Bath, Zoo, Santa's Workshop

Today we continued our tour of Hot Springs.

First stop was Buckstaff Baths so that Marlon and David could have the true Hot Springs bath experience. They each had a whirlpool bath, a paraffin hand treatment, hot packs and massage.

Then it was time to head up Hot Springs Mountain to look out over the city.

Then we headed on down to the Arkansas Alligator Farm & Gift Shop & Petting Zoo "Since 1902". That's one long name for one of the oldest Hot Springs attractions.

This guy was at the petting zoo. He is saying "Please feed me...please..."

This guy is saying "stay right where you are, I'll be right over and I can feed myself."

Like most cats in most zoos, this one hardly even noticed we were there.

This little guy could NOT have gotten in a better position for a picture.

See some of these animals in action in the video below.

Next we headed on over to Santa's Workshop just down the street and were entertained with the skills of store owner, glass artisan Patricia.

David commissioned her to make a glass elephant for a co-worker.

See Patricia in action making David's elephant for him in the video below.

Then we headed back to Lake Hamilton RV Park where we fed the resident ducks some more.

To see more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/hot-springs-arkansa/ .

To be continued...

Hot Springs Visitors and Hawgs

Today David and Bobby, two friends of ours who used to live in Kansas City, came down to Hot Springs to visit us from the Memphis area, where they now live.

We showed them the Majestic Hotel below. Built in 1902, the Majestic closed for business in October 2006 when it was sold to ARC of Arkansas.

Their plans are to restore the building with historical accuracy and make it into a residential and commercial development.

Then we went to learn about the history of Hot Springs National Park at the Visitor Center. For inside pictures of the Visitor Center, be sure and use the link at the bottom of the page.

While at the visitor's center, Doug attempted to break the camera by taking this picture. It didn't work.

This is the view from the pool area of The Arlington Hotel...another historic hotel in Downtown Hot Springs. Owned by the previous owners of The Majestic, this hotel is also up for sale. That's the Hot Springs Observation Tower in the distance.

Here's a couple of lushes we encountered at the poolside bar.

Here's several of the motorcycles we encountered while we were in Hot Springs. This is but a few of the THOUSANDS of motorcycles in town this weekend as the 2nd Annual Hot Springs Rally was underway.

And the police escorted Friday Night Parade was just about to begin.

Here's a motorcycle that would be about our speed.

Marlon caught some of the parade on video as evidence that, yes, we WERE there.

Then we went swimming.

For more pictures of today, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/hotspringsarkansaspart1/ .

To be continued...

Branda & Jeremy at the Little Rock Air Force Base

Today we went to visit Branda and Jeremy, Doug's cousin and her husband, at their house located on the Little Rock Air Force Base.

Mr. Vittles welcomed us by rolling on the floor.

And then Marlon caught Mr. Vittles and Branda in a very brief video.

Branda's youngest cat was glad we were there but wondered what that thing was we were holding in his face.

Branda makes candles and also makes candle kits which she sells on her Ebay storefront. Here she shows us a big spool of candle wick.

Jeremy is preparing the main course of the day.

The main course was sitting on the counter moments before when we decided that Cashew Kitty sounded pretty darn good.

Actually he would be guarding the food for us as Branda and Jeremy took us on a tour of the base.

The Little Rock Air Force base maintains an outdoor museum-type display of a wide variety of aircraft from the history of the Air Force.

Hold that plane!

Branda attempted to demonstrate her strength by pulling the sword from the stone but was, alas, unsuccessful.

Marlon, however, WAS successful in his first attempt at cooking. Here he melts butter in a pan.

Jeremy showed us how to make homemade shrimp egg rolls. Of course, supervision was necessary in case any shrimp fell on the floor.

A brief cameo appearance was made by these two pooches, while 2 other cats in the house remained virtually hidden.

One final picture of Jeremy and Branda before heading back to Hot Springs.

For more pictures of our visit with Branda and Jeremy, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/visiting-branda/ .

To be continued...

Lake Hamilton RV Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Today we left Branson and headed to Hot Springs, Arkansas where we would be staying at Lake Hamilton RV Park.

Here was the view out the front window (we cheated and took the picture outside). We would be keeping this view unless and until someone parked in the lakeside site in front of us.

Here was our site. As you can see, sometimes we have to adjust our positioning in the site to account for the full-wall slide and trees. We are actually farther away from the hookups than we might normally be and this decreases the patio area on the entrance side of the RV, but that pesky innocent looking tree was a little too big and had prickly things on it.

Here we are from afar with a decent looking sunset above us.

Here we are from anear. Note Doug's $7 haircut he got in Branson at a beauty school!

This family was camped very near us and came running up to us a honking.

We gave in and let them have some old stale crackers. They didn't seem to mind.

Chatfield took a break from his bowl and sang us a song.

For more pictures of Lake Hamilton RV Park on our arrival, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/lake-hamilton-rv-pa/ .

To be continued...