October 26th, 2021

Hello, again!👋

Since writing last, we’ve traveled clockwise from southeastern Missouri to Memphis to just north of Little Rock, and now we’re at our place at the lake for about three weeks. For us, going to Memphis was an unexpected detour on the way to Oak Grove, Arkansas, but one we happily took because we were able to meet up with Kate, Joey, and our grandkids.

I only know of two RV parks in the Memphis area: Tom Sawyer, which was full, and the RV park at Agricenter International that, luckily, had two spaces available right next to the other. What the park lacked in ambiance and amenities was more than compensated by the onsite Farmers Market and general proximity to just about anyplace we could ever want to go. Including Ikea, which we went to twice.

The whole point of going to Memphis was for a baseball tournament and to see our grandson play. The tournament was played in Millington, 30 miles away, at USA Stadium, the training site of the USA Olympic baseball teams from 1986-96. Being a diehard baseball fan, I thought that was pretty neat, particularly since I recognized a few names on the board as those who went on to play professionally.

We lingered in Memphis for a couple of days after the tournament and Kate and the kids returned to Hopkinsville. We wandered aimlessly through the ginormous Bass Pro Shop inside the iconic Pyramid, something we’d never been inside before, though we’ve transited that stretch of I-40 many times. We cruised Beale Street and ate some authentic Memphis barbecue: a brisket sandwich that was SO good! For being an unplanned destination, Memphis turned out to be a really good time.

The tenth and last stop of our 6-week trip were spent at Choctaw, a USACE campground in Clinton, Arkansas, about 70 miles north of Little Rock on Highway 65 (which actually leads to Branson.) My expectations were low; I was just glad to be in the middle of nowhere and out of the city.

Unbeknownst to us, just four miles north of the campground laid the Natural Bridge of Arkansas (NBA.) Dave loves to explore, so he was game at going even though it was only last month that we traipsed down a very steep incline in Pomona in search of the natural bridge there in Southern Illinois, which we never did find. Not that it wasn’t there; we stopped looking for it. We had descended vertically down a rocky path at such a fast pace that going back up was going to be hell. Dave really struggled (read: He stopped talking to me.) And, we had the pups. And it was hot. (He didn’t bring water; but I did. So, he eventually had to succumb to his silence.😉)

A huge billboard advertising the NBA is on a long, inclined stretch of Hwy. 65, so you can’t miss the turnoff, coming or going because you’re either riding your brakes or pressing the pedal to the metal just to keep climbing. The bridge is accessed through the visitors center; one learns that the 120-feet of sandstone was formed over millions of years and was regularly used by loggers in the 19th and 20th centuries. It’s said to also have been the hideout of outlaw Belle Starr who, according to legend, was not unfamiliar with Jesse James.

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.

The march up to the bridge was along a wide and well-maintained walkway. Along the way was a small area set aside for picnicking, as well as two century-old buildings: one that served as the visitor center and gift shop, and the other that housed period artifacts. Wherever we are, we enjoy stopping to smell the roses, and discovering small town treasures such as this is always such a special find. It makes it easier to remember where we’ve been!

Over the course of the past six weeks, I discovered a few things about myself that I journaled about elsewhere. But one of the biggest self-discoveries was that I really enjoyed every single day of the trip, especially the days that we were on the road. I drove Felix a lot, and loved it. This time last year, I wasn’t driving the rig at all. Being on an extended trip for days on end (sharing a rather teeny-tiny space with Dave, Biscuit, and Victor) such as this gave me much to be grateful for. And I journaled about that, too. Actually, I’ve been writing profusely while on this trip, and I’m super excited to be stopped for a few weeks in the beautiful Ozarks. The autumn colors are just now starting to pop!!

And so, our 6-week, 10-stop road trip has come to an end, for a little while at least. I think I’ll write a separate post about our place here in Arkansas because this one’s gone on long enough. For those who care, we are still planning to winter in Bandera, arriving sometime around mid-November. NOVEMBER? And, as if I needed THIS reminder, this was announced outside the restaurant in Green Forest, AR that we ate breakfast at today.

Until next time, peace ☮️ love ❤️ and great big hugs 🤗-Maria