious difference in the flat delta land to the east and Crowley's Ridge. It is not so steep but just a natural land division that runs for many miles through northeast Arkansas.  Cotton appeared quite ready for harvest throughout the region.

Parkin was is one of several archeological state parks with informative little museums in this part of the state. There was also a guided tour which we did not take the time to take. They offer all sorts of programs at these parks; not just displays of arrowheads and pottery. 

Fall is definitely in the air.

At Village Creek State Park we had a wonderful hike in the lush green forest. Yes, I did trip over a LARGE root that crossed my path. It was my first time this year to wear my hiking boots and I guess I just didn't get it up high enough. Village Creek is on the Trail of Tears and Old Military Road. When we left there we found ourselves between Forest City and Wynne and had lunch at Colt.  

After Parkin we finally located the newest state park. Mississippi River State Park fooled us as it is located in the St. Francis National Forest. Since it is too new to be on our old maps we just knew it would be outside the national forest but alas, they have a special use permit. We finally located the little park with a nice campground located on the shores of the lake. It appears there are a couple more campgrounds and perhaps when the visitor's center is complete we will return and learn more. Many of these state parks are on little lakes and I guess it is a good thing I left my pole at home this time! We went to all of the state parks on this map except for the three to the west of 25. That is another trip.

While we were having lunch in Colt the rain began. I did slip and slide while looking for the last cache and Leon finally climbed out of the van and located it. We decided at that point that we did not want to stand in a cold rain to see Bonnie Raitt or anyone else at the King Biscuit festival and that we would try it another year. Home again, home again..jiggety jog.

Along the mighty Mississip

We left the comfort of our Jonesboro campground early to go pick up another state park cache. This one in Manilla honored Herman Davis for his service during World War I.  The Arkansas farm boy and war hero was 4th on Gen. Pershing's list of 100 heroes of WWI.

Harvest was evident throughout the northeast part of the state where agriculture reigns. 

Cotton and rice are probably the two major crops in the area. 

At Wilson we were treated to a display of artifacts that Dr. Hampson found on his 5,000 acre farm from 1927-1941. There were a lot of red and white Nodena pottery and effigy vessels. The Nodena was a subculture with specific archeological traits such as the red and white pottery. They were part of the Mississippian cultural period that extended from 700-1650.

The property was covered with old cypress trees that we couldn't resist. Oh and there was a geocache at the Hampson museum state park also! Why would I lie there with a smile on my face?

Who wouldn't when you look up into the graceful cypress trees.

Leon was enthralled with the large round bales of cotton down the road. He had never seen cotton baled in rolls.

After wandering the backroads we visited the nature center in Jonesboro near our campground at Craighead Forest City Park. There is quite a nice display provided by Arkansas Game and Fish.

Click on some of these links and pretend you were riding along with us!