Harrison, Ar. (13,100)

Our destination for the day was Harrison, Arkansas.

After enjoying coffee and a chat with Cliff, we set out for the day. We had plenty of time to spare and wanted to check out several towns along the
way.
Our first stop was Heber Springs, a small town about half an hour from Cliff’s place. Looking for a spot to enjoy breakfast, we stumbled upon a charming city park and ate there before heading to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Overlook. The park offers views of Greers Ferry Dam and Lake, and it holds historical significance. President Kennedy visited in October 1963—just six weeks before his assassination—to dedicate the park. While it was small, the park had stunning views, and we spent some time walking around and soaking it all in.

Back in town, we stopped at Walmart for some clothes. Since we’ll be visiting Dana’s dad in Springfield, Ohio, on Friday and attending a Haitian community fundraiser, I thought my worn-out t-shirts and jeans might not make the cut. Walmart’s selection seemed like a good compromise—fingers crossed it works!

Our next stop was Jitter Bug Coffee Shop, a cozy little place where we enjoyed some drinks and shared a panini. It was a lovely break, but it was time to keep moving.

We took the road north to Mountain View, a quaint town known for its spontaneous music jam sessions in the town park on weekends. Unfortunately, as it was midweek, the town was quiet, and we could only wander the streets and take in the atmosphere.

North of Mountain View, a swinging bridge caught my attention. It was designed for vehicles, and I thought, “Why not? What’s the worst that could happen?” The bridge was only four miles out of town, but when we arrived, it was a bit underwhelming—a vehicle bridge supported by large cables. Oh well. We crossed it and continued on our journey to Harrison.

The drive to Harrison took us through winding, hilly roads, surrounded by beautiful scenery. Both of us have been surprised at how picturesque this part of Arkansas is—we hadn’t been here before and were delighted by the unexpected beauty.

We arrived in Harrison as it began to rain, so we took a quick drive through downtown to get a feel for the town before heading to my nephew’s place. While the town had some nice features, we didn’t have the time to explore fully.

I have two nephews who live in Harrison. Since our route passed nearby, we decided to stop by and catch up. The nephews live on the same property, separated by a pond and several outbuildings. We started at Jason’s house, chatting while he finished making dessert for the evening meal. Soon after, Justin’s eldest son arrived in a “gator-like” four-wheeler to pick us up. Walking would have been an option, but with the rain and darkness, we gladly accepted the ride—we’re too delicate for those conditions, after all!

Justin and Danita live on a sprawling property with numerous animals. Justin runs an overhead door company and several other ventures. They have eleven children—yes, eleven! We met them all, though we promptly forgot most of their names. Their sister, my niece, also joined us with her family, driving in from about an hour away. We’re planning to visit her place next for “stage three” of the Tour de Bontraj. Additionally, a cousin and his wife, who live two hours from Harrison, came over for the evening, so the house was bustling with activity.

The evening was filled with laughter, stories, reminiscing, and plenty of good food. We enjoyed amazing hamburgers, ice cream, and pie. Saying we had a great time would be an understatement.

We spent the night in the PLUM, parked in Jason’s driveway. Though Justin generously offered us a room in their home (despite having eleven children, they still had space!), we figured it would be simpler to sleep in the PLUM rather than have them prepare a bed and deal with washing sheets for just one night. The cool night air made it cozy, and it felt wonderful to pull up the covers instead of relying on a fan for relief.

It was a long but fulfilling day. I didn’t have time to write this last night, so I’m getting to it first thing this morning.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive. Dalai LamaLue lisää