Driving Southwest to Bridgeport, Texas

Our drive starts in the rain. 

It's 8:30 am & very dreary.

93 miles to Texarkana & the  Texas border.

This section of US 30 West

looks like the Northway & the

Massachusetts Turnpike.

Welcome to Texas

Drive Friendly -  The Texas Way

One of the herds of cattle Eric & I drive past today.

98 miles to Dallas

The Rockwall Water Tower

Traffic Cones keep drivers away from the damaged guide rail.

Eric drives beneath overlapping

highway bridges.

The DART Commuter Train connects Dallas to its suburbs.

Rent a crane @ AJ RENTAL

Welcome to Bridgeport

This Oil Derrick pumps oil from the

ground for refinement.

Eric & I arrive at Thousand Trails Bay Landing RV Campground.

We have a spacious campsite with

50 amp electric service & water.

There is no sewer hookup at

the site.

The Welcome Packet

has a lot of reading

material to read.

Riding on the Arkansas River Trail in Little Rock, Arkansas

Eric drove to the nearest Arkansas

River Trail trailhead.

Restroom stop anyone?

Tools for bicyclists in need.

The Arkansas Blue Cross

Blue Shield statue celebrates

families & exercise.

Let's ride...

...on this two-lane road.

This section of the trail is

closed for maintenance...

The two-lane road becomes a

standard biking/walking trail.

A railroad bridge spans a

tributary of the Arkansas River.

The Big Damn Bridge the longest

 pedestrian/bike bridge in the

 country & it's built on top of

 on the Murray Lock & Dam.

The Lock's wall is in the foreground.

We stop for a

selfie.

Grass reclaims an unused road.

We ride past Murray

Park Picnic Area.

Eric & the Arkansas

River Trail sign.

Next...

Rebsamen Golf Course

Golfers are out on this beautiful day.

The sculpture in the roundabout 

is titled Playing Ball 

by Kevin Robb.

This section of the Arkansas River Trail continues on city streets.  Eric and I turn around and return to the trailhead.  

Eric on our return ride.

We rode 8.6 miles today.

The Old Mill @ T. R. Pugh Memorial Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas

Atlas Obscura is a great resource for travelers, the adventurous, the curious... Eric found an article on The Old Mill in T. R. Pugh Memorial Park in North Little Rock.

Commissioned by local developer, Justin Matthews, this old water-powered Mill is a replica of the typical gristmill in use in Arkansas in the 1800s.  The grinding stones are from mills dating back two centuries.  Matthews planned a park featuring The Old Mill to attract development in the Lakewood section of North Little Rock.

The "wooden" railings are the work of Senor Dionicio Rodriguez.  The weathered look requires close inspection.  He was very secretive about his work and didn't leave written plans or mixture formulas for others to recreate his work.  

T. R. Pugh Memorial Park was dedicated in 1993.  This popular outdoor spot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

This is a carefully crafted and managed natural scene.  

I'm not surprised that The Old Mill was used in a Hollywood film.  Director David O. Selznick chose to use The Old Mill in the opening credits of Gone With The Wind.   Here's the YouTube Link for the beginning of the film.  The Old Mill appears at 1 minute 31 seconds.

A pic to remember this unique landmark and its

place in Hollywood History.

Walking Around Maumelle Park in Little Rock, Arkansas

This small sign points the way to Maumelle Park.

This is the second Corps of Engineers Park Eric and I are camping at.  We were very impressed by 7 Points Campground in Hermitage, Tennessee.

Eric likes our campsite.

Camping here is half off ($14.00 per night) with my America the Beautiful Lifetime Senior Pass.  

I love the view from our 

motorhome.

I admire our neighbor's trailer.

The window air conditioner is an interesting modification.

Eric & I watch a sailboat float by.

I see the AirStream Trailer in

the foreground & remember

our time in Tucson on the

"Boulevard of Dreams."

I was surprised to learn that there are no Laundry Facilities here.  I wonder what's behind the decision to omit this common amenity. 

Maumelle Park welcomes

tenters.

One of the Park's pavilions

The water fountain is covered

to provide access no matter 

the weather.

The Playground

The nearby Marina has

dockage for dozens of

boats.

Locals come to Maumelle Park for picnics and to enjoy the Arkansas River.