Day 6 - 4/9/2017 - 371 miles to Little Rock, AR

The Ozark Cafe in Jasper, Arkansas
The drive was from Enid Oklahoma to Little Rock Arkansas and was a day of unexpected pleasure.

The first part of the day was a high speed blast on a turnpike across northern Oklahoma. Lots of flat and, again, very little traffic. We made a wrong turn at Tulsa and had a small detour through downtown to get back on track. Our first destination: Eureka Springs in the Ozarks.
Eureka Springs Arkansas

I can't adequately describe what a cool little town this is. About 2,000 people in a town built at the turn of the 20th century jam packed with Victorians and other period buildings and homes.

The city is vertical. Built on hillsides and gully's, with VERY narrow streets. Amazing shops and bars, and obviously flourishing. Vickie took this picture of  a hotel under some renovation.
Hotel in Eureka Springs on the loop drive

It was a Sunday in April and it was packed. Lots of expensive motorcycles there for a run, with a lot of well-to-do enjoying a beautiful sunny day. If we knew what we know now, we would have booked a room there for sure.

Damn, we only had time to drive around and check things out. Not that what followed was bad either.

We drove through the greenness of spring in the Ozarks. We were about a week or two before full bore Spring, but it was still incredible. We headed south from Eureka Springs, through Kingston and Ponka, down to the Buffalo River.
Dogwood Blooming in the Ozarks

From there up hill to Jasper and the Ozark Cafe for dinner. Most of the cars and trucks that passed us the other way had art least two kayaks or canoes strapped to the top. I'n sure they had an excellent day of paddling on the Buffalo River. The dogwoods were in bloom, and looked like white clouds in the rest of the still sleeping forest.

The Ozark cafe is a legend, built in 1909  and on the national historic register. This shot is on the interior, and only shows a part of the dining area.

Inside the Ozark Cafe in Jasper Arkansas
The Ozark cafe is a legend, built in 1909  and on the national historic register. This shot is on the interior, and only shows a part of the dining area.

Prices are a lot cheaper in the South. I had an 8 oz rib-eye steak, complete with salad bar, giant baker potato, monster fresh roll, and a cup of pinto beans. Cost? $13.95 and the steak was flavorful and extremely tender. A steal!

Premium gasoline runs around $2.85 a gallon. We've been staying at 3 star hotels like Comfort Suites and Courtyard by Marriott, and they run between $90 and $110 a night - new, modern and very comfortable. 2 Stars are in the $50 to &70 range.

The Ozarks have some great views. The roads tend to run across the ridge-lines so there is a lot to see.

We exited the Ozarks and hit the freeway again for another hour into Little Rock. Got in around 9 pm - another long day on the road for both of us. A couple of drinks at the bar to unwind, and were able to watch This Week with John Oliver on HBO.

Tomorrow, a trip to the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock and then on to Mississippi.




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