8/10 to Hot Springs, AR

We began to think that this is the land of Crape Myrtle - not only seeing them taller than ranch style homes but also pruned in various ways in the medians of streets in the Memphis area.  The motel we left in TN had unique flavored Dum-Dum lollipops in a basket as we left - Kathy couldn't resist trying one that tasted (and smelled) like cream soda. 

Of course, we also see some unusual "Wide Load" trailers - and lots of semis on I-40 through Arkansas.  Not sure what this was - just big!








We stopped at quilt stores in Germantown before we left TN then in Arkansas at Sherwood, Alexander, Benton, and Hot Springs.  One owner invited us to take the photo inside (very welcomed in mid-90s heat and high humidity) - turns out she lived in Valley Forge about 5 years ago.  At another place I was asked by a younger driver where in PA we were from; her family had just finished a year at State College and she was travelling with her mother - the quilter.  Another owner knew the one of the owners from the Hayes quilt store in Wilmington where Kathy has taken some classes.

We got to Hot Springs National Park late enough that we did a cursory look at the area - we'll be back tomorrow.  The large buildings they call bath houses still house working baths in two of them.  Another is their gift shop, while another uses the water from the springs to brew craft beers and root beer available with food at a café there.







Finally, one of the bath houses is now the visitor center and museum - we looked a bit but will hopefully go on a ranger guided tour tomorrow.  While the rooms with the baths were ornate and had (as expected) quite a bit of heavy duty plumbing, the room with the steam baths reminded me of a scene from a 50's TV comedy.

We found another BBQ place not far from the hotel - Stubby's.  Again smelled like smoked meat when you entered.   Good portions at reasonable prices.
















Some unusual policies here in Arkansas, though.








While I was buying  t-shirt, Kathy struck up a conversation with some local cops that had come in for dinner as we were leaving.  One of them said he had been to Philly and had a "real Philly cheesesteak" maintaining that it should be a crime for people in other parts of the country to call what they serve "Philly cheesesteaks".  After he was through, he agreed, though, when I commented that we don't have anyplace like Stubby's in Philly.

We'll see whether we stay in Hot Springs another night or leave after touring the museum and get as far as possible in the afternoon.

Marty