Day 2 - On to Saco Valley Farm

We departed our nice hotel  for the Bonne Terre Mine.  The mine is the largest lead mine in the country but has been unused since 1925.  We took a walking tour through the dry upper levels and learned about the history of the mine.  We then took a boat tour through the flooded lower levels of the mine where the clear water is deceiving as to its depth.  There is an estimated billion gallons of water in the underground lake.  We even had a chance to feed the lakes only inhabitant, a largemouth bass named Bonnie.

After leaving the mine, we made a short trip to Elephant Rocks State Park where we took a short hike and explored the unique geologic features and the remains of an old rock quarry.

After Elephant Rocks, we made our way to Saco Valley Farm, our home for the next two days.  We met our hosts, Steve and Melissa Deakins who introduced to their farm with a quick tour.  We sat down to a quick lunch and discussed our plans for the day.  We had an opportunity to watch Melissa catch and transfer a honeybee swarm from a nearby tree to a beehive constructed on the back of the property.  We then had the opportunity to meet the animals on the farm and milk the goats.  After a few more tasks (firewood, planting onions and tomatoes, setting up tents and tilling soil) we settled in to enjoy our dinner of homemade pizza and then settled around a roaring campfire finishing with s'mores.