Hampton Inn - Fort Smith

So the day started with a visit to the doctor to get a shot for Ethan. The poison ivy on his face from his hike through the woods was getting dangerously near his eyes. So we didn't leave Tupelo until almost lunchtime. Passed through Memphis, then crossed the Mississippi into Arkansas. We stopped in Alma. The campground here was a pretty scary place, like something from a Friday the 13th movie.

So so tired. Today was a reeeeeally long day. IT was a really stressful drive through the Ozarks in the rain and dark I was driving the car and Juan following in the truck. Tomorrow we pick up the trailer from Nancy's and then off to the QT farm to drop the trailer then drive to Dallas to return the car.

... pretty interesting to see what's been done with all the old buildings, especially since I had never been to either city. We also stopped at an old-fashioned ice cream shop and got root beer floats. Excellent.

Luke and Jenna offered to give me a ride back to Searcy, AR, where we attended college and 45 minutes away from Little Rock, so I left with them Sunday afternoon.

I read a little blurb about the Spiro Mounds sometime last year in Archeology Magazine and have been very excited to to reach this part of the trip. I believe I remember correctly that there are only two Mounds in the U.S. open to visitors, and that the other is in Illinois. Feel free to add comments if I'm wrong. The drive from Poteau to Spiro was quick, although I really should say Fort Coffee. According to ...

... about our county. I wait for the "go to your safe place" announcement and call the front desk: "where's our safe place?". The guy pauses for a second and says, "well, I guess you just crawl under your bed" and hangs up on me! (Remember, I'm on an upper floor surrounded by glass.) I don't remember sleeping much, but the ladies sure got a kick out of the story the next morning. I guess tornado warnings in Oklahoma just don't scare anyone but tourists.

... on a tour of the building he's renovating and turning into a museum and historical center. It, and he, was so interesting! I loved hearing about the history of the building, which was a hotel and restaurant, cafe and soda fountain. The intricate tile work in each bathroom was beautiful, and laid in the days when they did each piece individually. I regret it every time I don't have my camera, so I may have to repeat some of this tomorrow to get a few shots...

... created further conflict and the Wild West and the Indian wars are now history. Also the area is part of the Trail of Tears, where upon the Native Americans were forcibly removed from their lands and relocated to this area.Many dyeing along the route from European disease's and hunger. The fact we came across this Fort by Chance and to absorb this information as well as learn and view the platform the condemned were hung from (up to 6 at a time) and to learn that a ...

Klein aber fein........... Nach 5 Stunden Fahrt durch den Regen sind wir am Ziel angekommen....etwas nass aber immer noch mit einer sehr guten Laune. Am Abend goennten wir uns ein saftiges Steak und typische Suedstaatenmusik in einer Bar.... natuerlich erst, nachdem wir ueber eine Stunde im Kaff umhergeirrt sind, und uns wegen des aufkommenden Regens (je) einen Regenschirm gekauft haben!!!! :-0 :-))))) CU Martin & Reto

... and a chef. Very interesting conversations ensued after that as we discussed such varied topics as hunting season in Louisiana gets you two weeks off of school, more information than we needed about the local KKK and the hometown of the new Grand Wizard...(the fact that these guys knew the name of THE grand wizard and where his home scared us a little), life as a fighter and how supportive his fiancé is. By midnight we had had enough of this crowd... leaving slightly appalled ...

... again in Oklahoma, however this marked the return of the humidity. We stopped for about an hour at the Route 66 museum in Oklahoma named "Devil Wire Museum". The devil wire being barbed wire. Thee entire museum was all about barbed wire with some Route 66 history thrown in. The pictures for this day are from the museum. The ...