(Not so) Hot Springs, AR

Well, here we are in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I am trying to figure the most PC way to go ahead and say.... I think Hot Springs Arkansas is a massive let down. I guess I let my imagination run with the idea that this place was going to be a real hum dinger. Something to really get worked up about... I mean you've got thermal spring water, mountains, it's Bill Clinton's hometown, and ummmm.... some other groovy seeming Southern type stuff goin' on too. What more could you want from a place? As it turns out you could want lots more from a place. Lots more than a main street downtown crammed full of cheap t-shirt shops, the requisite tourist hole fudge shop and those bizarre stores that sell clown wigs and leather bikini bra tops. Bath House Row is actually pretty neat to see but the opposite side of the street is down right depressing to walk down. For me anyway. I mean is this what people want? Stores that sell t-shirts with bad jokes about fishing and drinking too much beer? Oh well... maybe I am being to rough on the place but I can say I won't be planning any return trips to the area any time soon, or... ever actually.

If it stops raining tomorrow (unlikely) we will head out to go hiking in the Ouachita Mountains and maybe that will heal me a bit from my town let down. Our mountain view from our campsite is quite nice and even though the fall color is minimal this year it would be nice to explore the landscape here a bit more. The national park has quite a few trails that sound pretty good for day hikes. The forecast is not looking to great for hiking though... we may end up spending another day holed up in the trailer reading and wrestling with Rudy.

We had planned on hanging out here for a week but we changed our mind and are hitting the road again on Wednesday to get down into Texas. We will spend 4 or 5 days in Dallas before landing in our spot down in Dripping Springs early next week.