Petit Jean State Park

Monday afternoon I pulled the trailer to Petit Jean State Park and setup at campsite #20 by myself. Donna drove up separately on Tuesday morning. Site #20 had pretty good shade with a great view of Lake Bailey. 

Monday evening I rode the CCC Hike & Bike Trail from the campground to Mather Lodge. The trail was 1.75 miles of well maintained blacktop that parallels highway 154 through the park keeping hikers and bicycles off the highway. I sat on the patio and talked with a couple from Oklahoma until sunset. 

Tuesday morning I took a 4+ mile hike on the park trails. Starting from Mather Lodge I went down the Cedar Creek Trail then west along the Canyon Trail to the Blue Hole area. At Blue Hole I connected to the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail (BSA Trail). I followed the BSA trail up out of the Cedar Creek canyon to the Seven Hollows Trail at the Wild Hog Crossing. Then I followed the Seven Hollows trail to the Bear Cave area where I re-joined the BSA trail back to Mather Lodge where I started. A nice hike for sure but extended drought had almost no water flowing in Cedar Creek. The Blue Hole was just a stagnant pool. 

Track of My Ramblings in Red

Cedar Creek Trail Below Mather Lodge

Cedar Creek Bridge

Winthrop P. Rockefeller Boy Scout Trail 

Palisades Overlook from Cedar Creek

Blue Hole Area

Wild Hog Crossing at Seven Hallows Trail

Bear Cave Area

The campground was very quiet during the week. We almost had the lake area to ourselves.

The Boathouse was closed during our stay. It was only open on weekends after school starts in August. However, I was able to join up with Park Interpreter Jake for a group sunset kayak tour of lake Bailey. We left the boathouse at about 7:00 and paddled to the east end of Lake Bailey to wait for sunset. While at the east end of the lake we were shown a huge bald eagle nest along the shore in pine tree. We didn't see any eagles at the nest but Jake told us that it was currently inhabited by a pair of adult eagles and two juveniles.

Among the lilies are lotus plants. Jake (from State Park) explained that the lotus leaves grow above the water and have a short lived flower and a large seed pod. The seeds are considered a treat that can be roasted and eaten. The lotus leaves have a hydrophobic property that repels water making it seem to float on the leaves.

Bald Eagle Nest in the Pines

 

A super moon occurs when the full moon is at its closest proximity to earth and a blue moon is the second occurrence of a full moon in a single month. Thursday night was an occurrence of the super blue noon. We drove to Stouts Point at the east end of the park to see the spectacle. We weren't the only ones with the idea. The the overlook was a little crowded with people who had come to do the same. From this vantage point the moon reflected off a bend in the Arkansas river with the lights of Morrilton, Lock and Dam #9 and Oppelo beyond.

It's A Wonderful Life: "What is it you want, Donna? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."

Afternoon walk to the visitor center and the boathouse on a gorgeous day.

A short video from our campsite.

Old Highway 25

Donna and I took a summer camping trip to Old Highway 25 Campground on Greers Ferry Lake. We had site #22 reserved in the G loop. Site #22 had electrical service and water available at a community water spigot between #22 and the neighboring site #21.This site in loop G is on a finger of the park about 20' above at the shoreline. 

Site #22

Directly behind the campsite we were able to pick out several trees to hang our hammocks. This was a great place to soak in the scenery and enjoy the breeze off the lake.

Swimming below the campsite was a great way to cool off on the hot July days. 

Who-da-thought-it? Need to inflate a swim float?  Attach a CPAP machine. No huffing and puffing required. The hose fits perfectly around the fill valve. Low pressure and High volume just like me.

Wednesday afternoon was Zoey's last day of Heber Springs High School cheer camp. Zoey and her HSHS cheer team performed several cheer routines before the awards ceremony. 

Pops and Addie

Thursday was fun on Greers Ferry Lake day. We rented a pontoon boat from Dam Site Marina and spent the afternoon with all the Heber Springs Hendrixes. We cruised the east end of the lake and found several spots to jump in for a cool swim.

From the anchored pontoon boat I was able to capture some good pictures and video with my DJI Mini 2 drone. This was my first time to ever fly over water and return to land on a boat. 

Evening after a day on the water we had dinner at Brothers BBQ in Heber Springs. A prefect ending to a perfect day.

Lily, Pops, Nana, Addie, Zoey, Sarah and Matt at Brothers BBQ

A short YouTube video compilation of our day on Greers Ferry Lake