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The Winter Ozarks can seem bare and dry and old.
Looking across the hills and hollers can leave you thinking this place is dead,
or fast asleep, and that there isn't much in it to explore or enjoy -- better
to stay indoors, where it's still warm and light -- right?
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Wrong!
The only thing that's dead, here, is the Saturday or Sunday of the person who thinks the land is. In fact, everything that's here in high Summer is here now, as well, and a lot of it is easier to see, now that the lushness of the green forest and the nightly scream of cicadas are muted, for a while. The leaves of the forest are indeed a lovely cloak -- and now, the cloak is pulled aside and dropped, and those who look can see not just the bones, but the heart of the land beneath. You can see farther now, in fact, without the canopy and shade of summer foliage to get in the way. And the places you go to see in Summer are still here, and still as interesting as they were back then (way back when, when the toes were warm...) Here's one afternoon's exploring.
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This is Roaring River State Park's Fish Hatchery,
just as active as it is in Summer, but without the hordes of fisherfolk and
tourists.
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Most of the traffic I saw was me and my dog, and she was driving carefully.
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The place does look a little bare, of
course. There are no gum-wrappers to trip over, and the parking lot
is about as bare as it ever gets (2 cars, today). But the
trout-tanks are as active as ever, and the staff are here, in the buildings
just past them.
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| And the focus of the place is just as wild and savage as it is the rest of the year. Don't believe the quiet surface of this carefully-armoured concrete tank -- the monsters are just waiting, below! |
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And when the brave man with the food arrives --
look out!
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For then, the creatures of the Deep arise to take whatever is thrown their way
-- this foolish photographer leaped back just in time!
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| But all was well. I got out of the way in time -- and so will you! When Saturday comes, grab the kiddies and take them out for a treat. Why, for a measley quarter or two, they can feed the fishes all afternoon, and let you wander off to explore the cave at the back of the pool -- or climb the stairs up the hill to the famous Deer Leap, to watch them from there! |
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The outing is cheap, and the Park is beautiful. Relax under the trees or go exploring -- just have a good time! It isn't there just for tourists, you know. |