An incredible camping vacation

Last weekend, John took off Thurs and Fri and we headed down to the Ozarks. We had never been to the Eleven Point River, which is a National Scenic River, run by the National Park Service. It is a beautiful spring fed river and the surrounding area is gorgeous. There are dozens and dozens of springs to visit. Although we didn't canoe down the river because the girls are too young, we had more than plenty to do.

First night at the campsite. We stayed in a beautiful primitive campground called Greer Crossing, located in Winona, MO.

Here we are at Falling Spring. It's the site of an old homestead and mill.

The spring actually falls out of this rock, hence "Falling Spring." The water was crystal clear and COLD, with lily pads, turtles, and frogs.

We had to get in. Too beautiful to pass up.

Here is John, holding both Opal and Iris, on a hike to Greer Spring, the second largest in the state, and spectacular.

The spring comes out of the cave below and creates the rushing water in the picture above. It looked like something out of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but here in the Ozarks.

Sitting on the banks at Greer Spring.

Early blackberries picked at McCormick Lake, a spring fed lake we took a dip in one afternoon.

Blackberries gone!

Camping doesn't afford the luxury of naps, so there was a bit of car sleeping.

Featured in this month's edition of Missouri's Conservation magazine, Turner Mill. A 25ft old steel mill from the small village of Surprise that does not exist anymore.

The spring at Turner Mill gushes out of this cave.

The sign for our campground, which was located right on the Eleven Point.

Early in the morning, the girls cuddled up together in one sleeping bag.

We visited Winona's new Nature Center run by MDC. It has this very cute miniature log cabin, complete with iron cooking pot in the fireplace and table, stools, and rustic utensils. Opal and Iris had a lot of fun playing "pioneers" for about an hour. We had the whole place to ourselves on a Saturday morning.

They placed their "pet" ducks in the pond.

The nature center had many historical artifacts as well, depicting the history of the Ozarks - mostly logging, burning, grazing, burning, and then finally purchase by the National Forest.

Swimming on the Eleven Point - our last night we stayed in a small house/cabin further south on the river.

The last day on the way home we stopped at Rocky Falls - this beautiful spot outside of Eminence. It was a perfect swimming hole with crystal clear water, so we explored, swam, jumped off some rocks, and vowed to come back to this place.