It's been a while but we're back at it

We never finished the last blog due to the fact that I came down with the flu and pneumonia.  We stayed in Shipshewana for three days hoping that I would start to feel better.  I didn't so we headed home.  After four days in the hospital and a month getting back to normal, Vickie and I started planning our 2018 trips.

Last Friday, we headed out for the Rovers Rally in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  The first day was a short one to Fayetteville, North Carolina where we met up with friends and the next day, we all headed west.  After overnight stops in Atlanta, Birmingham and West Memphis, we arrived at Lake Catherine State Park in Hot Springs.  It's a beautiful park right on the lake where we met up with twenty-seven other RV's.

We had some nice days for travel.

After crossing the Mississippi into Arkansas, we stopped for the night at Tom Sawyer Campground in West Memphis.  Here, we met another friend heading to the rally.  On our way back, we'll spend three nights here.  

The view from our campsite of the mighty Mississippi River

We stopped for fuel and food at a truck stop and got a picture of the boys and their toys.

Fueling with the big boys.

This is our current situation for the next week.

Some of the locals came to greet us.  They have little fear of humans, especially when you are eating outside.

We arrived on Monday and had a little time to explore before the rally starts on Wednesday.

We drove into Hot Springs and toured the Gangster Museum.

This was our tour guide, Bobby J.  He was a lot of fun and very entertaining.

Many athletes, movie stars, and gangsters came to Hot Springs for the baths, gaming, and prostitutes.  

This was one of Hot Springs more famous visitors.

Here we are in a gaming room. You didn't gamble here, you gamed.  Gambling was illegal.

Al was getting fresh.

The ladies showing off their concealed carry guns.

We decided, at Bobby J's suggestion, to visit the Ohio Club for a libation.

The place has a very impressive back bar.  The front of the building had to be removed to get it into the building.

We were told to try their local brew.  It was a light pilsner.  Vickie had one and I had something with a bit more body.   

Many jazz greats played at the Ohio Club over the years.  Here we are waiting for our lunch. 

Back at the campground, Vickie took a short hike into the woods to a waterfall behind the campground.

Wednesday evening was the official start of the rally with a catered dinner provided by Keystone RV.