The folly of early disappointment

Low water flow across Haw Creek Falls makes it easy for this couple to explore the large rock formation that forms the falls. Under high water conditions, what they’re doing would be life-threatening.

Click the picture and see the bird and towers at Corndancer dot-com.

I visited Haw Creek Falls on Arkansas Highway 123 north of Clarksville on May 2, 2015 as part of a grandiose plan of seeing other locations in central Ozarks. The plan involved taking in the sights on the long route between my home in Pine Bluff and Fort Smith, Arkansas, the place of my birth. The occasion precipitating the visit was a church reunion.The plans were doomed from the get-go. I left later than I should have. The visit to Haw Creek Falls and the nearby steel bridge over Big Piney Creek were the only components of the plan that held fast. After the falls and bridge,  I had to terminate the plan and make tracks to Fort Smith for the event.You can find out why despite my early self-directed grumblings, bungling the plans turned out to be a good thing; you’ll also see the pictures to prove it on the Photo of the Week page at Corndancer dot-com. The water flow over Haw Creek Falls was low. Bad news for photographers, but good news for visitors to the falls. Low water means they can walk across the large rock formations that form the foundation of the falls. Our next visit was to the Highway 123 steel bridge across Big Piney Creek.

The steel bridge over Big Piney Creek on Arkansas Hghway 123 north of Haw Creek Falls is a favorite photo target. Also, the creek bed under the bridge is a favorite camping spot. It was occupied.

As I was leaving the creek bed under the bridge, I noticed a small butterfly convention underway. Air traffic in and out of the area rivaled Chicago O’Hare.

There are abundant colonies of these “pink thingies,” along stretches of Arkansas interstate highways. This is how they look when one is standing still as opposed exceeding the highway speed limit, a popular Arkansas driving habit.

Along with the “pink thingies,” there is a substantial presence of white daisies on the interstate. These long-legged beauties are a typical growth.

Mount Nebo west of Russellville, Arkansas, with Lake Dardenelle in the foreground is a favorite site from I-40. Subtle early evening colors add to the beauty. Free to see. Just go there.

After some initial self-bashing for blowing the plans I laid out, I decided that perhaps, being cool and letting good things happen is a better mindset in less than life-changing circumstances. Which most of our “circumstances” are.

Thanks for looking.

Joe Dempsey,
Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind

http://www.joedempseycommunications.com/
http://www.joedempseyphoto.com/
http://www.corndancer.com/joephoto/photohome.html

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