It looks like a good travel day with on and off rain and muddy trails. We pack up and head to Hot Springs, AR. We stop at the little country store for air after Rick spots a robust compressor. Locals hanging out drinking coffee leave an impression of life in rural Arkansas. Grab one of the last campsites at Gulpa Gorge, the Park Service CG at Hot Springs NP. We had planned for a hike via mountain trails down to bathhouse row, but the creek looked too high to safely cross and it started pouring as we were debating. We ended up napping and reading – a good afternoon of van relaxing.
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- Much of the park is on the streets of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Must be why there was no park admission fee.
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- On the promanade.
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- Theraputic massage tanks – not torture chambers.
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- We soaked in the historic Quapaw Bathhouse. It’s been open since the early 1900’s
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- One of the bathhouses is now the Park Headquarters.
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- Rick running on Lower Dogwood Trail
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- Found a private shortcut up to the trails from our free parking spot.
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- Selfie
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- Love how green Arkansas is. At least this part in April.
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- Hot Springs, AR – from the observation tower.
We checked out of the CG, RVs were circling wanting a camping spot, and drove to Bathhouse Row. Parked on the street and walked the Promenade, checking out the bath houses on our way back to the van. We move to a parking lot behind a closed hotel and head out for a run (Rick) and walk (Phyllis). By chance we meet in the observation tower which has a museum and commanding views of the country side. We then walked to Quapaw bathhouse and after waiting on the porch got in for an expensive ($20 each) soak in 5 indoor tubs ranging from 95 to 104 degrees F. While waiting to get in we watched a corvette parade.
Van Around 