Waveland Park

Monday, April 8, 2019

Donna and I took a three night trip to Waveland Park on Blue Mountain Lake.  We reserved campsite #29 adjacent to the the campsite we previously had on our trip in October 2016 with grandkids. This time the lake was much higher with water up into the cypress trees near the swim beach. Our previous trip you could walk into the cypress trees which is where Hannah took some great pictures that we had printed for Donna's Christmas. 
The park during crappie fishing season was full of fishermen.  Everyone around us appeared to know each other and according to our neighbors they were all from the Logan county area.  They were all catching their 30 fish limits everyday. Catching so many that they brought deep freezers to their campsites to keep fish. I assume no one was really concerned with the 60 fish possession limits. It was quiet as most of the folks went to bed early to wake up for fishing.

I took a morning walk around the park to get some pictures. Campsites near the water have been renovated with new covered picnic tables and landscape block terracing (sites 37 - 43). 

 

As usual when things quiet down we had a nighttime visitor. This trash bandit walked right up to me at the campfire until I chased him off. I few minutes later I heard something behind me. He was back scratching at our camp carpet. When I shined a light on him he stood on his hind legs begging for handouts. It was so pitiful.

Driving into the park the road has a "Y" with one side going to Waveland Park and the other crossing the spillway bridge.  I assume that the bridge exists so that during a flood the Corp of Engineers can reach their office and the lake outlet control structure across the dam.

From the road across the top of the dam you reach the Blue Mountain Lake outlet control structure.

Great view of Waveland Park and Blue Mountain lake from the Opal L James Memorial Lookout. 

Following the road around from the overlook you come to Outlet Park - Right. With the lake level high the discharge was flowing lots of water. 

Returning across the dam we made our way to Outlet Park - Left (you cannot access the Left and Right parks directly. Outlet Park - Left would be the easier access for a large camper trailer given that you do not have to go up and over the dam. 

Returning from Outlet Park - Left, Donna saw this big burl on a tree.  Now she knows where burl wood comes from.

Our next door neighbor had an interesting campsite setup. First thing he did was sprinkle a white power around each tire and jack on his trailer. We are guessing that this was for ant control, not a part of some satanic ritual. Later someone showed up with a funny sounding dog. Turns out it was a pig that they kept in a portable kennel. Later we saw a small child in the pin with the pig. The pig appeared to be well cared for and not part of a ritual or their dinner plans.

Donna and I went out one night for a walk. The pollen was so thick that you could see it in the air in front of our flashlights. When we got back to camp Donna took the picture below. The streaks in the photo are from the flash reflecting off of the pollen (kind of a pollen rainbow).

Old Highway 25 Park

Finally winter is on its way out and spring is just around the corner. Our first camping trip of 2019 was March 15th during the grandchildren's spring break. We went to Old Highway 25 Park which has become our favorite Greers Ferry Lake campground.  We claimed site G22 on the very end of the loop G area elevated above the Greers Ferry Lake shore line. The park opened for the season the day we arrived and we were the 3rd campers to register in the entire park.  I was afraid it was going to be hard to get a site but we apparently beat the rush by arriving at about 2 o'clock. 

Friday Addie learned that she made Cheerleader at HS High School. All three of the HS girls spent some time practicing cheers for our amusement. 

On Saturday Juan and Jessica brought Hannah and Brayden up from Dardanelle. We had to setup the dome tent to have room for all of the grand-kids.  As usual Hannah and Zoey claimed the tent for themselves.  

Dinner Saturday night was crock-pot pinto beans and a turkey that Matt had smoked earlier in the day.

S'mores are always required when we gather around the campfire, especially when Bayden is involved. It just wouldn't be camping otherwise.

Sunday was a lazy day that started with some fishing at the rocks below the campsite. Normally the rocks would be high above the waterline but the lake was up about 8 feet due to winter rains. After church the Heber Springs girls joined us for the night.

 

Hannah and Zoey setup house in the tent complete with an activity table. A cold night down into the 30's was expected so we ran them a power for an electric heater that made the tent cozy all night. Power was already required for all the electronics. 

With an almost full moon at night and the campfire glow Donna made this picture up through the trees.

Monday morning was time for a trip up to the playground. A good time was had by all until Zoey almost knocked herself unconscious playing chase.

On Monday night we got to meet Addie and Lily's "friend boys", Brandon and Bent. They came out for burgers and some campfire time. Brayden was the most excited about the boys coming because he actually had other boys at the camp.

Tuesday we went to the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery.

We took bicycles and the kids took turns riding around in the loop G area and up to the playground.

Tuesday afternoon Brayden and I went to the old Red River Highway 110 bridge near Pangburn to try some trout fishing. The afternoon Red River flow was very high due to large release from the dam. Whole trees and anything loose on the banks of the river were floating past making it almost impossible to fish. We probably should have stayed upstream near JFK park to avoid the debris. I reminded Brayden that "A bad day fishing always beats a good day at work."

I took all five kids to the playground in the afternoon. Hannah and Lily tried to race us to the playground on bikes be the truck won on the way up.  Downhill all the way back to the campsite Hannah and Lily beat the truck.

Another beautiful sunset over Greers Ferry. 

Tuesday night Brayden and I went down to the rocks at the lake's edge for a view of the International Space Station flyover (no one else seemed too interested). At 7:30 PM it was over New Zealand traveling at about 10,000 MPH. We used my NASA app for timing and location and it flew over Arkansas at about 8:40 as predicted.  

Wednesday was our departure day.  We were awoken at about dawn as had been the case every day by the Canadian Geese honking. I got a picture of the pair on the rocks in the lake.

With incoming rain showers we finished packing up camp and departed with Hannah and Brayden just before noon. With a stop at David's Burgers in Conway then the short drive to Russellville another great trip was in the books. Camping with the grand-kids is my "Happy Place"!