Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Mother Nature showed us here in St. Louis that we can still get some white stuff thrown at us now and then. Riding the scooter was definitely not an option yesterday so we did something second best. A walk through a winter wonderland out in Castlewood State Park. The pictures speak for the beauty we saw.




Pete took the picture below, it is probably one of the best scenic pictures I have ever seen. Hard to believe that is the muddy Meramec River! Fantastic shot, Pete!







Has a sign ever stopped me? I was a bit perplexed about this sign (see below) and why it was here, so I called and spoke to a Park Ranger this morning. He said that part of the trail has been "closed" since a flood in 1999 but that people keep pulling the signs down. He further related the flood in 99 caused so much erosion that the trail to the Cedar Bluff loop is now on Union Pacific right of way. If you have ever been through that area you know it is quite treacherous, I understand UP's position to cut their liability. To access the Cedar Bluff loop you must now enter through Sherman Beach which is actually a very nice trail. In the summer months the forest canopy is quite lovely. He said plans have been underway to repair the trail and get it off UP right of way but as we all know government projects do tend to move slowly! That is unless you are naming a Federal Court building after a Senator.