2008 10 04 Marshall, Texas

We spent a night in Marshall, Texas as we make our way to Dallas.

While there we visited Ocil and Oma Lee Parsons in Carthage and Nina Duncan in Linden. It was really great to see everyone and they are all doing well. It is hard to believe that Uncle Ocil is 92 and that Oma Lee will be 93 on November 8th! They remain in their home and attend church every Sunday. They drive to church and to the doctor - but don't venture too far from home, and never after dark. Can't blame them for that as we prefer to do our driving in the daytime.

Nina is also doing well. She has 2 new great granddaughters she's looking forward to seeing for the first time when she goes to visit Rodney and Cheree in December. She tells us that all her family is doing well. Nina enjoys living close to her two brothers who also live in Linden.

We look forward to seeing them again when we make our way through East Texas.

2008 10 01 Hot Springs

I've always wanted to visit Hot Springs and I am really pleased that we made it. Over the past couple of days we've enjoyed perfect weather. We checked-out the town, the Springs and the National Park.

We strolled Bathhouse Row imagining what it would have been like to be here in the heydey of the spa. I am sure it was wonderful, especially since the average temperature of the water is 143 degrees Farenheit. It is interesting to note that Hot Springs is not in a volcanic region. Rock out-croppings absorb rainfall in an arc from the northwest to the east. Pores and fractures in the rock conduct the water deep into the earth. As the water percolates downward, increasingly warmer rock heats is at a rate of about 4 degrees every 300 feet (a geothermal gradient). Eventually the water meets faults and joints that lead to the lower west slope of Hot Springs Mountain, where it surfaces.

Several fountains are provided throughout town where visitors may collect the water for their personal use. The park brochure suggests that on average, 700,000 gallons are collected from the springs every day. That's a lot of water! We saw several groups of folks with plastic jug in hand heading for the tap.

After visiting the National Park Service Visitor Center (formerly the Fordyce Bathhouse) we hiked the Hot Springs Mountain Trail to the observation tower. You can see for miles and the center provides a lot of local lore about the area, and it's famous citizens - primarily Bill Clinton. The trails have been in constant use since the 1800s. The forest is filled with Oak, Magnolia, Pine and Hickory and it's just a beautiful place.

We enjoyed McClard's BBQ for lunch, a favorite of President Clinton. By the way, the BBQ is quite good. I especially enjoyed the slaw and the sauce.

2008 09 29 Cloud Nine RV Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas

This is a photograph of the surrounding mountain and tree tops from our front window.

Cloud Nine is a lovely park with beautiful trees and hills. It is such a quiet and peaceful place to relax.

We took the opportunity to wash the coach and car this morning. Joe managed to loose his balance while on the ladder. I tried to catch him, but of course was of no assistance. He landed on his elbow and back - but he's ok. He's got quite a slice on his elbow and road rash on his back but otherwise he is ok. I know that tomorrow he won't be moving so well.

Just a word to everyone, take your time when you're up on a ladder. It doesn't take much and bam, you're down. Take it from us.

2008 09 28 West Memphis to Hot Springs

Today was another beautiful day weatherwise. Our travels took us from West Memphis in the morning arriving Hot Springs early this afternoon.

The area is lovely and the traffic was no problem. We honestly believe, however, that Arkansas highways are some of the worst ever! They are like an old washboard. We seemed to recollect that same sentiment from our car trips a number of years ago - nothing has really changed.

We are at the Cloud Nine RV Park in Hot Springs and we are pleasantly suprised. We are high atop a hill with a lovely view of the tree covered mountains. What a pity we didn't time our visit better to include the color change that will be happening here soon. The park is well maintained and has nice pull-throughs making set-up a breeze.

Today was Sunday, and of course that means football. I am sure we had every game on the tube today. Football aside, I did manage to scrub the grill.

Dinner was simple - grilled chicken and Ceasar Salad. I managed to polish-off the last of the fruit salad while washing dishes (not because I was hungry - more that it doesn't keep over very well.) Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

Tomorrow we're planning to wash the Bus and Car - they could use it. After a few chores are out of the way we plan to take in the National Park, the gardens, the baths - all the things Hot Springs is famous for.

As I've said before, stay tuned.

2008 09 27 Tom Sawyer RV Park and Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

On our way from Chattanooga to Hot Springs we stopped for the night in West Memphis, Arkansas to check out the Tom Sawyer RV Park. The park was recommended by a fella we met in Nashville who thought it was a nice park - right on the Mississippi River - just outside Memphis.

He was right, it's a neat park with huge pull-through spaces and nice views of the Mississippi. It was really interesting to see tugs maneuver barges up and down the river - quite amazing really. The river provides folks with a nice place to fish - right from the bank.

We decided to stay in this area another day since we were so close to Memphis. I just had to go back to Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. It's soooooo Good! It might be - no, no, no - it is the best, the most perfect - the most delicious fried chicken I've ever eaten. If you're ever in or near Memphis, make sure you get to Gus's - 310 S. Front St. Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: (901) 527-4877‎

2008 09 24 Lookout Mountain, GA - Rock City Gardens

One stop on our sightseeing travels took us to Rock City in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Yes, yes, yes - it's tourist trap - but if harken back to the days when this attraction was a private garden and residence, and that the project took owners over 4 years to complete - it's really quite amazing.

Wouldn't it have been neat to have been a little kid back then? To be a child and wander through all the rocks, tunnels, cracks and peer over ledges. It would have been just the greatest!

We enjoyed the stroll just the same, especially the lovely fiddle music that scerenaded us throughout our walk. It was quintessential Tennessee culture - not hillbilly or too countrified, just lovely American music. We steeped in a perfect sun-filled day, cool temperatures and soft breezes. Best of all - absolutely no crowds. We couldn't have timed it better. I can't wait to come back again in Spring to see the azalea and rododendron in bloom.

2008 09 23 , Chattanooga, TN - Ruby Falls

Imagine wiggling through an opening 5 feet wide and 18 inches high and emerging 17 hours later to tell the world about an amazing underground waterfall you've discovered. Wow! We really enjoy seeing the beauty nature has created underground. Ruby Falls is a bit touristy - but still worth the time. The waterfall is a true wonder of the world. Amazing.