Time to get out of town
Out of the city
Out of the neighborhood
Away from the concerts, the theme parks, and the sports arenas
Away from the job, the school, and the people we know
Away from the politics, the neighbors, and the traffic
Away from social media, cable news, and gossip
Out - into nature
Out into the world
Out into our beautiful state
Out of the city
Out of the neighborhood
Away from the concerts, the theme parks, and the sports arenas
Away from the job, the school, and the people we know
Away from the politics, the neighbors, and the traffic
Away from social media, cable news, and gossip
Out - into nature
Out into the world
Out into our beautiful state
| Here's a little series of posts about the great state of Missouri. It's time to get off the beaten path and do some exploring! |  |
Our "home" for our state park getaway, this year, was the campground at Johnson's Shut-Ins. A short drive from our tent brought us to the visitor's center and finally to the heart of this park. The entry trail is very inviting.
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Soon, the visitor hears the water. In the mild morning, I was able to snap some photos with no people in them. Everything seems so pristine and inviting.
| | The water cascades through a series of crevices and chutes and pools into pockets. Rock climbing and water slides in one? Yes, sir. It's an amazing place to ponder the world we live in and the size of a single human. It's also fun to spot wildlife in our state parks. We enjoyed watching rabbits, lizards, and deer, and I appreciated the chance to consider the flora along trailside. |
While the ladies traced a path downstream, my son and I tried our hand at blocking one of the channels with rocks and gravel from the river bottom. We weren't completely successful, but we made some great progress at raising the water level in the upper pool. We also stacked some of the stones, one on top of the other to make columns. My greatest column was at least 14 rocks high when a group of people asked if I was the guy on Youtube who balances stones. To that guy's credit, he balances the most unlikely of rocks.
A few years ago, there was a breech in the reservoir above the park. The waters that rushed downhill was strong enough to move two-ton boulders, and it did, rearranging the park in an instant. It's incredible to see how Missouri has rebuilt this park with attention to its amenities and the natural habitats.
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The park is named for the water which is shut in, carving through solid stone to find the path of least resistance. The Johnson part of the moniker comes from the Johnston family who once owned the property. The Johnstons are buried in a small cemetery just across the parking lot. Somewhere along the way, they dropped the t from the Johnston name.
