Third times a charm or Spring, spring, spring. . . .

They say the third time is a charm. And I guess it was. After two less than great starts at camping, we tried again this last week.

We arrived late at camp in Round Springs and had a late dinner. Followed by a visit from a skunk.
Daughter was amazing when told to hold real still and not move, or scream, even with the skunk checking out the bottom of her chair, while she was still in it. Her face was a mix of fear and knowing.
But she held it all together and the skunk left.
That night it was, 'Let's go home!'. By morning it was, 'I hope we see more skunks."
The morning showed skunk tracks all over our car. Having gotten up in the night, I know at least four visited us.

Interest soon turned to a katydid that found our table in the morning.
It stayed for a very long time.
Not being one who loves bugs, I find it interesting that, now, trying to help daughter get over her fear of bugs, I am becoming quite interested in learning what they are.

We had taken Elmo and friends
and their camper along to provide
entertainment while. . . .

. . . mom cooked a breakfast of eggs and bacon.
Yum!
Weather was great.
Night had been cool and morning wonderful.

Mom and daughter getting ready for adventure.

First stop of our day was the spring the camp takes it's name from, 'Round Springs'

It is really amazing how many springs Missouri has.
The spring state. And also amazing is how many are in southern Missouri.
Round Springs water bubbles up quietly out of a sink hole.

A wonderful blue.

Nearby mushrooms, something else I never bothered to learn about till I wanted daughter to learn.

The greens around the spring pond, just a little
down stream, are incredible.

Next we ventured over to one of wife's favorite places, 'Rocky Falls'

Before we went to explore the falls we had lunch in the parking lot picnic area.
While dining a group of really nice motorcycles and a beautiful old car pulled into the lot.

Guess which is our car.

Nice!

Rocky Falls is this great mound of rocks with water gently cascading down the boulders, . . . most of the time. Last time wife and I visited it was after much rain and it was just a muddy boiling cauldron.

A little help please.

Dad nervously watched while daughter jumped from rock to rock, mom right behind her.

Beautiful pond at the base.
Great watercrest and swimming, and
a large lily-pad also.

This days adventures ended with jumbo franks over the barbie.

Next morning Elmo and crew entertained before breakfast.

Happy faces mean pancakes and sausage were great.

First spring on the second day was 'Big Springs'
Which it was.

Never, ever, use a path when a
wall will do.

And more fungi.

Near the end of the day, we visited the prettiest spring, "Greer Spring'.
It takes a little more effort to get to and is quite remote but it is fantastic.
Hunt around because there are two springs in this spot.

Our final morning brought rain, so Elmo and crew played in the back of the car while mom and dad packed up camp.

I hope we didn't pack up this fellow.



Sampling grape juice at St. James winery on the way home.

Yes, it really was just juice. Yea, I know, she looks to happy for just juice, but it was.

A great couple of days camping.