Friday, March 23, 2018.
We left the “Home Sweet Home” RV park (which it definitely was not) in Texarkana, Texas bright and early on Sunday, March 18, and no sooner crossed into Arkansas on I-30 when we experienced our first RV-tire failure of the trip.
It was bound to happen; we seem to average one per trip, so I’ve pretty much come to expect them anymore. Knowing how many miles we’ve covered on this trip, at least 3,000, I wasn’t surprised. And considering some of the desolate stretches of two-lane we’ve driven these past three weeks, where and when it happened was a blessing.
After a phone fiasco with Good Sam Roadside Assistance that resulted in our never doing business with them again, an emergency roadside service came out, changed the tire, and had us on our way in about an hour. We had planned to stop in Little Rock for a few days anyway, so getting a new tire was just something else to take care of while we were there. Also, being there for a little while gave Dave a chance to drive down to his family’s place in Kingsland, about an hour south, and take care of some business.
What started out as three nights stretched into five because we liked it there so much and because we had no particular place to be until the end of the month. Little Rock’s an affordable place to drag one’s heels because there’s so much to do for either free or low-cost.
We’d been coming to the Downtown Riverfront RV park for several years, and it’s one of our favorites. It’s at the foot of the first of four pedestrian/bicyclist bridges in the Little Rock area, leading across the Arkansas River over to the Clinton Library.
The bridge is just a small portion of the Arkansas Rail Trail, a 17-mile trail that runs along both sides of the Arkansas River. A two-mile loop from the RV park to Junction Bridge (the second bridge) and back became our twice daily routine.😃
The designers of the Trail incorporated all kinds of things to do and see, like a free nature center, trellis-covered resting areas, playgrounds and play pits with huge rocks to climb, a sculpture garden, and even an amphitheater. Walking blended with entertainment and was fun!
Our two pups, Victor and Biscuit, are senior dogs, and even they loved the long treks as did Dave, who really isn’t much of a long-distance walker.
The light shows on the bridge that happen every night at 8, 9, 10, and 11 o’clock never got old. Though I could see them easily from our bedroom window, I opted to go outside and enjoy it as if trying to be as close to the action as I could. It was 90-seconds of WOW.
The River Rail Electric Streetcar travels along a 3.5 mile loop around the Market District and across the river to North Little Rock and back. For $2 you can ride it all day long, getting on and off as much as you want. One of our operators was a man who was originally from El Salvador named Nelson, who has lived in Little Rock for 33 years. It was obvious he loved his job and he loved his town. We weren’t expecting a narrated tour of the River Market District, but he sure gave us a good one!
The first time I walked across the Junction Bridge–which has an elevator, by the way–I couldn’t help but notice a lot of locks hanging on the bridge and photographed some. I posted the pics on Facebook and admitted to not knowing the ‘why.’ A couple of my buds chimed in with the reason: they are symbolic ‘love locks.’
So, we added ours to the collection.
Yesterday (Friday) we finally left Little Rock, bound for our next stop 250 miles away, Union City, Tennessee. Usually we take I-40 home, but it’s always an awful drive with pot holes, a narrow shoulder, and incessant traffic. This time we took U.S. Highway 67 north which turned out to be an excellent alternative: good roadway, less traffic, wide shoulder. And there was only a few minutes difference in the drive time.
On the way to Union City we drove through Kennett, Missouri…
and now we’re set up for the weekend in an RV park right on the interstate. No view and somewhat noisy, but the price was right ($15/night) AND it’s right next door to Southlane Bowling. How’s THAT for luck! I know what we’re doing while we’re here!
Our return home coincides with spring break, and that’s in a week or so. It’s been a fantastic past-100 days that I won’t ever forget. I have loved every minute of documenting and sharing this adventure, and there’s a definite part of me that doesn’t want it to end. One is too many and a hundred isn’t enough…where’ve I heard that before?😌 Hoping y’all have the best day TODAY!