Holiday Inn City Center 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.

I was heading to Fort Smith because two of my friends who were recently married, Drew and Kelsey, live there and I was going to spend the weekend with them. Upon arrival I got directions to their apartment and biked the 60 blocks there, which was nice since I had been sitting on a bus for more than a day.

That evening two more of our friends, Luke and Jenna, arrived to ...

... or Native Americans, from 850 A.D. to 1450 A.D. The leaders lived in a separate area from everyone else and, when they died, were buried in a mound. The single burial mound contains many dead leaders covered with soil, layer upon layer. These burials went on for around 800 years. (I may be getting this mixed up with something else I read, but I believe they stripped the flesh from the bones and buried them ...

... 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.

... Begay or Harrison Bitsui, both Navajo. (Still Googling for info.) Wayne and Kay, the store owners, purchased the bracelet and other items north of Flagstaff, Arizona; they were dead pawn, or items that were pawned but never picked up. Regardless, it's obviously handmade of thick silver (they think from coins) and beautiful stones. I've never been one for blue turquoise, but this slightly-green color is just wonderful. www.peppercornantiquemall.com Wayne took ...

... that creates a big question in our minds as to the cost of the purchase of similar items in Australia. We travelled on to find a Wal Mart for our lunch stop over (certainly not as relaxing spot as the woods and stream) then onwards to catch up with the I40. This route took us to the border between Arkansas and Oklahoma, before we crossed the border we chose to divert our direction towards Fort Smith. The decision was made simply because we had time and a question as to ...

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

... serving establishment in AR you must require a membership OR every entrant must sign their name. Not sure what that's all about but we got a picture of our sign in sheet since we found it amusing. And of course you can't drink or buy alcohol on Sunday's in the whole state... it's the Sabbath you know! At the end of day 3 we are nearly half way through the country and are thrilled and loving every second of this trip and can't wait to see what's coming up at our next stop.