Mon October 21, 2019

We’re on the way to Hot Springs, AR for the Viva!-Trend RV Rally. I made these pins to surprise the rally-goers.

We’re taking 2-lane backroads and I love, love, love it when there’s no one in front or behind us! The wind was *horrible* today! We took turns fighting the 35-40mph gusts. Started out on Hwy 2 to Hwy 40 in IL. We ate lunch by the roadside.. it’s a fun challenge finding a spot.

Along the way we saw two bald eagles. #1 was outside of Byron, IL, and was trying to lift something from the road. The eagle dropped it and continued to fly toward us with its enormous wingspan, then crossed the road and flew out of sight.

I looked to see what it was trying to carry. A dead baby raccoon with its entrails hanging out. It was raining and windy, so either the body was waterlogged and heavy, or the innards fell out as the eagle took off, and it was dragging him down.

#2 was on Hwy 8 in IL, and we first noticed a car coming toward us pull in a farm field entryway to turn around. Another car behind him was creeping slowly. We could see something in the field near the road —it was a bald eagle on the ground in the field, just sitting there looking at the spectators. It didn’t appear stressed or injured. We slowed a bit, but since it was across the road and cars were behind us, didn’t stop for a pic.

We made it to Bowling Green Missouri and stayed at the Cozy C RV Campground. We got there after the office was closed. I had booked and pre-paid online, and usually they have an envelope with your name & site # somewhere around the office. Common practice.

Nothing was there for us. I called the number taped to the door and apparently they don’t get too many internet people -the older woman sounded surprised but told me to follow the instructions on the door [except the pay part]. We made our way to site #31.

Tues October 22, 2019

It was a crisp 50° when we got on the road this morning. Rachel filled our water tank before we left. We were routed through many small towns on the backroads. Rachel made us sandwiches at a rest stop outside of Hermann, Missouri, where we crossed the Mississippi River. “Rachel’s Deli” includes baby carrots, potato salad, green olives, bread & butter pickles, and a drink with your sandwich!

On Hwy E we crossed into NE Arkansas into beautiful hills and fall color. At a gas stop we got Subway sandwiches to go for later. Rachel was driving on a “crooked and steep” (that’s what a road sign warned us of!) road as the sun went down and it was dark when we pulled into Sylamore RV Camp outside of Mountain View, Arkansas. Our site #32 was right on the White River.

Wed October 24, 2019

After driving 30 min the wrong direction on some very curvy roads after pulling out of the campground, we realized the directions given to Rachel had been misunderstood, so we pulled into a dirt road and quickly backed up and headed back towards the campground. A *left* turn out of the campground was needed *before* the right turn onto Hwy 14 towards Mountain View for lunch, a trip to Walmart, and gas. Lunch at the Wing Shack & Cheeseburger Grill was tasty and especially fun, since they had a quarter game machine that Janet loves.

I was driving the steep, curvy roads after dark tonight, when we got a surprise phone call over the radio from Rachel’s granddaughters, Krista, and Ellie. As we talked I passed a poorly marked turn, and the next road we were re-routed to was narrow, had no painted lines, and cut through some very rustic and even rundown backwoods homesites.

We eventually made it to Cloud 9 RV Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas —home of our 2019 Viva!-Trend RV Rally —just after 9pm.

Close to 30 Viva/Trend owners attended the rally. Had so much fun re-connecting with friends from last years rally and making new ones. Fantastic group of diverse, congenial people. We enjoyed a pot luck, toured our RV’s, played the LCR dice game, and discussed various RV-related topics.

On the day we left, we stopped for lunch in Hot Springs at McClard’s BBQ, recommended by a high school friend. It was good! Sadly, after we left we were at a stop sign waiting to turn left, and a guy turns and plows right into us as he’s turning. Claimed his power steering froze up. Fortunately he had good insurance, and they worked directly with us to get the RV repaired. Cost over $4,000!