2018 Fall Western Trip: On to Hot Springs, Arkansas

Monday, 10/22: 211 miles and parked at Route 66 RV Resort, just west of Albuquerque, NM

It was a short drive today and we stayed at Route 66 RV Resort, a part of the Route 66 Casino.  This is an absolutely beautiful nearly new (only 2 years old) park with large, well laid out sites.  We would definitely stay here again.  It was less than half full and there was lots of space to walk the dogs.  After a few nights of gourmet dinners we had a cheap dinner tonight of hot dogs and baked beans.

Tuesday, 10/23: 269 miles and parked at Walnut RV Park in Vega, Texas

Got on the road about 11:00 and pulled into Vega, Texas about 4:30.  We went from Mountain Time to Central Time when we crossed the New Mexico - Texas border.  Walnut RV Park is a small, family run park and it was nearly empty.  Right across the street was a small Mexican Restaurant called Roosters that got great reviews on Trip Advisor, so we went there for dinner.  The place was old and quaint with lots of local flavor, and we had a great meal.

Wednesday, 10/24: 192 miles and parked at Elk City KOA in Foss, Oklahoma

It rained all day and was 47 and raining when we pulled into campground about 1:00.  At 1:00 we were the only ones here, but by 7:00 the campground was nearly full.  It rained so much that when went out of the camper to walk the dogs I stepped in an inch of water.   GRRRR.  The rest of the afternoon I tried to get caught up on the travel blog, along with naps and some reading.  We tried making Cornell chicken for dinner in the Instant Pot, and it was a disaster.  The only flavor we could taste was vinegar.  By morning the rain had quit, and ground had dried out.

Thursday, 10/25:  204 miles and parked at Checotah KOA, Checotah, Oklahoma

Friday, 10/26:  218 miles and parked at Hot Springs KOA in Hot Springs, Arkansas

We drove I-40 for 75 miles, and then on two lane Route 71 and 270 the rest of the way.  It was only about a 3 hour drive and we checked in to the KOA about 2:00.

This is a really nice park and is built on a hillside with most of sites terraced.  For some reason we got upgraded to a deluxe patio site, which was absolutely gorgeous.  Even though it was a little chilly with the temperature in low the 60's, we sat outside for a drink on the patio.  For the rest of the day we watched some TV, read, and worked on travel blog posts.

Saturday, 10/27:

Today we visited bathhouse row in the unique Hot Springs National Park.  This is the only National Park located within a city's limits.  There are natural hot springs of 144 degree water that were first used by Native Americans.  The wooden bathhouses built in the late 1800's were replaced by ornate marble structures in the early 1900's.  Each one tried to be more lavish than the other.  As modern medicine replaced the old remedies of soaking in hot water, most of them closed.  There are only 2 still functioning.  Others have new uses, such as a National Park Visitor Center and a brewery.

We did some Walmart grocery shopping in the afternoon.  We sat outside around the fire pit for a gin and tonic, and then watched the World Series game after a simple dinner of hotdogs and baked beans.  After dinner we sat outside around the fire pit.

Tomorrow we move on to West Memphis, Arkansas.