Considering how long we lived in Illinois and how close it is to Arkansas this one doesn't seem like a stretch. We did travel through a number of times we had a number of family events that brought us to that state.
We came to Conway to be at the wedding for my brother and his fiancé in 1987. All the family was there. The thing I remember most about that day was going on a hunt for something smelly that was put in their belongings. Don't really remember if we found anything.
While we were at the wedding of my wife's sister in Colorado (see the Colorado page) we did visit them in Paragould for a few days sometime in the 1980 decade. We did a lot of visiting of family back in the day when it was easier to travel, though Arkansas was not all that for from Illinois where we lived at the time.
We also visited a good friend and his wife and family in Hot Springs as he had worked with my dad in the early 1980's. I think my parents were there at that visit and I remember our boys and their boys playing together in park that we enjoyed.
Some pretty fancy stone work
A very nice rest stop
I'm pretty sure my family is not interested in seeing their wedding photos as representing the State, and I just don't have the time right now to peruse the 30 (give or take) photo albums for pictures to scan. That's a project for another day.....or year. So what pictures am I showing from Arkansas? A rest area! Go ahead and laugh if you must but I have endured pathetic rest stops in Illinois for most my life traveling that state. So whenever I find a rest area that is well-done and among the best I've seen, then I take photos of it. You'll find numerous of these rest areas sprinkled among the states and I'm always glad to see them wherever I go. This one has beautiful post and beam lumber, stone work, and a green metal roof. Then there's the Arkansas sign set in granite trying ever so hard not to be a tombstone.
What is the Natural State you say? From the State Symbol website, here's their description: "The nickname for Arkansas is The Natural State. Arkansas is famous for its natural scenic beauty, clear lakes and streams, and abundant wildlife. Arkansas has 52 state parks, three national forests, five national parks, and the nation's first National River (the Buffalo National River, which meanders through the heart of the Ozarks, is America's first federally protected stream)."
That nickname is also displayed on the state license plates and probably numerous other locations.
Another memory from my younger years was riding in the car with members of the family while my dad was driving. I remember that there were some very winding roads and tight turns along these back roads of Arkansas. I seemed far more scary when driving at night, but I ended up thinking those were some of the most dangerous roads in those earlier years. Or maybe it was just that dad was driving far too fast for conditions. Not sure which one is correct but I no longer see it as any different than any other state as I have gotten older.
Until next time,
Arktander
(aka David Andreasen)
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