W15 Days 37-41

Day 37 March 22

We were awakened twice during the night with some loud owls hooting and screeching. The sound really echoed off the canyon walls.

It was time to move on again, despite the warm and sunny day ahead. Just our luck: the best weather waited for big driving days. And just David’s luck: the outlet mall he agreed to take me to wasn’t open until noon, and it was only 10:00!

Highway 40 in Oklahoma is on the Trail of Tears, so we learned more about the removal, and devastation, of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole people in the 1830s. This drive is an interesting juxtaposition of the history, the present (the highway goes through several reserves) and the kitsch (Cherokee Trading Posts and Gas Stations with products made in China). Even the bizarre: a town sign for “Lotawatah” just before Lake Eufaula.

Just after the Arkansas State Border, we stopped for a visit at Fort Smith. Originally built in 1817, the fort featured in The Trail of Tears, The Civil War (the rebuilt version), then as a Federal Court:

We stayed at the Springhill Army Corps of Engineers Park ($23 FHU). Mandy looked like it was time to get home:

Here’s the view from my chair:

Day 38 March 23

We decided to take one of the Scenic Byway drives into the Ozark Mountains, a place we’ve never been before. Loved the signs that warned of “Very Crooked and Very Steep Road Ahead”.

These mountains are “low” but pretty as they are beginning to show their spring colours. We visited the Ozark Folk Ways Heritage, Craft, Arts and Culture Center and viewed some beautiful items, and even bought a few.

The drive through Arkansas was pleasant and things got greener and the fields increasingly more flooded as we headed east. By the time we reached the Tom Sawyer RV Park on the Mississippi in West Memphis, we saw why. The river has flooded, apparently because of the snow melting in the Ohio River.

The park had just opened for this part of the season though the river was very high and some sites were still flooded.

We did see a few birds, like this Northern Flicker (moulting, I think):

This park is a great find for the future. It was $32 FHU. Here’s the view from my chair:

Day 39 March 24

It continued to be fine weather in Tennessee, an area we avoided five weeks ago when we were heading south.

Here are some observations:

• the town of Bucksnort (ties with Toad Suck)
• four K-9 units on Highway 65 (twice the dogs were at work)
• a Drug Task Force search in progress (what’s with this state?)

We thought of going back to Mammoth Caves National Park, but decided to stay closer to the highway at the Singing Caves RV Park ($16.50 PA for E/W). Here’s the view from my chair:

Day 40 March 25

We want to put on some miles, so headed out early. We’ve seen the exit for Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park many times and decided to go there this time (we haven’t had any of our usual Civil War stops this trip, so this was a way to connect).

The park is quiet and set on the Lincoln family Kentucky homestead. A “symbolic” log cabin is enshrined in a granite building:

Now, the log cabin WAS believed to have been the actual home, but, after the memorial was completed, it was discovered that this was not the Lincoln home. But the cabin is typical of the era and is viewed as “symbolic”.

What is real is the springs that was on their property:

We drove on to Lexington via the Bluegrass Parkway, a great way to travel east/west. The Lexington area was pretty with its many horse farms.

I had noticed some “barn art” in this area and missed taking any pictures of what turned out to be “Barn Quilts”. I will watch for them in the future.

We stopped at the Bluffton/Findlay KOA Park in Ohio, $30 for FHU but the water wasn’t on yet. But we could (and did) use our heater. Here’s the view from my chair (notice how close we were to the highway!):

Day 41 March 26

We were able to empty our tanks as part of the re-winterizing process. We wouldn’t be the first doing that here as the recycling bin was filled with empty RV Antifreeze bottles!

We hit some snow, sleet, a tiny bit of sun and a progressively colder drive home. It was a good drive until the 90 minute parking lot we hit from Yonge Street all the way to Whites Road!

But we made it. It was another great winter trip. It was our second year of sketchy weather in Texas, so we are thinking of Arizona next year. But before that, there’s a spring trip, a summer trip, a fall trip….