April 16, 2014.  After an early start today and a visit to the Elvis museum in Tupelo, we drove a long way — through Memphis and Little Rock and ending in Russellville AK another beautiful federal park — Old Post Road.  This time, our camp site is on the banks of the Arkansas River — very different from the Tombigbee, but still beautiful.  The water is very low in this river, with long sandy banks on our side and tall rock cliffs on the other.  As we crossed the Mississippi River in Memphis today, we noticed a distinct change in the topography and general feel.  Everything on the East of the Mississippi looked pretty much like Georgia, with rolling hills and trees putting out glorious first leaves, with that indescribable color mix of yellow-green and mustard punctuated with white dogwood and purple redbud.  Over on this side, the land we saw in Arkansas is endlessly flat with vast fields of bright yellow rape, bright green grass and hedgerows separating cultivated fields.  We were struck by the number of trucks hauling the nation’s goods across the endless straight highways of this heartland.

We were glad to unfurl this afternoon at our lovely Site B32 on Old Post Road.  We put out the awning and folding chairs and had Scotch and G&Ts with crackers and cheese, overlooking the river in the warm slanting sun and tuned in the Braves game.  We had penne pasta with fresh pesto (from my retirement party) for dinner.  What a great experience.

The Arkansas from our door

Old Post Road Campground

crossing the Mississippi

cocktails on the lawn