Trying to Leave the Land of my Roots

May18,2017

The funniest thing happened on my way out of Eureka Springs. The place didn't want to let me go!
Charlie and I left the hotel and drove 2 miles down the road to Blue Springs Heritage Centre. A couple of maintenance guys were picking up branches that had snapped in winds overnight. Other than them, the place was empty. Herb and flower gardens welcomed me. It was 9:30 and I assumed the place was open. I walked through the gate and sat with Charlie next to a waterwheel. Fifteen minutes later a woman walked sleepily through the same gate and locked it behind her before entering the gift shop. I waited until a few people, having entered on the other side of the shop, gathered at her cash register. Then I tried to go out the gate and around to the other entrance. The gate was locked locked! Padlocked! I opened the shop door and asked if I could come through with my dog on a list. The young looked at me with consternation and asked how I got in there.  I explained I had walked in before her arrival. She told me no one was to enter that way. I repeated, "can I come through the shop and put me dog in the car?" She replied that only service dogs were allowed in the shop. I was trapped in a beautiful little garden with a water wheel and a sweet dog!

I recognised the absurdity of my situation and asked how I would get out! She ignored me. So I raised my voice, smiled and said, "Would one of you gentleman come around to this gate, I will pass my dog to you and go through the shop and pick up my dog?" A guy ran around, accepted Charlie over a chest high fence, I ran through the shop and Charlie had no idea we nearly spent a day watching the wheel dip and dump a little paddle full of water all day.

Even funnier, as we turned back onto the highway, the sign read, "Crooked and Steep next 6 miles!"

And that's my best take of the Ozarks.

I should have paid more attention to the dark and uneasy aura that hung over those hills. The more I read, the more I realise the hills were lawless in my greatgrandfather's day. Probably best to let that history lie. Family have characterised Frank as "not a nice guy."