The Natural State

State #22: Arkansas. It’s not called “The natural state” just for no reason. My drive into Arkansas yesterday through Southwest Missouri was one of the most beautiful drives. It’s unique land, where rock reaches out over the road, keeping the road in a shadow the entire day. During the wet season Arkansas has some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, the ones you see in movies and shampoo commercials where people are kissing or washing their hair. There are interesting rock formations, caves, forest, and of course the Ozark National Forest. My favorite part of the drive was when the sun was getting pretty low in the evening sky going through Noel, MO. There is a stretch of a few miles on highway 59 that is one of the most photographic places I have ever seen. If I stopped everywhere I would have never made it to my next stop. One could spend days there with all the little places.

This stop on the trip, where I’m writing nice and early in the morning (a very rare occurrence) is Dover, AR. Here I’m staying with Debbie and Chris. Debbie has been in touch with me for a long time and has been reading every newsletter of mine. The first thing when I got in the door she asked, “Are those the ugly shoes that I’ve been reading about?” Sure enough, she proved that she has been keeping up with the site. No connection here, she either came across it online or through some press back during the summer or fall.

Speaking of a beautiful location…their house is gorgeous. It’s an old rock house on top of a hill built by Germans. They have ten acres and you an barely see the lights of the neighbors down through the field. When outside, you can spin around 360 degrees and see straight out in every direction. After mentioning I had never seen an armadillo we went out searching for one last night. No luck, but we saw a skunk and a bat, in the distance was the howling of coyotes which is a regular happening. Its perfectly secluded, the stars and moon were beaming last night and from here there is nothing to block the sunrise or sunset.

Now, it’s time to head out to the Ozarks. I could find myself in Arkansas for weeks wandering aimlessly in the natural beauty. I can already say that Arkansas is a place I’ll be returning to again and again. Oh, and I can’t leave out their pet cat Wally, my favorite cat on the trip so far. He’s cuddled up in my lap right now as I write this.