Words you need to know at Rock Eddy Bluff Farm

Today's topic: words you need to know. This word and a few others are not familiar to many of our guests.

Slough - this is a backwater part of the river. Connected to the river, but without the swifter current. In some cases the slough becomes a part of the river when water levels are high, allowing the current to overflow into the slough.

The slough at Rock Eddy Bluff Farm runs beneath limestone outcroppings and joins the Gasconade River just below our Bluffhouse which sits 200 feet above. It is home to beaver, otter, wood ducks, herons and assorted other critters. The banks of the slough are lined with sycamore, ash, soft maple and smaller trees such as Paw Paws. (Perhaps we should make that a "need-to-know" word for a later time.)

When my brothers and I were small, we spent a lot of time on the slough and the river. We fished at the mouth of the slough, camped on the long island between the slough and the river. We also skated on the slough every winter. (Recent winters have not been cold enough for that.)

From our home on the bluff a rugged little track snakes down, arriving at the bottom on the banks of the slough. There, our canoes are located. Guests can take a canoe out at any time. They can explore the upper reaches of the slough or paddle a short distance into the river proper. Across the river they will find an excellent gravel bar.

If you are willing to paddle down to the lower (downstream) end of Rock Eddy, you will find the home of our resident bald eagles. Currently, the female eagle is sitting on eggs in the huge nest. These same eagles have been in this location for roughly thirty years. Yes, the same breeding pair! And, these were one of only three nesting pairs in Missouri at the low point of eagle populations.

Our next need-to-know word: Privy. You'd be surprised.

You may have missed the photo of the yellow dog. Check the previous blog for a picture of this loveable guy.