Last week was Spring Break for Hubby. Schoolwork has been keeping him busy but he is on the downhill stretch - graduation is in a little over a month.
And I have been living with a paintbrush (or paint roller) in my hand. We both needed a break! Desperately!
So we decided to take an AA {Attitude Adjustment} Day!
It was a gorgeous day with clear blue skies, plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. And Mother Nature beckoned to us to come out and play. So off we went for a day trip to the Cossatot River State Park.
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area is located in southwest Arkansas. This National Wild and Scenic River is a watershed basin with flow levels dependent on rainfall. After significant precipitation, the river level rises. It has been a dry winter following a dry summer and autumn so the water level in the river was low and the bottom could be seen in numerous places.
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| These underwater rocks look like cobblestones. Maybe this is a road from an ancient civilization.... |
This State Park-Natural Area stretches for 12 miles along the scenic Cossatot River, Arkansas's premier whitewater experience renowned as the best whitewater float stream in mid-America.
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| Looking downriver over whitewater area. |
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| Rock ledges at Cossatot Falls area There are several camping and picnicking places along the river but we stopped at Cossatot Falls to explore. The Falls are located in a section of rugged and rocky canyon that challenges the most experienced canoeists and kayakers with its Class IV and V rapids, when the water is high. At Cossatot Falls, with its distinct ledges, the river drops 33 feet in elevation within 1/3 of a mile. Hence it's name Cossatot, which comes from the French cassé-tête which translates roughly to skull crusher. |
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| Rock at Cossatot River. Actual colors of rock and lichen. |
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| This is the beginning of the rapids area. But because the water was low, it wasn't very rapid. |
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| Amazing how smooth the rocks are from the water. |
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Gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteYikes, all those massive boulders and rocks where people would be rafting in white water....Casse-tete definitely an appropriate name. Oh, the redbud trees are glorious, thanks for those photos!!!
ReplyDeleteI love how the name preserves the legacy of the French explorers who first discovered and navigated this river -- but wow, I would never have gotten casse-tete out of Cossatot! But once you revealed it, the anglicism was as clear as day!
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I lived closer...There are beautiful mountains where I live but nothing like the wilderness you have. Your photos are so beautiful and I felt like I was walking along right beside you. Thanks for the wonderful mini vacation : )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow that is just incredible!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful area you reside in!Redbuds are edible :the flowers tossed in salads to add tartness & color,the buds,flowers,& tender,young pods can be sauteed for 10 minutes and eaten as a vegetable.Native Americans roasted the pods in ashes before eating the seeds : they used its bark and flowers medicinally too.The buds can also be pickled(like capers):cover with 1 quart cider vinegar,1 teaspoon sea salt,a few cloves,a cinnamon stick,1/2 tsp.allspice,& 1/2 tsp.celery seed ~ macerate for about two weeks time and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYes, this area of Arkansas is definitely wilderness. There are places a person shouldn't go unless they are with a local.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jayne for the info and recipe for redbud blossoms. :0) I have eaten them raw in salads. They're good!
You know how to take pictures, Jeanne. You have an eye for composition, and some of the textures and patterns are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, JJ. You flatter me. I enjoy taking photos but have never fancied myself a photographer....
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