M starts work at 5 a.m., when kids start arriving at her day care ctr. Her charges are preschool and kindergarten age, so she goes with them on the school bus. Once they are discharged, she does paperwork and then goes home about 10:30 for a break. Her day ends at 5:30 p.m. when the kids are supposed to have all been picked up. A tough schedule, about which she does not complain.
Monday we packed up and then waited for her to come home on break before we hit the road. A short drive to Chickasaw Natl Recreation Area and a campsite beside a large reservoir. The park dates from the early 20th century when the land and its mineral springs were bought from the Chickasaw Indian tribe. The CCC did major construction and improvements in the 30's, and the park still has pavillions and buildings in the distinctive CCC architectural style.
Tuesday we tried canoeing in the reservoir, but the strong wind made it a short effort. We did visit the nature center and took a 1.2-mile hike to two beautiful springs.
Wednesday we slept late and then drove 5 hours to Queen Wilhelmina State park just over the border in Arkansas. It was interesting to watch the transition in the scenery from western prarie into eastern broadleaf and pine forest. The park, where we've stayed twice before, is on a high ridge in the Ozarks, with a good view and cooler temperatures plus a cooling breeze.
We learned that the campground will be the site of a motorcycle rally this weekend (BMW's and dirt bikes, not Harleys). We met Thomas and Valerie, our next-campsite neighbors, and immediately hit it off with them. A pretty good dinner out at the nearby lodge restaurant.
Wednesday night was finally cool enough to do without air conditioning. Got down to about 70 overnight.
Our larder was about empty, so after a late breakfast we drove 17 miles to Mena for grocery shopping. Too hot to ride the bike, so a lazy afternoon.
Thomas is from S. Louisiana, so he was drafted to cook gumbo for the early arrivers to the motorcycle rally. We were invited to partake, and I didn't want to mooch when the event is a charity fund-raiser, so we registered for the rally. Now we're real bikers. The gumbo was excellent.
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