Hot Rod Power Tour Day 2

Dad and I left at 6:30 this morning on the way from Bella Vista to Little Rock. We decided to take country roads instead of the interstate, and found ourselves reminiscing over trips our family used to make when me and my brother were kids. No radio, in the middle of back country Arkansas, singing to pass the time.

We took Hwy 412 from Springdale to Harrison, then down Hwy 65 to Conway, and I-40 to Little Rock. Part of this route (on Hwy 65) we'll repeat tomorrow, in the opposite direction. However, we did something a bit on the spur of the moment and decided to see the Natural Bridge... It's an interesting place that I've driven by since I was a kid, and never went. I recommend a visit if you're around the area...
but when they mean NO BUSES, they mean it. I thought I was gonna have problems getting the Dart around some of the steep switchbacks down this winding path. My brakes smelled AWFUL by the time we reached the bottom of the road. Fortunately, it's at leat paved.

So we spent some time there and then headed down through a neat little place called Pickles Gap, and then on through Conway to Little Rock... All I can say is June heat combined with lots of asphalt and cars makes for a HOT day. We soaked ourselves with sweat, and drank water like it was going out of style. However - I did get one cool pic with my favorite MOPAR - the General Lee!!!


And... Our accomodations (Motel 6) are decent... But I must say I've been spoiled by mostly government per diem traveling. We're trying to stay on the cheap, so I'm trying NOT to be too picky... However - the room smells and the pool is filled with water and looks ok, but the gate is bolted shut... So no cool, refreshing swim for me and Dad tonight... And I recommend that if you show up to a motel and you can't talk face to face with the clerk except through a bulletproof night deposit window at 5:00 in the afternoon, that you go on your merry way - our first room had fast food cups and wrappers all over, the beds had been stripped, but not made, and smelled something just a bit less than wierd... But overall, it's beeen a good day. We sat in the shade with some car club guys from Dallas and swapped stories.

Click Here for today's photos

Total miles today: 260

Fillup results: 11.3 gallons and 212 miles. That's 19 mpg in my book kids!!! Over hill and dale even!