Category: RVing

Beside the Arkansas River in Little Rock, Arkansas

Posted in Arkansas, COE Park, Road Trip, RVing, SunriseTagged , , , 12 Comments

Maumelle Campground is a beautiful Corps of Engineers park next to the Arkansas River in Little Rock, Arkansas. This is a popular family destination and was almost full on the weekend. Just a few miles from grocery stores, shopping, and restaurants it was the perfect place for us to stay. The big sites are all paved with picnic table and fire pit. Our site was on the water with our camper set up beneath pecan trees.

Blondie enjoyed wading in the Arkansas River
We enjoyed relaxing at our campsite beside the Arkansas River
Arkansas River behind our campsite at Maumelle
Heron flying over the Arkansas River at sunrise
Sunrise over the Arkansas River
Ducks on the Arkansas river

On Friday we took a day trip to the first Arkansas state park, Petit Jean State Park. The 55 mile trip took us through several small towns. The final miles of the journey were up steep, winding roads until we reached the top of Petit Jean Mountain and the state park.

The legend of how Petit Jean mountain was named began in the 1700’s when a French nobleman named Chavet became engaged. He was soon leaving to explore part the Louisiana Territory and claim some of the land. His fiance wanted to get married before he left so she could accompany him on his journey. He refused because he didn’t want her to have to suffer the hardships they would encounter. She disguised herself as a cabin boy named Petit Jean and went on the exploration with him without his knowledge. Chavet never knew who she was until she fell ill and a doctor discovered the truth. She is buried on top of the mountain which was named after her.

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Tourist Attractions in Springfield, Missouri

Posted in Missouri, Restaurants, Road Trip, RV Parks, RVing, Tourist AttractionsTagged , , 8 Comments

There were 2 “must see” attractions for us in Springfield, Missouri. The first was the original Bass Pro Shops which is as large as 7 football fields and takes up an entire city block. In addition to all of the sporting goods for sale, inside this Bass Pro are waterfalls, aquariums, exhibits, a restaurant, and 2 museums – the Archery Hall of Fame and the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum.

The original and largest Bass Pro Shops
Display as you enter Bass Pro Shops
This guy was huge

Our second stop was dinner was at Lambert’s Cafe – the Home of Throwed Rolls. Lambert’s has been featured on TV shows and yes, they really do throw the rolls to you! The roll thrower was a young man who would stand at one end of the restaurant and announce “Hot rolls!”. When someone holds up his hands, he tosses them a hot roll. He told us a lot of people miss the catch.

When one little boy asked him “Why do you throw the rolls?” he answered “I don’t really know.”

The rolls were warm and yeasty and delicious. We both had a pork special with barbeque ribs, pulled pork and pork tenderloin served with cole slaw and a sweet BBQ sauce. Servers walk through the restaurant with large stainless steel bowls of pass alongs to offer to each table. We tried them all – black eyed peas, fried okra, fried potatoes, and macaroni and tomatoes. We had so much food we brought enough home for a second meal!

Lambert’s Cafe in Springfield, Missouri
Throwing the rolls at Lambert’s Cafe
Lambert’s Cafe – Home of the Throwed Rolls

Fall Colors at Lake of the Ozarks State Park

Posted in Missouri, Road Trip, RVing, State ParksTagged , , 4 Comments

Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest state park in Missouri. The park has many miles of shoreline as well as many trails for hiking, biking or horseback riding. The rain followed us from Columbia and our hopes of hiking were rained out.

We chose not to pull our fifth wheel on the narrow, winding roads  to  one of the beautiful waterfront sites in the campground. Instead, we stayed in a big site with a view of the woods. We enjoyed watching four deer come out at dusk.

Time to relax
Henry found this fuzzy Catterpillar
Blondie likes the leaves

Rock cliffs line the shoreline at Lake of the Ozarks and although we were too early for the fall colors to be at their peak the trees were starting to display the beautiful orange and yellow of autumn.

 

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Smooth as Tennessee Whiskey

Posted in Birds, Road Trip, RVing, Sunrise, Sunset, Tennessee, Tourist Attractions, WildlifeTagged , , , , , 14 Comments

There is a line from the George Jones song “Tennessee Whiskey” that has been going through my head ever since we crossed the Tennessee State Line. It goes “You’re as smooth as Tennessee Whiskey”. There. Now it’s in your head, too.

Our first stop of our  fall trip was Barton Springs Campground, a TVA park in Normandy, Tennessee. We love waterfront camping so of course when I found this campground I made reservations for a site right on the water. The lake is down now during the off season but comes right in front of the campsite in spring and summer. This is a federal campground so you can use your Senior Pass to get a discount on your camping fee.

Sitting outside watching the lake was a great way to end the day after a 300 mile driving day which included going through Atlanta and Chattanooga. A doe and a fawn were across the lake grazing. A great blue heron stood on a point out in the lake. A couple launched their canoe and went for a paddle. And we were able to watch a pretty sunset.

Just before sunset at Barton Springs
Almost a Full Moon over the campground
Blondie enjoying our site Barton Springs
Old canoe on the beach
Sunset over Normandy Lake from Barton Springs Campground

Monday morning saw thunderstorms coming through the area. After breakfast we waited a little while for the rain to let up and then hopped in the truck to visit the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Jack Daniel was 13 years old when he bought his first still for $25. He developed the formula for his famous whiskey and the whiskey is still produced using the same formula and method. All the water used comes from an underground spring on the property, the barrels are still made by hand out of white oak, and the charcoal used for filtering the whiskey is made there from Sugar Maple wood. Jack was only 5 foot 2 and never married.

Our guide Janine told us the story of how Jack died. One morning Jack came to work early and tried to open the safe in his office. He was too impatient to wait for his nephew to arrive to open it so he kicked the safe and broke is big toe. He was too embarrassed to go to a doctor right away and when he finally saw one he had developed an infection which led to gangrene. He died as a result of this. It just goes to show you should never go to work early!

He left everything to his nephew shortly before prohibition shut all the distilleries down. His nephew opened a hardware store in town and made enough money to pay the property taxes every year. The distillery opened back up when prohibition was repealed.

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After our full day of sightseeing Blondie took a swim in the lake and we ended the day with a Single Barrel Jack on the rocks.

Before we left the next day I took Blondie for one last walk along the lake and enjoyed watching a Great Blue Heron and 2 Egrets. A great ending to our enjoyable stay at Barton Springs.

Great Blue Heron
Egret at Barton Springs
Egrets flying over the lake
Early morning on the Lake

Ready to Wander

Posted in RVingTagged 10 Comments

After spending the summer enjoying a Staycation at home, we are getting ready to hit the road for a fall road trip.

This summer flew by with our visits with grandchildren, going out with friends, boating, and sitting on the deck watching the world go by. We also took care of doctor visits, work around the house, and necessary repairs on the RV.

But it’s been 5 months since our last road trip and it is almost time to take off again.

Where will Titanium #107 go next? Stop by and say hi if you see us in a campground or honk and wave if you see us going down the road!