Not quite a native Ripley Countian - she attended only her last year of high school in Doniphan though she taught in the R-1 system for 32 years - Teresa (Pearson) Lee delights in surprising readers and herself with anecdotal observations of life in general. Maybe you can blame her St.Louis roots for a quirky humor and some slightly-askewed opinions, but never doubt she writes from the heart.

Frolicking Duo

Posted Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 11:08 AM

Float Camp Day Use is close to town yet in the midst of Mark Twain National Forest and on the banks of Current River. Perfect picnic spot! Or reading/writing!

Impulsive and spontaneous. Know anyone like that? Those traits are subject to bad raps by those with structured, organized lives. Impulsivity describes more emotional responses whereas spontaneity describes creative approaches. I’m not saying creatives can’t be organized. Neither am I saying organized souls cannot also be impulsive and spontaneous; they just don’t seem driven by traits deemed impractical and/or illogical. (This said from the perspective of one who is never considered logical or structured).

Fate has a strange sense of humor to pair two hearts on either end of that range of human traits. Both develop flexible attitudes to accommodate the individuality of the other. Amidst the sharing, teaching and learning, adventures multiply as boredom shrinks. Even in Ripley County!

The perfect activity that melds two varying approaches to outdoor fun is picnicking. When I was frolicking solo, I had tons of spur-of -the moment picnics - running by a local business to grab food on the go and then heading to a favorite spot or following my nose to discover new ones. I am part of a frolicking duo now. I’ve gained intriguing company without forfeiting impromptu jaunts in our scenic Mark Twain National Forest; lo and behold, sometimes at HIS suggestion! It’s do-able because he suggested we keep a basket of outdoor dining essentials in the back of my car - like plasticware, paper towels, the ever-present Lysol wipes, two glasses and a corkscrew. (What’s a picnic for two without wine)? Whether we grab-n-go from our fridges or whiz by a grocery, we can be on our way with no fuss. He taught me the practicality of keeping camping chairs with the basket. Some ‘perfect’ picnic settings in Current River country are more primitive but beautiful none-the-less.

Whatever your approach to adventure, try these spots close to home for scenic spring picnicking: Fourche Lake, Ripley County Lake, Buffalo Creek, Float Camp, Deer Leap, Mudpuppy, Sand Pond, Fourche Creek Conservation Areas, Grand Gulf, The Narrows, Pinewoods Lake, Miller Lake, Big Spring. That’s a short list for starters!