THE LAST BLOG FOR WHITE CLIFFS, AR

Well finally a good Internet connection. As hard as I tried I couldn't get the last blog online. It was frustrating. I wanted to share so much but couldn't. When I would ride the bike around the park I would stop and visit with an elderly gentleman at his favorite fishing spot. Mainly we talked about fishing and the gators in the river. His name is Warren Scott and he lives in Fulton, Arkansas. I really enjoyed my visits with him. Here is a picture of him...

There were two teenagers that I really did like. A brother and sister.They were a delight to be around. They erased the bad impression I had of the teenage age group of today. Although they gave me their name I didn't write it down and I am sorry I didn't. Here is a picture I took of the girl with Mom and Dad out boating...

If they read this then they will know of whom I speak because of a wii game.  Their father told me about a rattlesnake if I wanted a picture of  it. That was a snake in the grass for sure. I went to where he said the snake was at just as the snake went into the grass. I went around the loop so that I could get a picture of it head on. I was looking at the area that I thought it should be when I happen to look over to my side and there he was watching me.  Ahem, I didn't take the time for that head on shot because I was afraid he would have a hissy fit. I backed off and went back around and took this shot of him. He is a Timber Rattler and very poisonous...

I managed to get a photo of a four to five foot gator during the daylight hours.

Phil knew I wanted a closer photo of a gator so he got an anchor from the boat. Tossed it out into the reeds then shook the rope. He became the Great Gator Whisperer and called one in really close...

Lol, I have a husband that is a gator whisperer and a daughter that is a cow whisperer. Speaking of my daughter, we have arrived at Lake Thunderbird and will meet up with her soon. It was raining most of the way across Oklahoma but we made good time. So we have just about finished setting up camp for the night. It is supposed to be raining here tomorrow as well but I will try to get some pictures to share anyway. Till then... Keep on dancing...

MONDAY AND STILL BAD INTERNET SERVICE

I am going to once again make an attempt to write a blog. This time with crossed fingers in the hopes I can get it uploaded so that everyone can view it. It is not easy typing with crossed fingers lol. But seriously the service here is really bad.

There really isn't much to speak of here in this park. It is basically empty of people and it isn't very big compared to other parks we have stayed. The trees, sky, and river are about all it offers beside peace and quiet. In the evening the gators start singing along with the frogs. A couple of nights ago we listened to a mama bobcat chirping to her kittens over on the island across the river from us. The island is where the gators stay. During the still of the evening just as the sun sinks low you can see them coming through the grass and lilies out into the open waters. Yesterday we watched two that came out directly across from our campsite. The first was a small four or five footer. Then came one that we estimated to be around eight foot in length. It was a bummer that I couldn't take pictures of what the eye was seeing. My camera wouldn't focus in because of the reflections on the water and the darkness. But I did manage to get a picture of the big gator that does show a gator swimming...

As far as fishing goes, not worth bragging about unless it would be the two black bass, a few perch, a clam, and a gator getting tangled in the fishing line. That was an experience, the gator took the pole right out of the rod holder. It broke the line and I wasn't sure what Phil had caught. Took a while to figure out what hit the line. And no, I am not joking about catching a clam on a fishing pole. Phil went to reel in my line and check it. He said that clam put up one hell of a fight lol. He knew he had something heavy on my pole and when he got it in he got a big laugh. He left it on the pole until it opened back up and then he freed it back into the river. Now that is some kinda experience... not everyone can say they caught a gator and a clam in the same day lol...

This is a work day for me, yuck. I have to clean house, finish the wash, bath the dogs, and cook. Wednesday we leave this park and head for Lake Thunderbird where we will meet up with our daughter. The way the internet is acting this will be the last blog from this area. So we will see you on Thursday at Lake Thunderbird, Oklahoma. Remember.... Keep on dancing with the angels...

DAY TWO AT WHITE CLIFFS

Good Morning Everyone... hope this day brings lots of joy and love into your life. We have pretty well settled in here. I have discovered that the internet comes and goes. Right now I have two bars on the hotspot so although it is slow I can use it. We have the 4G Verizon Mifi HotSpot and a antenna booster. No one else has internet service.

There isn't very many campers here in this park. At the far end there are a couple with their two teenage grandsons. Had to laugh at those boys trying to catch minows with aquarium fish nets. We had a bit of a cold front blow in so the fish are not biting. Had to put on a jacket in order to sit outside last night.

Here is another picture of the river. This one is taken just off the front porch looking up stream...

This is a photo of the surprise we found on the dirt road coming to White Cliffs.  A local farmer was gathering up wood from a tree that was cut up and pushed to the side. We stopped and talked with him.

This is a picture of the road to White Cliffs taken from inside the truck. I don't know where the cliffs are but as you can see there is a lot of white limestone in this area

Here Phil is finishing setting up the campsite and SuYang (the little dog) is enjoying the outside...

Phil put the party lights down at the fishing bank so that he could fish at night...

Today Phil is going to go into Ashdown for supplies. Being that there isn't many here in this campgrounds and they have an open door policy I have chosen to stay and watch camp.  Guess I had better close off while I still have good connections... Remember.....

KEEP ON DANCING...

WHITE CLIFF PARK

We arrived safe and sound at White Cliffs Park, Arkansas. All I can say is "Wow", it is so beautiful. Our campsite is #1 and it sits right at the edge of the Little River. There are huge trees for shade. We can walk down to the bank and fish when ever the mood strikes. Here is a piture of  the campsite...

We had to travel on a old fashion dirt road to get here and so everything is covered in a layer of fine red dirt.  I started cleaning the inside as soon as started unpacking but the boat and bike are covered. The boat brought up the rear, meaning it got the dust from the truck and the trailer. Yuck.

The telephone and computer service is horrible here.  I am not sure that I can even upload this blog to the internet. It took two hours just to get the one picture uploaded so I am forced to limit the pictures and the length of the blog. If I cannot get service the blog will come back on line June 7th when we make our next move to Little Axe Park at Lake Thunderbird, Oklahoma. The Park here sits in a small valley and I think that is the reason for such poor computer service.

I will sign off now and try to get this uploaded... if possible. May you keep dancing to the tune of life and May Angel Wings Surround You

PACKING UP

I just took my last sunset photo from this campsite...

Phil made his honey wagon run to dump station...

He has put the bike into the boat and strapped everything down... oh by the way, he isn't superman the bike is on a hoist and he is doing maintance on it.

The park was packed for the Memorial Day weekend. I have to say it was an interesting weekend. It started with pot sprouting up all over the patio on the campsite next to us. It was interesting to watch the goings and comings. The Park Rangers pulled it all and turned it in to the county sheriff ...

Both Phil and I had a shadow all weekend so I didn't get much done. But we made one little boy happy and that was worth the time spent visiting rather then working on web design. Brayden spent most of his time with us. He is a talker and full of questions. He talked Phil into helping him with his fishing pole so he would be able to fish.He even talked Phil into adjusting the brakes and oiling his bicycle. I ask the Angels to keep a special watch over little Brayden Fort, to help him grow his wings and fly...

              

I found out the name of the beautiful shrub that grows wild all over the area. It is Elderberry.  Marshall (the Park Host) asked me if I had ever heard of Elderberry Wine and that the blooms which will turn into tiny berries.  Locals hate them but I find them beautiful...

One of the campers caught a 72 pound catfish on a trotline. The host took a picture of it for their bulletin board and I took a picture of their picture. I met the man that caught it and can verify that he stood over 6ft 2. That will give you an idea of just how big that catfish is...

Here are the Park Host and Hostess... Marshall and Shirley Lewis. We enjoyed meeting them...

May Angel Wings Surround You 

 May The Dance Of Life Be One Of Joy

KEEP ON DANCING

AT MILLWOOD LAKE ARKANSAS

To those of you that have checked for the latest posting I owe you an apology. I am very sorry that I have not posted before now. I really don't have a good excuse except that I have been sightseeing, meeting people, and enjoying the views. Feel free to post a comment about any subject including getting me back on duty lol.

This is another beautiful lake that we are visiting. There are fifteen parks around the lake. The Cottonshed Park is where we are staying and it has been totally remodeled. It is ran by the Army Corps of Engineers which by the way honors the Senior Pass so with that discount the site cost only $6.50 a day rather then $20.00.  Each waterfront site has a deck with wooden rails, very nice.

The sunsets over the lake are simply breath taking. Altho the cypress trees here look more like something you would see in the Rocky Mountains compared to those at Lake Caddo they have their own beauty. Does not matter when you take a sunset picture it is beautiful but here is one of my favorites and one of Phil's favorites...

When we first arrived here the sky was very overcast and the sunset looked like this photo on the bottom...

Since Phil is sharing his photography with me we have decided to label our photos so that you will know who took the picture... helps us keep it straight also lol. So we now have Phil B's Views and Mick's Clicks. Phil is very happy with his new Nikon camera. I think the results are every bit as good as my top of the line Kodak, if not, in someways better.

I met a neat lady yesterday here at the campgrounds. Her name is Theresa and she has a cute little dog that she rescued names Orphan Annie...

Not too long ago I received a prayer request  email for a little girl named Addison. Turns out that Addison is her granddaughter and those prayers are still needed as she has more surgery required. So please say a prayer for this little two year girl and her family.

Today I put the girls in the basket on the bike and took them for a spin around the park. Both girls love to go riding they beg everytime I go. On the other side of the campgrounds I met the cutest little boy. He had a smile that just melts hearts and the personality to go with it. He was shy and followed me around until I challenged him to a race. He was up for that lol. Don't tell him but I let him win. Afterwards, he showed me the boo boo on his thumb caused when he fell off his bike. His mom forgot to bring bandaids so he followed me home to get some and Phil rode back with him to make sure he got to the other side of the park okay. His name is Braydon and I would keep him if I could lol... he is just a delight...

The park is packed full of people for the holiday weekend. There isn't many campsites open. Funny thing is that I was sort of dreading having the site next to use taken as that would mean that when I looked out the door I would be looking at their camp rather then the lake. Turns out no one has taken that site. So when I lean back in this chair and look outside I see nature and not a trailer.  Once again... I give thanks to the Angels for looking out for us. That outside view is to me the "pause that refreshes" and I appreciate it so much.

We rode around the lake yesterday and found the next campsite to move to. It is at White Cliffs and right on the Little River.  This river empties into Lake Millwood. Directly in front of our (now) campsite the Saline River runs through. There are large poles with reflector tape to show the river course. Such as this one...

The bird is a Black Bellied Whistling Duck. The post it is sitting on is in front of our campsite. There is a mate, as a matter of fact there are several pairs of ducks that nest in the trees out in the water. This pair nested in an old dead tree just to the right of the post shown. Here is a photo of them together in the tree...

There are American Great White Pelicans in the lake but they haven't came close enough to get a good photo of them. And by the way, I did see an alligator in a creek on our way here. We back to that creek yesterday but couldn't spot him. Phil found where he slides down and climbs up the bank. I took a picture of the gator slide for you (the slide is marked by the red arrows) ...  and a photo of the gator warning sign...

May Angel Wings Surround You

May You Keep On Dancing To The Tune Of Life!!!

LAST DAY AT CADDO LAKE

Today is our last day here at Potter's Point here on Caddo Lake.  We are ready to move on down the road.  We are moving up to Milwood Lake just up above Texarkana. Milwood is on the Arkansas side of the border. Should be an interesting area with more cypress trees and waterlilies. Lots of pines trees. There they have warning signs out about watching out for alligators. Will really have to watch the girls closely as we have a waterfront campsite. Sure glad for the fencing we have for them. SuYang tends to jump out the door when we open it. Have been trying to teach her to stay but sometimes she forgets. They have no fear so would run right up to a gator. They are only little Shih Tzus but they think they are Rottweilers lol
Phil's new 16 megapixel Nikon camera is at the Walmart in Vivian this morning. He was not happy with the other camera that I gave him. It is a great camcorder but the photo camera part of it seemed to have blurry photos when it came to the close ups. Not good if you want to take photos of people. So he is getting an early Father's Day present from me. He is going to go over and get it today. Which is cool so now both of us can take blog pictures. Are you ready for that? lol

This morning he took his camera phone and when down to the lake...

The waterlilies are starting to bloom. They are standing up out of the water. Guess the water tempature is right for them now.  Hopefully, they will be blooming at Milwood also.

There are a lot of owls here at Caddo. (By the way that is pronounced cad doe. I was calling it Caydo until a local told me the pronounciation. ) This area is famous for the Barred Owl...

Well, I have to close this and get busy. Time to wash clothes and start the inside packing so we can get an early start on the road tomorrow.

Remember.... KEEP ON DANCING....