Friday after getting some stuff done earlier in the day to prepare for next week, we headed east to Mt. Magazine to see if we could see some Monarch butterflies (we didn't--apparently we are east of their usual fall flight pattern and the forest ranger said that the end of April was a better time as they make their spring migration to Canada.)
All over the land and small towns of Arkansas, you can see old buildings covered with growing vines and small trees. This is one outside of Bloomer that I wanted to get. It doesn't look quite as "pretty" as it did in the spring and summer but I did finally remember to have Gary stop for a photo. Hopefully, I will get it again in the spring.
Unexpectedly, our hay bales in the next town had been repainted for the upcoming holiday. Gary noticed first and was able to pull over for a shot of the Halloween bales.
I wonder what they do for Christmas???
We headed down a different county road and got to follow behind this tractor for a bit...the joys of winding country roads.
Another train crossing but we don't think it is still in use now. It was pretty overgrown from our vantage point--but the rust and the green and the country lane created a nice combination for train lovers like us.
Piney Cemetery was up this country dirt road so we marked it as one that we will come back to and take photos of the grave markers. Another day!
How many country tree tunnels will I take pictures of? I don't know, but I still find them gorgeous and can't help myself.
When we discovered that there were not a mass of butterflies to see, we decided to go with Plan B and hike to the summit of Mt. Magazine. That is just a short hike up about a half a mile and was rated moderate, although it probably should have been marked as easy except for one spot with a lot of rocks to work around. Young kids could easily do this little hike.
It started just below 2600 feet (this was up the trail a bit)
and off we went.
It was perfect weather for a hike and it was a pretty place with a good trail.
Here as well there are only some changing trees while the others are still very green.
These white wild flowers lined the path in many places.
Light is a beautiful aspect of our world and it was fun to see it peeking through the dense trees as we walked along.
And we made it to the top---not a view area since you are surrounded by trees, but the summit nonetheless.....
They have a rock "map" of Arkansas with a survey marker to show where Mt. Magazine was.
They also have a rock stack indicating "the end of the trail." Gary liked that Boy Scout touch although three is the usual number of rocks for that.
They had a sign-in book which Jena loves to do...
Somebody had drawn a picture in the book
and we put in our "two cents" as well.
We learned that Mt. Magazine is not the highest point between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rockies--that would be in Kansas somewhere but it is the highest spot between the Canada/Minnesota border and the Gulf of Mexico. A bit of trivia for your next trivia game.
Lots of nuts on the ground as well as leaves...not sure what type of nut this is?
When you are out with Jena, it is always fun to make her laugh--this is Gary "hiding" behind a tree to surprise her. She loves it and we love her laugh--a win-win.
View Points---glad they created such spaces for us to
graze at. Some breathtaking views!
The amphitheater built into the mountain side using local rocks to create the steps and seats. This was one of the work projects done in 1939 to put people to work.
It was a bit windy on the west side of the mountain.
This was down the road a bit at a picnic area.......above is the cliff--no fence....no kidding--walking in your sleep would not be a good idea. I am surprise they even put picnic tables close by the edge of the cliff.
We ended up in Paris, Arkansas, and this time took a moment to visit the Coal Miners Memorial in their town. It had a variety of old coal related machines and train cars. That was a dirty, labor intensive job,
Coal Miner's statue as well as a list of plagues with names of people who died in mining accidents.
We loved these cross laid fences that you see around the area. Gary did some research about them and learned that they did not require any posts put into the ground so that if needed, the lumber could be picked up and moved to another location. I had never thought about there not being posts in all of the times we have seen these fences and I have taken pictures of them.
The back and front or is that the front and back of the Paris sign as you enter from the south.
I ran back a block from the park to get these two signs (again the front and back of the same sign) at the local Church. At first, I didn't like all of the posters and signs about Christ everywhere. It seems too "cheesy" or something, but now I use it as a moment to think about Christ and what He has done for us and I am grateful for these reminders everywhere. He is my Lord and He does heal the broken in heart if they come unto Him.
One more of the train wheels....
It was a great afternoon and evening. We love this pretty part of the world that we live in. How blessed are we!
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