Unexpected Detours- Barker Hole, MO

There are times when we are out on the road and the truck is quiet. It isn't an uncomfortable silence filling the air, but an easy confidence that we are in the right place at just the right time. It's early morning and the dogs are already back to sleep. The windows are wide open to catch the cool breeze of a soon-to-be hot summer day. The landscape rolls by.

We aren't looking for a place to stop before we reach our next destination. We don't need to take a break to stretch our legs or let the dogs roam and sniff. But that's when it appears, that inconspicuous sign tucked behind a branch long overdue for a trim—Barker Hole.

Why not? We don't have anything pressing we need to do or places we have to get to right away. So we take a left and head down a blacktop road, which we eventually turn off of to veer down a dirt path leading towards the water. As the path reaches its end, we find ourselves looking at the upper waters of the White River. It's calm. The fog is floating over the water. The mugginess of the day is already setting in.

The beauty we can see over the water is enticing, but right away after getting out of the truck, we realize this isn't a place for the dogs to roam around. There is a lot of trash and random things lying on the ground that just might not be good for a dog to get into. So, unfortunately, we have to leave the dogs in the air-conditioned truck for a few minutes while we take a moment to absorb the view in front of us.

It's simple to relax into the stillness of the place, of the moment. One can't help but take a few deep breaths and grab a mental snapshot of the scene to save for later. Perhaps when life doesn't feel so beautiful and it takes a particular memory to reground ourselves.

And then it's time to move on. But first, a quick shot of a spider web lightly strung between some grasses. The intricate design is a work of art.

We hop back into the truck to very excited puppies, despite only being a few feet away for just a moment. The feeling of being so loved never gets old, and we promise them the next stop will be for everyone.

As we pull back out onto the main road, we catch a glimpse of a different view of the area. The colors have changed, and the area feels more swamp-like. Dead trees appear to rise out of the murky water. The bluish-gray sky is a contrast to the green of the leaves. It looks like a good place to bring a kayak and paddle around for a while, to explore. Perhaps a future backroads trip to write about...