Eureka Springs

Hi All,

Our next stop was Eureka Springs, AR. It is a quirky little tourist town with its own hot spring.

The plan was to arrive around 2 PM on Tuesday, tour the town in the afternoon then visit the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Wednesday morning before continuing to Fort Smith. Well, you know what they say about plans!

We were advised against driving the direct route across the mountains. The longer, flatter route meant we didn't arrive until almost 4 PM. We rushed into town since most shops close at 5.

This beautiful mural captures the first 100 years of the town history from 1829 to 1929.

Narrow streets, narrow sidewalks and shops with cute names.

The Cliff Cottage was perched on the hillside, living up to its name.

How could we not shop in a store with a sign like this?

This sign was posted in the window of a bar.

After dinner in town we went back to the campground looking forward to our visit to the big cat refuge on Wednesday.

The thunder, lightening and rain started about 1:30 AM. Bright flashes we could see through closed eyelids and peels of thunder lasting 5-10 seconds kept us awake. Things settled down about 6 AM, we fell sound asleep to be awakened at 7:30 by the blaring flash flood alerts on our phones. This was the weather map!

Fortunately we were far above the river so we just had to contend with large puddles.

The rain resumed and since the big cat refuge is all outdoors we agreed it would have to wait until next time.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Hot Springs National Park

Hi All, 

A rare geological formation in this area causes groundwater, heated as it percolates into the earth, to rise through cracks in the rocks as mineral rich hot (143 degrees) water.

The area became very popular for people seeking cures for numerous ailments. In 1832 Congress named it a federal reserve. In 1921, Woodrow Wilson created Hot Springs National Park. 

The early wooden Victorian bath houses succumbed to rot and fire. They were replaced, between 1911-1939, by a group of brick structures along "Bathhouse Row". This one, the Forsythe, now serves as the NPS Visitor Center.

Here's one of the soaking tubs.

Steam cabinets helped folks really work up a sweat!

How about a needle shower to excite your skin?

The different bath houses competed for clients by being more luxurious. How about a stained glass ceiling in the men's changing room

or a swanky sitting room to relax in after " Taking the Waters".

The popularity of the baths peaked in 1946 when over 67,000 people came here. By 1974 that number had plummeted to 6,500. 

The Buckstaff is the only bath house still operating .

Thanks to the protection offered by its National Park status, these buildings have been preserved along with the history of the wealthy patrons, baseball players and gangsters who came here for a soak.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Nashville

Hi All,

At the rest area where we had lunch on the way to Nashville we spotted this sign. Guess there's one less way to express your opinion about the government in Tennessee.

Shortly after our lunch stop it started to rain. Four inches of rain later we got to the campground. Then it rained all night with thunder and lightning. Undeterred by the weather we headed into town to check out some of the music venues. The band here was good but we could not even find a place to stand!

This pair was pretty good and we stood at the back wall watching for a while.

At about the sixth bar we found a seat. The bluegrass group was excellent but there's no picture of them since we could not see them from where we were sitting. 

The weather gods were still raging. Of the four TVs in this bar, one showed basketball, one showed hockey and two showed the weather channel posting tornado warnings for a community about 20 miles south.

In the evening we went to the Grand Ole Opry. A great show as usual.

Since we went to the Opry late show (9:30-12:00), we will get a late start tomorrow as we head for Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Visiting Walt & Betty

Hi All,

We stopped in Charlotte, NC to visit Walt & Betty.

It was great to see them and spend time together especially since they will not be returning to volunteer at the Elk Refuge in Jackson, WY this summer.

First stop was the National Whitewater Training Center. This fascinating Olympic Training facility has acres of concrete and millions of gallons of water pumped through the system to create rapids of varying difficulty.

You can shoot the rapids on a raft

or bring/rent a kayak.

This guy looks like he might be in trouble but he was actually practicing rolls and recoveries .

After you have kayaked or rafted from the upper pool to the lower pool (there are different channels with differing challenges), no need to haul out and climb back up. Just paddle on to the conveyer belt and ride it back to the top.

Next stop was the Memorial Garden in Concord, NC.

Founded as a Presbyterian cemetery in 1804, it was reclaimed as a memorial garden in 1930.

It's a beautiful, peaceful spot with a few very old tombstones surrounded by well tended flower beds.

After our good-bye hugs with Betty & Walt, we continued west towards Nashville.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Woodrow Wilson Birthplace & Museum

Hi All,

Woodrow Wilson's family moved to Staunton, VA where his father was a Presbyterian minister in 1855. Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in 1856. In his early years he was called Tommy. Later he dropped the Tommy, believing "Woodrow", his mother's maiden name, was more dignified.

This site includes his birthplace, his museum and library.

Wilson earned a PhD from Princeton (the only President to have a PhD) and later serves as President of Princeton. This is his desk from Princeton.

The museum has extensive exhibits covering his time as NJ Governor his two presidential campaigns and highlights of his time as President.

His favorite car was this huge V-12 Pierce-Arrow.

Here's the house where he was born.

In the kitchen we saw this stove with different ranges of heat, leading to the term "range". Carl took this picture just before we spotted the " No Photography" sign!

Before electronic funds transfers, this was how money moved between banks. Wilson was on the biggest note.

In the gift shop we found this T shirt with a quote from Wilson.

Too bad we have no more room in the coach.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Camera Heritage Museum

Hi All,

Trip Advisor clued us into this museum in historic downtown Staunton. Dave Schwartz has amassed an extraordinary collection of cameras and photo memorabilia.

We expected a lot of cameras and were not disappointed but the real surprise was the historically significant pieces in the collection. Leni Riefenstahl was Hitler's personal cinematographer who recorded the 1936 olympics with this camera!

An elderly Japanese gentleman came into the shop and asked if Dave would be interested in a Japanese aerial photo camera from WW2. In addition to the camera, Dave got two rolls of exposed, undeveloped film. To everyone's amazement, the film showed the attack on Pearl Harbor and the moments just before the sinking of the USS Arizona!!!

This display case has one of every Leica camera ever made. Not nearly as impressive as Dave's story about the Leica Freedom Trail. Ernst Leitz II helped hundreds of Jews escape Germany by hiring them and transferring them to Leica business units in America, France, Britain and Hong Kong. Leitz saved more Jews than Oscar Schindler.

Railroad fans know the name O. Winston Link, the 1950's photographer who captured the final days of steam locomotives.

This classic view camera, owned by the Norfolk & Western Railroad was used by link to take his iconic photo of the big locomotive crossing behind a drive-in-theater.

No camera museum would be complete without a selection of spy cameras like these Minox-B's

When preparing for his first Star Wars film, George Lucas needed a silver handle with a light that his special effects artists could enhance into the blade of the light saber. Someone adapted the flash handle of a graphic view camera and Dave has one of the originals.

Dave is an incredible photo historian. From early tin types to the John Wilkes Booth family photo album to Apple Computer's purchase of all of Kodak's patents subsequently used to sue Samsung for Billions!

We had a great time and if you are in the area, check it out. The only down side was that we ran out of time and will leave the pioneer farm for next time.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Moving Down the Road

Hi All,

Two easy driving days have brought us to Staunton, VA.

When we stopped for lunch yesterday at a West Virginia rest stop, the occupant of the trailer next to us was also having lunch!

That same rest stop was full of blossoming trees.

The campground here in Staunton is overrun with bunnies, not just on Easter

The campground also has this lovely waterfall.

Today we will visit the Woodrow Wilson Library and Museum and a local Pioneer Settlement. Tomorrow we move on to Charlotte, NC to visit Walt & Betty.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502