RUN THE ROCK EXPEDITION!

Just making it to the area where the race was to begin, was enough of an accomplishment for me to cause me to raise my hands in gratitude!  I live about three hours away from where the race was held, so that meant traveling to the area the night before, and staying in a motel.  (The event has to start very early in the morning, so that the course can be cleared in time for the regularly scheduled Lost Canyon Cave Tours, via golf carts, to proceed.)  I had driven to Top of the Rock about one month prior, in order to scope out the gated entrance to the expansive property.  I knew there was a normally a  fee for non-hotel guests to go through the gates, so I had contacted the race officials (fitness@basspro.com) in advance to ask if I still paid the gate fee, since I was a race participant.  I was told there would not be a fee for me to enter, and that volunteers would be at the entrance, to assure my admission onto the campus.  When I turned into the entrance area, it was completely dark, and instead of me going through the gated entrance, there was a person holding a flashlight, directing me to turn right, BEFORE the entrance gate.  So I followed several other cars down a dark road into, what seemed like a black hole, and kept going in the direction of people waving flashlights, until there were no cars in front of me, as they had all pulled off to park.  So, I too, pulled off to park, in what appeared to be an unpaved field, and got out of my car.  Still with no clue as to where I was, I followed a couple in front of me farther into the darkness, and asked if they knew where the registration packet pick up was supposed to be.  They said they did not know either, so I started walking in the darkness with them, in a direction where we heard voices. 

After walking a long ways in the darkness, we saw a line of people and joined in their line.  I asked one of them if this was the late packet pickup line, and they said, they did not know, but hoped that it was! This pre-dawn experience was referred to "late packet pick up", because registrants were told to pick up their packets on Thursday, before the Saturday race.  However, that would have involved a two-night motel stay for me, so that is why I opted to pick up my packet on the morning of the race. 

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When it was my turn to be at the computer checkin, I was delighted that they actually had my name on their list, and they gave me my race "bib", which had my number on it and the size teeshirt I had requested.  The race director, who I was introduced to later as Melissa Bondy, pointed me to farther down the table to receive my tee shirt, vinyl Bass Pro bag, and safety pins to affix my race number to my teeshirt. 

The gals giving out the bags and teeshirts assured me safety pins were inside the bags, but having once been in a 5K that ran out of safety pins, I did not leave the area, until I was sure I had what I needed.  The shirts for the three mile were lilac, and the shirts for the six mile event were blue.  The photo also shows the Bass Pro bags each registrant was given.  With it still being dark, and still being completely disoriented as to where I was, I followed a group of people who said they were going in the direction of the starting line. ( I did not want to use up my energy walking the long way back into "GOK"-where to try to find where I had parked my car, to put my bag into my car, so I had assumed I would be carrying that bag all during the 3-mile event.)

So, when I found the starting line, I took a few photos, then proceeded to find a rock to sit on to wait for the event to begin.  (That is the photo you see that introduces this blog)  After it got to be daylight, I spotted Brooke, who had been introduced as the social media guru for the Bass Pro Fitness Series, and I asked if I could get her photo. 

She proceeded to take my photo, and told me to be sure my race  number was showing for the photo.  I did not realize it at the time, but the computer timing chip was affixed to the back of the race bib.  For the 5K events I have participated in before this time, we were given the computer timing chips in our race packet, which we then affixed by tying them onto our shoes.  Then we were asked to remove the chips from our shoes after the event, and turn them back into the race officials.  

The runners in the 6 mile part of the event were scheduled to start at 7 am, whereas the runners in the 3 mile part were scheduled for 7:15 am.  The photo below shows the 6 milers lining up, with the sun just barely peeping over the mountain tops.  All of the pre-race information had alerted the participants that the course was VERY hilly, steep, and wet in parts, so they should not be expecting any outstanding "speed" times.  Rather, the emphasis was on enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Even though this was not a "qualifier race" for something like the Boston Marathon, the professional timers were there with their specialized equipment that records each participants time as they cross the activated equipment at the beginning and the end of the race.  We were told in advance that everyone had to be off the course in ninety minutes, so the afore-mentioned tourist golf cart tours could begin. 

The photo below was on Facebook page of the Bass Pro Fitness Series.  I found myself in the photo---the one in the yellow, long sleeved jacket.  (I had realized that I could flatten the Bass Pro bag I had been given at the start of the race, and stick it in the back of my tights, so I could have a "hands free" walk along the course.)  

Notice this gentleman carrying a youngster in a backpack, had also flattened his Bass Pro bag, and put it away, behind his 33 race number.  I was huffing and puffing going up this long hill, so I had great admiration for this man carrying so much additional poundage on his back, as he also walked up the hill!

When you go up a hill in the Ozarks, you can be sure that you will eventually be going down, and this hill was so steep, it needed a warning sign!

The race director told us when she was greeting the crowd before the event started, that heavy rains had washed out the paved golf cart road along part of the course, so we would be crossing gravel terrain for a bit, so I was not surprised when the pavement ended. 

However, what DID surprise me, was making my way down an improvised path in the woods, to reach the lower level of the gravel road.  I am guessing that this mother, who had been pushing a child in a stroller for the 3 mile event, did not know an off-trail passage was part of the deal!  Fortunately, several volunteers and other walkers, assisted her in carrying the stroller down to the next level. 

Top of the Rock started a "Nature at Night" golf cart tour last year, that expands the operating hours of the golf cart tour through the Lost Cave Canyon.   To enhance the experience, they have added some sculptures to the course, that are quite dramatic, when lighted at night.  The bird in flight (shown below) is one of those features. 

The space across the canyon is made accessible, first by a trail that leads down to a switchback, that will take one to the entrance of the bridge over the canyon.

Photo below shows runners exiting the Amish-built covered bridge.  (If you visit www.BigCedar.com , you can learn about additional Amish-built structures within their nature preserve)

Below a walker is approaching the entrance to the cave, that sits at the bottom of Lost Canyon.  The volunteer standing at the door is alerting the man to slow down to let his eyes adjust to the darkness, and let his feet get prepared for the slick, wet surface he will be going over. 

This is the photo of the four-story tall waterfall inside the cave.   The entire acreage is a part of the Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve.  It is a privately-owned operation by Johnny Morris, that is open to the public, and has an entrance fee. 

The blue lighting makes for a romantic moment for this couple to enjoy, as they pause for a selfie photo at the waterfall. 

I was told one cannot get lost inside this cave, so I kept putting one foot carefully in front of the other, in the dimly lit space, until I could see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel"!

When folks exited the cave, there were volunteers there to provide some water for hydration.  I had not been carrying a water bottle, so I was ready to take them up on their offer!

One of the incredibly scenic areas along the course is called Horseshoe Falls, and it has two different steel bridges spanning its sides, above some gushing waterfalls. 

Bass Pro retail shops are famous for having dozens of deer mounts scattered throughout their retail space, so possibly it is a Johnny Morris requirement, that there is a tribute to this antlered creature.  The one at Lost Canyon Cave Trail is humongous, and abides in front of the waterfall, with its legs hiked up, as though it has just landed from a steep jump.  I have seen photos of what it looks like when it is fully lighted at night, and it presents a very stunning scene! ( see www.explorebranson.com for more information)

There is a constant flow of water onto the pavement at this point, so a portable metal bridge provides a safer alternative to those who do not want to wade through the water. 

The photo below of a girl inside the covered bridge, gives you a good look at the carefully-engineered beams that make up the structure.  As you can see there are lights that line its trusses, so this must look like a tunnel of "X" lights on the nighttime tour.  (By the way, if you search on You Tube, there are videos that visitors have taken of the night tour, as they rode through on their golf carts, enabling you to have a preview of the experience.) 

Can you see the figure below of a lady passing in front of the waterfall?  That provides some dimension/scale to how gigantic this canine is, depicted howling at the moon (represented by globe on the hillside).  Again, this would be much more dramatic when it is lit up at night, and the globe does indeed, look like the moon. 

There was an official race photographer stationed near the last waterfall; and, since most of the other participants had passed this point much earlier, he had time to take a photo of my happy heart gesture with my cell phone. 

At the beginning of the race, the director encouraged the runners to take the time to walk out onto the overlook, although it was not a requirement for getting in the required mileage.   Of course, I was curious to see what I could view at the end of the overlook, and wanted to get a photo of the "bird" that guarded its entrance.  The poles in front of the walkway overlook, indicate one is NOT supposed to drive their golf cart onto the overlook. 

The Top of the Rock Nature Preserve is located adjacent to Table Rock Lake, near Ridgedale, Missouri.  Seeing this feature of stones along the trail, that looked liked table tops stacked on top of each other, it is easy to see where the name "Table Rock" originates!

This is a photo of me, holding the sign, indicating I had finished the event.  It was a photo I saw in September of 2023 on social media, of a runner holding the same sign, that first alerted me to a fitness event that takes place within a few miles of Branson, Missouri, and just a few hours of where I live; and, it motivated me to strive toward getting in better shape physically.    Perhaps this photo will also motivate someone, to start a training regime that will enable them to participate in the 2025 Run the Rock!  (More details of my training regime the last year is provided in blog dated, September 7, 2024, entitled "Grace for the Race Expedition")

The entrance sign at Top of the Rock is beside a bronze statue of a Native American lifting up a buffalo skull.  It can symbolize many things, one of them being an offering of thanksgiving for the resources the  buffalo provided to the Native American tribes.  It can also represent the resilience and survival of the Native American tribes.  Leviticus 7:30 also talks about holding one's sacrifice in your hands and lifting it up as a special gift to the LORD.  The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is another example.  Romans 12:1 says in part, "....in view of God's mercy, offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God---this is your true and proper worship."  When one sacrifices their own comfort and desires, so they can make their body more fit to serve God, it is an act of worship.  When that is the motivation for my commitment to keep active, it gives me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia

FINLEY FARMS EXPEDITION!

There is a "new attraction" in Ozark, Missouri, along the Finley River, that is based on a very "old attraction" along the Finley River, that has been around since 1833!  It is called The Ozark Mill, and is surrounded by an urban farm, called Finley Farms.  There are no Las Vegas-style flashing neon lights indicating its location, just these massive vintage storage tanks, that mark its entrance.

 One of the first things you see as you drive onto the property,  is the shed called the Farmers Market, and it is scheduled to open May 5. 

The inside appearance of the farmers market  resembles numerous other structures in the Ozarks,  that have the look of weathered oak lumber.  The farmers market will operate each Thursday, May through September.  Flowers, plants and produce from the farm will be sold at the farmers market, as the growing season progresses.

Adjacent to the Farmers Market building is the Workshop.  I read this used to be a garage. 

There is a coffee bar inside the workshop that sells a variety of treats:

The tables inside the workshop with the live plants down the center, are a reminder to say that they offer classes in how to start plants from seeds and cuttings, inside this workshop space.  They carry everything you need to "plant your heart out"!  We saw tools and terracotta, starter seed kits, seed markers, and gardening books galore!

One whole side of the Workshop has overhead-garage type doors that open up to enjoy the fresh air whenever weather permits:

There is an outdoor patio adjacent to the Workshop, that also has a live plant area:

In addition, the outdoor patio also has a fire pit and stage area:

When you see the numerous rows of crops spread out across the acreage, along with the green houses, you will understand why the word "farm" is included in their name!!

Picnic tables and playground equipment are also adjacent to the workshop.

After visiting the workshop, our group strolled over to the restaurant location, so we could be there when they opened up at 11 am.  This gave us the opportunity to get an overall view of the restored mill from the front, and envision what a huge endeavor it was to move such a large structure!  Johnny Morris has owned the Ozark Mill for more than 25 years, but did not develop it because multiple floods had washed away the underside of the mill's foundation.  However, after decades of deliberation, he hired a construction company that picked up the entire 30,000 square foot building and delicately moved it to the parking lot.  The washed-out foundation was replaced with a structurally sound basement, and the building was moved back to the river, and placed on top of the new foundation. 

Once the doors opened, and we checked in with the hostess, we used the time they were getting our table ready, to check out the gift shop, and other parts of the building: I took the photo below of the main dining area, before any guests had been seated.  Since one entire wall is windows, all the diners can look out over the Finley River, and see the waterfall below the old mill pond:

The location of the Ozark Mill restaurant, is in an area near where the historic Riverside Inn used to be.  The Riverside Inn was finally torn down, after repeatedly being flooded.  Just before it was torn down, I was able to go inside and see all the wall murals painted by the original builder, Howard Garrison.    

Unlike many waterpowered mills that used a vertical waterwheel, the Ozark Mill was powered by a horizontal waterwheel.  Regarding the mill renovation project, Johnny Morris is quoted as saying,  "This is a very special project to me and my family.  We have deep family ties to this town, the rivers of this area and to the milling industry.  My grandfather Willie was a miller in Willard  Many years ago, my parents lived on the Finley River millpond in the early 1940's, and my family was proud to call Ozark home for a while."

Traditionally, mills were the place for the folks who lived in the area, to gather and visit, while their grain was milled into flour or cornmeal, back in the olden days.  The spacious retail area of the mill will allow this tradition to continue, as there are game tables, wall dart boards, and lounging chairs spread across the space. 

In today's high tech world, the visiting that goes on within the mill can be shared with your friends across the planet, as their is free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

The staff of the mill restaurant was friendly and helpful, even taking a photo of our group together on the bench in the waiting area.  Note the date on the boards reads 1833, and that relates to the fact that there has been a mill at this location since 1833!  If only these walls could talk---imagine the tall tales they would tell!

Our group wanted to get to the restaurant as soon as they opened, so we could all have a table together.  When I phoned about making a group reservation, the operator told me they do not take reservations, but if our group got there when they opened at ll am, they could get quickly get a table ready for a large group such as ours.  They seated us in a prime location, with a view of the river and millpond out the windows. 

Outdoor seating options are also available for dining:

 

 

About an hour after the restaurant opened, every single table on this outdoor deck was filled with diners enjoying a sunny day in the Ozarks!

The photo below shows the newly-restored basement level of the mill property.  It is being made into a "speakeasy".  The speakeasy will be called the Garrison, named for Howard Garrison, of the old Riverside Inn.  This relates to the legends that say, during Prohibition, Garrison had several run-ins with the law, for offering bootleg liquor and illegal gambling. 

Once we finished lunch, we strolled across this historic bridge, which used to be adjacent to the Riverside Inn.  Locals called it the Riverside Bridge. 

The bridge was originally a railroad bridge built in 1909.  It carried the Frisco Railroad's Chadwick Flyer passenger/freight train across the Finley River. 

When the bridge was severely damaged in the flood of 2015, it was scheduled for demolition.  Instead, Morris bought the old bridge and had it moved to Finley Farms next to the mill. 

Some tourists who were also visiting the property for the first time, agreed to take a group photo of us:

The bridge is open for visitors to use, unless there it has been rented for a private event.  The bridge leads to a spacious outdoor venue across the river from the Ozark Mill Restaurant.
That area has an open air chapel, which is available for weddings and other festive celebrations, and has a great view of the river:

The rafters, trusses, and lofty ceiling, have the aged look of an old barn made from oak, that one might see in the Ozarks.  Even though our group arrived at the chapel via walking the bridge across the river, there is also access to the chapel via automobile, using the adjacent street.

There is a gothic-style metal archway, that provides the perfect frame, for a view of the millpond waterfall and Finley River.  I can only imagine how this view would be enhanced, when that arch is covered in colorful, fresh flowers, for a wedding celebration!

I am using this visit to Finley Farms as the visual aid to help me learn one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses, because the verse starts with three words that seem to be the mantra of conservationist, Johnny Morris---the words are "Let us fix...".  For example, Let us fix  a small fishing lures area of a Brown Derby store,  into the nation's largest outdoor supplier, called Brass Pro Shop; Let us fix an old stone house, into Big Cedar Lodge; Let us fix a rugged undeveloped hillside, into Dogwood Canyon;  Let us fix a burned down golf course restaurant, into Top of the Rock five-star dining destination;  Let us fix a vacant glass pyramid on the Mississippi River, into a Bass Pro Shop with a hotel and bowling alley; Let us fix an old Ozark grain mill and historic bridge, into a restaurant,  and educational farm on the Finley River; Let us fix an unexpected sinkhole developing on a golf course, into a major tourist attraction; Let us fix an abandoned wildlife museum in Springfield, Missouri (which was vacant from 2007-2017) to the nation's top new attraction for the year it opened, (called "Wonders of Wildlife"), and his current project---Let us fix an  abandoned amusement park in Newton County, Arkansas, (Dogpatch, USA),  into a major rural tourist destination, for travelers wanting to experience the beauty of the Ozarks.  LET US FIX, indeed!

The Bible verse I speak of, is from Hebrews 12:2 and says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  

I want to extend a big THANK YOU to Johnny Morris and team, for the conservation and preservation work, they have done, and are doing, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas.  Your efforts and your "Let us fix" attitude, are appreciated!

If you would like to plan your trip to the lovely Finley Farms destination, you can visit their website at www.FinleyFarmsMO.com  The expedition I had to Finley Farms,  with a great group of friends, gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia