A Tale Of Two Sisters
Low Water at The Old Ponca Bridge
I am so fortunate to have two wonderful sisters. Mary is older, Margaret is younger and my southern manners prevent me from revealing any ages. Both of them have visited me several times over the years, but this year was special. They both came for a visit within a couple months of each other.
Please note that while the galleries are landscape orientated, some of the pictures were taken by my sisters using their cell phones, and they are portrait oriented. To see the correct image either click on the individual pictures or scroll through the galleries using the arrows on the sides.
Margaret came for a visit over Labor Day weekend. After stopping overnight in Saint Louis to pick up Janet, they arrived mid afternoon that Friday weekend. After getting checked in at their AirBnb they went for a stroll around our downtown before driving over to pick me up. We dined at one of my favorite restaurants in Harrison, The Western Sizzler. The have a wonderful buffet and all three of us enjoyed it. As we ate we planned out our couple days together. Since it was a holiday weekend I knew the park would be full of people but I promised them we would hike somewhere "semi-private." We decided to get up early and have a good breakfast then head out for our morning hike.
Please note that while the galleries are landscape orientated, some of the pictures were taken by my sisters using their cell phones, and they are portrait oriented. To see the correct image either click on the individual pictures or scroll through the galleries using the arrows on the sides.
Margaret came for a visit over Labor Day weekend. After stopping overnight in Saint Louis to pick up Janet, they arrived mid afternoon that Friday weekend. After getting checked in at their AirBnb they went for a stroll around our downtown before driving over to pick me up. We dined at one of my favorite restaurants in Harrison, The Western Sizzler. The have a wonderful buffet and all three of us enjoyed it. As we ate we planned out our couple days together. Since it was a holiday weekend I knew the park would be full of people but I promised them we would hike somewhere "semi-private." We decided to get up early and have a good breakfast then head out for our morning hike.
My Little Sister Margaret
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We drove to Jasper and had a terrific breakfast at the Ozark Cafe. We then headed over to the Buffalo National River and parked in a small area that I knew. Once I found the trail we hiked a short bit, then forded a creek that had almost dried up. We made it to a remote spot and they got to enjoy a crystal clear spring. We drove over to the Parker Hickman Farm and from there we headed back to Harrison. For supper we had pizza at the Brick Oven. The next day it rained so we visited the Ozark Clayworks and then a friend who lives bordering the National Forest. The next day they headed back to civilization. |
My Big Sister Mary
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Mary came for a visit in late October, hoping to catch the fall colors. Accompanying her were her husband Alan and their son Tim, my nephew. Alan and Tim had not been here for many years but Mary has visited three times in recent years. They stayed in town and it was easy for us to hook up. Like Margaret they were here for just a few days, so I planned one day visiting the river and the other the Norfork fish hatchery. Tim is an excellent fisherman and Alan is also. Mary has had some spinal difficulties the past few years so we decided to stay off the bumpy dirt roads.
The first day we started out at the Osage Clayworks so they could pick up some gifts and then we headed over to Ponca. Ponca is a tiny town nestled in the wilderness of the Buffalo National River and is surrounded by some of the most grand hiking and floating scenery in mid-America. From February through June, the river provides paddlers with jaw-dropping scenery. Hiking is terrific year ‘round here, including the Whitaker Point and Lost Valley trails, which are two of the most scenic and beloved hiking adventures in the state. I was not surprised at the very low level of the river. With the exception of the rain we received when Margaret visited we had not had any rain for three months and our area was in a drought situation. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm with blue skies. I was hoping to catch some elk here but it was a little late in the morning to see them. Tim immediately headed off to find the fish, while we took in the fall colors and visited with a few of the locals. After checking out the place we grabbed Tim and headed to the Steel Creek access. The gravel road to the bottom was a bit difficult for my sister but she braved it and was rewarded by a view of the magnificent bluffs. We took our time here because the beauty of the place is stunning and we met a few folks that we enjoyed talking to. Once we finished at Steel Creek we headed to Jasper and the Ozark Cafe for an early supper.
The first day we started out at the Osage Clayworks so they could pick up some gifts and then we headed over to Ponca. Ponca is a tiny town nestled in the wilderness of the Buffalo National River and is surrounded by some of the most grand hiking and floating scenery in mid-America. From February through June, the river provides paddlers with jaw-dropping scenery. Hiking is terrific year ‘round here, including the Whitaker Point and Lost Valley trails, which are two of the most scenic and beloved hiking adventures in the state. I was not surprised at the very low level of the river. With the exception of the rain we received when Margaret visited we had not had any rain for three months and our area was in a drought situation. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm with blue skies. I was hoping to catch some elk here but it was a little late in the morning to see them. Tim immediately headed off to find the fish, while we took in the fall colors and visited with a few of the locals. After checking out the place we grabbed Tim and headed to the Steel Creek access. The gravel road to the bottom was a bit difficult for my sister but she braved it and was rewarded by a view of the magnificent bluffs. We took our time here because the beauty of the place is stunning and we met a few folks that we enjoyed talking to. Once we finished at Steel Creek we headed to Jasper and the Ozark Cafe for an early supper.
The next day we started out late morning and headed to the Norfork Dam and Fish Hatchery. Since opening in 1957, the hatchery has been a cold-water hatchery primarily to produce trout to restock the tail waters below Norfork, Bull Shoals and other dams. Norfork NFH also provides trout to reservoirs and in cooperation with state game and fish agencies distributes fish throughout Arkansas and other nearby states. The 22,000 gallons of fresh clean water needed every minute, 24/7, is efficiently drawn from Norfork Lake into the 95 open air fish raceways.
It was a 90 minute drive there and once we arrived we got out, stretched our legs and took off. It is a very large facility and takes several hours to tour the entire area. We took our time. When you first walk in you go by a raceway with giant trout in it. We thought that might be the big males used for breeding. Fish of every size were there, including the very tiny new fish in the building at the rear.
It was a 90 minute drive there and once we arrived we got out, stretched our legs and took off. It is a very large facility and takes several hours to tour the entire area. We took our time. When you first walk in you go by a raceway with giant trout in it. We thought that might be the big males used for breeding. Fish of every size were there, including the very tiny new fish in the building at the rear.
Dry Run Creek is a very special treat for kids under 16 and handicapped fishing enthusiasts! Dry Run Creek is anything but dry. That 22,000 gallons of water flowing through the hatchery every minute of the day ends up in Dry Run Creek. Beautiful walkways along the creek edge make this a park setting. If you let your children fish here, they will be spoiled for life. The concentration of trout, and the size of the trout they will catch (trout of 8 to 10 pounds are common) is unmatched anywhere in the United States. Dry Run is a narrow, shallow creek that is very easy for children to fish. There is also a very well designed platform system for those who fish from wheelchairs. We spent an hour or so just enjoying Dry Run Creek. It is a truly wonderful place to take a kid if you want him or her to have a terrific first fishing experience. We all agreed that this facility was a world class operation. It was mid afternoon when we headed back to Harrison. We decided to have supper at the Colton's Steak House.
Mystery Quiz, Which Two Are Father And Son?
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I was fortunate to have so many visitors this fall. A bonus item was that Janet who is an accomplished seamstress repaired and renewed my treasured razorback quilt. I caught up on all the family news and upcoming events. Tim has a new job and Margaret is busy with her consulting work. Both of my sisters report that the family is doing well, although as we age I find parts don't work as well.
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Janet Repaired My Razorback Quilt
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I hope that you can have the opportunity to visit the Ozarks with your family or friends, or both! The variety of opportunities to enjoy the natural world abound here. Canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, fishing and hunting, are all part of the Ozark experience. You can backpack into the wilderness or relax in one of the many vacation rental units in the area. Make plans next year to visit the Ozark Mountains Of Arkansas, you will have a heck of a time!