WINs take a hike

Today the WINs decided to take a break from kayaking and go for a hike instead. I think we started out with about 20 and ended up with 14. I'm just not sure how that happened, but everybody was back in time for circle at 4 and a trip to Gilbert (pop. 33) for dinner. The restaurant closed at 2 today, but Peggy made arrangements for them to reopen at 5 just for us! There is also a very historic and interesting general store in town that was supposed to be closed, but must have heard we were coming. They were open too! We felt very special.


This could be labeled "Over the river (well, creek anyway) and through the woods", but what keeps going through my head is "Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go." I don't know why.



We hiked up to this overlook of the Buffalo River to see what we've been kayaking.



While there Peggy had everyone pose for a picture. Personally, I wasn't about to stand out on that platform hanging off the cliff without knowing what the weight limit was.



Obviously they all missed the sign.



Farther along we investigated the Collier Homestead site.

On a cold winter day in 1928, the Collier family left Kentucky in an old pickup truck. Sod, his wife Ida Mae and four of their seven children were crowded into that truck. Those who couldn't squeeze into the cab rode in the back, covered by a tarp. They were among the last pioneers, those 20th century settlers who claimed the few remaining lands opened up by the Homestead Act of 1862. Working together, the family grew or made most of what they needed and lived simply here in the beautiful Ozarks until 1961.


Joanne does her best Daisy Mae impression.