Location: Montauk State Park, MO
Missiouri is one of the most naturally beautiful states. We decided to spend the next 4 days exploring more of Missouri. Today was all about driving the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. In 1964 Congress authorized the 134 miles of rivers as the first national scenic riverway. Significant for its scenic, free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, its caverns and its high volume springs, how could we pass this up?
Mid morning we arrived at Bollinger Mill and covered bridge. There was a 90% chance of rain today. I don't know how we've managed to luck out this trip, but as seemed the norm, it stayed dry most of the day. Feeling very blessed. The humidity, of course, is off the charts!
We arrived a little before they opened and were entertained by a group of boys in a blow up swimming pool, that they were using as a raft, horseing around in the water. They were just a little ways from the falls and kept throwing each other out of the raft and swamping each other. It was the essence of summer.
This is also one of the 4 covered bridges in Missouri.
The next springs we visited were Big Springs. OMG - the colors, the mist floating above the water, and the amazing volume of water bubbling out of the ground made it seem more like a Disney exhibit than something natural. This is the clearest water I've ever seen!
280 million gallons of water a day, enough to fill up a football stadium in 33 hours, pours out of this spring! It is the largest freshwater sping in Missouri and one of the largest in the U.S. I swear we haven't altered any of these pics. Just so ridiculously gorgeous.
Continuing up the Current River, we explored an off shoot called Jack's Fork. We had visited this spring and mill several years ago and were looking forward to seeing it again. Yep, Alley Mill is even more beautiful than we remembered.
Can you believe these colors?!
We took a short hike around the grounds. They discovered an Indian arrowhead here that was dated from about 12,000 years old! Looks like we're not the only ones to appreciate this area. Here's Ned next to one of the caves.
Continuing along the Current River we next visited Round Springs. While quite beautiful, its volume and colors just can't compare to Big Springs or Alley Mill and springs.
I just love hanging out and enjoying the country feel of Missiouri.
Our final stop of the day was Montauk State Park, the headwaters of the Current River. We visited here about 5 years ago and have always listed this as one of our favorite State Park in the country...that's saying a lot! When we arrived, as luck would have it, the skies opened up and boy did it pour! This didn't give us any opportunity to explore the park, but it sure helped pick out a campsite that wasn't under water! Here's a picture of the Current River with the mist rising above it. Taken after dinner when it was just drizzlin.
We decided to have dinner at the "lodge". It's a step back in time for sure, circa 1960's. Ned had the local trout and I had Ozarks catfish. Montauk State Park is quite picturesque, with the mist rising from the river, lots of fisherman in full garb - hip waders, vests, and reels and lots of Amish families with traditional clothing and bare feet.
This is our 7th cross-country roadtrip and we have things pretty much down to a science as far as organizing things. The one thing I'm always battling is no ccounter space, literally none. Ned tonight came up with a brilliant solution. He turned a cutting board into a detachable extra shelf. Did I mention how much I love this man?!
We're really looking forward to biking and hiking this park tomorrow. Fingers crossed for good weather!
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