Jim Dailey

Ozone Campground is a beautiful place to camp and learn about the CCC.

Several of my friends and I got away from the city for a weekend and discovered not only the beauty of Fall Color in the Ozarks but the rich history played out in Arkansas during  the Roosevelt New Deal and the creation of the Public Works Relief Program … the CCC.

Following the Great Depression, the CCC was shaped to put young men to work planting trees, building trails and lodges in State and National Parks and Forests.  My brief research found that more than 3 billion trees were planted and over 800 state parks were upgraded.

Ozone Campground was a CCC site from 1936 – 1942.  For those interested in this piece of American History a walk thru the well marked trails with explanatory signs is well worth the time.  Below are a few pictures of what was Main Street, Shower and Latrine foundations, an ice house and a gold fish pool in the shape of Arkansas.

Main Street … note the stone curbs.

Oark … another historic and quixotic place to visit!

I have been here once before and continue to hear from many that the Oark Cafe is still going strong.  In fact, this cafe is described as the oldest continuous operation restaurant in Arkansas.  Just like the camp at Ozone, the small community of Oark is a must visit and a definite stop for great food and great deserts in a very unique setting.

Left to right … JC, owner Brian, Jessica, Jim, Bryan.

While you are in the area … there’s the Swinging Bridge over the Mulberry River.

Finally … we did have two beautiful nights of camping …

During this Thanksgiving season … I am thankful for good friends, beautiful campfire, beautiful Fall leaves in Arkansas and that I live in the greatest Nation on Earth.

My son, DJ and grand daughter Morgan, took this shot thru my telescope … with an iPhone.  Wow.

Read Full Post »

First time to Big Bend National Park … and crossing the Rio Grande in a Row boat.

For over 10 years four friends have been taking a hiking trip to one of the National Parks… this year to Big Bend. Oh my gosh, this is a unique and special place.  Not only is it huge … more than ten times the land area of my home town, Little Rock … it snakes for more than 1000 miles along the Rio Grande which serves as an international border between Mexico and the United States. Following one of our early morning hikes, with passports in hand we headed for the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry and then our treat of the trip … a rowboat shuttle to Mexico.

Other than the memorable boat ride, we enjoyed lunch and strolled so I could capture some colorful pictures in this very simple Mexican Village.

Back on the United States Side of the Rio Grande …

For the next three days we experienced some of the most diverse and beautiful landscape as we hiked canyons, river trails, rugged dry desert vistas, historic hot springs and moonlike geologic terrain.

The is also plenty of history … cotton farming and mercury mining

Plus Restaurants and nightlife in Terlingua …

And lest I forget, the Minimalist Art Capital of Texas,  Marfa …

I had to use my most persuasive negotiating skills to persuade my buddies to go a bit out of the way to the city of alien lights … maybe to some … alien art.  Look up Marfa sometime and discover a fascinating place to visit.  With the support of the Chianti Foundation and the art of Donald Judd, Marfa has become a rather unusual example of “Build it and they will come”  tourist destination.

Final note …

Check out Far Flung Outfitters for the cabins, river trips, jeep trips … you will love it.

Read Full Post »