Issue #140
March 17, 2003

Time Well Spent

Picture

Old Cedar Tree Watches Over The Buffalo River

Mid-February found me planning a hike back to Red Rock with my friends. I had tried to go last year when I was staying at Red Rock Retreat but unfortunately injured my knee and was unable to make that hike. Sandy Swayne was kind enough to invite me back for another attempt, and so in late February I travelled over to Red Rock Retreat for a stay and hopefully a hike. The weather was poor as I arrived, with not much improvement in store, but I was hopeful of an opportunity to return to Red Rock.
Sandy had the Cedar Creek cabin all ready for me when I arrived around 3pm. Just as I got all my stuff into the cabin, it started a cold rain, and the temperature started to drop from the low 40's. As I listened to the radio, they were warning of a possible snow storm, or just a freezing rain. I decided to unpack and then make a fire. All the cabins at Red Rock Retreat have very nice fireplaces and there was plenty of firewood out front. After getting a good fire going, I stepped outside for a cigarette and noticed that the thermometer had dropped to just above freezing, and there was a steady, light drizzle falling. I quickly moved back to the warmth of my fire, and the book I was reading.
The Cedar Creek Cabin has a very nice layout, with the living area providing plenty of room to spread out. There was a TV & VCR available, and I had brought along a few tapes to watch, just in case there was a storm. I finished the book I was reading and decided to watch "Spy Game" and also "Sum Of All Fears" after a late supper, sort of a dinner and a movie kind of thing. The kitchen has all the amenities needed to make a stay in the Ozarks a pleasure. All the pots, pans, flatware and tableware are there, plus all the appliances you will need to make a quick snack or feed a family with a 5 course meal. After a dinner of Italian sausage w/pasta and sauce, I started my movies. Of course I kept running outside to get more wood for the fire, just to keep things cosy and warm. The cabin does have central heat but I didn't turn it on.
I enjoyed the two movies a lot, especially Spy Games with Robert Redford. I was never a big fan of his movies, but I really liked this one. It was after midnight when I stepped onto the porch for my last cigarette. The temperature was hovering right at 33 degrees and the light rain continued to fall. I was a little depressed because it looked like we would not be hiking tomorrow, but decided to be positive and see what tomorrow would bring. I headed off to bed.

What a comfortable bed. I fell asleep listening to the rain gently hitting the roof and windows and slept like a baby! The cabin has a roomy master bedroom with a king sized bed, plus a sleeping loft upstairs. The loft contains another large bed plus a twin bed and several comfortable chairs.
The next morning I got up a bit on the late side and rushed out to see what the weather was like. It had stopped raining but there was a brisk 20 mph wind coming out of the north, and the ground and rocks were wet and slippery. I called my hiking buddies and we decided to cancel the hike to Red Rock, so I took my time making a deluxe breakfast. I also restarted my fire which had died down over the night, but the coals were still there and it burst into fresh flames without much coaxing. For lunch on Saturday, I decided to try out the gas grill out back. Sandy has constructed a fine outdoor area next to the cabin that includes a gas grill, picnic table and a separate fire ring area. This area compliments the cabin quite nicely and in better weather I would have used it more. For those of you who stay here over the spring, summer and fall, I am sure you will use this area a lot! I especially enjoyed all the beautiful rock work around this area. Late in the afternoon I was just sitting and watching the fire. I had noticed all the old tools and implements hanging above the front door. I wondered how it was, back in the old pioneer days, when families would move out into the wilderness and claim their land. Building a cabin with just hand tools seems like quite the challenge to me. I am not sure I would have survived back in those days!
A few days before going to Red Rock Retreat I took a hike in the Erbie area that you might enjoy. The temperature was quite nice, around 60 and the sun was in full force, making for a excellent hiking day even though it had snowed just a few days before. I started at the Horse Camp at Erbie and walked over to the bluffs that run along the river. From there I walked down to the old Farmer Homestead. This is part of The Goat Trail hike and is fairly easy. The walk is probably around 3 miles round trip and provides a hike through a variety of different terrains, including bluff, fields, forest and river. I think you will like it. Since this hike we have extended our walk to include the north side of the river bank, which I will report on in another Barefoot Traveler Article.
I have spent three different weekends at Red Rock Retreat over the years and each time has been a genuine pleasure. Sandy Swayne has earned the reputation for providing quality lodging for those vacation in our area. Both the Hickory Hill and the Cedar Creek cabins are large enough to handle a large family or two. Spring is just around the corner here in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. There is no better thing you can do than to spend some time with your family or friends enjoying our area. The hiking is spectacular at this time of year, and Red Rock Retreat is centrally located so that you can spend time floating the river, hiking the trails on the river or those at Red Rock Retreat (they have a very nice trail there), plus Sandy can help you arrange horseback rides or any other type of activity you want to try. Give Sandy a call and make a reservation to stay at Red Rock Retreat, I guarantee you will enjoy it!
Red Rock Retreat
P.O. Box 268
Jasper, Arkansas 72641
870-434-5316
Email Red Rock Retreat