August 3rd, Drive to Hot Springs AK

Thursday, August 3, 2006
Day 39
LONG drive to Hot Springs, AK

Today’s drive was WAY longer than any of us anticipated. We drove from Lake Thunderbird State Park in Oklahoma to Hot Springs in Arkansas. It took over 6 hours! Oklahoma needs to improve its section of interstate 40. It was bumpy and annoying, not to mention BORING. At least in Arkansas the road improved and the view was better. More hills and TREES! We haven’t seen trees in forever! Once we got on route 7 south toward Hot Springs, the view was nice in the Oachita National Forest. (Not sure if I spelled that correctly.) Nice view, but the road was so twisty and twiney with little indication of just how fast you should be taking the turns. Brianna even started feeling carsick for those last 60 miles.

We were going to stay at Gulpha Gorge Campground, part of the National Park, but it was SOOOOO incredible hot (102 degrees at 4 o’clock) that we couldn’t deal with no electricity for the air conditioner. We may have been able to use our generator, but usually they have severe restrictions on how long and when you can use the generator at the National Parks. So, we went to the KOA nearby instead. It is 7 times more expensive, but we needed the AC today. Now it is not only hot, it is more humid here as well, so we are really feeling it. It was nice to enjoy the pool today too.

So we are camping luxuriously for two nights… Tomorrow we are going to Hot Springs National Park and will drive around Hot Springs. This is the boyhood home of former President Bill Clinton. Not my favorite president, but still cool that we are in his hometown. Hopefully the kids will earn another badge tomorrow, and get their Passports stamped.