Stinky's Fish Camp

As the t-shirt said, with a name like Stinky's the food has to be good - - and it was! It was actually great! I think our group tried about everything on the menu. Every bite was awesome.

We started with some oysters: Bienville; On the Half Shell; and Steamed. Then we enjoyed some crawfish tamales and crawfish hushpuppies. Our entrees included fried shrimp; grilled amberjack; shrimp po' boys; crab legs; seafood chowder; and of course Garrett ordered a burger. It was one of the best seafood meals we've ever eaten.

Ainsley ordered Kid's Crab Legs off the Kid's Menu. We couldn't believe the size of the order when it arrived. She was on cloud nine. There was enough to share with the whole group. It wasn't cheap - - - I think I liked it better when she'd only eat mac & cheese.

We finished off a near perfect meal with an unbelievable piece of KeyLime Pie. Our waiter told us it had been awarded a "Top 10 pie of the South East" by Southern Living Magazine. After one bite we could definitely understand why!

Anytime we are near Santa Rosa Beach, Stinky's will be on the agenda. I've been there, done that, and yes - - -I did get the T-shirt!!

Look . . . Dolphins!!

Garrett wanted to rent a waverunner so we could explore Santa Rosa Sound so we went a couple of blocks from the park and picked one up. We got a chance to ride by the RV park and wave at the crew. Ainsley decided she wasn't interested - AT ALL.

We had a blast and headed west in the direction of Okaloosa Island, but didn't have time to go too far. GT became a backseat driver and asked on several occasions, "are you tryin' to kill us?" I'm not sure he adventurous as he thought he was. We didn't even Catch Air!!

Catching some waves on the Waverunner.

Waving from the Waverunner at the crew at Emerald Beach RV Park.

Having a blast in Santa Rosa Sound!

The highlight of the Waverunner excursion was then a small pod of Dolphin came swimming through the sound. You can see a couple of them on the left side of the pic above. There were probably eight in the group and there weren't bothered by us at all. At one point, these two got within about five feet of the Waverunner.

The other big highlight was when I made a sharp left to turn around and look at the dolphin and Garrett and kept going straight. Our rears and the Waverunner seat quickly parted ways. GT and I both hit the water and I'm pretty sure he thought the dolphin had turned into sharks. I'm not saying GT was Christ-like, but he may have walked on water trying to get back onboard. It was hilarious! As we got back to the truck, he informed me that he wasn't speaking to me any longer. Ha! He got over it pretty quickly.

A Day at the Beach . . .

After a quick trip to the Donut Hole in Destin and a stop by Sexton's Seafood Market, we headed back to Navarre for some beach time. We rode to Gulf National Seashore at Opal Beach and grabbed a pavilion for the afternoon. The weather was perfect.

The kids spent a little time snorkeling and playing on body boards. Melanie and I hung out under the shade in the pavilion enjoying an awesome gulf breeze. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a hammock.

The view from our pavilion.

A Herron hanging out on the beach.

Garrett snorkeling at Opal Beach.

Ainsley hanging on the beach.

Navarre Vacation 2011

Let the RELAXATION begin . . .

We left NWA after work Friday night and made it to Vicksburg, MS about 1:00 a.m. We would have been there sooner, but Melanie couldn't pass up Taco Villa in Russellville on the way down. I think Mel and the Kids had it planned ahead of time. Oh well.

It was a long trip on Saturday to finally get to Navarre. It took over 2 1/2 hours to get through Mobile, AL. Traffic was terrible. We finally arrived at Emerald Beach RV Park just after 3:00 pm. Just after we arrived, my Mom told us they were planning a shrimp boil and it would be ready soon. Awesome!

We had some shrimp and then headed to the pool for some R&R. It was a great start to what we hope will be an awesome week.

This morning, we enjoyed some fresh brewed coffee from Mud Street Cafe in Eureka and a long walk in the beach. Mel and the Kids headed for the pool again and then I think we're beach. I thought I'd get the camera gear ready and head for the beach.

Pics to follow . . .

During Sunday's rains, I decided to make a run to Fallsville to see if I could make it in to Kings River Falls and Lichen Falls for a quick pic or two. The rain was heavy during the drive over and when I arrived at the trailhead for Kings River Falls, so I suited up in my rain gear and headed down the trail.

You could tell the water had been much higher because there was debris from the previous high water in the trees and in some areas the debris was higher than I could reach. The water had obviously gone down because the trail was very passable. The water was, however, much higher than it had been on Saturday afternoon because a friend had been over the previous day and took some pics where the flow was much more subdued.

Lucky for me, the rain stopped just as I reached the falls area. I was able to enjoy some time exploring the area and capturing some pics of Kings River Falls as well as some smaller falls on the creeks that feed into the river. There were even some other hikers who braved the rains to check out the falls.

After leaving Kings River Falls, I headed over to Lichen Falls just South of Hwy 16. The rain started pick back up, but I was lucky as it slowed down considerably as I reached Lichen Falls. The falls are along a well marked trail and are only about 1/4 mile from the parking area. A very easy hike, but the canyon and bluffs around the falls are very steep. During high water, this has to be one of the prettiest falls I've seen. It was difficult to shoot because it was so tall and there was a ton of vegetation so it was tough to get an unobstructed pic. It's definitely worth the hike over.

After heading back to the truck, the rain really came down. I was a little damp and cold but it was well worth it to see two very beautiful falls with such awesome water flow. I will make it back to both of these very soon.

A B&W of Kings River Falls

Another B&W of a feeder creek and its falls.

A B&W of Lichen Falls, South of Hwy 16

One of the falls on the feeder creek flowing into the Kings River

We made a trip to Glory Hole Falls on Saturday. The weather started out cold and nasty, but turned beautiful by noon. The hike down to the falls was about 2 miles (round trip) and the trail was very nice. There was a crowd of hikers at the falls when we arrived. After the prior days rains, the water was flowing very nicely and several of the hikers, who were regulars, told us it was the best they'd seen in a few years.

Once we climbed below the falls, I could definitely understand all the talk about the falls. It was absolutely beautiful. We were able to snap some quick pics of the falls, but the photos really don't do it justice. The natural beauty looked as if Heaven was shining down on Earth. It's truly a sight to see. Just remember, only schedule a trip shortly following a rain and you won't be disappointed.

Glory Hole Falls - South of Ponca

Glory Hole Falls - South of Ponca

Glory Hole Falls - South of Ponca

A little greenery popping through the forest floor.

Back to the Blog

I've taken a few months off from blogging, but now that it's time to get out and take some pics again. I thought I'd go ahead and start updating our blog now. The weather is setting up for a really nice phototrek early on Saturday morning near Boxley Valley. I'm thinking about trying a sunrise shot at Hawksbill Crag, but I'm not sure the family is up for a 5:00 a.m. road trip. If we make the trip, we'll get some pics posted over the weekend.

Roark Bluff at Steele Creek

Ran to Ponca on Saturday about mid-day. Trying to time it just before the rain. I wanted to find a short-cut into Roark Bluff to get some fall foilage shots around Steele Creek. I was able to locate and old horse trail on the GPS and parked along Hwy 43 and hiked in from that point about halfway between Ponca and the Centerpoint Trailhead.

I followed the the trail down about 3/10's of a mile and then used the GPS to follow the topo lines to the edge of Roark Bluff overlook the Steele Creek Campground. The view was awesome!

The colors just aren't as vibrant as they were last year, but it was still beautiful. Also, the water is down on the Buffalo River because of the lack of rain. There was a beautiful canyon on the way to the bluff and the hike wasn't bad at all (except for the climbing back up part).

Roak Bluff overlooking Steele Creek Campground

Roark Bluff looking to the Southwest

Beechwoods Cemetery overlooking Lost Valley

An old cabin in Lost Valley

Camping at Kyle's Landing

We loaded up the crew for a last minute trip to Ponca on Saturday after Garrett's game. No real plan and no real timelines. Just threw the tent, the dog, and the kids in the truck and headed for the hills.

We ended up setting up camp for the night at Kyle's Landing. The weather was perfect and the stars were amazing Saturday night. I got up early on Sunday and hiked the Buffalo River for a bit and took a few pics. After spending some time in Boxley Valley and listening to the Elk serenade one another, we headed back to Springdale. A quick trip over and back, but well worth the effort. I'm not sure all of my crew would agree on that fact, but I know I enjoyed it.

Bluff behind Kyle's Landing campground.

Some color starting to emerge along the Buffalo.

Early morning on the Buffalo.

The Bluff just east of the Kyle's Landing campground.

The Springdale Cowboys!

Garrett's team the Springdale Cowboys are undefeated at 9-0 on the season with one game remaining. They've been a blast to watch this season. One more practice before the final game on Saturday morning against the Rams. We're hoping for a perfect season! How 'bout them Cowboys!

Garrett (#63) lined up against the Steelers.

The huddle at half-time, down 19-14 against the Steelers.

The Offensive line forming a wall to push for the winning touchdown.

Down . . .Set . . .

Boxley Valley Trip - Oct. 1, 2010

Got the Kiddos up early this morning around 5:30 and we headed over to Boxley Valley to see if we could catch a glimpse of the elk. It was a perfect morning and the weather was outstanding. We arrived in Boxley just about sunrise and the fog was just beginning to lift off the fields. The elk were very active and the bulls were really making lots of noise. Hearing them echo through the valley is one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. People living out west probably take it for granted, but it's really something special here in Arkansas.

We hung out and watched the elk for a while and then road around in the mountains for a bit. Stopped at Steel Creek and threw a few rocks in the Buffalo River and then headed over the Ponca Elk Education Center for a visit. We headed back and had lunch at Marble and made it home around noon. It was a great start to a day off work and a day out of school. Just wished Mom didn't have to work today.

Bull elk resting in a field South of Boxley.

Cow and calf hanging out in the Valley. You can still see his spots.

Big bull that seemed to be controlling most of the activity in Boxley Valley this morning.

Nice reflection of the bluffs along the Buffalo River at Steel Creek.

Published Photo in Capture Arkansas

WooooHoooo! Made it in the Book! Looks like we made it into this year's Capture Arkansas book. I'm excited since this was my first attempt to enter. You're allowed to submit multiple pics, which I did, and one has been chosen to be published in this years book. The only bad part is, they won't tell you which photo or photos were selected until the release the book on November 6, in the River Market at Little Rock.

We will head down to the Release Party and check the the unveiling of the new Capture Arkansas book and see which entry made it to print. There were some awesome pics entered in the contest and some really outstanding photographers chosen to be published. Some folks whose work I really admire. It's very humbling to even be considered along with some of those folks.

Published Photographer Badge

Awarded to photographers who have had at least one photo published in a Capture Arkansas product

Here are a few of the pics I submitted. These shots received the most public votes from the photos I submitted, but may not necessarily be what the judges finally picked. Can't wait until November 6th to find out.

Dickson Street at Sunset

Melanie and I went down to Dickson Street on Sunday night to go for a ride and take some pics in the area. I wanted to shoot some time delayed shots on Dickson St. and thought Sunday might be a good time to avoid the normally heavy crowds.

It was really humid, but the overall temps weren't too bad and we enjoyed the evening. Even took a pic or two of George's.

George's Majestic Lounge at Sunset with a few cars passing by and an extended exposure time of about 30 seconds.

Around the Bend at George's Majestic Lounge on Dickson St. in Fayetteville, AR.

Hawksbill Crag in July

Melanie and the kids had run to see her Mom, so that left Cassius and I as bachelors for Friday night . . . let the party begin. Okay, it wasn't a party but Cash was excited about getting to go for a ride in the truck. Anyway, I got a wild hair Friday afternoon and decided to throw the tent in the back of the truck and run over to Lost Valley for the night and camp so I could be up early on Saturday morning to hike into Hawksbill Crag for some sunrise pics.

You notice I said the dog WAS excited about riding in the truck, but I think he quickly got over the excitement of the ride when he realized he might be sleeping outside for the night. I'm not saying he's spoiled, but he's definitely accustomed to a queen sized bed and central heat/air. It was pretty pitiful, since we he spent the remainder of the night looking as if he'd been violated.

I can't say Cash was the only one spoiled, because the heat and humidity made for a long night but we survived. We packed up and headed to Hawksbill Crag before daylight on Saturday morning. The fog was so dense I had to wait for a while to get any pics. Although the lighting wasn't ideal for the shots, I managed to get a few pics and really enjoyed the hike. The round trip hike totaled about 5K and again, Cassius looked as if he'd been duped. As Melanie put it later, I think he was done with me.

After finishing the hike, it was about 8:30 a.m. and I decided to run over to Ben Hur and try to get some shots of Falling Water Falls and Six-Finger Falls. We'd tried to get some pics there over Memorial Day, but Falling Waters is a popular swimmin' hole and there were too many folks to get good pictures. I was thinking if I got there early enough I might be able to pull it off this time. Turns out you gotta get up real early in the mornin' to beat the locals to the swimmin' hole. I was able to get a few pics and made a few "friends", but I think I'll wait for cooler weather to try it again.

After leaving Falling Waters, I ran down to Six-Finger Falls and had a chance to spend a little time. It was beautiful and I got a few good pics. This is a beautiful area and you could spend the entire day taking pictures in the area. This one will definitely be on the list to revisit in the fall.

I'm not a lepidopterist (look it up), but the was a severe outbreak while we were there and you really had to watch your step . . . it was kinda neat.

As I headed back home, I decided to run by Haw Creek Falls since we'd had some pretty good rain, lately. When I arrived, the campground was closed and I decided not to hike in so we just headed home.

It was a good Saturday trip and I look forward to making it again as the leaves begin to change. I'm not sure Cassius feels the same . . .

Early morning at Hawksbill Crag.

The fog lifting in the valley at Hawksbill Crag.

Underneath the falls at Falling Waters.

Six-Finger Falls near Ben Hur.

Another shot of Six-Finger Falls.

A lepidopterist studies butterflies.

They were beautiful and they were everywhere.

Navarre Florida - Day #7

Unbelievable! It doesn't seem possible that we've been here seven days already. Friday was our last full day in Navarre. We'll begin the journey back to NWA on Saturday morning. Our last full day was really nice.

We got up and around and headed for Destin to have one last breakfast at the Donut Hole. Everyone enjoyed the meal and we even grabbed some donuts for the trip home, although I doubt any of them actually make it back to NWA.

After breakfast we went to the beach and set up in a cabana to enjoy our last full day on the coast. It was a cool day. We saw some dolphin almost immediately and they stayed in the area most of the day. Then I was able to catch a couple of small jellyfish and the kids enjoyed seeing them. I got to enjoy a small jellyfish sting on my leg, but I guess that's what I get for jacking with them.

One of the neatest parts of the day was when we noticed what looked like a large dark cloud in the water that was moving down the beach. As it got closer, we realized it was a large school of Rays. There were probably 50-60 in the first group. We ended up seeing several schools throughout the day and I even got a chance to walk out in the water with the Rays as they went past. I wasn't aware they actually traveled in schools, but it's not surprising I didn't know that fact since the majority of my knowledge of marine life comes from Finding Nemo.

We spent about five hours at the cabana and enjoyed the ocean breezes as we relaxed in the shade. After going back to the park, the kids ended the day in the pool, as usual. We just can't believe it's about over. We've had a great week!

A pic from our cabana looking over the Gulf.

A school of Rays swimming along the beach in Navarre.

A little closer pic of a Ray at Navarre.

The school of Rays up close.

Melanie enjoying a book at the cabana on Navarre Beach.