Monday, September 12, 2022 – Having posted Blog #4 yesterday evening, today I rested and caught up on some personal business. Now that I’m at the northeast part of Arkansas (still here today at the KOA near West Memphis, AR) I also spent some time this afternoon reviewing my travel materials and making “Where to next?” decisions.
It got really breezy yesterday and last night’s temperature had dropped enough for me to throw my sleeping bag on top of my blanket. I’m so glad it occurred to me – last month in 110-degree Palm Springs – that I oughta bring, not only that sleeping bag, but my sweatpants, flannel shirt, and other warm clothing. There’s a pool here but I passed on that.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 – I took a shower as soon as I woke up, and then went through the preparations of leaving the KOA. But wait…
Going over my travel materials yesterday I decided last night to go online and make a reservation for one night (today) at a state park and another one-night reservation for tomorrow at a different state park. I got both of those confirmed, via email.
Next, trying to plan ahead, I thought – “…why not stay Thursday 15th and Friday 16th at the Downtown Riverside RV Park, near the Clinton Presidential Library, in North Little Rock, and then stay at the North Little Rock KOA on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.” With this approach, I would have already seen the Clinton Library, written about it, and then have the weekend to focus on preparing Blog #5 (this one) for posting.
As is the case, the Downtown Riverside RV Park does not provide the type of online booking feature that’s convenient for me to use. They book reservations by phone, and the office, as I was thinking about this, was already closed. Noting their email address, I sent an email [knowing that they probably wouldn’t see it until this morning], explaining that I was Deaf, I might have some trouble calling them, and asked if I could reserve a site and pay for it when I arrive. In other words, make a reservation without providing my credit card information in advance [for deposit purposes]. The email sent, I had to hold off on booking the KOA reservation until I knew for sure the response from Downtown Riverside RV Park.
Around 8:15 a.m. this morning, as I was getting ready to leave, I decided to quickly text my sister, Evelyn, and ask for her assistance (once again) to call Downtown Riverside RV Park on my behalf when they opened at 9:00 a.m. I was just about to leave, at 8:55 a.m., when I checked my iPhone for messages and found their response – “Reservation confirmed; pay when you check in.”
Oh, fantastic! I texted Ev right away to never mind calling them. Again, getting ready to leave, I had another sudden thought. “Hmmm, OK, what the heck, MAP, ole girl, let’s go meet some more nice Arkansas folks.” I went straight to the office, greeted the lady at the counter, and asked if she could help me secure a three-night reservation at the Little Rock KOA. That she did and I’m now good to go for this week and weekend. That sense of reassurance sure did feel…reassuring!
I finally left West Memphis and headed for Rts. 77N & 61N, designated in Arkansas as part of “The Great River Road Scenic Drive.” From online – “The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The scenic route passes through 10 states and hundreds of river towns. The Great River Road is arguably the longest and most important scenic byway in America.”
I first stopped at a gas station off I-55 but moved on when I saw that they only had diesel at the rear for the big trucks. At the next gas station that I spotted, I was surprised to see the green diesel price on the sign out front broadcasting a price of less than $4.00. All the other diesel prices since I left Palm Springs were around $5.50. Wow, pretty cheap here and this was a BP filling station. I pulled up to a pump that had a green nozzle (green for diesel), and, obeying the instructions on the monitor, inserted my credit card, stuck the nozzle in the fuel filler, and reached out to press the diesel button -- only to discover it wasn’t there. Did it break off or something? The pump was patiently waiting for me to start fueling, so I went inside and asked the lady behind the counter if she could activate the diesel for me. She looked at me and said “We don’t have diesel.” I was about to point out that the price on the sign, all lit up in green, and the uncovered green pump nozzle all screamed DIESEL. But I thought better of it and went back to the pump and pressed “cancel.” At least that worked.
It was a beautiful day for a nice and tranquil drive on this scenic road. It was warm and there were no clouds anywhere in the sky. The Mississippi River was just east of me, very close, but I couldn’t see it nor could I find an access road to the river. Here and there among the farmland, and between the small towns, were a variety of industrial structures. I couldn’t make out what they were. There is, however, definitely a lot of history around these parts – those farms, for example.
I soon connected to Rt. 139N and my drive on that road took me through four miles of southwestern Missouri. “Looks just like Arkansas,” I thought. “And the sky is cloudless over here, too.”
Rt. 412W was my next connection and then Rt. 168S to the Crowley’s Ridge State Park, near Paragould. This park, “…was constructed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) beginning in 1933, establishing it as one of the six original state parks in Arkansas.” My campground area is surrounded by trees and, right from the spot of my site, I did feel a “…rustic serenity among the natural surroundings.” Let’s not forget, though, that even if this area is named for Benjamin F. Crowley, “…a soldier during the War of 1812 whose land grant was the first pioneer settlement in this part of the state…” our Native Americans lived and thrived around here first.
Having just backed in at my site I was setting up the camper when this white dog, a Lab-mix it looked like, approached me, looked my way, and then walked right by. Huh, no leash? It trotted on, sniffing at everything, tail up, and acting like it lived here. Gee, I hope it does belong to someone.
At 3:15 p.m., I applied insect repellent, grabbed my binoculars, a bottle of water, and the park’s trail map and, getting on the trail closest to my campground, went for a walk through the woods. Along this trail were several suspension bridges, one of which bounced when I walked on it. I encountered one man and the usual horde of annoying gnats and other flying insects. There’s more I want to see here and will plan on that tomorrow.
Back at the camper I sat outside for a little while with my book and
cocktail. And, oh jeez…I didn’t see him coming! I was just sitting there, eyes
closed, when this dog came strolling over and startled me. It had beautiful
brown eyes and looked to be an older dog. The owner then came by from the site
next to me and I asked if she had been calling after him. She said yes and I
had to smile at that because he either didn’t hear her or he completely ignored
her, electing instead to come and say “hi” to me. She said he’s a Coon Hound
(and not at all fixed, I noted!) – very handsome, I’d say! (Sorry, no picture…I
keep missing photo ops with other folks’ pets!) 
My mid-afternoon walk through the woods.
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One of several suspension bridges on the trail.
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CCC Pavilion.
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CCC Stone Arch Bridge
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Since my destination today was Marianna, AR, my GPS put me on Rt. 1, going south. It was a good drive on another sunny day and this northeast Arkansas scenery, while mostly flat and rural, was still quite lovely. As I was driving, I thought about the Arkansas atlas that Pat and Betty gave me and how I really can’t use that while I’m driving. It then occurred to me that I can, with my iPhone, take pictures of the relevant map sections in that atlas and refer to those as I go along. Worth a try!
The GPS guided me directly to the Mississippi River State Park where I had a reserved site waiting for me. After registering for my site, I stayed inside the Visitor’s Center to use their internet for a little while. That done, I then accepted the offer that was made to me earlier to have a state park ranger lead me to my site. I was glad for that opportunity to follow her because my campground (Beech Point Campground) was about 4-5 miles further south on a narrow two-lane winding road. I thanked my ranger guide and then discovered, much to my surprise, that even though I knew she was saying “You’re welcome” (several times), I just couldn’t decipher (lipread) the words articulated by her. Maybe I was tired or maybe this young ranger had a definitive southern accent, or other accent.
My site is an “on the water” pull-through loop and I have a lovely and unobstructed view of Bear Creek Lake. Despite the name of this state park, the lake is man-made, the water is not from the Mississippi River, which is just a bit further east. As I sat outside on my camp chair, enjoying this view and the close proximity to the lake, I observed a white egret and then a brown one. There were splashes and rings in the water and, with my binoculars I managed to catch a glimpse of a turtle’s head. Oh, incidentally, following the ranger to this campground, I noticed a sign on that road – “Crowley’s Ridge Parkway.” Hmmm, okay, I’ve got a plan now for tomorrow morning. Pictures of the lake --
Thursday, September 15, 2022 – I woke up with the sun just starting
to rise and, seeing early morning mist at the surface of the lake, I went out
to sit on my chair and watch the morning become brighter. The white egret that
I’d seen yesterday (or its cousin) came flying in and landed on a branch, or
reed, near my shoreline. I took pictures of that scene, and then another
picture of the egret when I noticed the glow of the sun on its back. I don’t
see sunrises over water very often and that moment between me and the egret was
serene and calming.
Shortly after 8:30 a.m., I left my wonderful spot and headed for the
campground exit. At the stop sign, instead of turning right to take the road
back to Marianna, I turned left and gave the “Crowley’s Ridge Parkway” another
chance. The “ridge” in this scenic byway’s name refers to the “…unique
crescent-shaped landform…” that was created over millions of years and is located primarily in
eastern Arkansas. The north-south parkway extends for 198 miles in Arkansas and
the section I drove on today was about 19 miles through the St. Francis
National Forest. And what a drive this turned out to be!
The white egret, at sunrise, in flight above the mist. 
The road was narrow – just wide enough for two vehicles to pass each
other with inches to spare – and featured a lot of winding S curves. Being a
forest, the trees on both sides of the road created a canopy, the leaves so low
in places I’m sure they brushed against the roof of my camper. Dark most of the
way it was always a delightful surprise when sunlight managed to break through openings
in those leaves. I was the only vehicle on that drive, quite happy that I
didn’t encounter another incoming driver.
The parkway ended in Helena-West Helena, a once thriving port town
along the Mississippi River. I’d seen the Mississippi River before, most
recently in 2019 when I traveled around Iowa in the truck camper. I wanted to
see it again and this town was right on it.
With no vehicle behind me, I stopped to take this picture of the parkway.
Looking for access signs to the river I drove around a residential area and through the downtown Cherry Street Historic District, a historic neighborhood. It was shocking to see that most of the buildings, many of them built years ago, were abandoned, damaged, decrepit, boarded up, and had “For Sale” notices plastered on their doors or windows. I did note a lot of cars on the street’s angled parking spots but there didn’t seem to be many stores or services that were open for business.
At the end of Cherry Street is the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot, which was built in 1912 and restored to house the Delta Cultural Center, which showcases “…exhibits related to the Delta, the Civil War, and railroads.” I went inside and asked the lady who approached me where I could see the Mississippi River. She pointed toward some steps that went up a levee and said I could get a glimpse from up there. I asked about all the buildings I had just seen and, although I had a hard time understanding her, I think she mentioned the economy and the lack of sufficient job opportunities for the local citizens.
Because of the Mississippi River, Helena, as a port city, has a lot of history revolving around the Civil War, slavery, and the enlistment of freed black slaves for use in the Union army. And one more piece of history – the “Trail of Tears” – that sad, tragic, heartbreaking, and shameful “… series of forced displacements of approximately 60,000 Indigenous people of the "Five Civilized Tribes" between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government.” Since those forced relocation routes included crossing the Mississippi River, the residents of Helena were witnesses to boats full of Indians passing by. My glimpse of the Mighty Mississippi was just that, a glimpse – but, oh, Lord, what stories it could tell.
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| The 21st Century Mississippi River. |
I generally avoid large cities when I travel in the truck camper but I became intrigued when I discovered, doing my Arkansas research last spring, that the Downtown Riverside RV Park, in North Little Rock, was situated right on the Arkansas River. Anything “water” (except swamps) gets my eye and when I researched this RV Park, I further discovered that the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum was on the other side of the Arkansas River and accessible via a pedestrian bridge – said bridge located right here at the RV Park. What a great find that was!
This is the same RV Park I wrote about last Tuesday (13th) – the one that responded so quickly to my email and confirmed my reservation without question. As I walked in the office to register and pay for my site, I said “hi” to the lady at the desk, she said “hi” back and promptly got “my” paperwork together. Since we hadn’t gone beyond that “hi” greeting, I asked if she knew who I was. She did. Wow, I thought maybe my truck camper, visible through the office window, gave me away. Or, maybe she could tell by my body language that I’m that “Deaf RVer coming today.” Showing me my Site #11 spot on the campground map, I realized she had given me a riverfront site. Totally unexpected but very much appreciated!
As I thanked Sheila, the On-Site Manager, for everything regarding my reservation
for my two-night stay here, we chatted for a few minutes. I then drove over to my
“head-in” site and, having known beforehand that they provide only 50-amp shore
power here, I used, for the first time, my brand new “50 Amp to 30 Amp”
adapter. Sitting outside later in my camp chair, I marveled at how very
different – and quite extraordinary - my view is here. The Arkansas River is
right in front of me, the pedestrian bridge is to my left, and at my right is a
vehicular bridge that connects this side of the river to the downtown side. I
did my usual reading, writing, and work on the laptop – and then, when it was
real dark outside, I stepped out to take pictures of the pedestrian bridge. 
The pedestrian bridge...and, oh yeah, my truck camper at the left. 
The bridge is lit up at night.
Friday, September 16, 2022 – Seeing a touch of orange through the window next to my bed, I got up and went outside to take pictures of the sunrise.
Shortly before 9:00 a.m. I was up on the pedestrian bridge and making my way across the Arkansas River to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum. I stopped walking, of course, to peer over the bridge and take a look at my truck camper. I had to smile at the sight (and take a picture) because my camper was practically dwarfed by all the other RVs on site. I sent a telepathic vibe to Sheila and thanked her again for my site!
To quote from online – “Originally built in 1899, the
Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, formerly known as the Rock Island Railroad
Bridge, was converted into a ramped pedestrian pathway and reopened in 2011.
Located adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Center, the bridge serves as a
visual representation of President Bill Clinton's ‘Bridge to the 21st Century.’ The bridge serves as the eastern crossing of the 15-mile
Arkansas River Trail, which runs along both the north and south banks of the
Arkansas River. The loop is a must-see for visiting cyclists, hikers, and
outdoor enthusiasts. The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge is one of four
pedestrian bridges in Little Rock that stretch over a navigable body of water.” 
View from the bridge. My camper is fourth from left.
I spent three hours at the Library/Museum. The displays, photographs,
and captioned videos, on all three levels, were well organized and informative,
I thought. President Clinton’s presidential limousine is on display on the
first level and replicas of his White House Oval Office and Cabinet Room are on
the upper levels. I was especially impressed with this long row of 3-ring metal
binders, each one marked with month and year, and accessible for visitors to
look through. The documents inside are copies of President Clinton’s daily
schedule – one binder for each month/year, and each day of that month, for the eight
years of his presidency. The first item on the schedule that I noticed was “tba
JOG.” Puzzled for a minute, it then dawned on me – “Oh, his morning jogs.”
Since the
records and documents of the Presidents of the United States of America belong
to the American people, digitalized versions can be found online. Bill Clinton’s
daily schedules can be viewed on this link - https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/collections/show/39.
The pathway to President Clinton's Presidential Library... 
Back at the camper I did some personal business and updated Blog #5. Sitting
outside later, with my book and Rum & Diet Coke, I enjoyed my view, which
now included the glistening of the late afternoon sun on the Arkansas River -- and eventually, the sunset.
Sunset over the Arkansas River.
Saturday, September 17, 2022 – I took my time getting ready to leave this morning. The Fifth Wheel RV that had been on my right departed earlier and that departure opened up more of my view of the river and the vehicles zipping by on the bridge. What a cool place this is – I’d been camping in the midst of civilization!
Leaving by 11:00 a.m. I got on I-40W and arrived, within the hour, at the North Little Rock KOA. I’ll be here for three nights. Got stuff to do – edit this blog, insert pictures, and post it. Then turn my focus to dumping the tanks, cleaning the camper, doing laundry, and planning the last two weeks of my Arkansas journey.
Sitting outside around 5:15 p.m., I noticed bits of leaves dropping from a tree near me. More leaves dropped, prompting me to look up, and there were two squirrels, nibbling on the leaves and dropping them. Snapped a picture of one looking directly at me --
ReplyDeleteLovely photos hope you en joy your trip....xox....