November 19-21, 2024 Trail of Tears state park, Cape Girardeau, Missouri To Lake Charles State park, Arkansas

 70 degrees and sunny.

We had a little excitement this morning, some park employees came and cut down a dead tree. We hiked on the Shepard point trail today.  The bridge crossing the creek on the trail. 

Beautiful fall colors. Most of the hike was a gentle uphill on the ridge. 

Then we went down a steep downhill to the bottom of the ravine. John starting down. It rained last night and the down hill trail was mud covered with leaves and very slippery.

Tulip tree leaf, mulberry leaf. paw paw leaf and a mushroom.  We climbed up out of the ravine to the viewpoint on the trail still slippery mud covered with leaves and mossy roots

The view of the Mississippi River below. Good thing most of the leaves had fallen, or we would not have seen it. Another view of the river below, you can see to the left of the red oak it is straight down a couple hundred foot cliff to the river. 

Heading back up. John waiting for me at the top.

Red oak leaf is 8 inches long, tiny orange mushroom, American beech, black (or white, not sure) oak- also about 8 inches long, maple leaves and sweet gum leaves. I wrapped the green piece on the top right. it is one of my favorite pendants, I took the bail off it and wrapped it. The other 4 I wrapped a few weeks ago, but just got around to putting  patina on them. 

We are now camped at Charles Lake state park in Arkansas.  We are the only campers in the whole campground. The bus at Lake Charles state park. Last light.

Poison ivy, Welcome to Arkansas, and a great blue heron on the lake. A small stream in the campground. 

Last light on the campground and lake. 

John flipping a potato  pancake. Fishing dock. 

John walking to the swim beach. 

We also walked the Mockernut trail. A mockernut is a white hazel nut. Reflected cypress trees. There is a yurt behind the cypress with a nice view of the lake. 

Cypress trees with knees. Afternoon light on the campground.