Day 56 - Mountain Pine, AR (Day 2)

We're in a forest on a ridge above Hot Springs.  Phone service, and our related internet connection, is limited.  Pictures will be added later.  (Added October 9th)
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We got caught by arriving late last night.  Because of a conflicting reservation, we have to be out of site #19 by 3pm.  We'll move to site #24 early then go explore Hot Springs.

We got moved, set-up again and on the road by 11am.

Leaving #19

Setting up in #24
(Travel distance approximately 150 ft.)

Bath House Row ...
We walked along Central Avenue and viewed the bath houses.  All of the national park buildings were closed.  Central Avenue was lined with touristy shops.  A number of the shops were selling 1 gallon plastic jugs for $1 each ... people use them to draw free hot spring water from public spigots.

National Park office

There are 8 bathhouses on the row ... Lamar, Buckstaff, Fordyce, Maurice, Hale, Superior,
Quapaw and Ozark.

Lamar

Fordyce

Maurice

Hale

Superior

Quapaw

Ozark

Central Avenue ...

Seriously?  I thought we were in Arkansas.

The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa

Shops along Central Avenue

The city offers a number of reminders

Duck Tour ...
Do we spend 20 minutes in a Hot Springs bath or spend an hour and 15 minutes touring Hot Springs National Park and Lake Hamilton in a WWII amphibious landing craft?  The "Duck" won.  The captain's constant narrative and humor was a real kick!

This is our Duck?

We're easing down a ramp into
Lake Hamilton

Whee!  The truck becomes a boat.

The captain went by many names ...
he liked "Captain America" best.
(He really reminded us of Dave Witchey)

Jerry Jones owns this home ...
he also owns the Dallas Cowboys!

Hamilton House is quite a mansion on the lake

We used this little ramp to enter
and leave the lake

Sunset ...
Lake Quachita (WAH-shi-tah) is the largest lake completely in Arkansas.  The lake features one of the largest crystal veins in the world.  It also has rare jellyfish (non-stinging) and sponges found in only very few of the cleanest freshwater lakes.  It's beautiful, peaceful and just a short walk from our campsite.

Lake Quachita

At sunset