Monthly Review November

 

Monthly Review November

Places visited:

• Falling Creek Falls State Park Spencer, TN
• Highlight, Melissa, Mark, Braden, Kayla, Evan and Claire came to visit us!  Hiked to the base of Falling Creek Falls with Evan, Kayla and Mark was a highlight.
• Lowlight, trail to the base of Piney Creek Falls was closed while we were there.
•  It is a gorge, so you get waterfalls, all with easy access trails from parking areas, and you get curvy, hilly roads all through the park.  I would have liked more trails but with Melissa and the kids there it worked out for the best to have short trails.
• Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Eva, TN
• Highlight, Skirmisher Competition – Civil War era gun competition, took us completely by surprise when we heard the gunfire, we ended up all afternoon on Saturday watching the competition and chatting with competitors and their spectating spouses.
• Lowlight, limited access to Kentucky Lake from the campground.  There are primitive sites along the lake though the view is industrial across the water.
• Generous sized campsites in a wooded area, nice bathhouse, just not much to do here.
•  Big Spring RV Campground Van Buren, MO
• highlight, Big Spring was pretty cool, water churning out of the ground however the setting of Alley Spring took my breath away
• lowlight, campground is above the Current River so only see it by being at the edge
• Cathy, the owner was very hospitable, campground has very few trees so its stark
•  Bull Shoals White River Campground Bull Shoals, AR
• highlight, Picturesque setting, nice visitor center
• lowlight, we don’t fish and it’s a big fishing place
• Nice roomy sites, only one trail which is not long
•  Aux Arc COE Ozark, AR
• highlight, Jim enjoyed the passing/whistling trains 4-8 times a day
• lowlight, not much to do here, only saw one barge come thru the lock
• We had a nice site but view across river a little industrial.
• Paw Paw’s Pecans Harvest Host location Atkins, AR
• highlight, lovely hosts showed us their plantation style house
• lowlight, not much to complain about here
• I recommend it as an overnight, can stay in the house it’s a B&B
• Mountain Harbor Resort Mt Ida, AR
• highlight, Access to living in the Ouachita Mountains at a gorgeous lake, kayaking in November, 40 minutes to Hot Springs National Park
• lowlight, mountains are here but no waterfalls, maybe you can’t have everything
• Weather is pleasant, it’s definitely off season, feels like us and the staff here until Thanksgiving weekend then the traffic got busy especially when Santa came.
• Carthage RV Campground Carthage, TX
• highlight, not far off our route to Galveston Isle, close to a Wal-Mart
• lowlight, its $40 to spend the night
• comment, it does come with free internet and cable

Our overall favorite place of all the places in November was Falling Creeks Falls.  Obviously great to see Melissa, Mark, Braden, Kayla, Evan and Claire.  And then add to that waterfalls! Add to that a great campsite, and a wonderful vacation rental.  It is a wonderful state park with cabins and they are building a conference center too that you could stay at if you don’t camp.

My favorite trail was the trail to the base of Falling Creek Falls which I hiked with Evan, Kayla and Mark.  It was a scramble over rocks which was fun and then a spectacular view of the Falls, you got close enough to feel the spray off the falls.

Jim’s favorite trail was the Tompkins Bend trail. Good views of Ouachita Lake. OR all of the trails on West Mountain in Hot Springs National Park he couldn’t narrow it down to one.

Our favorite day in our November travels was the first day at Hot Springs National Park.  The weather was lovely, the town was steeped in history, a soak in the 4,000-year-old thermal waters and massage at the Buckstaff.  Lunch at Superior Bathhouse Brewery and a hike in the forested Ouachita Mountains in Hot Springs.  So much in one day but so relaxing, I recommend it to all.

My favorite picture:

Cane Creek Cascades, it reminds me of all the falls here at Fall Creek Falls State Park.  The power of water gives me so much joy and on top of that, the joy of family as this was the week that Melissa, Mark, Claire, Evan, Kayla, and Braden came to visit us.  It also shows the suspension bridge that my grandchildren gave me enough confidence to cross.