Northwest Arkansas

May 5-10, 2011.  We are at the Prairie Creek campground on Beaver Lake in Rogers.  We are centrally located to see Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Eureka Springs, and Fayetteville.  Our first day consisted seeing the first Wal-Mart and it's museum.  It was Walton's 5 & 10 store.  This town is Wal-Mart.  They are building an 80 million dollar Crystal Bridges Art Museum, paid for by the Walton trust. The corporate offices are also here.  It is a nice, clean, historic city.  We got an oil change, had a picnic in a park, I got adjusted at a chiropractor and went to the 1875 Peel Mansion and historic gardens.  Mr. Peel was a Confederate soldier, the first U.S. senator from Arkansas, a businessman, and Indian agent.  We toured the mansion and gardens.  That evening we went south to Springdale to the Springdale Naturals (AA) play baseball against the Springfield, Missouri Cardinals. We were tired, so we left after 6 innings with the Naturals up 8 to 3.  Yesterday we went to Eureka Springs.  Eureka Springs is 100% tourist driven. Several hundred artists, tons of restaurants, gift shops, etc.  We tried to stay away from all that. We took a ride on an old electric-diesel train, part of the Eureka & Northwest Arkansas line, took a trail to see Pivot rock, and had a nice dinner.  We visited the mostly glass, Thornwood Chapel in the woods.  The highlight of the trip was getting to see the Great Passion Play.  This is an outdoor amphitheatre, seating 4,000, that depicts the last 10 days in Jesus Christ's life.  It had 250 actors and just as many animals.  It was a moving experience.  We also visited the Sacred Art Gallery, which had hundreds of paintings and carvings of Jesus, the Last Supper, and anything to do with his life.  Also on the sight is a tremendously large statute of Jesus that is atop the mountain. There was also a Bible museum on site.  The Passion Play is a "don't miss" when in northwest Arkansas.
Laundry day was Monday, so we stayed around Rogers.  We went to the Daisy BB Gun Museum, which was surprisingly great.  The museum chronicled the company's 150 years and had one of every rifle, hand gun, toy or other item that they made.  Hundreds of them. We were really blown away by this museum and the presentations.  The highlight was getting to see the 3 original Rough Rider BB rifles used in the movie "A Christmas Story."  You could also by BB guns at a reduced price.  The guns are all made in Rogers.  We also went to the Pea Ridge National Battlefield Museum and rode the 7 mile tour.  It was a great Union victory, although the Union was out manned 4 to 1.
Our last full day in Arkansas we went to Fayetteville and went to Bill & Hillary Clinton's first home.  We also went to the Hall of Champions at the University of Arkansas and saw the history of Razorback (Hog) football.  Every trophy from every bowl game as well as their 1964 national championship were on display.  Arkansas is a very scenic state and we enjoyed our visit.

               

                            

                              

                              

Deb in Hillary Clinton's garden

                          
                                 
               

Fort Smith, Arkansas

May 3-4, 2011.  We are at Fort  Smith, at the Springhill campground of the L.C. Hall Lock & Dam site.  We got to see how the dam and lock work together. Fort Smith was an important fort in the opening of the west.  First, it was the first outpost west of the Mississippi and was the distribution point for soldiers, their families and supplies to all of the other forts in the mid west.  Secondly, the government posted the U.S. Marshall's in Fort Smith as well as the "Hanging Judge" Isaac C. Parker.  177 ruthless settlers, bandits and Indians were sentenced to hang by Judge Parker. Fearless Marshall's and tough justice came to those at Fort Smith and the western territory.  There is also a national cemetery at Fort Smith.

Detour

After we dug for diamonds, we were supposed to go to Hot Springs, Arkansas to see the national park, see bathouse row and take a nice hot soak.  Unfortunately, we received an email from our campground, telling us the that all the federal campgrounds in Hot Springs were closed due to hundreds of down trees.
So, we decided to head west to DeQueen Lake for two days of rest.  When we got to our campground in DeQueen, it was closed due to flooding. We had to turn around the RV on a gravel road, using a farmer's muddy driveway.  Debbie pulled out our campground directory and found a private campground, Shadow Mountain, 36 miles north in Mena.  We set up, went to town and did our laundry and had a delicious mexican dinner at Papa's Mexican restaurant.  We expected to be in Mena for just 2 days, but it is still pouring, many roads are flooded and some campgrounds are closed.   We are supposed to be in Fort Smith today, (Monday) but we are staying put in Mena until the weather gets better.  So, we are paying for a site in each town....the adventure continues.

Digging for Diamonds

We are still in Arkansas for a few weeks, this stop is in Murfreesboro for a few days to dig for diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park.  Since 1972, 28,000 diamonds have been dug up by visitors.  Just 3 days before we arrived, a woman found the 3rd largest ever, an 8.66 carat diamond!  I dug up buckets of dirt and stones while Debbie used a screen at a slouse to find the diamonds.  We got quartz, agate, and other non-precious stones, but no diamonds.  Debbie did get a bit dirty! We a nice campsite in the woods and built our first camp fire and sat around it for hours.                                                   

                                                                     

Little Rock, Arkansas and tornados!

We arrived in the Little Rock area on Easter, for a 4 day visit.  We are staying at a Army Corp of Engineers (COE) park in Maumelle, 300 feet from the Arkansas River.  We have been busy seeing the sights.  We toured the William J. Clinton Presidential Library which was very impressive.  We took a tour of the Arkansas State Capitol building and the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.  (no photos of those 3 places, due to security reasons) We also visited the General MacArthur Museum of Military history, The Arkansas Plantation Museum and Arkansas's Koren War Memorial.  We also had the opportunity to visit the Little Rock Central High school, where school desegregation started.  In 1957, U.S. troops, sent in by President Eisenhower, escorted 9 very brave black students into the previously all white high school. The visitor's center's presentation was very interesting, powerful and enlightening.  Our last place to visit was the Old Mill in North Little Rock, which was very serene.
Tornados! On Monday night the sirens sounded and we, along with 6 other couples, hide in one of the men's bathrooms in the park.  We had high winds and golf ball size hail, which left a few minor dents in the truck.  After two hours, we went back to our RV, trudging through 18 inches of water at our site, covering the first step of our stairs.  The water by the power pole was so high that it engulfed our voltage regulator and it fried itself.  On Tuesday night we had severe thunder storms, but no tornado.  We did have pea sized hail which made a quarter size hole in our kitchen's sky light.  I patched it the today.  We'll  get a new one sometime in the future.  Debbie was very impressed this the vanilla ice cream at the Purple Cow ( a burger place), as the vanilla was purple too!

                
Vince     

                   



Vicksburg and Port Gibson, Mississippi

We stayed at Grand Gulf Military Park and Campground.  This was a treat, as it was so quiet and we were surrounded by history.  The battle of Vicksburg was a pivotal win for the Union Army during the Civil War.  The Union victory gave them control of the Mississippi River.  This victory and the victory at Gettysburg, the day prior, sealed the Union Victory.  We also saw the ruins of huge house in Windsor, near Port Gibson.  In Vicksburg we toured the Old Courthouse, the Corner Drug store, a preserved old time drug store, the Biendheim Coca Cola memorabilia museum, the saw the riverfront murals. The highlight was our 16 mile tour of the Vicksburg Battlefield.  We also were next to the Mississippi...and now I know why they call it "Big Muddy." It sure is brown. In the photos at Grand Gulf Military park, you'll see the jail and Debbie in jail, a view of the truck from atop the 75 foot fire tower

Mobile, Alabama

We stopped in Mobile for two days, staying at Meaher State Park.  We were right on Mobile Bay.  It was a great site with a great view and we had a constant breeze.  We spent an entire day at the famous and gorgeous Bellingrath Gardens.  We walked the gardens, visited the home and took a boat ride around the lake. Mr. Bellingrath made billions by having the first Coca-Cola franchise in Alabama. We ate at Lambert's Restaurant, the home of the "Throwed Rolls."  Great food, and when you need a roll, just put up your hand and they will throw it to you.

We had a great cruise on the Norwegian Sun

We are back in Bartow after our cruise.  They say that the refrigerator is fixed and the body work complete.  The landing gear parts came in at 4 p.m. today, (Saturday) so we hope the job is finished on Monday. 
The cruise was great.  Nassau, Bahamas was okay, (we've been there before) so we walked around town and went back to the ship early to eat and swim in the pools.  St. Thomas was better, we took a tour to the top of the island, visited Black Beard's Castle, which was never finished.  We visited a rum distillery and some old houses on the property.  We went shopping and bought a few minor things. Debbie went into several jewelry stores that were giving away free jewelry.  It is small, but nice stuff that we will pass along to the young ladies of our family. Here is a fact for you....the coldest temperature ever recorded in St. Thomas was 61 degrees, nice, huh? Philipsburg in Saint Martin (Dutch) was hot.  We took a taxi to town and shopped. Debbie hit a few more jewelry stores, I bought some liquor and a few gifts.  Debbie purchased a nice summer sun dress, priced at $25.00, but bartered down the women to $15.00.  We ate at the Barefoot Restaurant, across from the beach, with a great view of the beach, dock and shopping.  A great people watching place. We took the water taxi back to the ship. The cruise was great. The entertainment was outstanding and the food was excellent. I think that we gained several pounds each. The crew was super fantastic, waiting on us like we were royalty. The Norwegian Sun was just terrific.  

                                                    

                                        

Bored in Bartow......I think we'll take a cruise!

We are awaiting parts for the landing gear and fridge, and approval for the body work.  We've seen everything in Bartow and we are tired of sitting around awaiting.  So, we booked a cruise!  We are taking a 7 day cruise, out of Port Canaveral, starting this Saturday on NCL.  We are going to Nassau in the Bahamas, Charlotte Amalie in the Virgin Islands and Philipsburg on the Dutch side of St. Martin. Sitting here for a couple of weeks would drive us both nuts. We'll update you with photos when we get back. :-)

Vince & Debbie

Just another setback

Today we had another setback.  We are still at Dusty's in Bartow awaiting parts for our landing gear.  The fifth wheel was sitting up on two jacks, as the front landing gear won't keep us up.  Severe weather reports were all over the TV.  I felt that we were in danger staying in the RV, so we pulled in the slides and left, going to Dusty's service waiting room.  Sure enough, a severe thunderstorm/tornado hit, blowing our fifth wheel off of the jacks.  One when through the storage compartment of the rig and the other just fell over.  After the storm, I went back to check and saw the rig sitting on the spare tire, which is under the center front of the fifth wheel.  We called GMAC and started a claim. We will have the compartment repaired, some slight body work, as well as the original work on the landing gear.  It appears that our stay in Bartow will be extended. We probably will stay in a hotel for a few days when all the parts are in and they make the repairs.  We are still smiling, as we have our health and each other.  We'll let you know when we get back on the road again.  Also damaged were 6 travel trailers at the dealership.

Well, guess what......our refrigerator is freezing again. Geez, will we ever get out of Bartow?