Besides the rolling green hills of Arkansas, which really are beautiful, I had moments of emotional highs and lows. 

The highs:

My first national park visit of this travel was at Hot Springs National Park! I discovered why there is no entrance fee; the park wraps itself around the town. There is a symbiotic relationship between city officials and national park staff as they welcome visitors to the area.

Parking was my first challenge so I headed to a scenic drive to Mountain Tower. There I looked out across the park and city. This park is the oldest protected park in the national park system with 47 naturally heated springs. The average water temperature is 143 degrees which I did feel at a spring when I walked the Grand Promenade. I collected cool spring water at another location. If it stopped raining I would have taken more walking time.

Lunch at Superior Bathhouse …. One of the original bathhouses in Hot Springs. They use the thermal waters in creating their beer and rootbeer soda. 

The next day it did stop raining, for a couple of hours! So I drove to Lake Hamilton since this area has plenty of bayous, rivers, creeks and lakes. I birded at Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery and spent time talking with a woman born and raised in Arkansas. She also loved birds. We had fun having her tell me how to pronounce Lake Ouchita (wish -short a-and short -ta).

The low:

When you have a leaking anything, hope it does not happen on a weekend! Monday morning I was off to 5 different windshield places and a RAM dealership between Hot Springs and Little Rock. I have shortened this story considerably. A mechanic at one windshield place actually discovered the water was coming in through the cab lights at the top front of the van! No one else realized that fact because none took the time to problem-solve. I also discover dealerships only care about the big mechanical vehicular issues. I spent 5 hours driving around and between places to get a solution! I did say I cut this story short!

The high:

Thankfully the mechanic did the repair not just of one cab light but all five!!! He was surprised with what the RAM dealership even offered as a fix …. And said to me, why didn’t they think about fixing it the right way? Who knows… I was so appreciative of this mechanic’s time and work, I even tipped him!

So it has not rained since the fix and I am off to Tennessee. Time will tell if the fix worked … I am remaining optimistic and grateful!

Overall: I loved the green landscape and Arkansa and someday I will return and spend more time here.