Where is Noah's ark when you need it?

The good news is we were able to set up the travel trailer before the rain came. The bad news is the rains were of Biblical proportions and by the next morning our campsite was a muddy mess.

We camped in the A section which is nice because it is a small peninsula with water on three sides. The downside is that our side of the peninsula was virtually without grass, but there was plenty of red clay.

I don't want our experience to sound too negative. The folks at the check-in counter in the Visitor's Center were nice, and you could even buy ice there. The campsites themselves were set up well, with asphalt pads for the RV's, a nice gravel pad adjacent to the RV with firepit, grill and picnic table, and a nice walkway with railing leading down to another gravel pad for setting up a tent or just relaxing in lawn chairs at the water's edge. We had full hook-ups and both 30 and 50 amp service.

Also, we were camping with my twin sister and her husband, and being able to have a week-end with no obligations was wonderful. For a treat my sister made banana pudding and I could have eaten the whole thing (but I didn't.)

The pictures we took were just this side of breathtaking and I will try to show them here.

During our stay we found that our surround sound did not work, and a couple of the cabinet doors on our Jayco Eagle broke. We took the unit back to Crain RV and they replaced the surround sound and repaired the cabinet doors. Can't say enough nice things about the people at Crain RV in Little Rock, AR.

Our next planned adventure is out west. We are departing June 15 for the Grand Canyon. I will do some speaking engagements on the road but I know there will be plenty of time for sightseeing. After all, I am alway looking for inspiration for that next great poem.

Until then (or if the need to wander strikes us between now and June 15) Happy Trails.

Rain, Rain go away

Hello, again,
We are headed to Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville, AR. We'll just be camping over the week-end, but we are looking forward to our stay. We are meeting my sister and her husband there, and are eager for a little downtime. Hoping we don't have to set up in the rain, but we'll see what happens.

We were at Lake Dardanelle State Park for a family wedding a few years ago and are happy to be going back. It is a beautiful setting and we'll try to take pictures if the weather cooperates. Will write more after our stay.

Happy trails...

You have to start somewhere

Hi, folks,
Here we are, starting down a new pathway, exploring the USA one state at a time in our new, 31 foot travel trailer. Accompanied by Zoe, our adorable half lab/half beagle, and Hercules, our manic and needy lab/rat terrier mix, we are ready to embrace the open road, heeding the call to try world famous chili, barbeque, hamburgers, pizza, beer, and yes, we will be the judge of what is "best."

As we meander down the interstate, we will offer you our likes and dislikes of RV parks, resorts, places to stop along the way and even places to avoid. We will do our best to include services that will be helpful during your travels, and, since a picture truly does say a thousand words, we will include photos along with our ramblings, and occasionally we will insert a poem or two.

Our first trip was to Maumelle State Park in Little Rock, AR, a park operated by the Corp of Engineers. Maumelle Park is a gem of a park nestled alongside the Arkansas River, yet only 10 minutes from west Little Rock, which means if you don't catch any fish you don't have to do without dinner--Kroger is just minutes away, along with a wide variety of family and upscale dining.

The park has over one hundred campsites, accommodating anything from a tent to a full sized Motor home with awnings and slide-outs. There are electric and water hook-ups along with dump stations, and the park is well maintained. Our site was on the river although there are wooded sites as well. Although the park offers no supplies, with civilization being only 10 minutes away you shouldn't run any of anything for very long.

If you don't catch any fish, or you just get tired of burgers and hot dogs, for family dining, travel west on Cantrell to find Izzy's, a place that offers both a comfortable setting and good food. Their tamales are a specialty, but you can also find salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. The folks are friendly and the service is good. Prices are reasonable, too.

There are plenty of other options, from pizza places to a little more upscale, such as Capers and, traveling farther east on Cantrell, you will find several restaurants, including Bonefish, Johnny Carinos, and many other choices. Also, a short drive down Rahling Road takes you to Chenal Boulevard and many other shopping and dining opportunities, along with the Chenal 9, a state of the arts movie theater which includes an IMAX theater as well.

There are vets and other boarding facilities that offer day care in the event you want to explore the central Arkansas area and don't want to be tied down to letting the puppies out of the RV every few hours. Our favorite is Canine Country Club west on Cantrell. You do not need reservations for day care, and the only problem you will face is your dog may not be ready to leave at the end of the day. Anita and her family will treat your dog like family. Tell her Zoe and Hercules sent you. If your dog becomes ill, Dr. Kim Miller at Chenal Valley Animal Hospital gets our Top Dog Vet Award. Links for both of these facilities are on this page.

Be sure to explore downtown Little Rock while you are in the area, making time for the River Market area along with the Clinton Library. The Old State House is interesting, and if art is your thing be sure and visit the Arkansas Arts Center. You can generally catch a play at the Rep or one of the local community theaters (Weekend Theater is one of our favorites) and the Symphony is always a pleasure.

Check out these places and more while visiting Little Rock, Arkansas.