Just A Walk Along The River
The Barefoot Traveler Strolls Along The Trail
It was mid-November and I had been going to physical therapy for a few weeks, trying to get additional range of motion in my new knee.
I had been using my treadmill to build up my endurance and I wanted to see how I was progressing. I asked my hiking partner, David, if he wanted to just take a walk along the river, and he was all for it. We decided on a walk from the horse camp at Erbie to the overlook on the Goat Trail.
I had been using my treadmill to build up my endurance and I wanted to see how I was progressing. I asked my hiking partner, David, if he wanted to just take a walk along the river, and he was all for it. We decided on a walk from the horse camp at Erbie to the overlook on the Goat Trail.
It was a warm day, but cloudy and grey with just a slight bit of wind. The walk begins by going through some unmowed fields which have a bit of up and down to them, but not too difficult, then it transitions to mowed grass fields. This is hunting season and we are careful to make a bit of noise so we don't get shot. You should wear hunter orange, but we did not. We did spot a hunting blind tucked away in the corner of one mowed field. I was hoping it was empty.
We reached the overlook. It has a wonderful view of the Buffalo National River. We have had a very dry fall and the river was quite low. A feature of this overlook is the many gnarly and old cedar trees seemingly growing right out of the rock. It amazes me each time I come here. We met a man sitting here who said he was working for the Park Service, trying to arrange for volunteers to take care of the trail system. He also said that they had just laid off all the maintenance workers for the Buffalo National River Park. Pretty darn sad in my opinion. I guess the Republicans will eventually be selling off the park system to their rich friends, claiming we can no longer afford them..
Little Things Make The Walk Intersting
One of the differences between David and myself is that David has the photographer's eye, while I have the eye of a tourist. I take many more pictures that he does, but somehow he manages to capture things that sometimes I never even see. I am always delighted to see the pictures he sends me, like the one above. We rested at the overlook for a short while, then continued down the trail which leads down to the old Farmer homestead and then beyond that down to the old river road and the river itself. We got about 1/4 way down the bluff and decided to not attempt the whole hike today. Round trip it would have been about 3.2 miles, so we turned back and left that for another day.
As the year winds down and we get ready for another winter, I hope that each of you can find the time to visit us here in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. Now that the leaves are down we have some spectacular views of the area, and trails for the beginning day hiker as well as the experienced overnight backpacker. The extensive national forests and the Buffalo National River will provide you with endless opportunities to enjoy the Natural State.
As the year winds down and we get ready for another winter, I hope that each of you can find the time to visit us here in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. Now that the leaves are down we have some spectacular views of the area, and trails for the beginning day hiker as well as the experienced overnight backpacker. The extensive national forests and the Buffalo National River will provide you with endless opportunities to enjoy the Natural State.