To The Mountains - Part 1

Once we dried off the cows, we took an 8 hour drive north to the Mountain View, Arkansas area to relax and recuperate for a few days.  We stopped in first to visit an old friend and his wife.  It was great catching up with them.  They gave us a tour of their beautiful home, barn, and property and showed us two Trail Trees in their yard.  I had never heard of that before.  Apparently they are markers made by Indians or early settlers to point toward springs, caves, etc.  My friend has a theory of what the trail trees were pointing to and had us follow him and his wife.  After a brief hike, we arrived at the shelter cave below:

We then journeyed on to an old train bridge in the area, but were too chicken to drive over it.  It looks like they poured concrete over it.  We watched as people drove across it, but we just walked.

Blanchard Springs Caverns were closed due to Covid-19, but we did hike around the area and see where the springs come out of the rock:

It is hard to believe that if you just drive 8 hours north there are mountains and crystal clear spring water (no mud!). 

The sounds of the water in the creek flowing over the stones in the creek bed are so relaxing and peaceful.  We wanted to stay here all day!  Arkansas is called the Natural State.  The views we take in of nature are gorgeous.  We talked more than once about the beauty of creation that our Creator made!

The park is well maintained, clean and has nice walking trails.  No litter and not congested with people.

Despite our protests, Benjamin hopped out on a moss-covered rock in the middle of the creek.  We thought he might slip and fall and break his head open.  But, alas, he did not.  The water in the creek was COLD!

Mirror Lake was right down the road and lived up to its namesake.

We arrived at our cabin on top of the mountain that we rented from VRBO.  It was a really neat A-frame.  Clean, modern, yet rustic, and comfortable.

I'll show you more of the cabin later, but here is a photo off the deck in the back, looking down the mountain at the creek far below.

Beautiful, relaxing, peaceful.  But it didn't end there!