from Paris, TN to mountain home, Arkansas

from Paris, we settled in for the long afternoon haul to mountain home, Arkansas. we opted for a little less direct route off the larger highway. Kate and I studied the maps, made some good notes (many if the roads here have multiple route numbers, and split often!)... then hit the road.

as we traveled farther west in TN, and across a sliver of Missouri, we began to see vast expanses of dried out corn fields. our first sightings of the draught the middle of the country is suffering. crossing the river into Arkansas, the sir was noticeable more humid, and we saw extensive fields of a bright green reedy grass kind of crop. neither if us were quite sure what it was, but the green was glowing!

as night fell, and we were winding up into the hills, we stopped to get dinner in a small town (Mexican again!) before everything closed down at 9pm).

rolled into the town of mountain home pretty late (after 10+$8. and we were both pooped!

Paris, TN

we were excited to roll into Paris tn, as our road guide told us there was not only a replica Eiffel tower in the town park, but a colossus catfish on the town sign commemorating the "the worlds largest catfish fry". we were a bit suspicious about the data behind that claim, but took our pictures anyhow. ;)

we drove into downtown Paris looking for a little local cafe or restaurant to get some lunch... but were sadly disappointed to find there were none in operation. :( all the restaurant business was fast food and chains on the other side of town by the strip malls. Kate found an online recommendation for the local Mexican place, and it suited us just fine.

land between the lakes, TN

from ft Donaldson, we continued driving west into the "land between the lakes state park". technically it was the lame between the cumberland and Tennessee rivers, which have since been damned and turned into lakes. we barely nicked the bottom if the park, but it was nice to get out and soak our feet in the lake for a moment. the water was fairly warm, and had a bit of slime (I'm a big wuss when it comes to lame slime! ha).

sitting on the dock, I watched egrets wading in the lily pads, and a great heron swooping along the surface of the lake looking for lunch.

speaking of lunch, it was time for us to carry on...