HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

WE DECIDED, SINCE WE HAD TIME, WE WANTED TO SEE MORE OF THE OZARKS, SO WE HEADED TO HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, WHICH IS SORT OF ON THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO. HOT SPRINGS IS NICKNAMED "THE SPA CITY", AND PROMISES THEIR HOT MINERAL WATER WILL RELAX AND REJUVENATE YOU. JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, BEFORE WE START SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

IT WAS ONLY A FIVE HOUR DRIVE FROM BRANSON.

OUR CAMPGROUND IS LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL SHOWER ROOMS AND LOUNGE AREA, AND BEST OF ALL A DOG PARK RIGHT ON LAKE HAMILTON.

WHEN WE WENT OVER TO PLAY THIS WAS OUR VIEW.........

WE DROVE TO DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS AND AS WE GOT OUT TO GO INTO THE VISITOR CENTER, WE NOTICED  ALL THESE FOLKS FILLING WATER JUGS.

OF COURSE, I COULDN'T STAND IT, I HAD TO WALK OVER AND TASTE THE WATER....CUPPED MY HAND TO GET A DRINK AND THE WATER WAS HOT!!!

CONTINUED ON TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND GOT SOME TOURIST INFORMATION, AND FOUND OUT, YES, MOST OF THE WATER IS HOT, THERE ARE A COUPLE COLD SPRINGS. THE LADY WHO WORKED IN THERE SAID,  ALOT OF THE RESIDENTS GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM THESE WATER STATIONS, BECAUSE THE WATER TASTES SO GOOD. WE FOUND OUT THAT WHEN WE LEAVE THERE AND WALK A BLOCK WE WILL BE IN HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, THE SMALLEST NATIONAL PARK IN THE U.S.

HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK CONSISTS OF HISTORIC  BATHOUSE ROW.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO BATHHOUSES OPEN.

 THIS IS THE  QUAPAW, THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE THE  PUBLIC BATHS, WHICH IS WHERE WE BATHED. THERE WERE FOUR POOLS IN VARYING DEGREES OF "HOT".
THEY RANGED FROM 93 DEGREES TO 104 DEGREES. WE ENJOYED ALL THE POOLS, BUT 104 WAS A LITTLE TOO HOT AND 93 WAS A LITTLE TOO COLD. THE 101 WAS THE MOST COMFORTABLE FOR US.

IT WAS WONDERFUL AND RELAXING! THEY SERVE  YOU ICE COLD MINERAL WATER. YOU CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU LIKE. WE WERE THERE THREE HOURS.

WE BOUGHT SOME JUGS SO WE COULD TASTE THEIR WATER.

TOOK IT HOME AND LET IT COOL OFF.....IT IS THE BEST WATER I HAVE EVER TASTED.

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS IS ALSO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S HOME.

WALKING DOWN BATHHOUSE ROW I NOTICED THERE WERE HOLLY BUSHES....WOW! BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FROM FLORIDA.

AND THE BIG LEAFED  MAGNOLIA TREES, I HAD FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT THEM!

THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK A RIVERBOAT RIDE ON LAKE HAMILTON.

THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND THE VIEWS WERE GORGEOUS!

WE LEARNED A LITTLE HISTORY OF  LAKE HAMILTON TOO!

AS WE WERE LEAVING THE RIVERBOAT, I NOTICED THESE GROWING!!!

BANANAS!!

SATURDAY MORNING, WE WENT TO A FARMER'S MARKET, BOUGHT GREEN BEANS, HOMEMADE PLUM JELLY, CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES, ALL ARKANSAS GROWN. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!

WE ALSO FOUND FRESH PECANS AT A LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET. THEY ARE SO FRESH, ARKANSAS GROWN, OF COURSE!

WE VISITED HOT SPRINGS MOUNTAIN TOWER, RISING 216 FEET.

THE VIEWS DRIVING UP TO IT WERE AWESOME!!

THIS IS RIGHT DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS.

DUALLY LOOKED LIKE A SPECK FROM THE TOP.......

THERE WAS AN ELEVATOR TO THE TOP....THANK GOODNESS!!

WE FINALLY FOUND THE WIND......WE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW UNWINDY ARKANSAS IS......WE ACTUALLY COULD PUT OUR AWNING OUT ON THE RV ALMOST EVERY DAY. FROM UP THERE, WE COULD SEE HOW LARGE LAKE HAMILTON IS, IT JUST KEPT GOING ON AND ON!  LAKE AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE!!

WE DID ALOT OF "TOURIST STUFF", BUT WE SPENT SOME OF OUR DAYS RELAXING AT THE RV,PLAYING WITH MAGGIE AND MARLEE IN THE DOG PARK. WENT TO THE MALL ONE DAY FOR A WHILE.

ONE DAY I TOOK IN BUCKSTAFF BATHHOUSE, THEY ADVERTISED PERSONAL MINERAL BATHS.

I HAD A PERSONAL ATTENDANT, I SPENT 20 MINUTES IN THE MINERAL WHIRLPOOL BATH, THEN INTO THE SITZ BATH, THE STEAM CABINET WAS NEXT, AND IT WAS A CABINET, MY HEAD WAS JUST STICKING OUT. I DID NOT LIKE THIS, IT WAS WAY TOO HOT FOR ME!   I WAS THEN WRAPPED IN HOT TOWELS FROM HEAD TO TOE...AHH.................. SO RELAXING!! THE FINALE WAS THE NEEDLE SHOWER, WHICH, WAS VERY REFRESHING!!! BLESS HIS HEART, DARRELL RELAXED ON THE PORCH WHILE I TOOK MY BATH!

WE JUST WALKED AROUND HOT SPRINGS THEN, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY.

 

THIS IS THE GRAND PROMONADE, IT IS BEHIND BATHOUSE ROW, IT LEADS UP TO THE MOUNTAIN TOWER. I WAS REALLY GLAD WE DROVE UP, IT IS QUITE A CLIMB!!

WE ENJOYED OURSELVES IN HOT SPRINGS AND BRENDA, THE VERY NICE MANAGER OF THE RV PARK,  INVITED US BACK TO WORK FOR THEM. I WANTED TO GO VISIT LBJ RANCH BEFORE GOING ON TO SAN ANTONIO, SO AFTER SPENDING TEN DAY HERE,  IT WAS TIME TO GO!!

A LITTLE TIME OFF

 

WE ARE HEADED TO SAN ANTONIO TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES AGAIN FOR HOLIDAY HILLS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE UNTIL NOVEMBER 9, SO WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO VACATION. WE DECIDED TO GO BACK TO BRANSON, MISSOURI AND SPEND MORE TIME. WE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH IN APRIL, BUT WE COULD ONLY STAY A WEEK. 

WE LEFT FOR BRANSON ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 AT 9:00. WE HAD PLANNED ON STAYING ONE NIGHT ON THE ROAD, BUT IT FELT SO GOOD "TO BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN" WE DECIDED TO DRIVE THE WHOLE WAY.   WE GOT THERE ABOUT 7:00 P.M . WE WERE TIRED AFTER DRIVING 9 HOURS, BUT AT LEAST IT'S WARM HERE!! WE ARE STAYING AT BRANSON STAGECOACH RV PARK AGAIN, WHICH IS NEAR TABLE ROCK STATE PARK.

WE WALKED THE WALKING PATH AT TABLE ROCK ALMOST EVERY DAY. IT WAS INVIGORATING!! THE TREES ARE TURNING AND MAGGIE AND MARLEE LOVE WALKING THE PATH. AS THE SIGN SAYS "YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN MISSOURI STATE PARKS, THEY DO NOT CHARGE A FEE TO ENTER THE PARK, WHICH ALSO WAS REFRESHING.

 

 

WE MOSTLY JUST TOOK IT EASY HERE, WE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN GOING TO ANY OF THE SHOWS. I STARTED COOKING AGAIN, WHICH FELT GOOD AFTER NOT COOKING ALL SUMMER. WE SAW A SIGN ADVERTISING THEIR GRAPE AND FALL FESTIVAL, WE HAD TO CHECK THAT OUT.

 

 

 

IT WAS FUN, WE HAD LUNCH AND THERE WAS MUSIC, NICE AFTERNOON.

 

 

WE FOUND A DOG PARK FOR MAGGIE AND MARLEE.

 

 

 

 

THEY HAD A BLAST.....WE WERE THE ONLY ONES USING THE PARK!

 

 

 

MAGGIE HAD TO MAKE UP HER OWN GAMES, AS USUAL!!

 

 

WE SAW IN THE PAPER THE "BALLOONS OVER BRANSON  FESTIVAL" WAS GOING TO BE HELD  OVER THE WEEKEND, SO WE DECIDED TO STAY FOR THAT. IT STARTED FRIDAY EVENING. WHEN WE GOT THERE THERE WERE NO BALLOONS. THEY NEVER BROUGHT THE BALLOONS OUT UNTIL IT GOT DARK.

 

 

 

THE BALLOONS ARE BEAUTIFUL LIT AND THEY WERE GIVING TETHERED BALLOON RIDES.

BEFORE WE LEFT BRANSON WE WANTED TO WALK THE WHITE RIVER TRAIL, WE HAD WALKED THIS IN APRIL.

 

 

IT IS JUST A WALKING TRAIL THROUGH THE OZARKS....IT WAS SOOO...... FUN!!

 

 

 

AND TIRING.......WORE MYSELF OUT AND MAGGIE AND MARLEE!!!

 

WE ALSO VISITED THEIR FISH HATCHERY.

 

 

HUGE TROUT!!

 

 

ONE DAY WE DROVE OUT TO SILVER DOLLAR CITY, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A CRAFT FAIR OUT THERE, BUT NOT THIS DAY......THEY WERE CLOSED!!

 

 

 

WE ENJOYED THE AUTUMN LEAVES HERE, WE HAD ENJOYED THAT IN IOWA, IT WAS LIKE ENJOYING TWO AUTUMNS!!

 

 

 

WE WERE STARTING TO GET "HITCH ITCH". SO IT WAS OFF ON  ANOTHER ADVENTURE!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMANA COLONIES

 

 

 

SEVERAL OF THE WORKAMPERS TOLD US ABOUT THE AMANA COLONIES, AND WE HAD PLANNED TO JUST DRIVE OVER, BUT WE RAN OUT OF TIME, SO, BEFORE LEAVING IOWA AND  AFTER WEIGHING GUSTOW AT THE TRUCK STOP, WE DROVE TWO HOURS TO VISIT THE  AMANA COLONIES.

IN 1855 THE AMANA SOCIETY ESTABLISHED THE SEVEN AMANA VILLAGES ALONG THE IOWA RIVER. LIVING COMMUNALLY UNTIL 1932, THE AMANA PEOPLE, GERMAN IMMIGRANTS,  FARMED, MAINTAINED THE FORESTS, WOVE TEXTILE , BUILT FURNITURES OPERATED BAKERIES, MEAT SHOPS AND SMOKE HOUSES. SUSTAINING THAT LEGACY TODAY, THE AMANA SOCIETY MAINTAINS ONE OF IOWA'S OLDEST FARMS .

  WE GOT THERE ABOUT 2:00.  AFTER WE GOT SET UP AND  MAGGIE & MARLEE  SETTLED IN.  WE WENT TO THE LARGEST OF THE VILLAGES, AMANA, FOR   LUNCH  WE WERE HUNGRY. 

 

 

 

 

 

IT IS SUCH A QUAINT, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TOWN, BEAUTIFUL OLD BUILDINGS.

 

 

 

 

WE BOUGHT AMANA SALAMI AND CHEESE. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!

 

 

 

WE FOUND A BAKERY AND BOUGHT BREAD.........AND TWISTED CINNAMON BREAD, A CROSS BETWEEN CINNAMON ROLLS AND BREAD....IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!

 

 

 

 

ALL THE SHOPS WERE DECKED OUT IN THEIR  FALL DECORATIONS......

 

 

 

LOTS OF BRICK BUILDINGS....... AND WEATHERED WOOD BUILDINGS

 

 

WE WENT BACK TO THE RV PARK... TO FEAST AND ANXIOUS  TO VISIT THE OTHER SIX VILLAGES THE NEXT DAY. WE HAD A MAP AND PICKED UP THE CELL PHONE AUDIO TOUR AT THE HERITAGE MUSEUM. 

 

 

 

 

WE WOKE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES....IT WAS IN THE 30'S ALL DAY WITH A WIND . VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!!!   BUT WE  BUNDLED UP AND HEADED THE   TWO MILES  TO EAST AMANA, THE SMALLEST OF THE COLONIES. EACH VILLAGE HAD A CHURCH, A FARM, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND COMMUNAL KITCHENS.  THE COLONIES WERE PLACED  ONE HOUR APART WHEN TRAVELING BY OX CART.  

 

 

 

 

THEY RAISED SHEEP HERE FOR THE WOOLEN  MILL.  IT WAS TOO HILLY TO FARM.

 

 

 

 

THE NEXT VILLAGE WE VISITED WAS MIDDLE AMANA. THIS WAS THE LAST VILLAGE BUILT.

 

 

 

IT IS THE SIGHT OF THE AMANA FACTORY, WHICH EMPLOYS THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE.

 

 

 

 

GOING ON DOWN THE ROAD WE CAME TO HIGH AMANA, NAMED

 BECAUSE IT IS HIGH ON THE BLUFFS, AND VERY HILLY.

 

 

 

 

WE STOPPED AT THE GENERAL STORE, LOTS OF INTERESTING STUFF IN THERE.

 

 

 

 

WE DROVE BY THEIR CEMETERY, ALL THE HEADSTONES LOOKED ALIKE , JUST PLAIN STONE MARKERS. 

 

 

 

 

WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY ARE  ALL ALIKE  TO SYMBOLIZE THE EQUALITY OF ALL PEOPLE IN THE EYES OF GOD AND THEY ARE BURIED IN THE ORDER OF DEATH, NOT IN FAMILY PLOTS.

 

THE NEXT VILLAGE WAS WEST AMANA, THE SECOND AMANA VILLAGE BUILT.

 

 

 

 

  THERE WAS A LARGE SANDSTONE QUARRY NEAR HERE AND WAS USED TO BUILD THE STRUCTURES. THIS VILLAGE HAS MORE SANDSTONE STRUCTURES THAN ANY OF THE OTHER  VILLAGES.

 

 

 

 

 

WE STOPPED AT WHAT USED TO BE THE BLACKSMITH SHOP...WOW!! I FELT LIKE THE SHRINKING WOMAN!!

 

 

 

 

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS IN  THE VILLAGES HAS THIS LATTICE WORK..........

 

 

 

 

 

.....I WAS ABLE TO ASK THE LADY IN THE  BLACKSMITH/GIFT SHOP WHAT THAT WAS...SHE EXPLAINED IT'S FOR THE GRAPES!!! OF COURSE!!! WE ACTUALLY PICKED SOME OFF OF THIS BUILDING...VERY SWEET!!

 

 

 

 

 

WE CONTINUED ON TO SOUTH AMANA.

 

 

 

 

YOU CAN SEE THE AMERICAN/GERMAN INFLUENCE IN THEIR BARNS, THEY WERE BUILT OUT OF WOOD AND LEFT TO WEATHER. HORSES AND HAY WERE KEPT IN THE BARNS AND FIRE WAS ALWAYS A CONCERN.

 

 

 

 

 THE AUDIO TAPE TELLS THE STORY OF WHAT  HAPPENED  ONE HOT SUMMER DAY IN 1912 , THERE WAS A CLAP OF THUNDER AND  LIGHTNING STRUCK THIS BARN AND BURNED, MANY HORSES WERE LOST.  THE NEXT DAY THE HORSES WERE BURIED AND  PEOPLE CAME FROM THE OTHER AMANAS AND MANY CRIED. THE BARN WAS REBUILT BY MEN FROM ALL THE  AMANAS.

 

THE SEVENTH VILLAGE,  THE VILLAGE OF HOMESTEAD, WAS ADDED IN 1861 GIVING THE COLONIES ACCESS TO THE RAILROAD.

 

 

 

 

THE HOMESTEAD GENERAL STORE SERVED THE RESIDENTS AND FARMERS IN THE AREA, AND BEHIND THE STORE WERE TWO BRICK  BUILDINGS THAT WERE USED TO STORE THE WOOLEN AND CALICO GOODS BROUGHT  FROM AMANA.TEAMS OF HORSES WOULD BRING THE GOODS  TWICE A DAY.  THE ORDERS WOULD BE FILLED AND PUT ON THE TRAIN.

 

 

 

 

THIS IS THE HOMESTEAD CHURCH.

 

 

 

 

AMANA CHURCHES HAVE SEPARATE ENTRANCES FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN. MEN SIT ON ONE SIDE, WOMEN ON THE OTHER. ELDERS LEAD THE WORSHIP AND THE CONGREGATION SITS ON SCRUBBED PINE BENCHES. IT IS HARD TO DISTINGUISH A CHURCH FROM A HOME, THERE ARE NO STEEPLES, BUT ARE ALWAYS BRICK BUILDINGS.

 

WE ENJOYED OUR VISIT TO AMANA COLONIES, BUT THE WEATHER WASN'T WARMING UP VERY FAST, SO ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 WE HEADED SOUTH TO WARMER WEATHER.