Nathan posted on July 06, 2008 18:19
Sunday, July 6, 2008
TAT Day 5:
Today has been the hottest day--and the most scenic. We left the flood plains of the Mississippi River this morning, killing the last few mosquitoes that still haunted the Jeep, and drove on dirt and gravel roads almost exclusively, through farm and ranch lands to progressively hillier country, until we entered Ozark National Forest. I have been known in the past to speak disparagingly of the Ozark Mountains. And I still maintain that they aren't really mountains (too small). They are, however, beautiful.
Today is Sunday, and every small town through which we drove was almost completely shut down. I was able to surreptitiously gain access to the men's room in a closed gas station in one town, the owner of which gas station I thank heartily for forgetting to lock the door. In another town there was one gas station open, and I think that was the only place of business open in town--it was hopping. The local police force (a very pretty lady) was out eating country-fried steak, and people crowded the aisles. A couple of hours later, we were passing an awesome-looking general store and cafe in another of these typical small towns when a short downpour began. We would have loved to wait out the rain in the general store, but what were we thinking?!? It was closed. Sunday.
Here's how hot it was: we ate lunch standing knee-deep in the cold, if somewhat murky, water of Dare Creek where it flows under the overpass. There wasn't any place to sit on the banks that wasn't lush with poison ivy. But it felt so good that we stood the entire meal. Then back to the Jeep where we drove with the AC off and the windows open--it saves gas, and it's more of "the experience," as we like to term it.
Passed a GMC truck that had slid off the road. The driver had been pulling over for a passing vehicle in the narrow way when his truck lost traction and fell into a tree. When we drove up, two tow-trucks had winches hooked to the front of the GMC, ready to finish off the entire passenger side by pulling it past said tree and up onto the road. Fortunately, before they could entirely screw the owner of the truck, the boss showed up and reminded his young-looking driver that their truck had a boom and it was perfectly possible between the two tow-trucks to pull the pick-up out from the side. We left the situation in good hands. :)
We're camping in another real camp-ground, located at the top of such a rough road that we are the only guests in the entire campground. It's like a state park-type campground, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 30's. The managers live nearby, and as we were making supper (pizzas in a frying pan), their two dogs came by to visit. They were the sweetest, most laid-back dogs I've ever met. They laid right down and chilled. The big one would hardly even move when we tossed him a scrap of pizza crust. I named them: the big one is Bernie, and the little one is Fleabus (he seemed to be scratching fleas). We assumed that they are boys. We didn't check.
We did not cover so much distance today as we have been, but for great reasons. We had great roads, some pretty rough, but all beautiful scenery. At one point the road followed a ridge that dropped so quickly on both sides that we could see green ridges wrinkling out past the valleys on either side. Also crossed several lovely rivers. The heat made it difficult to enjoy it all properly--we were sticky and miserable and cross. We're camped up on another ridge, though, with a breeze blowing across through our tent, so my temper has smoothed out considerably, and all is well.
Posted by EHenson at 10:13 AM