September 28, 2012 – Hot Springs, AR

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Eagle in Catherine's Landing    Catherine's Landing, Hot Springs, AK Sept 2012   Early evening at Catherine's Landing RV Resort, Sept 2012 Rows and rows of Tiffins Office 20121006_165128

Arrived in the afternoon at Catherin’s Landing, a beautiful clean RV Resort with large level cement pads, tree covered mountains surrounding the area and a calm river flowing along the edges.  Had a relaxing time at the rally, meeting new people and enjoying the nightly pot lucks.  One of the couples, Robert and Robin, cooked our whole group gumbo one night for dinner.  They were from Louisiana and took trips frequently but still owned a home.

Quapaw Baths The Majestic Hotel and Baths The BathtubOzark Baths Buckstaf Bath House

Met up with our friends from TX, Dale and Ricki, for lunch and visited one of the local hot springs for the full treatment.  Stripped down and wrapped in a towel, we were escorted to each station.  First was a wonderful warm mineral bath in a tub with a strong bubbly flow of water.  Next was a mineral sitz bath of even hotter water.  John and Dale commented on how lobster red their butts were after the sitz bath.  Ricki and I hadn’t noticed…guess it’s a guy thing.   Next came a steam room, body only with your head sticking out.  That was my favorite and when Ricki and I came back a few days later for another spa treatment, I asked for longer time in the steam.  Next was an all-over strong surround shower that had a bit of a sting but still felt wonderful.  After we dried off we returned to the little Cajun restaurant we visited a few days before and had a relaxing lunch looking out over the small historic town.

Ganster Museum in Hot Springs Ganster Museum and Me Downtown Hot Springs Ganster Museum

Quite some history in this little town.  Gangsters, underground passageways, gambling, bootleg liquor and the mob painted a colorful picture of Hot Spring’s past.  Movie stars and mob money kept the town going for many years.  Of course I had to get in on the act and try out the machine gun, being Italian and all.

Hometown of Bill Clinton Fat Bottom Girls CupCakes The Tower in Hot Springs From the tower 3 From the tower 2 From the tower 1Arlington Hotel Hot SpringsJohn filling water from Hot Springs

John, Dale, Ricki and I toured Hot Springs together visiting the Tower, the hot springs fountains,  The Arlington Hotel, other local sites.  John volunteered to get water from the springs for everyone to take home and when he started filling the containers, he realized that the water comes out of the fountain HOT.

Wild Violets Adult Bonsai Bee in Garvan GardensBumble Bee in Garvan Gardens Butterfly Full Moon Bridge

Begining our walk through Garvan Gardens Dog Fountain Largest falls in Garvan GardensMushrooms at Garvan Gardens One of the many falls in Garvan Woodland Gardens Lake Catherine From Garvan Gardens Lights for Christmas Displays

John and I had some extra time to ourselves so we visited Garvan Gardens with the pups and spent the day wandering through the forest.  The weather was picture perfect.  We had the place to ourselves almost the entire time.  The beautiful wild violets reminded me of my mother and they peeked up along side several of the paths scattered between wild mushrooms and ferns.  Millie and KatieBug sniffed the handmade dog fountain but weren’t interested in drinking from a rock bowl.  Workers were putting up the Christmas decorations and the twinkling lights added to the beauty.  Another place we plan to visit again.