15 Mena

    Dec 9th
 Jim and Lynae had told us about a very scenic ride from Mena AR,  There was a very light drizzle falling as we started to load up,   Jim's neighbor hollered over to ask if they were kicking us out in the rain.  A fun group of people here.  You might want to remember this picture.  It is important not only to show you how quickly your friends will desert you for the safety of their garage when a few sprinkles hit.  But in a few days I will be showing you some pictures that will show you how fortunate our timing is on this trip.
     From Hot Springs we headed West on 270 and then using 71 dropped down into Mena AR.  We had got a good start this morning so we arrived at the start of our run early after noon.
     We started out on the Talimena Scenic Drive as it stretches across the very top of the Ouachita Mountains in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas.  One of the points that interested Ruthie was Queen Wilhelmina State Park and Lake as this was her grand mothers middle name, without the queen of course.  The drive had many well marked look out points that we were unaccustomed to.  Usually they come up at the last minute and you have to swing out if no one is coming. 

     The road to the top was tree lined and then it opened to a view of the valley.  When you have to slow for a sharp curve and then the hill is in front of you is when you realize you are pulling a heavy trailer.   You think you are to the top and then in the distance you see the road you are on going further up the mountain. 
     There is a spot on the mountain where the Arkansas and Oklahoma boundary marker is.  It says their are still lawsuits ongoing because of the disputed marker.

We stopped at several of the over looks to see the view.  Kind of makes you feel humble.

     When we were in Mena the sun was warm and it had reached 72 degrees.  By the time we had reached the top of the mountain the temperature was falling pretty fast.  It dropped to 50 and we were having patches of fog.  We thought when we dropped off the mountain down in to Oklahoma it would warm up.  Wrong again.  We drove quickly around Talihina OK and we didn’t see many oppertunites to stay so we decided to take the valley road back to Mena AR.   We pushed it a little harder on the way back as we were both chilled and wanted to find some place warm.  We found an economical hotel, got settled and stopped at a new BBQ place that had been recommended to us.
     The temperature continued to drop thru the night and when we woke up there was a light dusting of snow on the camper.   We let it warm up a little before we get on the road.  Our goal today is to pickup our mail in Norman AR and go on to Murfeesboro so we can look for diamonds at the crater of diamonds.   Great plan.  Dec 5th our grandson-S had taken our mail to the post office to have the post master place in a priority envelope and address from a printed address he carried, simple enough.

      It got up into the sixty's that day.  It was a very pleasant ride with the sun coming thru the trees as we rode.  The pictures just don't do it justice.  The sun keeps flickering between the trees as you ride like an old time film strip.  Maybe I will try a video next time.

    We found Norman OK,  it was small enough it wasn't hard to find the Post office.  We had called before we had them sent just to make sure it was a manned office.  Unfortunately the person we had talked to was on a ten day cruise.  Still shouldn't be a problem.  After explaining that we were there to pick up a general delivery package sent from Minnesota.  It took a little longer after we explained we were on a motorcycle "Oh my God"  we here that a lot, a very religious area I believe.  She checked all over and no package was found.  She and the post office from the sending area. ( don't want to embarrass anyone.) agreed because of Christmas and especially going South it could be longer.  It was already 6 days for a two day delivery.  Ruthie made a great decision that day.  We would ride on to Murfreesboro rather than wait in Norman.  The post master said it would only take a day as long as we stayed in the same zip code.  Mail; to be continued. ....
This is a link to map of this leg of the journey.   Map
Then click on Hot Springs Village-Talimena Scenic Drive -Murfeesboro