Branson, Missouri to Hot Springs, Arkansas

We left Branson and continued south on US Hwy 65. We had camped just inside the Missouri line so after just a few minutes of driving we were in Arkansas. Because it seemed like a good portion of Arkansans had been in Missouri for the July 4th holiday (lots of traffic heading south), we turned off onto Arkansas State Hwy 9 which turned out to be a great detour...no traffic and gently rolling wooded hillsides. We had been in this area on a previous trip, and it renewed our belief that Northern Arkansas is a very beautiful area. We then made our way to US Hwy 70, heading west towards Hot Springs, Arkansas. We ran into a downpour...so hard we could barely make out the road. The highway had so much water on it that huge waves swept over the top of our RV from vehicles traveling on the other side of this two lane road. We were heading to the Hot Springs area to visit our dear friend Millie Wilson, who had moved last year from San Diego. Millie had been a frequent visitor when we first moved to Lake Nacimiento. She is currently living with her sister, Mary. Both had suggested Lake Catherine State Park for our campground while here. Unfortunately, due to the holiday weekend, the campground was full. Mary was kind enough to invite us to stay in her home....a very lovely place adjacent to a large pond and golf course. For dinner she made a tasty pasta dish and a southern favorite...wilted lettuce salad. As Mary pointed out...it wasn't healthy but certainly delicious! Today, Millie took us on a tour of Garvan Woodland Gardens. To say that place was spectacular would not be sufficient. This is a 200 acre garden in a natural woodland setting with beautiful exotic plants and flowers. We then drove a few miles to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hot Springs turns our to be the very first federally protected area in this nation's history. It is famous for its hot springs bath houses. The baths had its greatest popularity from the mid-1800's until about 1946. People from all over the world came there for the medicinal healing of the spring water. There are currently 9 of the "original" bath house on "Bath House Row." Only one still operates. The others are being maintained and renovated by the NPS. Each of the baths houses are distinct though they all have either Spanish mission or neoclassical architecture, and all have curved windows, doorways and ceilings. Except for the one operating, to get a hot springs bath one now has to go to one of the hotels in the area. Besides bathing, many come to Hot Springs to drink the water. To the right is a photo of people filling up their water from a fountain connected directly to the hot springs. There are several places behind the baths where water percolates right out of the side of a cliff. Photos to the right include Millie with us at Garvan Gardens, the water fountain, and bath houses on Bath House Row. For the second night, we were able to secure a camping spot at Lake Catherine. We leave tomorrow heading east.