Kayaking isn't Just for Olympic Athletes!

When you think of the Olympics, what comes to mind? Gymnastics? Figure Skating? Beach volleyball? How about canoe and kayak racing? Yes, canoe and kayak racing is an Olympic event that gains little attention. Fifty years ago, in the 1960 Summer Olympics, the United States winning a medal in canoeing or kayaking seemed impossible. Now, fifty years later, the US still lacks in the medal department, only winning 2 bronze medals in the past 20 years.

Ozark Outdoors Challenges YOU to get in on the canoe and kayak race! We are calling all Americans, young and old, to find their passion on the water. Who knows - Maybe your 8 year old daughter will be the next Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1000m kayak sprint! Let Ozark Outdoors be your “Flat Water Training Center,” and let the games begin!

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Is is true...?

Is it true that there are no two snowflakes that are exactly alike? According to the Library of Congress, this myth is true! Each and every powdery snowflake that falls from the heavens has its own story to tell. The chance that two snowflakes could ever prove identical is minuscule. Trillions of assorted snowflakes will fall this winter, each one with a different design and purpose – to awe the world.

When you think about snow, what comes to mind?: White, sparkling diamonds, scarves and gloves, frigid temperatures, hot chocolate, warm fires, snowmen and igloos? Most people would give similar answers, however; because of the wonders of snowflakes, these answers are also different. The snowball you threw at your brother's face yesterday is nothing like the snowball you threw at your sister's face today!

For about a week now, snow has been covering our back yard with this unique blanket, each patch in the pattern built and sewn differently to create a masterpiece. The photo opportunities right now are priceless.

You can't enjoy the snow from the recliner in your living room, so bundle up, head outside and build a snowman, create a barrier between you and your children so you have something to hide behind when they attack you with snowballs, rent a snow-covered cabin in the heart of the Ozarks, and capture these memories on film. The window of opportunity is closing.

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A Day with the Bald Eagles

Thanks to the unusually warm January weather, I was fortunate to spend part of my afternoon attempting to capture a glimpse of the kings of the air – the Missouri Bald Eagles. Gossiping blackbirds, gusts of winds full of secrets and trickling streams filled my ears as my eyes ventured into the sky. My sense of sight reigned at the top of my priority list, but my sense of hearing was fighting for my attention. These sounds are a constant flow of communication. Dying to jump into the conversation, the wind continues to whisper a soft invitation more tempting than the invitations of summer.

The ripples of the Meramec stay uniform, never stepping out of line until just around the bend, a merry-go-round sucks the children in to play before they are quickly tugged back into their formation. Jealous, I sit back and watch this parade as it continues downstream, always aware of where it has been and where it is going. The water never doubts or questions its direction but trusts its banks and fellow streams. Jealousy is the only way to describe this feeling; jealous that we can’t have such a luxury. Standing over the water, a dim reflection shows hope that I can somehow be part of this paradise. The watery outlines of my silhouette are a promise between nature and man: We are always welcome here.

If only we can trust Mother Nature like Mother Nature trusts us. We act out of fear, misunderstanding and denial. The river acts out of trust, peace and freedom. We often take the river and its surroundings for granted, unearthing those promises by disguising its trust with ignorance and pride.

After an hour of waiting and the winter clouds killing the sunlight, I spotted a bright white dot in the distance start to grow. The closer it got, the more my heart pumped. Looking through the lens, I held my breath, focused on Baldie and hoped for the best. I caught him! Check these out…

The invitation is extended to everyone: Man and beast, rain and snow, sun and storm, draught and flood. Accept your invitation to enjoy the gossip of the outdoors this summer. Come down, see Baldie, and let Ozark Outdoors guide you to a perfect vacation away from the real world. We’re ready.

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