Brazos Bend State Park in December

Some plans are made ahead of time meticulously, while some are instantaneously made and get executed within hours. This visit was of the latter kind. Made on a whim, but delivering big! 

Brazos Bend State Park is about 40 miles away, but these past couple of years hadn't seen it featured on our list of places to visit. Blame the pandemic. 

Yesterday was not exactly December weather, it was almost 80 degrees F, and going to the park sounded exciting. I quickly charged the extra camera battery, and we took water and snacks, and set out. The Elm Lake trail was chosen and we parked accordingly. Some trees offered a spectacular sight!

Gorgeous colors on display

Another view of the marshy area along the lake. These Bald Cypress trees are so beautiful! Their foliage is colorful this time of the year, and their trunk and roots are striking!

A Snowy Egret looks for food among Bald Cypress trees. It was a pleasure walking along the trail and looking for such nuggets.

As I was walking, I thought I spotted an Anhinga on the other side of the lake in it's classic pose with the wings spread out. Then it took off and I scrambled with my camera but was too late. It seemed to settle down somewhere close to where I was headed, on the bank on my side. 

Sure enough, there is was! It did not look very happy that I took pictures.

So it chose to turn its back to problems like me. That was a great move! It revealed a fabulous pattern on its back

Look how gorgeous the plumage is! Simply love the design! 

This is an Anhinga I had seen a few years ago. It was my first sighting. It looks like a mature bird compared to the one I saw yesterday. 

Walking along further, I thought it was another Snowy Egret hunting for food, but soon realized that it was a juvenile little blue heron! Cute!

Another lovely sight!

And then, around a bend was this alligator! A lot of people stopped to take pictures, but it just lay there, resting.

More Bald Cypress trees

Another section with some reflections. There was a mild breeze so reflections were not easy to capture yesterday. 

A Black Willow framing the lake

A Great White Egret looking for food

 

And finding it!

Another one preening on a tree top

Before taking off to another perhaps greener pasture

Walking along, I came across this nest(?). Trying to figure out what it is. Any input will be appreciated. 

A family of whistling ducks and a family of moorhens sharing space amicably

Finally, a reminder- that change is the only constant

Aah Arkansas!

After a trip to Oregon in late 2019, we were pretty much cooped up at home, with the pandemic raging and everyone trying to be safe. 

A getaway was much needed, but I wasn't keen on flying for hours with a mask on. It gets too claustrophobic for me. So it had to be a road trip. After much deliberation, we chose Arkansas! It is a neighboring state, but a visit to it had been pushed to the back burner for several years. I always wanted to visit in the Fall, so here it was! The opportunity quickly turned into an itinerary, and we were on our way!

Once we were past the 'Welcome to Arkansas' sign, the first thing I noticed was how green it was! Lots of mountains everywhere and all lush green! So pleasing to the eye! 

We first stopped Millwood State Park for a break from driving. Arkansas has so many state parks and they are all very nicely maintained.

Our first stop was Hot Springs. They have the Hot Springs National Park right in the middle of town!

A row of traditional bathhouses line the main street, Central Avenue. These were built in the early 1900s and I will write in detail about them sometime soon. 

A promenade runs behind the bathhouses and steaming hot springs run down the Hot Springs Mountain.

A three and half mile scenic byway leads you up the Hot Springs Mountain summit where a tower stands and offers 360 degree views of the area. One can also hike up a 1.5 mile trail. 

A visit to the Garvan Woodland Gardens was highly recommended. It did not disappoint. 

It is an area of beautifully landscaped acreage with several points overlooking nearby lakes, and they have a chapel on site that is an architectural delight. 

Mums was the word!

Lake Catherine

The chapel- so tranquil nestled among trees!

A cute car in the parking lot made a lot of visitors chuckle!

Ouachita National Forest is a little over an hour away from Hot Springs. 

Lake Ouachita is a huge waterbody with a lot of fabulous points of interest. 

The Caddo Bend trail is a four mile moderate to strenuous hike and offers some beautiful views of Lake Ouachita. 

Another view of Lake Ouachita, from the tip of the peninsula at the Caddo Bend Trail.

We saw some deer and an armadillo on the hike.

After the hike, a spectacular sunset at Three Sisters Spring was a perfect way to finish off the day. 

The next area on our itinerary was Ozark National Forest. Magazine mountain and the lodge at the top were great places to visit to enjoy the views of the Ozarks.

A view from the lodge.

The lodge at Magazine Mountain, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas

Six Finger Falls, an interesting geological area and accessible only through a six mile stretch of gravel road or a pretty long hiking trail, was a highlight for me. No signs led to it, nor was there a parking lot nearby. A short hike down to the actual fall brought us to these strange yet beautiful formations.

Fall colors were beginning to peep through.

Water levels were low because of low rainfall, nevertheless, the steps were a spectacular sight.

Falling water falls was an accidental discovery. I noticed the green water as we headed back on the gravel road and saw this gem hidden among trees. Again, water levels are low because of low rainfall.

Petit Jean State Park, which we visited only for a couple of hours, had a lot to offer, but we did not have time. The Rock House Cave was a fabulous place that had two attractions. 

Turtle Rocks outside the cave was something I had never seen before.

The rocks are formed by spheroidal weathering as described here.

The dome shaped rock resembles the carapace of a turtle. Incredible forces of nature at play!

The second attraction was the Rock House Cave with Native American drawings. The cave was likely used for thousands of years, and the drawings inside may well be between 500 to more than a thousand years old. 

As you climb down the short trail through the turtle rocks, you find this rather deep cave. 

The drawings are on the roof in most places. 

Beautiful pictographs by Native Indians inside the cave.

A look outside from inside the Rock House Cave. 

I am glad we finally managed to visit the beautiful state of Arkansas! A week well spent.