Greetings from Panera Bread in Bentonville, AR! We are actually staying in Cave Springs, which is about 8 miles down the road, but we are here to use their free Internet service. The Internet in the park is horrible, almost non-existent, and our personal WiFi is running out of speed until Friday! So, we are winging it here. There will not be a blog post tomorrow morning because of technical difficulties!
Our drive from Little Rock to Cave Springs was quite an easy journey. The traffic was not so bad and the roads were much better. The weather was kind to us as well; however, we had rain all night, but again Mother Nature was gracious enough that we were able to see the baseball game at my favorite stadium, Arvest, between the Arkansas Travelers (who we just saw in Little Rock, their home town) and the local Norwest Arkansas Naturals. Unfortunately, due to very chilly weather, we left the game after the 7th inning ice cream tradition because Thom's Weather Bug App showed the storm was closing in. We literally made it back to the RV before the rain came. If you have been watching the national weather reports, there have been flash flood warnings and tornado warnings in the surrounding areas; luckily we have not been in the immediate danger areas, thank goodness!
The drive through Arkansas is so pretty with the green trees and the bordering Ozarks. We were crossing deep valleys on high bridges and it was just a lovely drive. I always wonder what it must look like in the fall here and perhaps one day we will return to check out the gold, red, and orange leaves that we see in photos!
Today, other than writing this blog in the Panera, we will visit the local grocery store, Harps, as well as a local home and garden center. We are looking for a 6' ladder for the back of the RV to replace the one we have. It's been a search that has taken us to Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace, True Value, Belleview Hardware, and Thoroughbred Hardware & Feed in Ocala, but that "perfect" ladder has been unobtainable. Perhaps we will find it today!
Tomorrow we are headed to Wellington, Kansas, which is approximately 260 miles depending on which route we take. We will be there for a few days and hopefully the Internet there will be much better!
We missed the DWTS finale last night but we were able to hear the announcement of the winning couple via a cell phone call to Erica and we were elated that Val and Rumer won! We have been voting for her every week! We saw Val on tour this past summer and he is an absolutely amazing performer, dancing or playing the violin!
Here are some photos of our view from our front window during our journey yesterday -
As we were headed north from Little Rock we saw the flooding to the area lands along Interstate 40.
Another quick glimpse of flooded riverbanks.
The first sight of the Ozarks! All I could think of is seeing the mountain range for the first time again!
Thom called this right ... he said the plume of steam we saw was from the steam generator of a power plant.
The highway was laced with these beautiful flowers. Unfortunately, the photo is a bit washed out and I don't know why.
Jake (left) and Fritz (right) in their favorite position during "movement" in the motorhome!
At a rest area, I looked down on a manhole and saw this "Razorback" embossed in it! I must say, these Razorback fans are almost as crazy as Gator fans!
The river is high but not overflowing in this spot.
Like Thom said, "as opposed to what, dirty restrooms"! LOL!
At a rest area on I-40 north we saw this tree and sign, and then we saw the 3 graves under it in the fence. It is the Nichols Family burial grounds, which were found during an excavation, so says the Internet! I have tried to find a definite history lesson on this but they are so conflicting.
A mixture of overcast and shooting through the window I think made for a bit of washout of the beautiful greenery!
A tunnel that seemed go downhill when we entered it.
Our view as we exited the tunnel. I can just imagine the view in the fall!
Fayetteville, Arkansas in the distance.
Jake and Fritz know the routine. When we are completely parked, they know it's treat time! They are such good traveling buddies!
Arvest Ballpark
This is such a neat ballpark and we were happy they were home!
I don't think I've ever seen such a large can of beer, 32 ounces! Here's the crazy thing ... this beer was $6.50 and a 12 ounce bottle of water is $4.00! This was not our beer, but it makes one wonder why the beer per ounce is cheaper than water!
"Strike"
Our time is up here at Panera!
Until the next post ...
That picture of Jake & Fritz cracks me up!
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