Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico

We did that with one overnight stop, leaving Cotter and overnighting in Chandler, Oklahoma, which is a beautiful rural area on old Route 66, with some original buildings in the small town itself. There is a crossroads with a little stadium and a sign that says "Denver," but just seemed to be a car wash and a couple of other buildings, I guess there is a school there somewhere. They are proud of their team, with large bright orange Denver Bulldogs logo painted on the buildings. The Walmart about 10 miles away actually sold two styles of T-shirts with their logos, as well as Oklahoma state stuff, which I thought was kind of cool for a big company to do that.

We travelled through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, noting that the dirt is a rich bright orange/red color in this state, then stopped at a rest area right over the Texas line that was a storm shelter built into a hill. It had free BBQs to use that are shaped like the state!

Then we stayed overnight in Amarillo and tried Famous Dave's BBQ, which was pretty good. The thing I love about down here is that they are quick with slamming down another soda or ice tea when your previous one is about 2/3 or less gone. Then they ask if you want to take more soda or fries home with you, no charge. When we were ready to go I still had 2/3 of my ice tea left so I asked for something so I could take it home. He came back and set a big take-home styro cup with lid, already filled with ice tea, on the table! 

Made it to Roswell Sunday afternoon, about 95 degrees F and sunny. Each day's trip was about 5 hours. We are staying here for a week to enjoy the nice weather.

Above:  Lots of big farms in Oklahoma

Above:  In Oklahoma just before Texas state line, a little wind damage

Above:  Inside the storm-shelter rest area

Above:  Through the backroads of the Ozarks in Arkansas

Above:  Bright red dirt common in Western Arkansas and lots of Oklahoma

Above:  Chander, Oklahoma, on old Route 66

Above:  Gigantic Texas-shaped BBQs at the storm-shelter rest area

Above:  Texas rest area storm shelter near Oklahoma state line

Above:  Old place near Roswell, NM

Ozarks in Arkansas

Out in the backwoods of Arkansas. We are smack in the middle of the Ozarks, camping on the White River. Lots of nesting great blue herons, bald eagles, turkey vultures, eastern bluebirds, turtles, and saw a baby midland water snake, too. They have about a dozen or more indigenous snake species in the state but only about 4 are venomous.

Lots of small towns all around these hills to explore, lots of good fly fishing and a huge lake system with good bass fishing. We stopped by the place where Ranger boats are made near here. They have a really nice building devoted to the achievements of the couple who started the company, Forrest and Nina Wood. Lots of trophies and photos of them with various rich and famous Republican politicians. And a lot of taxidermy victims, too.

Above: The camp has an honor system for the ice machine. This box has been full of money since we got here.  Says something for the area...

Above: House in Flippin, Arkansas

Above: Campfire at dusk, still 28 C. outside :)

Above: Common site of rocking chairs in front of the old stores in Flippin, Arkansas

Above: View from our campsite overlooking the White River

Above: Arkansas state flag

Above: The old Flippin jailhouse

Above: University of Arkansas Razorbacks teams' logo

Rush, Arkansas

We are in the Ozarks Mountains of Arkansas. Cue Deliverance music and get the compound bow ready, Burt.

This is an old zinc mining town near Cotter. The creek runs over the dirt road in a few spots that have been cemented over to allow this, with encouraging signs that say the road is impassible during high water. It's up to you to figure out if it's too high or not.

To Graceland

Just so's you know, tomorrow we're heading north through Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee, for the sole purpose of visiting Elvis in Graceland.  This will be weather permitting as there are advisories for thunderstorms with the odd scattered tornado in the Ark-La-Tex area, as they like to call it down here.