@Izzie,
K " so I am back in Britain having had the most amazing time. Now to bore you with all the photos if you wish to look " or anyone thinking about going to Devil’s Den or Beaver Lake " this will give you an idea " tho mind, I am into snapping shot " so there are loads. Scroll on down quick if not into waterfalls.
Written whilst we were there:
So today we had a busy day. Woke up to find deer beside the cabin…just sauntering on past " finally got the little fella up and about " he was very tired " and packed the car up again and off we went. Got to the visitor centre….fun and games…credit card declined again. So… very helpful lady took pity on us and called the UK " sorted " off we went " trekking the Devil’s Den trail. So, there was meant to be a waterfall " they had 5” rain over the weekend " but nope…. just a trickle. Still mighty purty tho. It was a tough ‘ole climb (well, for me it was) but worth every step " stunning scenery, limestone caverns and a blue tailed lizard with a gold face!!!! Naturally, we got a little lost….but we found the trail and got back to the car. Then had to go back to the Visitor Centre coz, being as organized as I am, could not find any of the maps I had printed off, telephone number or address of the cabin we were going to at Beaver Lake. Very helpful lady again wished us well after they let me use the internet to call up my email " and…. we typed in the address in DrusillaGPS and she got us to Beaver Lake. Good drive " found the new cabin " NOW " when it said very secluded cabin in 17 acres " they weren’t joking. This place is down a long dirt track in the boonies " but just fab. As you get out the car you could think you were at a little Austrian Chalet " except it is hot. Nice temp tho " around 80-85. Were greeted by the dogs…. Walked in and perfect. Went for a walk to the lake and the noise all around was amazing. Found the canoes and dock " beautiful lake. Met the owner " she came to shake my hand " HA " gave her a big hug " then little fella and I went canoeing. Now…… it would have been coco if the lake wasn’t quite so high! Apparently they have had loads of rain in the spring " the lake is incredibly high " to the extent of many trees being half under water……. This of course meant " webs. As we got in the canoe (which the nice lady had de-spidered for us " and I pushed off heading for the …..trees/reeds " screams and hollers started as we were heading for the webs. Know how he felt " but also knew I didn’t want to be tipped out " it was like Laurel and Hardy. Calmed him down and off we went " had a little paddle " THEN " the speed boat decided to go past " and little fella starts paddling so we are side on to the ripples…….. at which stagehe was pahincking again and I started hollering at him. My worst nightmare (other than spiders) is being in deep water (should be used to that by now a?). Doesn’t matter how strong a swimmer I am " it’s the fact that I dunno what’s underneath me " and I then crap myself " so I did NOT want to be capsizing (plus I had my camera with me). So….we get back to shore " will he let me go to shore and past the trees " NO CHANCE " so we manouvered alongside the dock and I clambered up and tied the canoe to the railings. We shopped, then found the Thorncrown Chapel…. OMGosh " what a place…. Just too stunning for words. Peaceful " calm " can’t really describe it " kinda takes your breath away.
Came back to the cabin " then I discovered I was a not a big and brave as I thought I was. I tried to go outside…….mind " this is in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of secluded woods…the noise is so loud, like being in a rainforest " and everywhere you look " there are spiders. Well, I couldn’t do it. I’ve achieved a lot this trip " but nope, not that, I couldn’t go out in the dark with all those things out there. Hey ho. Ima wus " but that’s OK.
Slept for 9 hours " was exhausted " got up " went canoeing…. All was going well til I looked behind me and saw the spider in the back….. I kept quiet and tried not to think about it….. then little fella starts with the screams " one right next to him. So I had to get him from the front of the canoe to half way down without tipping us (he was in panic mode) and we went back to the dock. K " no more canoe. Did that! It was gorgeous " but it’s no good if he’s scared.
Went into Eureka Springs to look for an internet café… could we find one " no chance. Nice town tho " quiet old and western " but quite commercialized too. Lotsa tourist shops. Would have liked to have wondered round there but ran out of time.
Saw fab humming birds " oh they are so lovely " reminded me of California.
So lying here in my lovely bed tonite " shoulder has gone kaput tonite…. Not so good. So excited about seeing JPB, Eva and RH tomorrow.
Studio Cabin $100/nite
Dragonfly with shopping bags
Little fella with big grin
I’m sure Mother Teresa was here….
Happy chap
Further down river " trails to walk
Lovely moth
Ugh….but beautiful webs blowing in the breeze
Just to show I was there with the little fella " big grin (ugh " dislike my photo being taken!)
Love black and white
Had a few probs with credit card use in US " helpful lady let me phone home " little fella thought this was hysterically funny… sorted tho with apologies from TESCO
So……then we went trekking… OH MY! This was huge for me " as many of you know " walking with penguin feet is relatively new……. But what a blast this was…
These caverns are huge " you can climb down with hard hats and head torches and go caving to see the bats……….errrr…………..nope…………….adventurous enough just walking the trail thank you very much….
HA " this is supposed to be the waterfall " but as luck would have it, it wasn’t falling " it was still worth every little and large step to get to it tho…
Ugh ugh
BEAVER LAKE
BEAVER DAM
OUR LITTLE CABIN IN THE WOODS…….in the middle of nowhere…
Wonderful stick insects
The Lake was so high from the Spring Rains " no beaches…. And trees underwater…
Before the little fella realized there were spiders next to him…. Mmmmmm…..slight wobble of the canoe once he realized….
Beautiful
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah……dreams
Worms in their silk pods (thought they were spiders " ranger put us right " phew phew phew) " they are in all the bushes and hang from the trees…
Nasty waspy thingy
Hummers….. love hummers….. way too fast for my camera tho… loud little wings too
Thorncrown Chapel " Near Eureka Springs
It isn’t possible to capture the beauty of this place. Inside " it is is peaceful, cool, calming. It has an aura " when you walk in " you just feel at peace and surrounded by nature.
The design reminds me of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, of whom I’m a mighty big fan " and I came here to capture the design of it in my head…. yet, strangely, went away with far more than I arrived with, inside. It really was a highlight of the holiday and something neither I, nor the little fella, will ever forget.
I took him in for his next set of shots last week and the vet scolded me for feeding him too much. His weight had gone from 12 pounds to almost 23. Baaaaaad Mommy! 
He's not fat. He's just a growing, starving all the time, puppy! Both pics taken out on the back deck. Hard to get him to stay still long enough to get pics though! He's 3 1/2 months old now. 
