Camping on the Colorado

After we made the loop over the river and across the bridge twice we finally spotted the little sign for our campground. It turned out to be a quiet, out-of-the-way place that suited us fine.




It is a city run park and I called Ashley when we couldn't spot the place even after following the blue trailer park signs. Aren't cell phones wonderful! She told me to look for the train sculpture. Glad to know that is what this is! Didn't look much like a train zipping down the highway. It would be nice if they had a sign on the road rather than after you turn into the campground.  Is it just us? Maybe! At least we did not go under the 10'3" bridge and scrape as many folks do!

Fifteen dollars a day for seniors or $75 a week with wifi is a sweet deal in this neighborhood with water and electric at each site and a nearby dump station.  The restrooms could be spiffed up a little but we don't have to use them.

At the rear of the park we found site 4 to be the perfect space. There were only two other campers in the small park with about 19 campsites.



We are not parked alongside the Colorado River but it is a short walk away and makes for a nice evening stroll. We chased away an armadillo on the way and then heard coyotes in the night.





Saturday morning we loaded the bikes in the truck and headed into Smithville for a ride. As we were leaving the park there were 716 bikers lined up ready to head off for rides from 17 - 60 miles (with hills). No thanks! We got out of their way.



When we returned a couple of hours later we unloaded the bikes and road up to see what the Pedal thru the Pines ride was all about. We were greeted with cheers and people waving pom poms as they thought we were the first returning bikers. What excitement! We did decline the free food they offered.
Next weekend the park is filled for the annual motorcycle rally: Thunder on the Colorado. Now that should be excitement but we will opt out of that one, but we might catch the parade in town.

Beaver Lake

While we were camping at Crystal Springs it dawned on us that we were 20 miles closer to northwest Arkansas than if we were at home, so we decided to take off and travel west for some more camping. Site 6 at Lost Bridge north was a perfect spot for us and available!  What a nice view of Beaver Lake.

While geocaching on a nearby hill we were provided a fantastic view of Beaver Lake. 

Before long we were off down a winding country road to visit our friends Becky and Ed. Becky greeted us from the deck. 

It was a treat to see her beautiful flowers blooming profuesly on "the Property." What a fantastic home they have and we are so glad they now live in Arkansas! We spent many hours visiting and had weigh too many meals with them but enjoyed every second of it!

Back at the lake I enjoyed watch this heron near our campground. He would stretch his neck as he called for some company! 

We did make a trip to Fayetteville to visit with Will. He shared a leaf from the nearby tree so Leon could feed the goat. Needless to say Niles the dog wanted some leaves also.

We did not have so many fires at Beaver Lake as the evening had warmed considerably but we did have a few for roasting marshmallows. Is that a look of excitement. They go great with chocolate covered mint cookies!

Yes, we will return to Lost Bridge and hope to get this same spot. It was named for the bridge that was built nearby to cross the White River before the lake was built. The county on the opposite side of the river chose not to connect a road to the bridge and it became known as the lost cause bridge. Or so the story goes. This was certainly no lost cause for us.