We stopped in Chouteau at the Amish Cheese House. They sell spices, candy, jellies, honey, canned goods, cheese, meats, etc. etc. It was very neat. We bought several things, and had lunch there...sandwiches on homemade bread with homemade (I think?) cheese. It was so delicious.
I wish I had a picture of our lunch. Delish.
From there, we continued east. We were on Highway 412. A few miles from Chouteau, 412 splits into turnpike and 412 Scenic Route. They run parallel to each other and join back up 30 miles later or so. So...Google maps told us to take the turnpike, but looking at our map, we're thinking that the scenic route is probably going to get us to the right place too, and hey, we're on an adventure, right?
According to Wikipedia, Scenic US-412 is one of only two scenic special routes in the country...the other is in Maryland. I don't really know what that means, but I believe it. I believe that there is no other place in the country quite like that 30 mile stretch. OK, maybe I'm being a little bit dramatic about that, but seriously, Caleb and I kept seeing things that just made us go, "Really??? Did you just see that?" For example.
Vacuum cleaners perched atop fence posts.
Pecan Grove Family Mobile Home Park.
We could've taken pictures about a dozen more oddities we saw along this road, but then we never would have gotten to....
Natural Falls State Park! Home of a 77-foot waterfall, accessible by a 3/4 mile hike through the woods. Fab.u.lous. Pretty much my idea of a perfect Saturday.
Stream below the waterfall.
The water was so pretty. Like, a dark blue-green, and pretty clear, actually.
Small waterfall along the stream.
<3
The big, tall, pretty part of the waterfall.
Looking down at the bottom of the waterfall, from the top.
It was a very happy day. Oh, I forgot. While in Choteau (since this is the 3rd time I've written that name in this post, this is also the 3rd time in like 15 minutes that I've had to double check how to spell that name!!), we also stopped in this little...I guess you'd call it a flea market, but it was better than any flea market I've been to. Maybe all of the flea markets I've been to were just really picked over. There were tons of treasures in this place. Amazing. Came home with these antique blocks for my momma...
...If I can bring myself to give them up, that is! They are so cute.
Here are the goodies we brought home from the Amish store. Raspberry, peach, and apricot jams, noodles, pecan crunch (like peanut brittle), peach cider, jerky, dried parsley, poppyseeds, cream of tartar, cinnamon vanilla nut cappuccino, lemon cheesecake spread mix, cinnamon rolls, and cinnamon bread. Mmmm Mmmm.
And, last, I also came home with these silly things from that flea market place. Yellow cowboy boots? I think I've been in Oklahoma too long. :)
2 comments:
I LOVE YOU, and I loved your post! Looks like you had a fabulous day. Wish we could've been there to enjoy it with you--can you imagine how muhc fun the kids would have had on that trip? I don't think I'd ever find a place like that to explore, but HOW FUN!! Miss you so much--I saw someone at the rec today who looked so much like you--I just kept staring at her and missing you and Caleb! When can we hang out again???
Sounds like so much fun - my idea of a perfect day, as well!
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