Blanchard Springs and Caverns

June 23 – We told Jean and Paul we’d pick them up at 8:30 for our trip to Mountain View for our tour of Blanchard Springs Caverns.  It’s over and hour away, our tour was at 10:40 and we needed to check in a bit early.  Timing was on our side as when we checked in we were offered the opportunity to go on an earlier tour at 10:00.  Perfect!  The temperature in the caverns was 58 so Bill, Jean and I wore a light jacket. 

One of the cool formations

Our guide was great and so full of information.  He’s been there for 24 years and was really good.  They offer 3 tours and we took the shortest, easiest one that lasts an hour.  The 90 minute one has 700 steps and after my climb up Sugarloaf I could barely get in and out of the car so that was not an option for me.  No one else was really interested in it either.  The other tour is 4 hours and you get dirty and crawl through spaces.  If I was in better shape I would

One of my favorites, see the ship?

have given it a try!  The use of light in the caverns was beautiful and certainly added to the experience.  The group size was perfect and our guide never made us feel rushed or discouraged from asking questions.  It was one of the best caverns we have been in.  They have 2 campgrounds for overnight

Jean and Paul at the
springs

stays and some other activities near by.  We all went to see the Blanchard Springs when we finished the tour.  It’s a short drive and shorter walk to the springs which have a nice water fall and it’s very easy to walk out on the rocks to get close for pictures.

Lunchtime!!!!  Bill and I had eaten at PJ’s Rainbow Café and it was

Which one is Edith Ann?

great so that’s where we took Paul and Jean.  Paul said everything he saw them bring out from the kitchen looked good and we all cleaned our plates and enjoyed our lunch.

The town of Mountain View’s town square

One of the historic buildings

is on the Historic Register as all of the buildings are hand cut and laid block.  It’s a really nice little square and those buildings should never fall down! 

We had talked about visiting the Ozark Folk Center State Park but it was getting pretty hot out and since we planned to grill out tonight we didn’t want to be late getting home.  We visited some of the little shops and stores along the square and everyone had something for dessert or bought something to take home.

Jean and Paul came over at 5:30 and when we got ready to eat we put the grill on.  It was a simple meal of corn on the cob, potato salad, fresh veggies and for dessert there was cheesecake with whipped cream!  Yum!  We sat out and watched TV and I fed the deer and we waited patiently for them.  Five could be seen and 2 got pretty close and one poor doe stretched and reached for the corn but would not take that extra step she needed for success.  Then they all stampeded into the woods and didn’t come back.  Jean and Paul called it a night and headed home.  We had a fun day like we do every time we get together!