Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas & Little Rock, Arkansas

We got to my uncle and aunt’s house around 9:30 a.m. for another day of adventure. They drove us in their car to downtown Dallas to The 6th Floor Museum. I had been here with my family when I was young. It is the Texas School Book Depository, where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President John F Kennedy. There were very few cars in the parking lot but when we got inside, wow, the line was long. We didn’t purchase our tickets ahead of time so had to stand in a different line. The wait was maybe ten minutes or so. They bought our tickets ($27.00 each) and then we got in another line. This was a wait for the elevator to the 6th floor. This museum, we thought, was done very well. It has huge detailed display boards and pictures. It took us just over an hour to go through. It is very crowded and you felt like you were in the way or someone was in yours to see the information. But people were patient and it worked out very well.

The corner where Oswald used the gun is glassed in with the boxes set as it was. That was neat to see, especially since we read the book, The Day Kennedy Was Shot, a minute to minute account by Jim Bishop. Wow, just makes it all come alive since we know the details and such. They had a good display looking out the windows to where Kennedy was shot and killed. On the other side of the room is where Oswald hid the gun. That, too, is glassed in and set as it was. Outside we looked up at the window and took some pics. The big building that held the jail back then was right there to see. We walked along the fountain that was there when Kennedy was there (I thought maybe it was for him but it is for Mr Dealey). Then my uncle told us there was more to see down a block. 

As we walked along I saw a bus that had the sign Tea Around Town. Cutely decorated in all things tea. I LOVE having REAL English Tea Parties and had them a lot for many years before we starting RVing full-time. And then, we looked in to the bus window and saw each seat on the bus had tea and tea food. Oh my goodness I want to go!!! My aunt said she wants to go, too, so we planned that next time I am in town, we are going. Wow, it looks amazing!

The thing my uncle wanted to show us is John F Kennedy Memorial Plaza. https://www.jfk.org/john-f-kennedy-memorial-plaza/ It has concrete walls that are open, depicting an open tomb, meaning freedom. 

From there we walked across the street to a place they have eaten before. It is called Record Grill. Tiny with only 4 tables and a long counter. Kevin got an omelet and I had grilled cheese and fries. Very good. Rated: A Nice Local Place To Eat, Would Come Again. Back to the car and my uncle drove us around downtown and then used roads not on the freeway. That was fun to see all the houses and areas. They asked if we wanted some ice cream and of course the answer is yes. Andy’s Custard had delicious offerings. Kevin had root beer float and I had Gooey Butter Cake, with Carmel and custard. I was excited because I make that cake homemade from Paula Deen’s recipe. (I am starting to see little packages of that cake in convenient stores around here.) Rated: Can We Go Again Tonight?!

View From Bedroom Window, Arkansas River, Maumelle, AR 03/26

Travel Day to Little Rock, Arkansas. We didn’t pack up anything last night because we had 300 miles today and check in is at 4:00 p.m. Last night we had planned to take the truck tomorrow morning to Fuel City for fuel and drinks and then come back and hook up HOWE (footnote 1). Well, this morning I remembered that the wood gate at this campground is chain locked and they don’t open it until 10:00 a.m. So, we could have gotten out, going over the tire ripper thing but wouldn’t have been able to get back in. Whew, that was close! Although, the timing would have been fine. The drive was nice, sunny and warm, some bumpy roads that made it hard to read out loud but it worked fine. Lots of traffic in I-30. I read out loud more of the Kennedy book. The landscape became a little bit hilly with so many trees you can’t see past them. Some places the trees were cut back and there would be a farm. We see plants started to come out of the ground. We got to this campground, Corp of Engineers, Maumelle Park Campground, at exactly 4:00 p.m. (check in time.) That was funny, not planned, perfect. LOL Went into the shack and got checked in. No paperwork, not even a sticker for the truck. This campground is great! Our site that I picked when I booked it backs up to the Arkansas River. Right here the river is called a lake because of the water being held back by a dam. The fishing boats look very tiny across the way. And guess what…I don’t see a cobweb! Wahoo. The campground we just came from had so many cobwebs and spiders that we never even sat outside. Here? We sat outside. The temps today broke a high record here for the day.

The next day we drove to Big Dam Bridge. It is the longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge in the world “designed and built for that purpose.” It is 4,226 linear feet of bridge and ramps and is 90 feet above the river. The bridge goes over the Murray Lock and Dam and is part of the Arkansas River. This day was a blustery day with the flags blown straight out tight. It was 65°with the sun partly out so we put on our coats and I tied down my hood and we went walking. What a delight to be over the lock and the dam. We wished a barge would go through right now but there wasn’t one. It sure gave a great perspective of the river. This bridge was completed in 2006. The road to it goes up and over a thickly wooded bluff. There are lots of hills around here. Later Kevin looked it up and yes, this is the southern part of The Ozarks. We knew of the Ozarks being in Missouri. The roads are very twisty-windy. 

Next stop was Hobby Lobby. I needed to get more sewing machine needles and most fabric stores are closed today. While there, I also got a few spring decorations – so cute.

Fun day sewing with a dear friend! How? FaceTime. Loved it. We sewed together for hours. I had put together Tortilla Soup in the crockpot in the morning that way I can sew longer. Smart!

Find A Grave (footnote 2) was our stop this day. Little Rock National Cemetery is close to the downtown area. I had looked through the 12 photo requests yesterday and found that only 3 were listed with plots. The others I looked up on the national cemetery list and none of them were listed as being buried there. At the cemetery I quickly found all three and took the photos. Such an honor. Back home (footnote 3) we sat outside and read.

I found a book called, The Day the World Came to Town, by Jim DeFede. It is about Gander, Canada, and the planes that landed there on 9/11. Great writing and stories of the people.

*The blog posts are taken from my daily travel journal. Would you believe – it takes me a 1/2 day every week to whittle down a week’s worth of journal so it won’t be too long for the post each week. HAHA Thank you for reading!

1. “HOWE” is what we named our Alliance Avenue 36-ft 5th wheel. See: Home On WhEels and we pronounce it Howie. We live and travel in it full-time around the country. HOWE has stayed at least one night in all 48 continuous U.S. states.

2. Find A Grave – https://www.findagrave.com/about

3. “Home” is where we park it. Home is our 2022 Alliance Avenue, 36 ft, 5th wheel.