Blue Spring

I am a bit embarrassed by the thinness of news I have to report. This summer there will be no Baroque churches, no imposing snow-capped peaks, no delectable Austrian cuisine and no museums crammed with treasures to enthuse about. Yet, life is lovely here in the Ozarks. I count my blessings in being here in a country environment, doing what I love to do. The hours can be long, but the work is rewarding. I spend most of my time coaching "Little Women", a formidable piece even if one has done it before (as I have), and I have done a bit of work with "Figaro" and "Fledermaus" as well. Those lovely tunes from Strauss's masterpiece make me nostalgic for Graz and Austria.

Finally the storms and their attendant tornados have moved off, leaving us with cloudless skies and warm weather. Yesterday, Sunday morning, I explored the neighborhood a bit, hiking down a side road, just across from OIO, that goes down to Blue Spring. This is advertised as a historic site. The walk down was very pleasant, affording splendid views of the White River valley. Blue Spring is a natural spring that spews 38 million gallons (I have that fact memorized by now) of pure water into the river every day. It was a sacred site to the indigenous dwellers of the area. Later on, healing properties were ascribed to its waters, giving birth to the town of Eureka Springs as a kind of spa. With a convenient mill on the river the town also became the center of a logging industry.
The spring itself has been dammed and expanded into a wide pool surrounded by gardens. None of that was to be seen today as it is all underwater. The pic shows the swollen White River. The Blue Spring site has the inevitable gift shop, but also a small museum that offers a short video about the history of the area. I found that worthwhile. Otherwise, there wasn't a whole lot to see down there apart from water everywhere.