the day out

 So, yeah, getting up to the park at 11 am during a Spring Break day is not ideal; there were a lot of people there already.

At least the Prairie Loop Trail (one of the more strenuous ones, and one that is a bit less "rewarding" at least this time of year, because there's not a lot of showy vegetation) was quiet

I also saw an armadillo (a LIVE one! Usually here you just see them hit on the roads) hunting for grubs and bugs. This is one of the higher points in the park and you do have a nice view (you can see a bit of that in the video).

Also, the water was lower than it often was, but that also meant I could easily cross the ford to get to the trail without worrying (too much) about slipping and falling in:

I decided I also wanted to walk out to the springs and see them. I actually wound up skipping Antelope Spring (my favorite) because there was a HUGE group there already, and their kids were climbing the rock face and splashing in the water, and people were being loud.

I *think* climbing the rock face is technically not permitted, both because it can damage it and because there is a risk of injury. But I wasn't going to say anything about it, I just passed along and went to Buffalo Springs.

We need rain. I guess there's not been much aquifer recharge recently (though I also worry a sand operation over in Pontotoc county that impacts the aquifer may also be damaging it). I've never seen as much algae in this spring:

I hope we get more rain and that all this clears out later this year; it's not a good look.

The more active spring is apparently off to the side from the enclosed area:

I don't know if you can see the bubbles but the cleared area is where the active spring is.

Some more photos:

The wooded area looks a lot more open with no leaves on the trees or the undergrowth.

This is a sycamore - it's wet enough in the area for them. They have a habit of most of their outer bark peeling off though this tree is more extreme than most I've seen.

This was up on the Prairie Loop Trail. It's really open and it feels kind of deserted, at least when there aren't a lot of people there. I like that. 

One of the attractions for me of this place is that there is a lot of flowing water to look at and listen to. 

I will say I think I've been isolated from groups of people long enough that I am more easily annoyed by noise and crowds and unruly behavior - there were a lot of people talking loudly and shouting and running on the trails, and walking several abreast (so you had to step to one side). I don't know. I guess when I was a kid I was taught - both by my parents and in things like Girl Scouts - that you were mostly *quiet* out in nature, partly out of respect for other people who want to enjoy quietly, but also out of sort of a sense of reverence - I don't know where I got the idea (parents or Girl Scouts or maybe even the church youth groups where we went hiking and stuff) that out in nature is God's house, just as much as the church is God's house, and that you treat it with something like respect....

And yes, I understand: everyone enjoys differently and you need to let people enjoy things. But. If I like having quiet to enjoy nature why should I always have to yield to other people? (I ask myself that some times: I am often the one to yield and sometimes I wonder why it has to be that way). Anyway, I left a bit after noon. 

I did go to the park bookstore; bought a book on the Civilian Conservation Corps (one of my uncles - I never knew him, he was my mother's brother and died when I was a baby - was in it when he was young, and the CCC did a lot of the construction in many parks). 

After that, I decided to go and get lunch. Went to a cafe that had outdoor tables, got a "Cuban style panini" and water (they were out of tea, which was what I really wanted). I ate outside but wound up dodging wasps, which are already out. I did go and get some of the little packs of tea and spice blends at the Spice and Tea exchange. No where had sympathy cards though (I had to stop at the Walgreen's on the way back into town here). 

Before leaving, I decided to try going to Bromide Hill, my favorite spot. But it was crowded too, finally most of the people moved so I could grab a quick photo:

You might be able to just barely see one of the wind turbines that are outside of Sulphur off to the right of center

And then I took a slightly longer route home, because there's an Amish foods store near Dickson - got more of the apple-cinnamon jelly I liked and they had "homemade" wheat bread, so I got a loaf. 

Tomorrow is back to the paper (and meals on wheels); Friday will be mostly meals on wheels plus the funeral.