This weekend Mark & I headed up to Eureka Springs for a little R&R. As we headed up Hwy 65 we see this sign (that we've seen 1,000 times before!) WORLD WONDER "Arkansas Natural Bridge." Since we like to sometimes do touristy things...we stopped! This is what we saw:
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| Arkansas Natural Bridge |
Then Saturday was spent here:
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| Beaver Lake |
Saturday on the way to dinner we saw the sign that said Blue Spring Heritage Center. The Blue Spring pours 38 million gallons of cold clear water each day into their trout filled lagoon which then flows into the White River. The Spring maintains a year-round temperature of 54 degrees and is said to have "healing" powers. The "Trail of Tears" also runs through the heritage center. Some Cherokee Indians camped for several days by the Spring awaiting stragglers on their trek from Georgia to Oklahoma. The hot weather has really taken a toll on the beauty surrounding the Spring, everything was very dry. I told Mark we'd have to be sure and come back next time during the spring.
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| Blue Spring |
The Bluff that sheltered the indians in the 1830's has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Indians still visit Blue Spring and the Blue Spring Shelter and hold ceremonies. It remains a place of peace, healing and connection.
We ate dinner at Anglers and then headed to downtown Eureka. We strolled the streets of downtown until it got dark and some rather seedy looking characters came out. Mark did find an interesting rock shop and bought a couple of unique samples of Baltic Amber and Arkansas Citrine, recently discovered in Mt Ida. After a quick stop at Mikki D's for some sweet tea and a wifi fix we headed back to the cabin. NOTE TO SELF: There are NO redboxes in Eureka Springs.
As we headed back to town Sunday morning, first stop, Pivot Rock, but there was a horrific wreck on 62 that had traffic backed up for miles, so we went the back way to town through Beaver. In Beaver there is a really cool wooden one lane bridge. A little unsettling as you cross, but very cool to look at.
I forget to mention that there was a Volkswagen rally in town this weekend. We got across the bridge just in time before the string of VWs came through for their photo-op. There is always lots of motorcycles in town, but this weekend there were tons of dune buggies (made from VWs) that were pretty cool. The great weather made us wish we had one to ride around town in.
Next stop was PIVOT ROCK...we tried to go Saturday but they closed about 15 minutes before we got there and then there was the backed up traffic, so I didn't think we were going to make it this trip. But Mark was on a mission...rockhound that he is...we were going to see the Pivot Rock. This park encompasses several rock formations, small caves and deep ravines. Tradition holds that this was one of the many hideouts of the outlaw Jesse James and his gang.
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| Natural Bridge |
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| Pivot Rock |
After completing our "rock mission" we headed home through Harrison to stop at one of our favorite mexican restaurants...I know we eat mexican a lot!...but no one around here has a Monterey Special! Then we headed home down Senic 7 Byway.
First stop - Bufflo National River - Pruitt Landing. I had to get a shot of this cool bridge...
As we headed back to the car I had a great conversation with a lady who was reading from a Kindle...I've had my doubts about an e-reader...but after talking with her and her husband (who had obviously down a lot of research before he purchased) I just may have to put this on my Christmas list. And Mark is also interested in one.
Last stop on our Scenic 7 Byway drive was the Buffalo River Canyon, sometimes called Arkansas' Grand Canyon.
After a weekend of going to bed early, sleeping late, hanging out at the lake, doing some nature hikes and taking in some natural wonders it's good to be home to sleep in my own bed.
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