There's just something deeply satisfying about a walk along a forest trail among golden falling leaves and hearing wind rustle through leaves!! That's exactly what Danny and I did this past weekend! We joined our good friends, Mike and Linda, for another RV trip in southeast Oklahoma.We arrived Friday afternoon and found that we had adjoining sites at Secluded Acres RV Park just north of Broken Bow, OK and across Highway 259 from Beaver Bend State Park. The sites were tree shaded and level..... always a great advantage when RVing! After setting up camp, the four of us drove through the state park to compare the RV sites and to see what fun activities were available for the weekend.
Linda prepared taco soup for dinner that evening, and then we sat around the camp fire catching up on news of our families.... We realized that the four of us have taken 5 vacations together... to Pensacola Beach, Washington D.C., a Caribbean Cruise, to Branson, and now to camp in Oklahoma. Hope there are lots more in store for us!
Saturday morning we drove to Talihina, OK, to begin our drive along the 54 mile long Talimena Trail, which ends in Mena, AR, thus the combined names to make up "Talimena". What beauty! There were 26 "Vistas" to see mountains and valleys! We stopped at most of them to take pictures and enjoy the views.
At one stop we took a 0.3 mile hike to find an outcropping that had gorgeous views (or so the brochure said)..... I was the one who insisted that we hike, so I was kidded quite a bit, when we never found the outcropping and lost the trail completely.... we looked pretty funny tromping though the woods! Glad we could hear traffic from the road.
Around 3:00 PM we came to Queen Wilhelmina State Park and Lodge. The view from this mountaintop lodge/restaurant was spectacular. 
We ate at the restaurant and then hiked to Lover's Leap. Below is Danny showing his romantic side and his "Undying Love" for me by carving our initials (along with many other couple's carvings) in the platform's railing.
The second half of the mile long trail was pretty rugged, but we huffed and puffed until we got back to the lodge.
Linda and Mike climbing over the boulders.
Here's a shot of me that Danny snapped on the trail. 
We discovered an old black and white police car once we reached the trail's end in Mena, AR.Sunday morning we drove to De Queen, AR, to worship with fellow Christians. It was an uplifting service and the members were very friendly. After services we ate at a great Mexican food at a local restaurant before heading back to our fifth wheels.... about 30 miles away. We passed the restaurant below and Danny thought the name "Dairy De Queen" was hilarious.... what do you think?
Sunday afternoon was filled with state park activities. There was a great wood carving/timber museum that gave us insight into how people of that area made a living and lived. Here are a few pictures of us enjoying the museum together.
This sign made me really appreciate God's gift of the tree.
Here's Danny learning about the timber company's community and the work that was accomplished by the CCC back during the depression.
Here's a sample of wood carving and wood working that I found especially amazing.
This 100 year old log cabin showed the way a family lived back then. Pretty meager and there were lots of daylight showing through the cracks in the walls and floor. We are a blessed people who now live in America!! Don't we look like pioneers?
Mike and Linda rested on a rustic bench while Danny actually sharpened his pocket knife on a grinding wheel that was on display.
Following the museum tour, the four of us went on our third hike of the weekend. The trail wandered beside a stream and through the woods. The falling leaves, huge rocks, a hollow tree, a covered bridge were so pretty, and it was refreshing and soothing to our spirits.
One of many beautiful trees on the trail.
The hollow tree we found.
Although this canoe trip wasn't Danny's favorite activity, I found it absolutely wonderful!! The bluffs along the river went straight up and the water was soooo still! The bluffs and trees were reflected in the river as though it were a mirror. 
As Danny was taking his life jacket off, he accidentally knocked his sunglasses into the river. The water was so clear and shallow that he was able to reach them.... YAY!
We drove to the dam to take a look at Broken Bow Lake. Here'sa picture of the lake to show you how beautiful and peaceful this area is.
Broken Bow Lake
Here's a photo of Danny and Mike getting our fifth wheel unhooked and ready for the trip home. We took off around 10:00 AM on Monday morning and arrived home by mid-afternoon.
Sunday afternoon was filled with state park activities. There was a great wood carving/timber museum that gave us insight into how people of that area made a living and lived. Here are a few pictures of us enjoying the museum together.
This sign made me really appreciate God's gift of the tree.
Here's Danny learning about the timber company's community and the work that was accomplished by the CCC back during the depression.
Here's a sample of wood carving and wood working that I found especially amazing.
This 100 year old log cabin showed the way a family lived back then. Pretty meager and there were lots of daylight showing through the cracks in the walls and floor. We are a blessed people who now live in America!! Don't we look like pioneers?
Mike and Linda rested on a rustic bench while Danny actually sharpened his pocket knife on a grinding wheel that was on display.
Following the museum tour, the four of us went on our third hike of the weekend. The trail wandered beside a stream and through the woods. The falling leaves, huge rocks, a hollow tree, a covered bridge were so pretty, and it was refreshing and soothing to our spirits.
One of many beautiful trees on the trail.
The hollow tree we found.
Although this canoe trip wasn't Danny's favorite activity, I found it absolutely wonderful!! The bluffs along the river went straight up and the water was soooo still! The bluffs and trees were reflected in the river as though it were a mirror.
I wasn't much help in guiding or paddling the canoe, and Danny was concerned that we would capsize. The water wasn't deep at all.... in fact there were lots of huge boulders just under the surface. We saw a few people fishing, but don't think they caught anything.
As Danny was taking his life jacket off, he accidentally knocked his sunglasses into the river. The water was so clear and shallow that he was able to reach them.... YAY!
We drove to the dam to take a look at Broken Bow Lake. Here'sa picture of the lake to show you how beautiful and peaceful this area is.
Broken Bow Lake
By this time, it was late afternoon, so we headed for the RV park. Danny grilled some great hamburgers and hot dogs for our supper. We ended the day talking around another camp fire and heard a coyote in the distance.
Great, Great weekend! What beautiful weather we had! Thank you, Linda and Mike, for planning this trip for us! Let's make it an annual event!
Here's a photo of Danny and Mike getting our fifth wheel unhooked and ready for the trip home. We took off around 10:00 AM on Monday morning and arrived home by mid-afternoon.
Until our next trip, God's blessings to you.
