Tuesday, November 4, 2014

A most disappointing adventure

Yesterday we headed off on another adventure to visit Heber Springs and Greer Ferry Lake which is 2 hours south east of where we live - at least that is what Google maps said.  Mom's GPS decided it could find a "quicker" way and it actually took us 3 hours to get there - needless to say the GPS is lucky to be still beeping!

Anyhoo - along the way we stopped at a tiny town called Oil Trough - population of 260 - which is situated right on a bend of the White River. Mom said it is a weird name for a town but she liked the little overlook they have built there and we enjoyed having a sniff around.













 We continued on through the Ozarks with the GPS taking us every which way - Mom was dreading we were getting well and truly lost but eventually we arrived at Heber Springs where the lake is located.  Our first stop was the Visitors Center where picked up a map of the area. The couple in the center were very helpful and told Mom there was a nice easy walking trail up to a lookout where we could see the dam and it would take about 25 minutes to get there. The trail as it turns out took us 40 minutes and was pure mountain goat country hanging on the side on on the hill with a steep drop on one side and barely wide enough for Mom to walk on.  We had to climbs over rocks, up hills and down, over bridges and just when we were nearly to the lookout came the worse bit - 70 wooden steps up to the lookout - so much for it being an easy trail! We decided to follow the road back to the visitors center and came across a sign pointing to Collins Creek Falls which turned out to be spectacular and made the whole  hike worthwhile - it was just the MOST beautiful place.

We finally made it back to the car and after having some picnic lunch we headed off to see Greer Ferry Lake and this is where the BIGGEST disappointment happened. We went to 3 of the public parks listed on the map near the end of the lake where we were (there is 16 in total around the lake) and all 3 had BIG signs saying "Pets Prohibited - $800 fine" What The DOG !!!!! After driving so far we couldn't even go and see the lake. Mom was annoyed at the first park, at the second one she angry and when she saw the same sign at the third she was ready to run it over with the car! Sadly we didn't get to see the see the lake up close and didn't get any pictures. Greers Ferry Lake has now been well and truly scrubbed off our list of places to visit. Thankfully Mom turned off the GPS for the trip home - following the map she had printed off and yes - this time it did only take 2 hours :)

Stopping for a rest
Stopping for another rest - happy face!
Greer Ferry Dam from the Lookout
Collins Creek Falls

28 comments:

  1. WOW! What an adventure! What kind of park doesn't allow pets! That's silly! Sure glad you got to see those falls though, they are beautiful!

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  2. We think u should have run down the sign. Call the news station or someone and complain?

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  3. What the dog? No pets? That is so not right. Thank you so much the tablets arrived. We are very grateful. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  4. Is there really a place called 'Oil Trough', thats hilarious !
    How can you call a place a 'Public Park' if they don't let dogs in !?! Bet it was a horrid place anyhoo!
    But the overlook at 'Oil Trough' (HEHe) does look amazing as does Collins Creek Falls, at least they have the good sense to allow dogs!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  5. no pets allowed? why? is it because of the wildlife there or do you know why dogs are prohibited (even on a leash)?

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  6. Same as no dogs allowed on the beach. Well, so what that's what I say.... There are other beaches yer know.
    Paws up on your great walk.
    :-) x

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  7. Oh NO! What a bummer! All that way and then you couldn't even enjoy the lake together. I do say that the maps need to be updated with this highly important information. You look so sad in that last picture! I just wanted to put my hoof around you pal. XOXO - Bacon

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  8. We LOVE the FALLING WATERS Picture...
    We think that Geers Lake place must belong to SQUIRRELS... it is probably their HIDEOUS HEADQUARTERS...

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  9. Maybe if yours momma would have just backed over the sign that would have taken care of the problem...bhahahah
    stella rose

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  10. You guys aren't "pets". You're Reilly and Denny. We vote for running over the sign. Sorry but those signs are dumb.

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  11. First - your mom is very brave! I would not have been able to walk along a narrow trail with a steep drop on one side!

    Second - it's so unfair that the lake has no dog friendly areas. Maybe there are some, but only the locals know where they are...

    Third - those waterfalls are beautiful, so the trip looks like it was worth it!

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  12. Oil Trough is not a pretty name for a town. But not as ugly as a park called No Pets.
    WHAT ARE THEY THINKING!
    Toodle pip!
    Bertie.
    PS Gail says 'proper' maps beat satnav any day.

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  13. SHE always finds shortcuts that take much longer too. We don't think we'd continue on a goat track, especially if it involved heights and cliffs. So well done ALL of you!

    Paws down to Greers Ferry Lake, we think all of Blogville will scrub that off the list, too. No dogs...how rude!

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  14. Sheesh...that was SOOOO not fair!! We are glad that you got to see a few pretty places are yur adventure!!

    Smileys!
    Dory, JAkey, Arty & Bilbo

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  15. How rude! But you still did get some beautiful pictures
    hugs
    Mr Bailey & Hazel

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  16. WOW… dat really stinks. No Pets/Dogs allowed signs should be outlawed at parks!

    Dat hike trail sounds dangerous. Glad y'all made it back in one piece.
    Wags,
    Ranger

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  17. WHat a bummer! Especially after such a long drive.

    What about a sign that says "NO Annoyign People/ $1000 fine".

    Glad you at least got to see afew pretty places. Love the falls!! They are spectacular.

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  18. How frustrating Fort Myers, FL has those signs all over at their parks and it made Mom real mad too last year.

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  19. We can't imagine any park not letting you in for a visit! You guys are such well-behaved pups! Poopoo on them - it's their loss!

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  20. What a bummer! At least you got to walk to see the dam and the other falls. I hope your Mom isn't overdoing things.

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  21. Are you sure there weren't 87 wooden steps? Another beautiful park
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  22. I think that must be a fact, trickster sign. How can that be?! Those pictures are beautiful as always!
    oxox
    Daisy

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  23. Crikey ..... thank goodness for Collins Creek Falls, aye?? What a stinkie day!! Maybe that sat nav thingie was trying to tell your Mom NOT to go to those other places. Oil Trough????? Crikey ...... too weird!!

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  24. Howdy mates. Sorry you didn't get to walk some of the places but we loved your photos and you had a great day together so all in all, hopefully sorta good. Take care. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  25. That's too sad. I always hate seeing those signs. We've had a couple of hikes like that too, including one where they folks at the information center told us the hike was very popular but judging by the amount of spider webs we ran into across the trail it wasn't!

    Monty and Harlow

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  26. There is something wrong with people who don't want pets in their park, think of how many less people visit it because of this! Love Dolly

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Thank you for woofing at us - we read each and every one of them