LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas

First stop the Clinton Library. I've had this on my list of places to visit since before they broke ground. Just assumed I'd end up in Little Rock one day. And after checking it out, I wouldn't mind hitting it again if in the general vicinity. The Library has a boxy but lofty, in-flight design. I think the intent is freight trainish as it sits right along the old line that stopped at The Choctaw Station (now the Clinton School of Public Service). The views of the river from the building are expansive and sometimes surprising, offering a respite from the cacophony of Bill Clinton surround-sound exhibits and life-size replicas. When I arrived I headed right for the lower level Cafe 42 which serves graceful portions of locally grown vegetables with a soothing view of the Arkansas River. After touring the museum I walked some of the grounds but the more picturesque sections were roped off for an undisclosed reason.

After settling in at the Doubletree Hotel I set out for The Flying Fish on President Clinton Avenue where I indulged in a basket of fried okra. I ate most of them peel-and-eat style while seated across from a table of 25 men, each with a bucket of beer. It was definitely the busiest Monday-night spot in town filled with locals and the few tourists in town.

My evening was spent on a pre-sunset stroll along the lovely six-bridge waterfront, one of which is now a designated pedestrian bridge. The riverfront paths stretch from the Clinton Library at one of end of town to the Doubletree at the other and offer a variety of settings for enjoying the views.

On the way out of town I stopped at the Little Rock Central High School National Monument. School was out so I was able to wander a bit taking photos before cooling off at the visitor center. It is the most magnificent school I've ever seen - majestic and vast and probably the most historically famous H.S. in America. The exhibit depicting the mighty struggle of the Little Rock Nine and all that they represent is poignant and highlights the fight for equality among numerous minorities. My favorite exhibited quote was made in 1879 by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, "The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." Rock on Chief Joseph! Let's hope your words live on.

WINSLOW, Arkansas

Spent 10 days in the lovely Arkansas hills in the '30's resort town, now grocery-store and school-less town of Winslow located in the Boston Mountains. My relatives own a good 2% of the real estate (my estimate) and those living in Winslow represent 1% of the population. The views are lushly green in summer and only hint at the valleys and mountains visible in winter.

The hotspot on Saturday mornings is the Winslow Mercantile where my brother Jerry serves donuts and coffee and everyone in town seems to turn up at one point or another after shopping at the farm market that sits in front of where the train depot used to be. It's all freight trains now (the regular 3am woke me without fail) other than a Friday and Saturday excursion train from Springdale to Van Buren that will pick up passengers in Winslow if prearranged. 

The most exciting adventure in town is walking through the train tunnel (absolutely pitch black with evenly spaced cutouts to duck into should a train come along) and then out onto the mighty high train trestle. I traversed it back when Kylee was young enough to need to hold someone's hand but haven't ventured in since.

This trip was mostly family and friends for a week-long celebration of Lee's 80th birthday that included an amazing fireworks display put on in by Jerry, swims in Mike and Karen's pool, coffee at the mercantile, yoga at the school and lots of eating and game-playing. I had such a good time escaping the New York heat I'm trying to devise an annual visit!