Florida

This weekend we decided to go to Hot spring in Arkansas for a Hike and then travel to Little Rock and Hope on our way back. The distance between Dallas, Texas and Hot Springs which was our first destination is about 320 miles and took as about 4 hours and a bit more. It was a weekend away for the boys i.e. me, my friend and our sons. As it was an all men group we did not reserve any Hotel in advance and as luck would have it these was the weekend when Hot spring had a Bass fishing tournament. We roamed from one Hotel to another and none of them had a single room to spare. This in my years of experience in USA has never happened, finally managed to get a room just average one run by another Patel from Ahmadabad.

The next morning we had breakfast at the Colonial in Downtown Hot spring and decided to get done with hike. With years of experience in hiking you would not expect us to make stupid decisions but we did. We took the hike for granted as not being too arduous but the Hike about 8 miles was moderately difficult. To add pressure the Kids who were 10 and 11, this was their first exposure to such a trek and to top it all it was a hot summer day with no winds. The trip started of from down town Hot springs but you would not believe that civilization is anywhere near to this place. With a few minutes all you could see was miles and miles of wilderness and no sound of any cars or Human beings anywhere near you.

The trail we took was called canyon trail before it merged into west mountain trail and by the time we entered the west mountain trail the characteristics of the route changed with step climbs down hill with loose stones all over the walkway. Many a distance was covered with grass and a scantily visible trail. MY friend who was from England haddone a lot of hiking could read the map, which enabled us not to get lost in the woods. Like the Poem from Robert Frost "Two roads diverged into the woods " and long we stood not knowing which to take. Here it was not because of the opportunities but because of the confusion.It took us about four and half hours to complete the distance of about 8 miles but the boys should be stronger for the experience.

That evening we walked around in the down town and decided to enjoy a quite evening. Next day we drove to Little rock which was about 40 miles further down to visit Bill Clinton's Presdential Library. Being a fan of Bill this was an opportunity we didnot want to let go. As luck would be the library did not open till one o clock on Sundays, we walked around on the paths and decided to head back home.

Hope, Arkansas was Bill Clinton's birth place and we visited the house in which he was born and spend his child hood days. Hope is a small, quite southern town and far removed from the hustle and bustle of main stream America. What I found most charming was the general attitude of the people and the southern hospitality.We walked around the homes and admired the first few steps of one of the greatest leaders this country has produced. Finally it was time to head home from Hope to despair ....

The link to the pictures

http://tombaan.sulekha.com/albums/hot-springs/25251.htm