Arkansas: Doug Leaves a Mark on Moro Bay

Our plans twice included a trip to Moro Bay State Park in southern Arkansas, but its location on the Ouachita River left the park underwater both times. On our third attempt, our visit started well as we spotted a couple of deer near the entrance and watched them dash into the woods. After enjoying a picnic lunch next to the river, our memorable Moro Bay adventure began. Here’s the story from our separate perspectives.

DOUG’S ACCOUNT

With the Ouachita River still near flood stage levels, I wanted to get a photo that would convey the height of the water level. While shooting photos along the riverbank, I walked into a thick layer of river silt dumped by the flood on the sloped riverbank.

With my first step into the muddy soil, my feet started sliding downhill toward the river. My quick attempt to stop the slide caused my feet to shoot out from under me, and I landed hard on my left shoulder. Linda ran to my rescue and tugged on my arms to hoist me to my feet. Her good intentions sent a lightning bolt of pain through my shoulder. I advised her not to touch me because I might have a serious injury. She took off for the car to get things to help me clean up.

DSC04957 (5).JPG — Doug inspects the damage

He needed a change of clothes after his slip and slide in the mud at Moro Bay. After resting for a minute in his mud bath, he crawled out of the slippery zone—dirty but uninjured.

Doug left a mark when he landed in the mud of Moro Bay.

LINDA’S TAKEAWAY

I was looking forward to seeing what Moro Bay had to offer travelers. Unfortunately, my anticipation quickly changed to fear and anxiety when I witnessed Doug’s fall into a slippery, muddy mess. I leaned over to help Doug up, but he said, “Stop! Don’t touch me. I might have a shoulder separation. I’m in a lot of pain.” So, I let Doug pick himself up.

I left the scene of the accident for a few minutes to search the car for cleaning supplies. I found napkins and a spare towel. I wasn’t going to let Doug step into my new Ford Escape covered in mud, so I also searched his luggage for a change of clothes. While he washed off his muddy body and put on clean clothes, I watched the nearby path for visitors who might report a man undressing near the river.

After Doug was in clean, dry clothes, he announced his readiness to keep exploring the park. I reluctantly agreed, not excited about getting back on the trails. The next slide in the mud could be mine.

Linda and Arla discuss Doug’s mud slide.

ARLA’S SHOCKING MOMENT

Evidence of the flooding that had kept Moro Bay State Park closed for a few weeks stood out as soon as we walked along the shoreline. Trees that normally would be on dry ground sprouted up from three feet of water. What Doug failed to see was the thick, slippery mud left on the banks of the Ouachita River by the flood. He learned the hard way that somebody could fall in the mud here!

Linda leads the way on the mud-free Deer Run Trail.

PARK FEATURES

The state park primarily offers water recreation, but it also has hiking trails, picnic tables, enclosed picnic pavilions, two playgrounds and a recreation field. For overnight stays, the park offers five cabins with views of Moro Bay views and 20 campsites near Raymond Lake.

The park’s ferry exhibit explains how people crossed the river here in the 1960s.

DOUG’S HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT

I enjoyed looking at the park’s ferry exhibit next to the Ouachita River. In the 1960s, the ferry made 150 trips a day thanks to its two components—the barge for holding vehicles and the tug for moving the barge. The top speed for the tug was 15 miles per hour. I liked the following quote about the tug: “You could outrun this thing with a little flat bottom boat, but you couldn’t out-pull it with a team of government mules.” When Arkansas became a state in 1836, some of the first laws passed dealt with ferries because they were so critical to the state’s economy.

Gee Whiz Fact

In 1871, the landing at Moro Bay shipped more cotton than any of the 10 Ouachita River landings south of Camden, Arkansas.

PARTING SHOTS: MORE OF MORO BAY

The park’s well-maintained grounds make it a pleasant place to visit.

Raymond Lake offers Moro Bay visitors another excellent place to fish.

The Deer Run Trail provides a smooth, dry half-mile walk.

The park has five cabins overlooking Moro Bay and a campground with 20 spaces for RVs or tents.

Doug smiles after recovering from his slip and slide in the mud.

Moro Bay State Park is one of the many beautiful settings that help Arkansas live up to its slogan “The Natural State.”