Welcome to my on-line newsletter about the Buffalo National River, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Harrison, my home town. It is always under construction! Winter has arrived here in the Ozarks and it has been a very mild and dry month of December. The river and creeks are very low for this time of year and we are hoping for some decent rains. Temperatures have also been quite pleasant, especially this past week. Daytime highs will range between 55 and 65 for the next several days. Although I have not had the opportunity to get out much this past month, those that have been out hiking the river trails or the wilderness areas have been rewarded with some fine weather and great views. I would like to thank all the readers of The Barefoot Traveler and wish each of you a happy and prosperous New Year.

Winter In The Woods

Often I have noticed that when I turn north and head into town I get a tense feeling but when I head south, into Buffalo River Country, I always have a feeling of relaxing, and when I have a chance to visit River Spirit Retreat it's like waking up in a wonderful dream. The warmth of the Mother Lodge in the winter, with the sun beaming though the huge windows. A walk along the Little Buffalo river with a nippy, east wind in your face. Sitting on the deck listening to the wind and the birds without the intruding noises of the city to interfere. It simply doesn't get much better.

Upon entering I noticed several changes. A new counter top and sink had been installed in the front kitchen along with tile work behind the electric cook top. A new door leads to the master bedroom. The great room is large enough for a family, yet cozy and romantic in front of the Vermont Castings wood stove. A formal dining area stands under the upstairs bedroom, which houses part of the extensive collection of books available at River Spirit Retreat (my favorites are "The Complete Works Of Arthur Conan Doyle" and the Harry Potter series.)

The master bedroom has one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in. The private access to the deck is quite handy and there is a well thought out reading room and an additional sleeping area above that. A second wood stove rounds out this wing of the house. The sun was shining as I got all my gear put up and went onto the deck.

Once the sun moved west into the late afternoon sky I came back inside, started up the wood stove and curled up on the couch with the book I had started last time I visited, the complete works of Sherlock Holmes. Every so often I would go outside and bring in more firewood, then add it little by little to the wood stove. I opened the stove and put the protective screen in front. It sure was comfortable, and the ceiling fan rotating above kept the lodge quite warm! As the sun started to set and the sky clouded over, I decided to make my way over to the hot tub area for a nice soak before making supper.

On Saturday morning I got up and tried out the new shower that had been installed in the master bathroom. It tall and roomy with loads of hot water, and you don't get that chlorine smell in the water at River Spirit. After a lazy breakfast I decided to let the sun come up and warm things up before I started to wander around. I walked around the grounds for awhile and up to my friends house in the morning, then returned to the lodge for a light lunch, then decided that even though it had become overcast and windy, I would walk along the river.

The Little Buffalo River wanders through River Spirit Retreat and there is a well maintained trail that snakes along and above the river. I mostly walked along the river, and where the water was low, in the riverbed itself. The wind died down after awhile but the sky remained overcast. I didn't hear any sounds other than birds chattering away, squirrels rummaging around for food, and the wind. Quite pleasant to just wander.

After walking for awhile I began to notice signs of beaver. Smaller trees down and the bark removed from some of the larger ones. I started to look for their home and sure enough, tucked safely along the bank was a beaver lodge. I could see many partially chewed sticks so I decided to take a break and watch for awhile. I quietly sat and had another snack but I never saw them. I wandered a bit further and then hiked up the bank to the top and then back to the lodge.