Hot Springs, AR

Hot Springs, AR

Sunday, November 5, 2006

Onward to Hot Springs:

• Crossed the mighty Mississippi River –wondered what it would be like to take a cruse or work on a barge for a couple of weeks on the river
• Coming into Hot Springs saw:
• Sign reading "Boyhood home of President Clinton"
• A sign for Guns & Bail
• Rural town surrounded by mountains
• Autumn leaves just a day or two past their peak
• "Bathhouse Row" in former years there were 6 or 7 famous old houses where people could get treatments and enjoy the mineral waters. Now only one is open to the public and another serves as a museum and headquarters for the National Parks Office
• Lots of recreational opportunities – message, water therapy,
• Protected downtown – historic area that they keep pretty well in tact – all the McDonald's and "honkey tonk" are outside of center town
• I walked into a store I thought was a grocery store only to find out it was some weird offering of variety store – but before I left, in the check out line, I saw a woman in a T-shirt, sweat pants and pink fluffy slip-on slippers – I tried not to, but I had to take a second look
• Areas to fill water jugs with both hot and cold mineral water – there's 47 springs in the area. For drinking they are separated, but for the baths they blend them all together.
• A wax museum and a Duck Tour and even a tattoo parlor – I declined all.
• I decided on the only bath open on a Sunday afternoon and was the only patron in the spa. I soaked in a whirlpool of mineral water at about 100 degrees for about 30 minutes. As always, after the bath my skin was soft and the cracks around my fingernails were healed (something I've been working on for the past 6 days will little results)
• My name has changed from Maggie (or Kathi) to Mamm….I'm Mamm to everyone!
• Grabbed a quick bite in McDonald's and a man in the booth next to me obviously wanted to talk. So I engaged him. It was a challenge to catch the words through his thick accent, and the absence of more than half his front teeth. But it was fun hearing what he had to say. These are the best parts of my trip – just hearing what people have to say.

OK to NM

Oklahoma City, OK to Santa Rosa, NM

11/8/07

 

Oh boy, cowboy country!  My first taste (figure of speech) was when I checked in and a cowboy was in line in front of me, so I had to wait until he had completed his check-in process.  I used the time wisely to become acquainted with this new state and surroundings.  Emmm….tight well fitting jeans accentuating his assets, huge silver belt buckle, nice boots, shirt that seem to elude to but not stick close enough to the body to fully outline a chiseled "V" shaped shoulders to waist, a waist that I'm sure was smaller than mine, and of course, the black hat.   He was a sight and I was sorry when the receptionist handed him his key and he was on his way…welcome to Oklahoma!!

 

My next encounter with the cow boys and girls was at breakfast the next morning.  I enjoyed hearing them talk about their competitions, what their horses were doing or not doing, how they felt when they won, and of course checking out their wardrobe sure beat reading the paper.   My spirits were high hearing the election results and anticipatory with what we could really get done if both the House and the Senate go Democrat --- I'm filled with hope.   Hope was heightened later in the day with the announcement that Rumsefeld would step down – well overdue.  Suppose it would be too much to hope that Chaney would do the same?

 

I set myself up for a day of endurance.   My memories of crossing OK and TX were painful.   I'd identified nothing of interest for the day—not National Forests, State Parks or really anything green on the map.  So I knew it would be a day of just driving.   What I had not expected was the HEAT.  It was hot and my side window is not treated with that black stuff most people have on windows to block the sun.   Thank goodness I got the AC fixed prior to my departure – I used it all day.

 

We stopped frequently to stretch, wake up, cool down and see the scenery – just kidding on the last one …there is no scenery.   It's FLAT, brown, and uninteresting.  The funniest thing I saw all say was at a rest stop once I crossed into TX.  The picnic tables were iron (maybe too hot for wood?) and the BBQ was in the shape of the state of TX—photos to follow.

 

There was a distinct change in the landscape in the western end of the Pan Handle, and I was surprised when we crossed the state line into NM – my planning had been off.   I hadn't expected to be in NM until the following day.  My next surprise was when I stopped at the Visitors Center and learned I just ginned an hour – yep, Mountain Time.

 

My plan called for camping at Santa Rose State Park, but after driving on a one-lane road for 50 mines directly into the setting sun, I was fatigued and pulled into a motel. I made it across OK and TX….a great accomplishment in my book.   So I had to wonder:  why did it seem like "forever" when, with friends, I crossed these states on our way to Cape Cod back in college?   Could it be?  Did all these years bring on an increased sense of patience?  Let's hope so.

Hot Springs, AR to OK City OK

Tuesday 11/07/06

Hot Springs, AR to Oklahoma City, OK

 

As the day began, the sun was brining off the fog and clouds were melting away to a promising day.   I was anxious to pick up Gabby who I'd dropped off with the Vet the previous morning.  After a myriad of tests, the diagnosis is Diabetes Insipitus – treatable with a med a day the rest of her life.  

 

Wishing I could stay longer and linger in the hot mineral waters around town, it was time to get back on the road.   The Vet, having grown up in the area, proposed a scenic route through the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests and mountains.   Not sure where my fascination for this area originated, but I had a profound desire to check this entire area out.   (Route described at bottom)

 

One thing most of you know about me is my intense interests in maps.  So you won't be surprised to read that I had highlighted the route on the map and was ready for a day of exploring.   Then how was it the van found itself in the middle of a state park, off my proposed route?  I'd followed the signs exactly (?)   Well, either the signage was wrong (I doubt it) or I had become lost (more likely).  I stopped at what looked to be a park HQ office and asked just where I might be. A friendly ranger came out and started pointed distances and road names when I politely stopped him and asked if there was a map he could use to show me the way back to the main road.   I found 2 things funny about this exchange: 1) during the entire time the ranger had a huge piece of what looked like grapefruit or other unidentifiable food item stuck to his reading glasses – that while it did not seem to bother him in the least was a constant distraction to me while he continued with his direction and 2) after hearing his directions, and that I needed to turn on   "EARL" road, I repeated the instructions, he saw me write down the directions on the map….and yet when I got to the road it was "OWEL" ….and that was my introduction to understanding the southern accent t!

 

 

The route took me through beautiful rural farmland and lots of recreational areas.  The temperatures in the area are still warm and many folks have gardens next to their home.   What a great place to return for some hiking and camping.  Lots of lakes and interesting paths to investigate.   As I crossed up into the Ozark National Forest, I thought I had the entire place to myself.  In a stretch of about 30 miles I passed 2 motorcycles and 3 cars – that was it!   The foliage was just a tad past peak, but still in full glory.  I stopped at one overlook and couldn't even count the number of mountain ranges – quite a sight.

 

Saw my first Armadillo today – it was road kill, but all the same, it was an Armadillo!  Imagine, all that shiny silver armor they have, but still not resistant to cars when crossing the road.   Strange animals.  Best gas prices:  Hot Springs starting at $2.01/gal.

 

Long about sunset I found my back to Interstate 40 and continued West to Oklahoma City where I stayed the night.

Route Details:

• West on Route 270 out of Hot Springs to Mount Ida
• North at Mt Ida on Route 27: Very rural area, all part of the Ouchita (pronounced Wha-choo-ta) National Forest.
• East on Route 60 to Plainview
• North on Scenic By-Way Route 7 up into the Ozark National Forest
• West on Route 16
• South on Route 21 to Interstate 40 West