Ozark, Arkansas

‘Aux-Arc Campground sits on the shores of Ozark Lake in the picturesque Arkansas River Valley.  “Aux Arc” is a name that originated with French explorers when they mapped the territory.  The term means “the big bend,” describing the bend in the Arkansas River.’

As a US Army Corps of Engineers Park, there is a large power dam and locks to transport boats and barges.  The waters are filled with turtles, geese, ducks, white pelicans and bass that jump about teasing the fisherfolk.  Daily, a flock of cormorants would settle on a large floating log and cruise about the bay on the whim of the currents.

We watched a barge enter the locks, heard the loud siren announcing the imminent water rush, then peeled over to the other side of the dam on our bikes.  There we saw the barge being lowered down and with a blast of its horn, leave the locks and disappear up the river.

lowering….

lower….

lower…bored yet?

lowest

Many trains passed just across the lake, the various whistles suggesting different emotions.  Their powerful shrieks and lonesome, melancholy howls echoed across the water day and night.

Perched along the cliff edge, a few houses sat proudly; they no doubt had the best view of the sunsets.

We spent a quiet week here avoiding the Thanksgiving traffic and madness of Black Friday.  It was a week of reflections.

Dixie gave Ozark her paw print of approval.