Ever since you saw my post earlier this week about life in Missouri being good, you’ve had trouble sleeping. You’ve tossed and turned in anticipation, wondering what this small town girl’s up to in her free time.

You’ve been reprimanded by your supervisor for compulsively checking A Small [...]]]> You’ve probably been dying to read about my new hobby.

Ever since you saw my post earlier this week about life in Missouri being good, you’ve had trouble sleeping. You’ve tossed and turned in anticipation, wondering what this small town girl’s up to in her free time.

You’ve been reprimanded by your supervisor for compulsively checking A Small Town Girl’s Guide during the work day. You try to explain to them how big of a deal Small Town Girl’s new hobby announcement is, and they just won’t listen. You feel misunderstood. You feel all alone in the small town world you’ve found yourself sucked into. I know. And it’s alright.

Small Town Girl’s pull is magnetic, and the cliff-hanger (pun intended) in that last post was just too much. You need to know what my new hobby is. That new hobby, my internet-stalking, blog-reading friend, is rock climbing.

I’ve started climbing with some frequency, and while I’m still not very good at it, I’m gaining focus and determination through climbing (and through running) that carries over into my work, my relationships, and my perspectives on small town life.

I’ll be leaving this weekend for a hard-earned vacation to a city I’ve wanted to see for years. Any guesses as to which city I’m visiting? I’ll give you a hint; I’ll have the opportunity to practice my new hobby when I arrive there.

Here are a couple of photos of my vacation destination, and the mountains we’ll be hiking, climbing and camping in while we’re there. I’d always admired climbers, but never thought I’ve have the strength and skill to be one. Luckily, life in small town Missouri allows me the resources to try new hobbies like this one. Here’s to hoping our climbing goes well next week.

This morning I ran a 5K race in Festus, Missouri sponsored by an organization called Get Fit Festus. Festus is a town of just under 10,000 people. It’s located roughly an  hour south of St. Louis in Jefferson County on Interstate 55.

The Get Fit Festus race itself was enjoyable, despite incredible heat and humidity (even at [...]]]>

This morning I ran a 5K race in Festus, Missouri sponsored by an organization called Get Fit Festus. Festus is a town of just under 10,000 people. It’s located roughly an  hour south of St. Louis in Jefferson County on Interstate 55.

The Get Fit Festus race itself was enjoyable, despite incredible heat and humidity (even at 8 a.m.). Held in West City Park, the race drew approximately 75 runners of varying fitness levels. Get Fit Festus is all about helping individuals become healthier and more active, so walkers, joggers and runners were all welcomed equally.

The race course was easy – mostly flat with one short hill – and included three laps around the park. The Festus Family YMCA, the Jefferson County Health Department and Jefferson Memorial Hospital partnered to present the race.

I expected to blog about the race itself, but as I learned more about Get Fit Festus, I realized that it’s the organization, not just the race, that’s notable. Get Fit Festus is a community movement that’s helping individuals learn more about health, nutrition and fitness and build activity into their lifestyles.

One of the most exciting things I’ve heard about lately in small town Missouri is the Complete Streets program that was officially adopted this week in Festus.

Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to move safely along and across a complete street.

How fantastic! When I left New York City, I was afraid of moving to the Midwest, where “everyone” drove their cars “everywhere” and “no” infrastructure existed for other forms of transportation. If I’m from here and I thought Missouri was that backwards, I can only imagine what people who’ve never even been in small town Missouri must think of us.

Huge kudos for the people of Festus who’ve come together to advocate for Complete Streets, and the group of individuals who’ve taken on Git Fit Festus. It’s folks like you who make me proud of our state and its small towns. Thank you for thinking differently and acting accordingly. You make our small towns something to write about.

Learn more about Get Fit Festus visiting its website, and learn more about Complete Streets here.

Two weeks ago I set out to hike the Ozark Trail from Onondaga Cave State Park to the Narrows Trail Head. This section of the Courtois (pronounced code-a-way) Section of the Ozark Trail is considered mile 0-7.6, and fair warning: it involves a “creek” crossing that’s more like a river expedition. For the full [...]]]>

Crossing the Courtois

Two weeks ago I set out to hike the Ozark Trail from Onondaga Cave State Park to the Narrows Trail Head. This section of the Courtois (pronounced code-a-way) Section of the Ozark Trail is considered mile 0-7.6, and fair warning: it involves a “creek” crossing that’s more like a river expedition. For the full story, you should pick up the April issue of River Hills Traveler, but the short story is this: The Courtois Creek is not just a creek – it’s a large creek. It’s a creek that, on a map, looks roughly the same width as the Meremac River.

I can imagine that crossing the Courtois in the heat of Missouri summer would have felt great…refreshing…awesome. Crossing the creek in early March on a 40-degree day was chilly…bitter…freezing. The first five miles or so of the hike – from Onondaga Cave State Park to the Courtois Creek – wasn’t bad. The highest elevation was approximately 900 feet, and much of the trail was wide and gravel-covered. There were some fun rock formations and cliffs, and even a few small springs and caves. There’s a beautiful pine glade several miles into the hike that would make a lovely picnic spot, but beware that in the late summer months, there are also spiders as big as your head. *** I estimate that I’ve now hiked somewhere around 45 miles of the Ozark Trail’s 350 total miles. Fore more posts about my Ozark Trail adventures, see my Ozark Trail page. For longer, print stories on my Ozark Trail expeditions, pick up the February or April issues of River Hills Traveler.

If small town life were like the Girl Scouts, this small town girl would be boasting a Jeepin’ badge after [...]]]> A small town man who drives a great big Jeep has recently made repeat appearances in the life of this small town girl, and there’s little that’s more authentically Small Town Missouri than off-roading in jacked-up trucks.

If small town life were like the Girl Scouts, this small town girl would be boasting a Jeepin’ badge after her adventures last weekend with said small town man in his big yellow Jeep.

4WD, photo by smalltowngirl

What started out as a scenic drive down county roads turned into a drive straight down this steep, snowy hill and onto an embankment in the middle of the lake, below.

The white that you see in the picture below is ice on the lake, not snow on the ground.

On the Lake, photo by smalltowngirl

The lake was only the beginning of the adventure. My pictures may not do justice to the jaunts we took into the woods, where small town man called “roads” things that looked to me like narrow walking paths.

Tree limbs scraped down the sides of the Jeep’s body and across its soft top as we eased our way through the trees.

"My iPhone says there's a road here", photo by smalltowngirl

As we tried to find our way out of the woods, the small town man used the GPS on his iPhone to lead the way while this small town girl used her small town country girl instinct.

“My iPhone says that Highway C is straight ahead,” said the small town man.

Moments later, the small town couple came to a locked gate and a “No Trespassing” sign, and this girl teased the small town man relentlessly as she munched the deer sausage and cheese her small town, deer-huntin’ dad had shared with them.

A Small Town Snack, photo by smalltowngirl

The grit and the bright lights of New York City are still in this small town girl’s heart, but days like this one are like an anthropological expedition into this small town girl’s roots in Small Town Missouri.

There’s a time for high heels and sushi, and there’s a time for deer sausage and Jeepin’. Thank goodness there have been enough days in this small town girl’s life to experience some of both.

St. Francois State Park was a pleasant surprise. This park sits directly on US Highway 67 north of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and I’ve driven past it countless times through the years without ever visiting it. The park boasts four trails ranging in length from .5-mile (Missouri Trail) to 11-miles [...]]]>

Starburst - (Not Photoshopped), photo by smalltowngirl

St. Francois State Park was a pleasant surprise. This park sits directly on US Highway 67 north of Bonne Terre, Missouri, and I’ve driven past it countless times through the years without ever visiting it. The park boasts four trails ranging in length from .5-mile (Missouri Trail) to 11-miles (Pike Run Trail).

Frozen, photo by smalltowngirl

The first hike we took was along the Mooner’s Hollow Trail, a 2.7-mile loop that though judged moderate in difficulty on the MO State Parks website, seemed to me to be easy-to-moderate. There weren’t many steep inclines, and there weren’t many roots or larger rocks along the trail.

Rushing Water, photo by smalltowngirl

Much of the trail followed a dry creek bed, so I anticipate that this trail may be best hiked during dryer months. Mooner’s Hollow Trail follows Coonville Creek in the Coonville Creek Natural Area.

Missouri Hills, photo by smalltowngirl

St. Francois State Park is one of 83 State Parks in the state of Missouri. The park boasts more than 2,700 acres of land, and welcomes hikers, horseback riding, fishing, camping, picnicking and swimming. There are shower houses and out buildings in the park. The park currently opens at 8 am and closes at 6 pm.

The

I sipped a Bud Light Wheat; a fire burned in the woodstove; and antelope, bear, [...]]]> I was invited to join my parents at a fish fry in Coffman, Missouri in another family’s large shed/garage/barn.  Inside the barn, we listened to the men recount the day’s deer hunting adventures while we ate fried blue gill, potatoes and macaroni & cheese.

I sipped a Bud Light Wheat; a fire burned in the woodstove; and antelope, bear, deer, and a coyote hung mounted on the walls around us. This fish fry was everything that’s perfect and amazing about rural Missouri life.

My dad’s hunting stories were the center of the evening’s attention. With the help of two other men, he brought home a 10-point buck, but not before he found himself with several gashes across his nose and forehead, and blood smeared across his shirt. The stories of how dad’s nose became cut and bloody grew more boisterous as the night progressed.

As I understand it, my dad was convinced he could use his 1985 three-wheeler to retrieve the deer’s body from a steep, boulder-filled ravine. As he tried to get the three-wheeler up the ravine with the deer tied to the back, the front wheel repeatedly came off the ground. Distracted by trying to keep the front wheel on the ground, my dad was slapped across the face by a bramble bush.

So now my dad looks darned tough with his bloody slashes, and his deer is gonna look awesome on the wall.  I have to admit though that the vision of my dad riding his Honda up the hill in a pop-wheelie has left me smiling all weekend long.

Dad's 10-Pointer, photo by smalltowngirl

I spent my Sunday tooling around South County St. Louis in a convertible, taking in the sunshine and enjoying good company. After a great omelet and coffee and First Watch, we headed to Bee Tree Park to get some exercise.

The park sits along the Mississippi River and has concrete and gravel trails [...]]]>

Bee Tree Park 1, photo by smalltowngirl

I spent my Sunday tooling around South County St. Louis in a convertible, taking in the sunshine and enjoying good company. After a great omelet and coffee and First Watch, we headed to Bee Tree Park to get some exercise.

The park sits along the Mississippi River and has concrete and gravel trails for walking, jogging or biking.

Bee Tree Park, photo by smalltowngirl

We stood on the Chubb Memorial Overlook, gazing out at the slow but powerful river, and my mind wandered to my good friend Matt, who’s older brother Mike kayaked the Mississippi River from beginning to end. Mike was killed very recently in Afghanistan. His memorial service was Friday, and his family had been on  my mind all weekend. Standing over the Mississippi put me in awe that Mike had kayaked the entire thing alone.

Mississippi River, photo by smalltowngirl

Mississippi, photo by smalltowngirl

We continued walking down trails through the woods before venturing onto the “fish trail”, which circled a seven-acre lake. The park was filled with families walking dogs, fishing, riding bikes and picnicking.

Bee Tree is the first St. Louis County Park I’ve spent any time in, and I was impressed both by the park itself and by the number of people using the park on this gorgeous Sunday afternoon.

Lake, photo by smalltowngirl

***

For more about Bee Tree Park, visit the St. Louis County Website.

Although I’d like to write an entire blog on the section of trail that I hiked, for now I’d like to show you some of the arachinids who were hanging out on their webs across my trail.

Itsy Bitsy Spider, photo [...]]]> Yesterday, I took a long hike on the Ozark Trail’s longest section, the Courtois (pronounced “Code-a-way”).

Although I’d like to write an entire blog on the section of trail that I hiked, for now I’d like to show you some of the arachinids who were hanging out on their webs across my trail.

Itsy Bitsy Spider, photo by smalltowngirl

I don’t know what I was thinking hiking in August, but my hike was hot, humid, and spider-infested.

A few hundred feet into the trail, the spiderwebs started to become problematic. Over and over again, I felt their sticky threads wrap around my arms, legs, or face, and found myself swatting at the air like a maniac, trying to get the webs off of my skin.

I picked up a long, thin stick, which I carried like a sword in front of my body, trying to knock spiderwebs down.  Along I plodded, slicing my stick-sword through the air, a full-blown war waged between myself and these eight-legged creepy crawlers.

This gigantic spider, with a body well larger than my thumb, was intimidating. I didn’t want to make him mad at me, so I left his web intact and asked him to please not bother me as I deftly snuck beneath his web.

Big spider, photo by smalltowngirl

Spiders were everywhere. To say I saw hundreds of them is not an exaggeration. I saw red ones, black ones and gray ones; big ones little ones and itsy bitsy ones.

For good measure, I took a few shots of some daddy long legs, hanging upside down in a cave.  Daddy long legs are arachnids, although they aren’t techinically spiders. I thought this last shot rounded out my spider photo collection nicely.

long legs, photo by smalltowngirl

The landscape in the St. Louis area is generally flatter than it is even sixty or seventy miles further south, making this Southeast Missouri girl [...]]]> Yesterday, I went for a hike in St. Charles County, Missouri. I usually hike in Washington, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, so hiking futher north was a fun change of pace.

The landscape in the St. Louis area is generally flatter than it is even sixty or seventy miles further south, making this Southeast Missouri girl qualify this “hike” as a scenic walk in the woods.

There were a few hills and rocky places, but for the most part, the trail was flat and even. Much of the nine miles of trail is lined with gravel and clear of overgrowth. Other segments of the trail are covered in thick, low-lying weeds, though, so be sure and use tick repellant if you plan to walk this trail.

This would be a great trail for walking dogs, or for exercise if you live in the St. Charles area. Much of the trail would even be nice for trail running. Based on my experience researching the trail and hiking it yesterday, it seems that Lost Valley is geared (haha, I crack myself up) primarily for mountain biking.

Photo credit: Gateway Off-Road Cyclists

The Lost Valley Trail is a 9-mile hiking and mountain biking loop inside Weldon Springs Conservation Area on Route 94, south of US 40/I-64.

The parking lot and trail head are easy to miss. Use the St. Charles County Police Training Area as your point of reference; the Lost Valley Trail is the next turn-off on the right.

For more information on Lost Valley and other St. Louis area mountain biking trails, visit Gateway Off-Road Cyclists.