Cooler weather has arrived here in the Ozark Mountains . What a welcome relief from the heat and high humidity we had in the first part of September. Penny was bundled up and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate when I got up , and I decided to make my first cup of the season . I stepped out onto the deck to drink mine , and had to come back in and get some shoes on ... it was 48 degrees ! Penny and I went riding in the Jeep yesterday afternoon , and I remarked to her " I've got to get back out on the trails" ...... it has been too long. So , as Penny planned her weekly shopping trip to WalMart , I checked over the items in my day pack, and decided to make a trip down the road (2 mi.) to Bull Shoals State Park , where the "Big Bluff" trail is located . It is about 1.75 mi. around , and is a loop trail ... my favorite. As I arrived at the park , the air was crisp and I noticed many campers folding up campsites to head back home for the weekend. I started away on the trail , and purposely went slow .... I wanted to savor the cool air and relish the freedom one feels as you step into the forest on a trek. I thanked the Lord aloud for giving me the opportunity to be here in this time and in this beautiful place. Sometimes I feel as though the forest is my cathedral. As I hiked on , the sounds of the camping area faded away , and the forest closed in with crows calling, drops of dew dripping onto leaves and rays of sunshine streaming through the trees as it continued its morning rise. I continued along the trail and soon I arrived at the overlook area that looks out over the White River below. I hope I never get to old to be able to make it up to this area ... it is really nice.
As I continued around the loop , I saw a deer standing on the trail. I stared it down for a bit , and then as I moved closer to it , it snorted and leapt off back into the forest cover. As I hiked on , I could slowly hear the sounds of campers and civilization coming back into range ... children yelling , car doors slamming .... the smell of wood smoke from the campground below. I smiled to myself though .... for I know that soon I will have this area all to myself again , as I did last winter . It is so nice to live near these beautiful areas to see and hike in.
On the drive home , I saw three more deer as I wound my way up the road that exits the park , and then another trio of deer as I made my way home down a back road ... I never get tired of seeing them.
A map of the Bull Shoals State Park area
The trail as it winds around a bend to the river overlook ... note the bench over near the woods to sit and relax on ..... what a view!
A look down river from the bluff area
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