Back on the road - 2 Weeks in the American South

Wes Craiglow

Wes Craiglow

Member
CLynn85 said:
Time fo our annual road trip. This time we're covering the southern states: TN, MS, TX, AR, AL, & LA. As usual we put together a blog to update as we go and this year added spot tracker (still figuring that one out).

Blog link:
http://cldownsouth.blogspot.com
Click to expand...

What's the plan for Arkansas and rough time-frame? Been here all my life and I'd be happy to show you some of my secrets if the timing works and you desire.

Let me know! :D
 
Every Miles A Memory

Every Miles A Memory

Expedition Leader
I'm sure Wes can give you tons more info on Arkansas, but we had only planned on buzzing through there quickly and ended up spending close to 3 months there.

That state is amazing. The Ozarks are some of the most beautiful country we've found in all of the United States and it's totally hidden and secluded.

If you're into paddling or fishing, make sure you check out the Buffalo River,
434449169_6s6xX-L-1.jpg


and if you can, try and stay a few nights at the White Buffalo Resort. It's where the White River (Amazing trout fishing) and the Buffalo River converge.

434456400_qEfc9-L-1.jpg

This was the view from our campsite at the White Buffalo Resort

Looking forward to following along with your travels. Make sure to post as many photos as possible:victory:
 
C

CLynn85

Explorer
Awesome photos, and thanks for the recommendations. We rolled into hot springs this afternoon and saw there was a lot to do so we set up camp for the night. We are planning to spend a few hours in the am and head off for the oauchita area, followed by ozarks tues/wed. 6string, if you happen to be available we would be happy to meet up for a bit.

Carl
 
Wes Craiglow

Wes Craiglow

Member
CLynn85 said:
Awesome photos, and thanks for the recommendations. We rolled into hot springs this afternoon and saw there was a lot to do so we set up camp for the night. We are planning to spend a few hours in the am and head off for the oauchita area, followed by ozarks tues/wed. 6string, if you happen to be available we would be happy to meet up for a bit.

Carl
Click to expand...

I'll be stuck at the office Tues/Wed. Bummer. Wish I could make it out, though!

The HWY 7 corridor out of HS is wonderful. There are tons of unpaved forest service roads which will parallel it north towards Russellville. The Albert Pike area is arguably some of the best the Ouachitas have to offer, but it's pretty far west. Mt/ Magazine is probably worth the jaunt, though. (Highest point in the state is an easy 5 minute hike off road.)

As far as the Ozarks go, and considering you only have two days, I'd transect the Buffalo National River watershed, west to east. The Boxley Valley is priceless. If you camp at Lost Valley you're bound to wake to the sound of bugling elk. (The elk are visible almost daily in the valleys along HWY 43.) From there, you can connect countless paved/unpaved roads for 200-ish miles eastbound.

Highly recommended: drive the Compton-to-Erbie road, hiking in the Ponca Wilderness, local art in Jasper, farmsteads of the Richland Creek Valley, the ghost town of Rush, and Blanchard Springs caverns. You'll end in the Mountain View area where the Sylamore Creek meets the White river. Mt. View has the Ozark Folk Center, which is kind of a cheesy touristy museum/village thing, but does offer a great glimpse into the history and culture of the "hillbilly" lifestyle.

If you can time happy hour on your way back through central Ark, come by Conway and have a cold one on me. I'd love to meet you guys and hear about your travels. Have fun, stay safe, and post up plenty of pics!! (Weather will be great this week. :D )

Hope this helps.

Wes
 
A

arktrekker

Adventurer
While in Hot Springs, you might check out Garvan Woodland Gardens. Well worth the price of admission right now. There is a bit to see and do down there.
 
mtnbike28

mtnbike28

Expedition Leader
Carl,

So you switched from a RTT, to a regular cap, to a FWC pop-up... how did you like that? Do you leave the FWC on full-time? Any hit on mileage?

I have really wanted a FWC or a AT flippac, but with a 02 DC Taco, one that fit the current truck would not fit the next truck well! Plus I really want to full-time camper on the truck!

ps great job documenting your trip!
 
C

CLynn85

Explorer
mtnbike28 said:
Carl,

So you switched from a RTT, to a regular cap, to a FWC pop-up... how did you like that? Do you leave the FWC on full-time? Any hit on mileage?

I have really wanted a FWC or a AT flippac, but with a 02 DC Taco, one that fit the current truck would not fit the next truck well! Plus I really want to full-time camper on the truck!

ps great job documenting your trip!
Click to expand...

Jay, actually we are in the camper shell now. Selling the FWC was a huge mistake, but the cap isn't terrible. We only had the FWC for that first trip in 07, and we took a couple mpg hit.

Thanks, Lindy and I trade back and forth on the writing, and try to write in third person so it's less noticeable.
 
C

CLynn85

Explorer
arktrekker said:
While in Hot Springs, you might check out Garvan Woodland Gardens. Well worth the price of admission right now. There is a bit to see and do down there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation, but we already headed out. We did take the time to do the bath house area, and hike a lot of the trails, quite a nice place.

No internet on the computer tonight, so an update will have to wait til tomorrow.
 
C

CLynn85

Explorer
6string said:
I'll be stuck at the office Tues/Wed. Bummer. Wish I could make it out, though!

The HWY 7 corridor out of HS is wonderful. There are tons of unpaved forest service roads which will parallel it north towards Russellville. The Albert Pike area is arguably some of the best the Ouachitas have to offer, but it's pretty far west. Mt/ Magazine is probably worth the jaunt, though. (Highest point in the state is an easy 5 minute hike off road.)

As far as the Ozarks go, and considering you only have two days, I'd transect the Buffalo National River watershed, west to east. The Boxley Valley is priceless. If you camp at Lost Valley you're bound to wake to the sound of bugling elk. (The elk are visible almost daily in the valleys along HWY 43.) From there, you can connect countless paved/unpaved roads for 200-ish miles eastbound.

Highly recommended: drive the Compton-to-Erbie road, hiking in the Ponca Wilderness, local art in Jasper, farmsteads of the Richland Creek Valley, the ghost town of Rush, and Blanchard Springs caverns. You'll end in the Mountain View area where the Sylamore Creek meets the White river. Mt. View has the Ozark Folk Center, which is kind of a cheesy touristy museum/village thing, but does offer a great glimpse into the history and culture of the "hillbilly" lifestyle.

If you can time happy hour on your way back through central Ark, come by Conway and have a cold one on me. I'd love to meet you guys and hear about your travels. Have fun, stay safe, and post up plenty of pics!! (Weather will be great this week. :D )

Hope this helps.

Wes
Click to expand...

Wes, thanks a lot! I wish we had weeks to spend here, everything's so beautiful. It looks like this is definitely an area we will return to. We wandered up 7 today and ran some of the wildlife management area roads, then ventured over to spring lake and magazine mt, all exceptionally nice, can't wait to get the photos up. Doesn't look like conway will be on the route back, but I'll let you know if that changes.
 
C

CLynn85

Explorer
We're BACK! What a great trip. 4200 miles and 15 days later we pulled back into Stafford and started unpacking the truck. Already have the camper shell off and bed out, nice to have my truck back. Started going through the 1500-something pictures we took and still can't believe how much stuff we always manage to cram into such a short time period.

Mods-guess it's time to slide this one over to completed adventures.
 
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