Version Two of the Van Thrown Together for a Fast Trip to See Relatives

We were planning on an extended trip up through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New England shortly after Labor Day as the next van trip, but we had to quickly drive to Arkansas to visit relatives in early June. The final version van work was cut short and we raced to get Steely put back together, albeit temporarily, to get us to the midwest and back in comfort. Another trial run; not a bad thing.

We got the lower cabinets painted and installed with a new countertop. The sink and stove were reinstalled and hooked up. The water system was almost done but the final work would have to wait. We would still use bottles of water and have a gray tank. The dinette was mostly done; the table was cut down and refinished. The benches were redone, but still without cushions. Large pillows would have to do. All the upper cabinets were built but without doors. The refrigerator and microwave were installed and working well. They would be the real game changers for living comfortably. We would survive pretty well.

We had one issue to deal with on the way to Arkansas. The main interstate bridge crossing the Mississippi in Memphis was shut down due to the finding of major cracks in some of the main beams. Traffic was a mess through the city, so we bumped up north and crossed several miles up river from Memphis. Other than the detour, no problems.

We camped in the Ouachita National Forest near Hot Springs, on Lake Ouachita, a lake very popular with the local fishermen. It was a nice spot and worked well as a base camp for our visit. The locals around us were nice and somewhat interested in the van and the work we had done on it.

The next morning the neighbors were cleaning the overnight trotline catch, some really nice big catfish. I marveled at them and took a quick picture. We also gave a quick tour of the van and the work done. When we returned from the city that evening, they were cooking up the fish and brought us some to try. It was so good, especially washed down with some beer!

After finishing up family business, we left the camp and visited Hot Springs National Park. The park was initially created by an act of Congress in 1832 before national parks were in existence and was the first time land was set aside by the federal government for recreation. It became a national park in 1921. It was also the smallest national park until the Gateway Arch in St Louis was created.

The city of Hot Springs has a wild and wooly past, as does the Bathhouse Row of the park. Much of that is in evidence during a tour of the park and the bathhouses.

Next up: The return trip – Mammoth Spring and Asheville stops