On December 3, 2009 I traveled with Joe David Rice, Tourism Director on a very interesting journey. We had two very important destinations for the day. First to meet a Captain with the Poplar Bluff, MO police department to witness the transfer of a stolen Civil War tombstone and next to observe the unveiling of the first highway sign for the Rock “N” Roll Highway 67 in Swifton, AR.
A full and detailed story involving the tombstone will be released soon and placed on www.arkansasmediaroom.com so I’m just going to tease you with my blog. The very short history behind our stop in Newport involves the discovery in Poplar Bluff, Missouri of a Civil War tombstone of a Union soldier. It was determined that the tombstone was taken from Independence County, Arkansas. I was involved in the research and planning of the return of the tombstone and wanted to be there and witness the transfer from the Poplar Bluff Police Department to George Lankford, Arkansas Civil War Commissioner, and frankly, I really wanted to see this tombstone that had consumed a large part of my life over the past two weeks. We met Capt. Mike Elliott at US Pizza in Newport, AR enjoyed salads and sandwiches in this very busy restaurant while we waited on George Lankford to arrive. After lunch we recruited a few willing Arkansas farmers to help us move the stone from Capt. Elliot’s car to Lankford’s car. The tombstone is that of Civil War Union soldier Isaiah Hines. Mr. Lankford is continuing the search to find the burial place of Hines so that the marker can be returned to its rightful place. Until then, the Independence County museum has graciously agreed to house the stone.
Our next stop was Swifton, AR to participate in the unveiling of the Rock “N” Roll Highway 67 sign. Across from the sign is the Kings Capri and King of Clubs private club. This establishment hosted many fathers of Rock “N” Roll and is considered by some to be the birthplace of the genre. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Sonny Burgess and the Pacers are just a few of the performers who traveled up and down this highway stopping along the way sharing their music.
While there, I browsed through the Club, amazed by all of the pictures and autographs of performers past. The nostalgia of the room was overwhelming! Sonny Burgess was sitting in the corner of the room visiting with Evelyn King, former owner of 57 years of the club. I enjoyed listening to old stories involving Elvis and other performers. Later, Sonny and Rep. J.R. Rogers continued the trip down memory lane and even shared the story of when the Beetles landed in Walnut Ridge, AR. If you get a chance, take a road trip down Rock “N” Roll Highway 67.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Visit to a Haunted Museum
On December 2, the four Arkansas travel writers met in the haunted basement of the McArthur Museum of Military History. We meet from time to time to discuss story ideas, Web site updates and ongoing projects and events. It was an eerie and surreal place to have a small intimate meeting. The exposed stone walls appeared to be several feet deep. There were museum displays around us and dress dummies and manikins in the corners of the room. We were told that this was not the most haunted place in the museum but every time we heard a noise I think we all jumped. I didn’t mind because it kept everyone alert and paying attention. Maybe I’ll have all my meetings down there. After we wrapped up our work, we took a brief tour of the museum. First we visited the séance room. Legend has it that there is an entrance to an escape tunnel from this room but according to Stephan McAteer, there is no tunnel. From there, we visited the David Owen Dodd stained glass, took photos of the WWII jeep on the first floor and heard the story of how some paranormal experts believe the jeep to be a portal into another dimension. Then on to my favorite exhibit- the Lee Grant exhibit. If you get a chance, visit the MacArthur Museum of Military History. The permanent exhibits are phenomenal but you can spend countless hours learning about the Civil War and perusing through this exhibit.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Catching up
So, I have really been behind in my blogs. I've been putting most of my travel information on Whrrl.com. I have a widget on this page so you can keep up. Along with my Arkansas travels, I also went to Montgomery, AL where I was treated with wonderful Southern hospitality.
I spent the fall in the eastern Arkansas Ozarks, the northeastern Ozarks, the Ouacitas, the Arkansas Delta and the Timberlands. I am still amazed by all there is to see and do in this great state. I have now traveled from Ozark peak to Ouachita peak having spent time on Mt. Magazine (Mt. Magazine State Park) located near Paris, Arkansas and on top of Rich Mountain at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. I have listened to the blues along the Mississippi River in Helena, AR and dined at a table set for 120 guests in Tyranza, AR. I traveled to Camden, AR, Texarkana, AR, and Grady, AR through the vast timberlands of this state and visited pumpkin patches and historic buildings along the way. I went to Piggott, AR where the Ernest Hemingway wrote several stories and 100 pages of A Farewell to Arms.
I visited a wildlife ranch outside of Pocahontas, AR (Warm Springs) called Buck Hollow Ranch were I listened to the eerie sounds of the bugle of a male Elk. I was awed by the huge size of the animals and how they could still gracefully move through the grass or charge at another male who was entering their territory. I sat in the truck searching for signs of wildlife. Just when I had given up, a deer would leap through the woods. Having noticed movement, my eyes focused on a turkey hidden in the underbrush and a large elk resting under a tree. I've been told that these tired elk have spent hours protecting their cows and then fighting with other males. Many of them are so exhausted, they missed the chance to mate and don't even have the strength to eat. That, I think, is pretty ironic. All of that work and they missed the "opportunity" that they were working towards.
Last month, my friend Rebecca traveled all the way from Indianapolis, IN to visit. We walked the River Market and visited the grounds of the Clinton Library. And, of course, were carried away by the sounds bands as we walked down Clinton Ave. We stopped and listened to the tunes of Mysterious Ways, a U2 tribute band at Sticky Fingerz in downtown Little Rock. The next day, we took in all of the beautiful fall color in the Ouachita Mountains and visited the waterfalls at Lake Catherine State Park.
Last week, I visited downtown Conway where I dined on Italian food and experienced all of the wonderful downtown shopping available in that city. There just aren't a lot of true downtown shopping locations like this anymore. Old store fronts filled with modern wares, art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants. They even have an Eiffel tower on display!
So, there is a brief summary of my fall travels. I've left a lot out, but you can catch up on those by visiting whrrl.com and searching for me. Next week, I travel to Paragould, AR, which, by the way, is the only town in the U.S. named Paragould.
I visited a wildlife ranch outside of Pocahontas, AR (Warm Springs) called Buck Hollow Ranch were I listened to the eerie sounds of the bugle of a male Elk. I was awed by the huge size of the animals and how they could still gracefully move through the grass or charge at another male who was entering their territory. I sat in the truck searching for signs of wildlife. Just when I had given up, a deer would leap through the woods. Having noticed movement, my eyes focused on a turkey hidden in the underbrush and a large elk resting under a tree. I've been told that these tired elk have spent hours protecting their cows and then fighting with other males. Many of them are so exhausted, they missed the chance to mate and don't even have the strength to eat. That, I think, is pretty ironic. All of that work and they missed the "opportunity" that they were working towards.
Last month, my friend Rebecca traveled all the way from Indianapolis, IN to visit. We walked the River Market and visited the grounds of the Clinton Library. And, of course, were carried away by the sounds bands as we walked down Clinton Ave. We stopped and listened to the tunes of Mysterious Ways, a U2 tribute band at Sticky Fingerz in downtown Little Rock. The next day, we took in all of the beautiful fall color in the Ouachita Mountains and visited the waterfalls at Lake Catherine State Park.Last week, I visited downtown Conway where I dined on Italian food and experienced all of the wonderful downtown shopping available in that city. There just aren't a lot of true downtown shopping locations like this anymore. Old store fronts filled with modern wares, art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants. They even have an Eiffel tower on display!
So, there is a brief summary of my fall travels. I've left a lot out, but you can catch up on those by visiting whrrl.com and searching for me. Next week, I travel to Paragould, AR, which, by the way, is the only town in the U.S. named Paragould.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Photographs
I was most intrigued with Metz’s correlation of death and the photograph. The photograph is indexical as it refers to a specific point in time. It is also an icon of the specific image and yet is also a symbol of what we were. The photograph is like the tick on a clock. We can’t go back. We can try to recreate the photograph but we can’t. We can never get that point in time back.
Some cultures believe that by taking a photograph of someone, you are “stealing” their spirit. This seems funny, but is it? Maybe the spirit is in the photograph. It is remembered for years to come, as long as someone sees the photograph. In a sense, the photograph defies death, the symbol of the object being photographed lives on forever. For instance, I grow roses. When I see a perfect one, I will take a picture. I know if I cut if and bring it inside, it will start to wither. If I leave it on the plant, it will start to wither. If I run and get my family or neighbor to come and look at it, it won’t be the same rose that I saw minutes ago. The sun and ultimately, time has effected it. But, if I take a picture, I will forever have the rose the way it looked at that very moment. The rose dies, but the picture continues to be a symbol to me that I cultivated a beautiful flower.
Do you have trouble throwing away photographs? If so, why? I have hundreds of old photos of people – my family and friends. I have multiple copies, so when I’m cleaning out, I want to throw them out but I can’t do it. Is it because the photograph is like having a piece of the person’s soul with you? The photograph has captured the essence of the person and throwing it out is like tossing the person out. I’ve asked other people about cleaning out photographs, they too see it as a taboo but don’t know exactly why.
So, maybe a photograph can become a fetish. The first definition of fetish is: an inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit. (Mac desktop dictionary). We take photographs to remember objects as they were. We keep them in albums, on our computers, on our walls, our wallets, and ipods. We keep the “spirit” with us, or at least the symbol of the spirit of the object with us. A photograph keeps the spirit of the object alive and in a way defies death.
What is Text Without Context?
A word, or sign, cannot stand alone and have meaning. It is defined by the context that surrounds it. A sign, in text, only has meaning in context. Text is an organized system of metaphors and the intended meaning of a particular word, or sign, is determined by the other words surrounding it. Hjelmslev states that “No sign has meaning if completely isolated; every sign-meaning arises in a context, since we here mean a situational context or an explicit context…” (Johansen and Larsen 2002, pg. 115).
I have been increasingly aware of this lately because my daughter, Addie is learning how to read. Even before I read this chapter, this has been on my mind. Addie is constantly asking me what a word means. I’ll be working on a paper or reading and offer her an answer without thinking. On more than one occasion, she has said, that doesn’t’ make any sense. I stop and ask her to read the sentence. After hearing the sentence, my definition almost always changes. Why in the English language do we have so many meanings for one word? It is amazing how changing the context can completely change the meaning of the same word. The word is spelled the same way but it means something totally different.
In writing this paper, I asked Addie for an example of a word like this. She said, “left”. She said you could say, turn left or I left the room. I asked her if it still confused her. She said no, “because it depends on the sentence”. I was shocked when she said, “you have to read or listen to all the other words before you know which one to use”. I think I stood there with my mouth wide open, because she asked, “what?” and added, everyone knows that.” Even a seven year old understands what is meant by this theory.
How many times have we tried to explain something to someone else and have had to change the metaphor repeatedly? The context stays the same, but we change the word until we finally get our point across. I have seen this a lot in teaching. As teachers, we sometimes choose the wrong word in our explanations. We know the material, so we often use a harder word. When we notice the puzzled looks on our students’ faces, we back up and try it again with an easier word. We have left the context the same but because we were able to break it down, our students have learned a new word. They can connect the more complicated word to the same context. The next time they hear that word, they will know what it means based on the context that the word is used.
I now understand why good readers have better vocabulary. In elementary school, we would have to look up and memorize vocabulary words. The teachers usually would have us use the word in a sentence. They did this so we could associate the word and a particular meaning. Students that read all of the time will have a better understanding of the meanings of words because they have been exposed to so many different contexts for the words.
A word, or sign, cannot stand alone and have meaning. It is defined by the context that surrounds it. Therefore, if we want to be effective communicators, we must choose our words wisely or be very good at choosing the context with which we use them.
I have been increasingly aware of this lately because my daughter, Addie is learning how to read. Even before I read this chapter, this has been on my mind. Addie is constantly asking me what a word means. I’ll be working on a paper or reading and offer her an answer without thinking. On more than one occasion, she has said, that doesn’t’ make any sense. I stop and ask her to read the sentence. After hearing the sentence, my definition almost always changes. Why in the English language do we have so many meanings for one word? It is amazing how changing the context can completely change the meaning of the same word. The word is spelled the same way but it means something totally different.
In writing this paper, I asked Addie for an example of a word like this. She said, “left”. She said you could say, turn left or I left the room. I asked her if it still confused her. She said no, “because it depends on the sentence”. I was shocked when she said, “you have to read or listen to all the other words before you know which one to use”. I think I stood there with my mouth wide open, because she asked, “what?” and added, everyone knows that.” Even a seven year old understands what is meant by this theory.
How many times have we tried to explain something to someone else and have had to change the metaphor repeatedly? The context stays the same, but we change the word until we finally get our point across. I have seen this a lot in teaching. As teachers, we sometimes choose the wrong word in our explanations. We know the material, so we often use a harder word. When we notice the puzzled looks on our students’ faces, we back up and try it again with an easier word. We have left the context the same but because we were able to break it down, our students have learned a new word. They can connect the more complicated word to the same context. The next time they hear that word, they will know what it means based on the context that the word is used.
I now understand why good readers have better vocabulary. In elementary school, we would have to look up and memorize vocabulary words. The teachers usually would have us use the word in a sentence. They did this so we could associate the word and a particular meaning. Students that read all of the time will have a better understanding of the meanings of words because they have been exposed to so many different contexts for the words.
A word, or sign, cannot stand alone and have meaning. It is defined by the context that surrounds it. Therefore, if we want to be effective communicators, we must choose our words wisely or be very good at choosing the context with which we use them.
Amazed by Arkansas - an Overview
When I first accepted the position as communication director for the great state of Arkansas, I thought I knew a lot about the places and people of Arkansas. I traveled a lot during my many years of living in Arkansas, but it was always destination based travel.
January 29, 2009 marked my one-month anniversary on the job. It was a whirlwind month and included trips to the Delta, Ozark, and River Valley areas of the state. During my trips to the Delta, I experienced Crowley’s Ridge and Village Creek State Park, Forest City, Wynne, Helena West Helena, visited the Delta Cultural Center where I felt the soul of the Delta through the blues music of Super Chikan, was moved by the bellowing voices of a Gospel choir at First Baptist Church in Helena, fed catfish and pork rinds by Grannie, and enjoyed a BBQ (hot, not mild) and a cold RC at Shaddin’s BBQ.
I was amazed by the towering bluffs of Crowley’s Ridge as they shaded the sun from the plantation homes of Helena West Helena and I wondered how could I have missed such a historically significant, rich in culture, and agriculturally significant city during all the years I lived in Arkansas? I missed this city because I stayed on the convenient interstate highway as I traveled from point A to point B.
My advise, if you want to truly learn about the land and the people of this great state, plan an extra day to your trips and experience the exits along the interstate. Utilize arkansas.com and read about the towns and cities located in between point A and point B. I have so much to tell about the areas I have traveled--and I’ve only made three trips in one month. If you are interested in learning about my travels, stay tuned. I’ve barely touched on the Delta, I haven’t even started on the river valley and Ozarks and next week, I travel to the Quachitas and Mt. Magazine!! Oh, and in case you are wondering, you can find me in the office, at my desk...most of the time. :)
January 29, 2009 marked my one-month anniversary on the job. It was a whirlwind month and included trips to the Delta, Ozark, and River Valley areas of the state. During my trips to the Delta, I experienced Crowley’s Ridge and Village Creek State Park, Forest City, Wynne, Helena West Helena, visited the Delta Cultural Center where I felt the soul of the Delta through the blues music of Super Chikan, was moved by the bellowing voices of a Gospel choir at First Baptist Church in Helena, fed catfish and pork rinds by Grannie, and enjoyed a BBQ (hot, not mild) and a cold RC at Shaddin’s BBQ.
I was amazed by the towering bluffs of Crowley’s Ridge as they shaded the sun from the plantation homes of Helena West Helena and I wondered how could I have missed such a historically significant, rich in culture, and agriculturally significant city during all the years I lived in Arkansas? I missed this city because I stayed on the convenient interstate highway as I traveled from point A to point B.
My advise, if you want to truly learn about the land and the people of this great state, plan an extra day to your trips and experience the exits along the interstate. Utilize arkansas.com and read about the towns and cities located in between point A and point B. I have so much to tell about the areas I have traveled--and I’ve only made three trips in one month. If you are interested in learning about my travels, stay tuned. I’ve barely touched on the Delta, I haven’t even started on the river valley and Ozarks and next week, I travel to the Quachitas and Mt. Magazine!! Oh, and in case you are wondering, you can find me in the office, at my desk...most of the time. :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Bikes, Blues & BBQ
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The BBBQ committee has a unique way of transporting people from one area of the festival to another--a TRAIN. They lease the Arkansas Missouri Railroad for the event. At only a dollar a ride, this is the best way to travel through the streets--unless you have a bike. I wondered through the crowd and beer garden while waiting on the train. After a short ride, I found my friend Allyson Dyer, Director of the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau. She grabbed me in the crowd, through a VIP pass around my neck and pushed me towards the VIP suite located in a 9th floor penthouse overlooking Dickson Street.
Looking down from the balcony, I couldn't believe how many people, lights, bikes, vendors, and police filled every inch of the surrounding streets. WOW!
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Today, I'm heading to Devil's Den State Park to check out a few caves and hopefully find a waterfall..and then it is back on the train and down to Dickson Street for more BBBQ. Follow me on Whrrl for pictures and comments as they happen.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Upcoming Fall Travel
As the weather turns cooler and nature's canvas begins is splashed with warm hues plan to enjoy all that Arkansas has to offer. Fall festivals are abundant in Arkansas. Just a few I have on my bucket list are Smoke On The Water in Hot Springs; Bikes Blues & BBQ in Fayetteville; Winefest in Altus, The Rock-n-roll Festival in Pocahontas, and Blues Fest in Helena--an those are just in September! Go to Arkansas.com and click on the Calendar of Events to find the complete list. I will be blogging from the Festival trail, so stay tuned...
Friday, September 4, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
old blogs
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Last Saturday I visited the Farmers Market in Fayetteville, AR. I was shocked to see how many people were shopping, listening to the various musicians performing on the corners of the square, and the number of vendors displaying their wares. The last time I strolled through the market was in May of 2004. The buzz was just starting to form and small town farmer's markets were beginning to form around Arkansas. In 2004, I bought a few herb plants and fresh cut flowers as I visited with Allyson Twiggs with the Fayetteville CVB. As we toured the square she shared her hopes that the market would take off and become a draw for visitors and citizens of Northwest Arkansas.
I moved away from Arkansas in the Winter of 2005 and until last week, I have not been able to return to the market. On my way home from the Arkansas Press Association super convention, I took a slight detour and decided to see if the market was still around in hopes of purchasing herb plants for my new garden. To my surprise, the market wasn't only still around but was full of people. As I shopped, I couldn't help but overhear people's discussions. One lady was explaining on her cell phone that they would be a little late getting home. "You see, she said, we found this great farmers market in this town in Arkansas."
I dropped some serious coin in Fayetteville that day and as I drove out of town, I called my old friend Allyson to tell her how excited I was at how successful the market was.
Arkansas is full of small farmers markets just like the one in Fayetteville. Tomorrow, I'll be visiting the new market in Bryant.
I moved away from Arkansas in the Winter of 2005 and until last week, I have not been able to return to the market. On my way home from the Arkansas Press Association super convention, I took a slight detour and decided to see if the market was still around in hopes of purchasing herb plants for my new garden. To my surprise, the market wasn't only still around but was full of people. As I shopped, I couldn't help but overhear people's discussions. One lady was explaining on her cell phone that they would be a little late getting home. "You see, she said, we found this great farmers market in this town in Arkansas."
I dropped some serious coin in Fayetteville that day and as I drove out of town, I called my old friend Allyson to tell her how excited I was at how successful the market was.
Arkansas is full of small farmers markets just like the one in Fayetteville. Tomorrow, I'll be visiting the new market in Bryant.
Friday, June 12, 2009
I remember the months before my own wedding. It seemed like an endless task of appointments, showers, photography sessions, and dress fittings. What I wouldn’t have given for a day or two to explore, think, and do something just for myself! When planning a wedding, finding these opportunities are rare; but if you have chosen to travel to Low’s Bridal in Brinkley, I invite you to seize the opportunity to find more than that perfect dress in Arkansas. I took a trip through the lower delta region of Arkansas with Brinkley as my starting point. I wanted to find unique gifts, and explore great places to visit with my friends and family. I needed a few tools for my trip: my camera and a Delta Byways brochure. The brochure had a great map in the middle section and included great information on some of the towns and communities near Brinkley. With tools in hand and a full tank of gas, I set out on my treasure hunt through the delta.The Delta region of Arkansas has an unusual allure to it. From first glance, it is a flat, undeveloped land of almost ghost town communities. It isn’t until you really take time to explore this area that you realize what a true treasure it is. I heard about this great restaurant in Humnoke, AR called Papa Joes and set out to find it. I left Brinkley taking Hwy 79 through Clarendon, passing Stuttgart and made a small jag over to Humnoke. Papa Joes is a family owned restaurant with fresh wood siding and a front porch that lures patrons in with its hometown feel. I was immediately greeted by a bright smile and seated promptly. The cheese dip, burgers and onion rings paired with a large sweet tea were fantastic, but the homemade desserts were out of this world! The chocolate fried pies and the coconut cream pie were definitely worth the calories. As I finished off the pies, I started to plan my short trip. Looking at the map, I decided to head to Lake Chicot and check out the fishing opportunities. I left Papa Joes and headed towards Stuttgart passing large farms and small communities.
The Arkansas delta is not only rich in soil but rich in heritage, history, and hospitality. Along my trip, I found several interesting stories. For example, the area of Slovak located in between Humnoke and Stuttgart sits a large, original Sears and Roebuck farmhouse. Like many of the large farmhouses in this area, the supplies were shipped from Pine Bluff, AR, across the Arkansas River, loaded on wagons, and driven by horse to the building site. In the late 1800s and early 1900s there were very few inns for travelers. As a result, this home became overnight lodging for four governors on their way to a meeting. Unfortunately, the house is not open to tours but I enjoyed learning about its history.
Approaching Stuttgart, I found an amazing hunting supply and outfitting store, named Mack’s. The giant duck in front of the store made this location a definite must stop. Almost anything an outdoors sports enthusiast could want -clothes, hunting supplies, furniture, duck calls, boats, and much more- could be found at this store. I couldn’t resist and purchased a pair of great waterproof boots for my fishing trip. After leaving Mack’s, I stopped at AgPro Companies.
Intrigued by the enormous tractors and combines, I stopped to snap a few photos but was drawn into the main building of the dealership by the smell of popcorn. I was surprised to see all of the great gift ideas in the show room. I purchased a couple of children’s books, a miniature tractor, and a hat to protect me from the sun during my fishing trip. Purchases in hand, I set off for Crocketts Bluff. I didn’t know what I would find, but the name sounded interesting so I thought I’d add it to my trip. I took a picture of a historical marker explaining how the town received its name and that Henry Prange was the first to plant rice in the county.
I took 65 towards DeWitt with an intention of making a quick trip over to Lake Chicot. However, when I reached Hwy 1, otherwise known as The Great River Road, I saw an arrow pointing to St. Charles and an arrow pointing to DeWitt. I had a decision to make. St. Charles it was. I stopped at the St. Charles Museum and learned about the rich history of the town and its importance to the Civil War. I took a few pictures of the monument in front of the museum and headed off to the welcome center located at the National Wildlife Refuge. I noticed several duck hunting lodges and camps along my drive. After a stop for gas and a cold cherry Dr Pepper at the Community Store, I traveled the short distance to the Wildlife Refuge. Once there, I walked along a trail to try to catch a few shots of the local wildlife. Afterwards, I headed toward the exhibits in the welcome center. I was drawn to the night exhibit. A dark space came to life after I entered the room. First stars materialized in the ceiling. Next, a full moon appeared as the night sounds of area wildlife surrounded me. It was all so realistic that I imagined myself lying outside on a cool evening looking at the stars and listening to the sound of the great outdoors. Reluctantly, I decided that I better hit the road if I were going to make it to Lake Village by the end of the day. Back on the Great River Road, I headed towards DeWitt.
I quickly found great shopping opportunities in downtown DeWitt. Located on the town square was the Sisters’ Treasures Florist. There I found great bridal gift ideas. Everything from cozies, stationery, picture frames, candles, gourmet coffee, and stuffed animals were to be had! Also located on the square I found a great fifties-style diner, Lizzie’s. Sadly, I wasn’t able to stop in and try their menu because they didn’t open until 5 P.M. I made a note to make sure and visit DeWitt again to shop and try out Lizzie’s. I again hit the road.
Soybeans, rice and wheat had become my friends, and of course, you can’t forget the green tractors working the dirt in the barren fields; or, blocking me from driving very fast along the highway. Thankfully the courteous farmers moved over, whenever possible, and let me pass as they waved or tipped their hats.
In the distance I could see a large structure. It appeared to be protruding out of the landscape, peaking through the trees and touching the sky. As I approached, I realized that it was part of the road and I became apprehensive. It finally occurred to me that it was a bridge…a large bridge. The relief quickly melted away and was replaced with excitement and anticipation. Now I had to go over that big bridge! It wasn’t as scary as I thought. The view was beautiful. Once I crossed the bridge, I was in the town of Pendleton. Riceland has a facility there and I could see rice being loaded onto barges. Small, quaint houses were dotted along the shoreline of the river. I thought, “wow”; where else would I have seen something like this just appear out of what seemed like an endless landscape of farms.
In Dumas, I found Miller’s Mud Mill Pottery. I arrived as they were wrapping up projects for the day. The artists were adding the finishing touches on a series of unique wine toppers. I toured the studio and purchased a serving plate with a unique cross design. I asked if they ever took special orders for gifts. They assured me that they do take special orders for people all over the country. In fact, they couldn’t name a state that they haven’t shipped to—even Hawaii! They have even shipped pottery to Japan. Leaving the studio, I was overwhelmed by the wonderful smell of BBQ coming from Vickie’s BBQ and Tunes but I saved my appetite for the Lakeshore Café in Lake Village.
Along the drive to Lake Chicot State Park, beautiful houses face the water. I noticed several people fishing and suddenly realized that I didn’t have a fishing pole, bait, or tackle. The boots and hat were great, but I doubted they were going to help me catch a fish! I drove on to the park and stopped to talk to the park staff. They assured me that I could rent or purchase everything I needed at the park store and it wasn’t going to cost me very much. It was getting late in the evening so I decided to spend the night in one of the cabins located in the park. Luckily, they had a cabin available at a very reasonable price. I dropped my bag in the room and set out for the Lakeshore Café. I dinned on fried catfish, fried corn nuggets, okra, and sweet tea and topped it off with southern bread pudding…delicious, and very reasonable!
The next morning I awoke bright and early hoping to catch a fish I could write home about. A guide took me out to what he called, “a secret bass hole” in a shallow part of the lake. Unfortunately, I wasn’t having much luck with the fish so I put the pole down and began catching area wildlife with my camera. Everything was so beautiful. I took several pictures of beavers, Great Egrets, a large woodpecker, a few bullfrogs and a big water snake! I made one more attempt to catch a fish and to my surprise, I caught a black crappie! Mission complete, I returned to the open road.
Park personnel had told me about an impressive museum I had to check out before I left the delta. It is named the Lakeport Plantation. I drove out of the park on a different road that took me through downtown Lake Village. The old buildings were really unique and the lake view was beautiful. As I approached the plantation, I could see the house across the cotton fields. I imagined what this might have looked like back in the years before the Civil War. It must have been a truly magnificent estate!
The paved road turned into gravel and winded around the field to the museum office. I entered the office and paid $5 for the tour and browsed through the restoration exhibits while I waited for the tour to begin. I couldn’t believe the intact floor cloth that had once been in the plantation. Arkansas State University really went to great lengths to restore and save the home. The tour began in the office where the guide explained the various stages of the restoration process. Next, we walked over to the home. As I entered the large front door, I was struck by a sense of awe. What an amazing showplace this must have been in the days of Scarlett O’Hara! My footsteps echoed as I walked from room to room across restored wooded floors. We ascended the massive wooden staircase that led to a gathering room. From there, I could see into four large bedrooms where some of the original furniture sat. Returning downstairs, we went around the back porch to the outside kitchen, the plantation office, and the commissary. The original iron oven that was brought in from Kentucky still rests along the back wall. I imagined having to cook on such an oven as my eyes wondered over to the large wooden chopping block in the middle of the room. I could almost smell fresh bread, apple pie, and fried chicken as I left the kitchen. Next door to the kitchen was the old commissary. There is still writing on the walls made by the storekeeper with prices and descriptions of wares. This really brought home the fact that this was a living, operating plantation business in the 1800s. Leaving to head back to the front of the house, I noticed a little crypt off in the distance. This is the resting place of one of the Johnson children that died after the Civil War. It reminded me that this wasn’t only a plantation business, but a home. Still in amazement over this museum, I said goodbye to my tour guide and headed for town.
A friend had mentioned that a great home décor store was located in Lake Village. It is called Paul Michaels. All I can say is “WOW!” What a store. I left with two accent lamps I found at a great price. Another Lake Village treasure that can’t be overlooked is Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales. This little restaurant has received national media attention in recent years. Tourists and tamale connoisseurs travel from all over the country to try Rhoda’s fare. Rhoda’s didn’t disappoint, they were probably the best tamales I’ve ever had. Deciding that it was time to return from my adventure, I set my sights towards home.
We have become a society of hurriedness. We speed along the road trying to get from one place to another. The days of the Sunday drive are long gone. Gas prices, busy lives, and careers have changed the way Americans travel. Many brides visit the delta region of Arkansas in search of the perfect wedding dress but if they would take just a little bit of time, they can find so much more..
My first Geocaching experience
Went on my first Geocaching trip last week. Geocaching is a relatively new "game" that involves the use of a GPS to find hidden "treasure". Sometimes it is just a little key magnet that holds a tiny piece of paper where you record your find. Other times, it is a plastic container filled with items left by others. Kim Williams, a travel writer with the Arkansas Department of Tourism is an avid geocacher; in fact, she is responsible for planing most of the caches found along stretches of the Great River Road in Arkansas. She was determined to teach me how to geocache.
We set out to Village Creek State Park located on Crowley's Ridge just outside of Wynne, AR. There isn't much, if any, Internet and phone signal in the park so geocaching was a bit tricky. I found out that you have to download the coordinates (or write them down) for the caches you are planning on finding before you go into an area with no Internet signal. The caches we were in search of had hints which really helped. We entered in the coordinated to the GPS, selected "off-road", and away I went.
The first cache was easy to find and was a level one which means it was handicap accessible. The case on the cache was clamped tight and I wasn't able to write anything on the log. It was OK, though, because I know I found it. The second cache was a little more difficult. There was a lot of tree cover, and, again, not a great signal. I found it, but the GPS kept telling me it was 25 feet away.
If you haven't geocached, you really need to try it. Caches are planted all over the world; however I'd like to invite you to Arkansas. Arkansas has plenty of caches to keep you busy for a long time! I have a lot more to find and I hope to get my kids involved in the hunt. It is a great way to spend time together and introduces you to areas that you might otherwise not visit.
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Try Arkansas for Great Girlfriend Getaways. Arkansas recently launched a website just for girls that want to get away. The website includes itineraries for trips that include golfing, wineries, spas, ATVing, biking, and so much more.
I am the communications manager for the Arkansas Department of Tourism; however, even before I moved to Arkanasas, I was vacationing here. I recently went on a “wine and twine” get away to Norfork Lake (Blue Lady Resort and Raimondo Winery) and the White River (His Place Resort) that included fishing, shopping and wine tasting. We stayed at resorts owned and operated by women that put together a fun three-day trip.
My next girls getaway trip is going to be in an Arkansas State Park. They have great multi-room cabins that are perfect for a group of friends to catch up, relax, and well, get away!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrCznwPQKdk