One of my favorite scenic wonders is Big Spring in the Missouri Ozarks. The spring has been featured in previous Buckets, which I’ll link to at the bottom of the page. During the “halcyon days of my youth,” Big Spring was a state park. Campsites were located along the spring branch, and on the banks of the nearby Current River. I spent many an hour there in the summertime, swimming, fishing, canoeing, and exploring.
After the National Park Service took over, the riparian campsites were closed, allowing the streamsides to revert to a more natural setting.
My most recent visit to Big Spring happened on April 9. The previous day, a large crowd had assembled at the park to witness the solar eclipse. I observed it from a few miles away, on private land where there were no crowds.
County road near the park, with dogwoods in bloom.
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF THE DAILY BUCKET FEATURE, CHECK OUT THIS DIARY: DAILY BUCKET PHENOLOGY: 11 YEARS OF RECORDING EARTH'S VITAL SIGNS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
|
On the day after the eclipse, there was little evidence of the previous day’s celebration, other than a line of porta-potties next to a field. Only a handful of visitors milled about, admiring the spring and wandering along the trails.
Stop and sit for a spell.
The overcast skies brought out the deep blue colors of the spring water, which are harder to capture in bright sunshine.
Still pictures can only capture so much of the surroundings. Enjoy these brief videos for a better idea of the sights and sounds of Big Spring. We begin with a view of the spring branch (21 seconds).
Next, a 22-second clip, looking upstream towards the spring. Note the clump of watercress that floats by.
Now we move to the spring outlet. This 15-second clip shows the stone fence. Watch carefully, and you can see the gnats that torment everything that moves in the Ozarks.
This one is my favorite, because it shows the surroundings in a way that still photos cannot. The scene begins with the cliff and cave before showing the waters of the spring boiling from the bedrock (37 seconds).
For the final video, I held the camera steady. This is what visitors see when they stand next to the spring. 21 seconds of tranquility. You might want to play it a few times!
Here are the to previous Big Spring diaries. They include maps, history, and geology that I won’t repeat here.
And let’s not forget this one,
Noble Fur and CCC stonework at the old lodge, downstream from the spring, summer 2020.
Okay folks, it’s your turn. Tell us what’s happening in your slice of the world.