9/27/2014

We did what we promised ourselves yesterday and took a day off, went and got groceries as the event of the day.  But by the time we ate dinner, it was close to 10 pm...bed time.  Nice relaxing day.

This morning, we spent a couple of hours planning our stretch run to home.  We made the camping reservations and made the plans to be home by Oct 10.  I think we both want to be home for a while. We are going to move to Little Rock tomorrow for a few days and then start the trek to Florida via Memphis, a couple of stops in Mississippi and then 2 stops in the Florida Panhandle.  We are still almost 1000 miles from home and we are going to follow our rules...no more than 5 hours a day and when we stop, it is for at least 2 days,  Driving every day is hard on us both.  It will be fine.

We then took a ride south across the Arkansas River and west to Magazine Mountain State Park, with the highest point in Arkansas as its centerpiece.  At the top of the mountain are several look outs with some very pretty views.  We also passed through several small towns along the way.  Growing up in a tiny village as I did gives me a different perspective of life in these places, and I enjoy cruising through them.  Chicken & turkey farming is a major part of these folks lives...a different product but a similar way of life.  Be thankful this Thanksgiving for these folks,  They work hard for what we eat.

We also stopped at a couple of wineries and sampled their products...a person gets thirsty doing all this picture taking :).  But it was a nice relaxing day too.  The pace is slowing, and that is fine.

Steve & Barb Larson

Arkansas River from our campsite

The lock & dam just downriver from our site from the south side

Our camper from the other side of the river

Pretty view from Mt. Magazine

Our chauffeur is a pretty site too 

There were Monarch Butterflies all over

Wineries