Fine dining experience

[david h]

I just finished a family vacation down in Ark. It was the best 4 days I've had in quite some time. we hiked the rim trail up at White rock, floated the mulberry river , bicycled some, fished a couple of hours 3 days in a row, and ate well. We stayed at the Mulberry mountain lodge (great place). Food was mostly at the lodge, but we ventured out twice, once to the glamorous restaurant at Combs, and once over to Catalpa. Both of these restaurants have unusual bathrooms. The Combs one is so small you can hardly turn around in it. The one in Catalpa gets the Hillbilly award I give to the most memorable thing I see on a given trip that Makes me think "Hillbilly" values. Upon walking into the bathroom it all seemed okay, a little old and dirty looking, but somewhat normal for a bathroom in a town out in the sticks in rural Ark. While sitting on the throne to ponder world issues AND come up with their solutions, I look over to see a little sign. "Please throw toilet paper in trash can", I assumed wrongly that they meant paper that you blew your nose with or wiped you hands with, right? Well unless someone has BROWN snot they mean all toilet paper. Here is a open topped waste basket with what appeared to be human residue in it. That there Is the finest example of Hillbilly way I have every seen.

Several years ago the award went to a farm house /mobile home set back from the road a couple of hundred feet. It's driveway was lined with old hot water tanks placed every 10 or so feet apart on both sides of the drive. Some fancy estates have masonary columns placed in this fashion, the true hillbilly estate uses old tanks.

I love the way North west Ark. is only 5 hrs from my home and has about everything you could ask for, plus the lodging is way cheap. In Colorado that lodge we had would cost over a thousand, we got it for 400 dollars

Hope to see you boys soon, David H

[troy]

Glad you had a great time, Dave! I've actually seen the toilet paper in trash can requirement many times. It's usually some run-down place with an ancient septic system. I have not given this all that much thought, but putting toilet paper in the trash is probably a lot better for the ecosystem and our drinking water supply compared to flushing it.

It's all a bunch of crap. HAHAHAHAHA

Man I HEAR you about Arkansas. It really has it all if you enjoy outdoor activities. I leave this Tue morning for 4 days of Arkansas adventure. It's something really different from what I've done in the past. Typically, its all about riding when I go down there, but this one is a special adventure I've organized for my brothers. Four of us (there are 5 brothers, but one can't make it) will be doing a 50/50 motorcycle/hiking thing. Each day is planned to include 2 to 6 miles round-trip of hiking along with some rugged forest roads to get to the trail heads.

Newton County, Arkansas (Ponca, Jasper, Buffalo River) has an amazing amount of parks and hiking trails to explore along with some of the best dualsport roads you'll find anywhere. The area also has many very nice cabins to rent. In addition, you can do float trips, go horseback riding, and even do a 2 hour zip-line canopy tour. We are going to hike to waterfalls, caves, and natural bridges. All of this is within a 25 mile radius!

I'll follow up with an Adventure Report. If all goes relatively smoothly, I'd like to compile the itinerary for others to follow on their own Arkansas adventure. The same trip could be done in a Jeep or any good 4WD vehicle--motorcycles not required.

[allkidd]

Typically, its all about riding when I go down there, but this one is a special adventure I've organized for my brothers. Four of us (there are 5 brothers, but one can't make it) will be doing a 50/50 motorcycle/hiking thing. Each day is planned to include 2 to 6 miles round-trip of hiking along with some rugged forest roads to get to the trail heads.

How ironic, my brother and I are doing a brothers thing this week in Arkansas. My brother isn't an off road motorcycle rider so I'm leaving Monday and spending a couple days riding the BMW then he is flying down.(he is a private pilot) We are going to do some hiking on trails and some hiking on a golf course.

Have fun and be careful!

[Savage]

That's nasty Dave!
Good timing for the post. We're trying to think of something inexpensive for a little family va-ca this summer.
I'd appreciate some ideas or places or names of some family friendly things to do in Ark or Mo or even Ks.

[stimmer6253472]

Lost Valley State Park right outside of Ponca is a must do in Ark for kids. Like a natural play ground. There is also a cool big cat park on 23 up towards Eureka Springs.

[troy]

How ironic, my brother and I are doing a brothers thing this week in Arkansas. My brother isn't an off road motorcycle rider so I'm leaving Monday and spending a couple days riding the BMW then he is flying down.(he is a private pilot) We are going to do some hiking on trails and some hiking on a golf course.

Have fun and be careful!

Will do, Randy. We are staying in one of the Ozark Bluff Dweller's cabins Tue - Sat. You going to be anywhere near Jasper? Maybe we'll run into you at the Ozark Cafe. We'll be on 3 orange dirt bikes and one white BMW.

Lost Valley State Park right outside of Ponca is a must do in Ark for kids. Like a natural play ground.

We are starting our adventure on Tue at Lost Valley.

[david h]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I03UmJbK ... detailpage This might help some of you out.

fits in with the spirit of the first post about Catalpa