CA to NY 8

Day 29 8/5/17

As they say, "all good things must come to an end" and Saturday meant Chuck and I must part company and go our separate ways. He grabs a flight from Austin back to San Jose and I grab an Interstate back toward NY. I'll make eight more overnight stops before pulling into Croton's RV Park. He was considerate enough to ask if I was going to make it okay whereupon I reminded him that I made the ten day, 2,822 mile cross country without him, so I think I'll be okay. Still, he's a most attentive and considerate kid (kid?). To reiterate, he was great company allowing me to pay my own way once in awhile...very few once in awhile-s. For the most part, dinners, admissions, and even a tankful or two of diesel were taken care of by him. Add generous to his list of good qualities. It was his desire not to sit around and do nothing that enhanced this trip for me. He did mention to me that the trip "was better than people said it would be." I detected his sister's input with that one. Marybeth already has my next means of transportation picked out:

A Winnie Walker. For those who don't about
them, see below.

So the trip to Rusk, Texas, without a co-pilot was uneventful. Left to concentrate on the road and traffic, my photos are scarce to non-existent. I will say if I see another "Bridge may ice in cold weather" sign, I'll shoot myself.  I really can't cause there's going to be a million more before I get home. I know they're required for every bridge in the nation but where I traveled there were nothing but rivers, creeks, hollows, washes and draws...each with a name to honor someone: "John's Creek," even a "Sleepy Hollow." Passing through Limestone, TX, I caught a glimpse of a small herd of bison. Sorry , no photos, I'm driving.

And so it was in Rusk, Texas, near the birthplace of
James Stephen "Big Jim" Hogg (March 24, 1852 - March 3, 1906)
He was an American lawyer, statesman and 20th
Governor of Texas. Got a State Park named after him as well.

With the sun setting in the west, I was able to enjoy some
shade. The walk to the showers and the laundry was a challenge.

Thought $2.50 for a load of wash was a tad high. To dry, it cost $1.00 for 15 minutes and you must keep feeding a quarter at a time until the clothes were dry. Knowing it would take at least 40 minutes for mine to dry, I added accordingly. Total for wash and dry came to $7.00. Perhaps other RVers who read this will let me know if that's reasonable. My trips are never of this duration to require laundry services often.

Good night. See you in Hot Springs, AR tomorrow night.

Day 30 8/6/17

Ugly as it looks, I drove through a couple of showers and that
was it; most of it had blown through by the time I went through.

 

It has been my habit when I awake to check the radar and weather for the next leg of my journey. Sunday's weather in Arkansas gave me pause and a quick thought to a Plan B. I was headed for Hot Springs, AR, and it looked as though it was under the gun for some serious weather. I started out as usual anyway knowing that I wouldn't be in the area for another four or five hours. What I encountered was a not serious weather but serious construction on US-59 with an accident thrown in for good measure. It was Sunday so no one was working but the barricades were up and the speed limit reduced for the duration of the single lane travel. As mentioned in a previous blog, when these folks repair or repave roads, they do it 18 to 25 miles sections at a time.

But when the mess was behind me, this refreshing sight
stayed with me all along AR-7. Lush, thick, green pine tree
forests coming right up to the highway's edge. It reminded
me of travels through New York State.  

The drive through Arkadelphia, Caddo Valley, DeGray Lake, Bristol, and Lake Hamilton on AR-7 was beautiful. DeGray Lake is another State recreational area constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Lake Hamilton is surround by condos and hotels and obviously another resort/recreational spot in Arkansas. A far cry from the scrub land of west Texas.

Only shot I could get while driving past Lake Hamilton

Another great KOA campground laid out in a wooded, hilly area. KOA personnel escort you to your site and make sure all utilities are working. Very friendly folks, Again, it was a husband-wife team. 

At dusk there was a sound that caught my attention. I've never heard anything like it before in our area. It was persistent but didn't last too long; certainly didn't affect my sleep. I knew it was an insect but didn't know which one till I researched and Googled 'insects sounds in Arkansas.' CLICK HERE and find out the what the mystery sound was. I was surprised.

The story of Hot Springs is a good read. The origin, timing, purity and geology of this unique area (originating in the Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas) is fascinating. The water comes from rain which falls in mountains to the north and northeast. It flows through cracked rock at about one foot per year, goes down to estimated minimum depths of 4,500 to 7,500 ft where it gets heated. Under artesian pressure, the thermal waters rise and emerge through the Hot Springs Sandstone. The trip down takes about 4,000 years while the hot water takes about a year to reach the surface.

Well, that's it for the last two days; hope you enjoyed the trip without too many photos to view. If I don't get at documenting all I experience, I'll lose it. I've already made some additions in the past couple of blogs; things remembered or photos I've forgotten to include. This blog program is good that way. Any updates I make will be seen by those who have yet to open the site and read it. By the way, I'm receiving nice feedback and comments by those taking the time to do so. Thanks so much. Emailing me directly rather than commenting within the blog is fine except no one will see such comments. I'll try again to respond to comments made within the blog. I've had trouble lately doing that. Till tomorrow, take care.