Van Buren Missouri

Arrived August 4th leaving Wednesday August 9th
Van Buren Missouri

We had phones but no internet. We were parked in a beautiful shaded spot, next to the river, and we loved it.

We went to Big Springs Park and saw, well a spring. One of the many sources for the Current River. You could feel the temperature change as we approached, it was very refreshing. It was too crowded so we left and came back later in the evening. It doesn’t get dark until 8:00 and it was less crowded. We decided to take Surely and let her have a good run.

Our last full day in Van Buren we went to Johnson Shut Ins State Park and it is remarkable how much work and care has gone into the park. When I was there the last time the season was changing to fall and the foliage was spectacular. It was still warm enough for Scott and I to explore. What was unusual about the state park were the rocks in the river. Masses of them and each and every one had a treasure, which was a miniature waterfall. There were a lot of people there and we joined in on the climbing of the rocks and playing in the water. When I stepped out of the car, this time, you could still see the devastation created when the dam broke. I admire the people who dug out by hand the rock and sand and saved the precious fens. They put in so much work clearing the debris but you can still see the saplings bent by the force of the water. The river that Scott and I climb and played in is completely fenced off because they didn’t have the time to clean the river. You can see rebar, trees, and brush scattered through out the river bed. It is unfortunate that the electrical company responsible for the dam didn’t participate in the clean up financially. According to the brochure, it took 3 billion years to create this masterpiece, this fragile environment and it took 3 billion gallons of water to destroy it in one day. The RV Park, the playground everything but the store, a bathroom and the gatehouse is gone. It was enough to make you cry and now it is up to a few people to try to preserve what is left.