10 Days on the road and feeling fine...

Day 10 Friday, May 25 Withrow Springs State Park
From Helen: Going to Eureka Springs today. Looking for an Internet Café, a Laundromat and a store to buy a few needed supplies. Prairie Home comes on tomorrow night so I'm sure a nice steak for Chris is on the grocery list. More later…


Day 9 Thursday, May 24 Arkansas Total miles 96 Gas $3.09
Route: Departed Bull Shoals State Park (outside Bull Shoals and Mountain Home) to Flippin on Hwy 62-412 West-Yellville-Bellefonte-Harrison-Bear Springs-Alpena-Osage-Marble-North hwy 23. Arrived Withrow Springs State Park-96.4 miles later at 3:30 pm.

We waved farewell to George and Ann, who plan to camp at Withrow too. We droved among the Ozark Mountains on a breezy morning, dark rain clouds looming in the west! The rolling hills and open valleys reminded us a great deal of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. They grow a lot of black white face cattle here. This part of the country has excellent broad winding roads with wide paved shoulders so that we can easily let people pass allowing us to putts along at our leisure. We probably averaged no more than 35 mph for the day. Hopefully our pictures will show much more.
Eventually it started raining, our first since North Georgia! (Steve, I couldn't find "Pete" but "Pete knows" were he is. ) Libby we camped along the White River on two occasions. Saw many fly fishermen and thought of you often. George says the trophy trout grow up 40 pounds. Is this a fish story?

We arrive at Withrow in the rain. We are the only campers here although all 25 sites are reserved for Memorial weekend. We're going to hunker down for the holidays and find an internet café at Eureka Springs tomorrow. What did we learn today? (1) The next time we buy gas it will be $3.24
It's a dark spooky night and we are still the only ones here.

From Helen: Patrick, have a super holiday, give Karen and Peanut our love.

Day 8 Wednesday, May 28 Arkansas 132 miles.
Jackson Port campground on the White River near New Port-to Batesville on hwy 69 then north on hwy 167 to Ashflat-west on hwy 412/62 to Henderson-SW on hwy 62 to Gassville-North on hwy 5-west on hwy 178 to the Bull Shoals State Park campground.

We met George and Ann from near Athens Georgia…They are an older couple and veteran RV'ers. He owned a jeans factory and sold it when the work went overseas. George is very helpful and gave me some good tips for the road. After 30 years he's never had a serious mishap. We talk with them by the campfire after catching up on this journal. George describes traveling on a breezy day when a big truck passes them in the opposite direction so fast that it slammed his side mirror closed.

Day 7, Tuesday, May 22 WE CROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN TO ARKANSAS Total Miles 127 Gas:

On I 40 Just past West Memphis we turn north on Hwy 147 hwy 64 to McCrory. North on hwy 17 to New Port and West on hwy 69 to Jackson Port State Park on the White River

We are talking about some flat rural countryside with lots of rice fields and crazy crop duster type airplanes that buzz your car. Damn thing shot over the top of the car and banked left. I thought a truck had passed me.
The camp is right on the river and several times a dredging barge floats lazily by. Barge guys stand along the upper railings smoking. I can't see who driving. The bugs are awful confirmed by a fogging truck that spray cruses the campground while we walk and swat. Deet 25 barely slows the buggers down. It is a very nice camp and its filling up with people for the big annual Port Fest in a few days. We leave them to it. They also have a courthouse that never saw it's day. Built in 1800's it sat waiting for the railroad that never showed. Since then it's been used as a cotton gin, a hospital,and a temporaty place to house migrants. It was renovated in 2002 to it original form and now stands proudly next to the small welcome center. I for got to take a picture of the damn thing.


Day 4, 5 and 6 Mississippi, Memphis and Elizabeth Saturday May 19-21, Total miles 156- Gas $3.02 and $2.89
Route: Hwy 6 to Oxford, to interchange at I 55. I-55 north to Memphis TN.

In Oxford we visited Rowan Oak where William B. Faulkner lived and wrote between _____ and ______ As an old literature major I've always wanted to learn something of old William B because I found his work fascinating especially As I Lay Dyng. His home was given to Old Miss by his daughter for proper care and to make it assessable to the public. They are doing a great job.

We arrived in Memphis at the T. O. Fuller State Park. What a little known jewel in the state system. It operates on a "first come" basis and is never crowded says the camp host. He also told us that a passing Englishman said, "The showers are hot enough to brew tea." They are indeed! Note the preoccupation with hot showers on this journey.

That evening we drove in to Memphis central for a Red Birds game. What a stadium! During the 7th ending Elizabeth invited us "up top" to sit in the press box. The tickets were free, the food was not. I know now how baseball makes it money! The game was fast and very professional. The entire Red Birds operation is corporate and professional There was one of the best R&B bands playing in the courtyard after the game.

Sunday we sat around all day and healed. Elizabeth joined us for dinner and I cooked some damn good spaghetti. Curtains purchase at Target and a hanging at Elizabeth's apartment were I proceeded to accidentally knock a hole in her wall. Pat, it's bigger than the hold you made. A little duck tape works out just fine…and our first load of laundry is completed. Monday I finely wangled my way to Beal Street (Silky Sullivans) and a dozen on the half shell (many still attached) and several pints of Harp. They were shucked while I wait. Is there a heaven? You bet. Afterwards the girls made me take them to get some real food (What do you mean real food?) Later we discovered Automatic Slims restaurant serving up some very interesting fare. Thank you Elizabeth for a great time in your big interesting city. You have a great job and we are proud of you indeed.

From Helen: Ditto Eliz!! Sorry that it has taken so long to make entries on the blog but we haven't been to an internet café yet. We hope to soon. Ashley, hope you had a good trip to Las Vegas. Send pictures of Leah!

Day 3 Alabama and Mississippi, Friday, May 18 Total miles 152 Gas: $2.95 Total miles 152 Gas $3.01

Route: Hyw 72 out of Huntsville west to Florence to the Natchez Trace Parkway to Tupelo and on to the Trace State Park Mississippi.

We rolled west on 72 though Paint Rock Alabama passed the Old Path Holeiness Church across the highway from the New Beginning Worship Center next door to Worthy Screw Products. Yes, this is true. Helen wrote down the names as we passed. In Madison we saw Bubba's Pit Stop and Up in Smoke Fire Works Stand. They tend to blend different businesses in this part of the country.

We connected with the Natchez Parkway just beyond Florence Alabama. The Trace runs from Nashville to Natchez and is a interesting and important part of southern US history. Helen did her first tour driving on the Trace. I fell asleep which tells you how good a job she did. On this lovely road we averaged almost 16 miles per gallon stopping in places to see remnants of the original Trace trail and an old confederate cemetery of unknown soldiers and picnic. In places the Trace is worn 6 go 8 feet deep. Do a "Google" and learn more. It's worth it.

The Trace campground with big a lake was neat and full of "Boat People". Everyone pulled a boat behind their big RV's and enjoyed standing around their campfires at night passing on gossip. We are usually the smallest camper…but we are neat and tidy looking. We enjoyed landing early reading our books under the awning on a breezy day. So far the weather is perfect. No air condition needed at night. Hot showers abound! We are beginning to feel rested and less harried. What have we learned? (1) One night stops are hard on old people,

Day 2, Alabama, Thursday, May 17, Gas $2.88
The next morning was sunny and bright. During our "departure walk" two very large bus loads of middle grade school kids arrived spilling them out all over the group picnic area. The laughter and squeals of children on their last day of school put us in great spirits as we headed west into Alabama. We crossed the Tennessee River just a few miles south where great uncle John Hembree grew up. We drove towards Huntsville Alabama to find a camp for the night passing rolling hills of old farm lands and hay fields most of the day.

We missed our turn off the main road and ended up in the middle of Huntsville and their "new visitor's center". Not knowing were to park we pulled car and camper right up to the front door. A lady came running out and directed us around back and asked us to park on the other side of the building for RV's. Apparently we were blocking the entire front parking lot. The staff of 4 apparently not very busy ladies were more than friendly and gave us four bags of popcorn, three bottles of water and directions to Monte Sano State Park on a hill five miles from town. The ladies even phoned ahead to the camp ground registration host lady and became involved in a highly enthusiastic debate with her about the best way for us to reach our camp. They wanted to spare us the route with "hair pin" turns. This is about all we know how to navigate. We stood there during this phone discussion eating popcorn, shuffling our feet trying desperately not to drop popcorn on their new visitor center carpet. This is something very hard for us to do if you've ever seen us eat popcorn. Huntsville, by the way, is known for the Marshall US Space and Rocket Center/Space Camp. Remember the movie?

This was a very long day of driving over 170 miles. We drank a whole bottle of wine and considered what we learned today.
(1)There are no direct routes across north Georgia or Alabama.
(2)Stay off the Interstate. We tried it for about 5 minutes. The strong breeze and fast trucks buffeted us around like Mickey Mouse in his little tear drop camper cartoon.
(3)Drive 150 miles a day or less!!! Get to camp before 5 pm
(4) Don't believe all visitor's center parking signs and
(5) Eat pop corn after you reach camp.
(5) Carry more than one bottle of wine at all times.
Good Night!


Day 1, North Carolina and North Georgia, Wednesday, May 16 total miles 165 Gas $2.99

Route: Hwy 23/74 to Franklin-23/441 to Clayton Georgia-hwy 75 to Hiawassee-Blairsville to Blue Ridge and Ellijay.

Where do we begin? Driving westward we tried to answer this question many times but found it hard to do because we didn't know where we were going and where we would land for the night. So let's just say we began our "excellent adventure" from the Smokey Mountain Roasters in Hazelwood at 10 am Wednesday, May 16. Yes, Helen had to have her goodbye espresso and me my thrice-toasted sesame seed bagel with cream cheese. We think we heard them murmur as we crossed the street…"We thought they would never leave."

After a very steep climb from Ellijay we pulled into Fort Mountain State Park, on a cool misty late afternoon. We were beat but happily functional.
North Georgia is changing fast with many very large vacation homes being built overlooking the area lakes. What's new?

From Helen:
Jennie: The rug fits perfectly and does not migrate. It's beautiful! Thanks you!! I also figured a way to keep things secure on the table top and I have one f the Mother's Day flowers there. A nice touch for Bubbleh aka Moby II. Yes, there is a name change in the works.

What did we learn today?
There is not a direct route west across N. Georgia but the roads are great.
We start getting tired after 2 pm.
Super hot showers before bedtime makes us civilized.

Where to begin? (Pat, should this be at the top?)

After much road time and little debate we decided on this format for our Most Excellent Adventure Journal. We also chose to enter the latest first in order to keep scrolling to a minimum. Pictures will figure in somewhere after we talk to Pat. Please let us know if we are doing this right. Ask questions. We are showing our highway route so map lovers like you Steve and Rick can highlight our path west. It's fun from this end. I suggest a yellow marker.