Date:         Wed, 6 Jan 2010 20:37:57 -0600
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: heading through the deep south soon, anyone on my route?
In-Reply-To:  <6e95da691001061035x6e6b8d4dk53bdc2d280ac285d@mail.gmail.co m>
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Joy:  I encourage you to detour north  to Arkansas if only for two
attractions.  One is the state park in Murfreseboro called Crater Of
Diamonds state park.  It's the only self serve diamond mine in the
Western Hemisphere and for like $4, you can dig and keep anything you
find.  Park employees there are fairly knowledgeable as to whether
you have real diamonds or just broken glass.  Not the prettiest park
in the state, but can be very rewarding!!.  The other place to stop
is over by the Oklahoma border at Cossatot State Park. You don't do
whitewater kayaking, but a hike into the Cossatot Falls area of the
Cossatot River will be worth the hike and bring the camera. Certainly
one of the most magnificent rock formations in the middle part of the
US.  I forget the Hwy. number, but If you find Hwy. 71 and follow it
south from Mena to the little town of Wickes(north of
Dequeen).  Follow it east for about 10 miles or less and you'll find
the state park office.  If the head park ranger is there, tell him I
said hi.  Should have maps there to guide your hiking trip.  Camping
nearby.  There's also the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock
and a ton of other stops, but the two I mentioned wouldn't be too far
out of your way from Shreveport/Bossier City/ Texarkana  area.  Hot
Springs is kinda touristy these days, but has both Lake Ouchita and
Lake Hamilton for flatwater paddling.   The Ouachita has spots in it
that are over 300 ft. deep.  If you'd like to tour the Ozark
Mountains, go up Hwy 7 from Russellville and take in that drive to
Harrison.  A little north of Russellville is another great hike
through the creekbed of Richland Creek, but if the creek is"up", the
trail will be under water in places.  Probably need to get a Forest
Service map to get back in that far.  Deer season should be over
with, so stray bullets should be done for the season.

Somewhere in northern Alabama there is Muscle Shoals, famous for it's
musical heritage.  And if you like ribs, DO NOT  MISS the Rendezvous
in Memphis. Find the front door of the famous Peabody Hotel in
downtown and they'll direct you to the rib mecca of the world.

Have fun even if you don't make it to "The Natural State".

DM&FS

aAt 12:35 PM 1/6/2010, Joy Hecht wrote:
>Deep south, for me = Alabama & Mississippi.  Maybe Georgia?
>
>Texas is visiting friends in Austin and Ft. Worth, and a cousin in Dallas.
>I've been to San Antonio - alas, over a very cold Christmas, when it snowed
>on the Mexican border.  Not much fun!
>
>Oklahoma, of course, is visiting Larry & Maggie in Ponca City!
>
>Colorado is visiting friends in Denver & Boulder.
>
>The deep south is the great unknown for me....
>
>
>
>Joy
>
>On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 1:24 PM, <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > Are you including Texas as part of the "Deep South"?  It's not of course
> > (it's Texas, which is its own special place), but some folks from the East
> > and the North consider it so out of ignorance.  If you want pointers in
> > Texas and Oklahoma (also not part of the South of course), give me an idea
> > of your route and whether you are looking for nature or other kinds of
> > spots.  I can suggest places better with that information.  Lots of really
> > neat places of course.
> >
> > David McNeely
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Joy Hecht wrote:
> >
> >  Hi all,
> >>
> >> I'm planning to head across Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi & Louisiana to
> >> Texas late January-early February, en route to visit friends in Texas,
> >> Oklahoma, and Colorado.
> >>
> >> I'm interested in interesting suggestions on places to stop in the deep
> >> south.  I've been saying ever since I first traveled in my van that I
> >> wanted
> >> to spend some time in the south in the winter, and I've never actually
> >> done
> >> it.  I don't know how much time I'll actually end up with, but hopefully
> >> at
> >> least a couple of weeks for the Georgia-through-Mississippi stretch. (I
> >> have done a bit of exploring in Louisiana already.)
> >>
> >> Suggestions?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Joy
> >> and Matilda
> >> and the kayak, who would love to get out onto the water on the way as
> >> well...
> >>
> >