SEARCHING FOR PUSH MOUNTAIN

Tuesday morning I started my day at the Ozark Cafe in beautiful downtown Jasper. The cafe was established in 1903. While chowing down on the weekday breakfast special, I was joined by the local's finest, two Jasper policemen, a state highway patrol officer, a state park ranger, a local sherrif and I am not sure who the last individual was that came in while I was departing. Not that I actually sat and visited with these gentlemen, but in a small town cafe like the Ozark, you may as well be at the same table. The atmosphere is friendly and the servers all knew the officers' names as they walked in. I was actually a little surprised at so much law enforcement for this part of the country... I mean, the

biggest danger around here is getting tangled in the hair on the legs of the rafting women! LOL

From the cafe, I headed south on route 7, checking to make sure the laundromat and car wash are still where I remember them (for tomorrow morning) as I rounded the steep bend and climbed my way out of the deep valley that Jasper sits in. It was about fifteen minutes out of Jasper that I found the Buffalo Valley scenic turn out, and it was time to come to terms with the pent up feelings. I have a photograph of Buffalo at that scenic look out...it was vivid in my mind as I pulled into the gravel

parking lot. It was early and the shop there was closed and I was alone. And I wept, uncontrollably and unapologetically. I think I may go back and leave his ashes there. I have not decided yet...

I HAVE A PHOTO OF BUFFALO STANDING HERE.

I ran route 7 south to the "Rotary Ann" rest area just south of route 16. The rest area was created some time after 1940 when the road was formally put in. The "Rotary Anns" used to be a women's arm of the Rotary Club and they funded that rest area. While there, I studied the local area on the maps and decided to back track and run route 16 east and that turned out to be my best decision of the day!

A tight and twisty run of two lane black top, 16 goes from nowhere to nowhere and there was NO traffic on the road at all! I saw 3 cars, one service truck, three deer, one ground hog, one lizard, and one fox over a period of about two hours. It was one of the best rides I have enjoyed in awhile. And it made me feel my age! I didn't realize how long it had been since I had done some serious canyon carving and by the end of the day today, my arms and shoulders were feeling their age. But it felt good and

helped me lift myself out of the mental funk.

I was actually on a journey to find Push Mountain, and according to the directions on the old brochure I did, but I was unable to find the actual road that Buffalo fell in love with on our last trip. Apparently, it was not what's shown on the brochure, because I have a photo of Buffalo next to a sign that says NO SEMIs... I could not find that intersection where I took the picture. I was a little sad because that was where I seriously thought of spreading his ashes, on that road. I may see if I can find it again on Thursday.

Tomorrow is a reality check of laundry and bike washing after breakfast. Then I may go hiking some where. Not sure yet. It is going way too fast for me. I am not ready to say I am at peace or , well, quite frankly, ready to go home.

COTTER, ARKANSAS, FLY FISHING CAPITAL OF... WELL, SOMEWHERE...

By the way, during my ride today, the thought popped into my mind about the statement you hear often when one meets their demise while participating in a hobby or event that they considered fun or a hobby or "something they loved". And people always say "He [or she] died doing what they loved." I just want you all to know that if some truck crosses center line and takes me out on a curvy mountain road, that is
NOT how I want to go! I want to go to sleep one night and not wake up, I do NOT want to die doing what I love...it really seems rather gory and painful. Get it? Good.

~ Peace
            Bobbi