Arkansas State Capitol | Harding University

Friday - 7 May 2004 - Memphis, Tennessee: It was going to be another hot, muggy day in the South. I guess this is a good thing, because everyone says it has been so cold and they welcome the heat. It always makes for a good hair day for me, so I won't complain... much. Life would be sweeter if we had in-dash air conditioning, but it seems we may now know what is wrong. Seeing if we can fix it is another chapter all together.
 
By nine o'clock this morning, we were on I-30 to Little Rock. All was well until about 10 miles outside of the Capital we ran into road construction. And it was road construction of The Worst Kind: they mark the lanes with concrete barriers! Oh, we hate, hate, hate those concrete barriers! The lanes were so narrow! That didn't stop truckers from passing us! Oh, goodness, I was so stressed, but hubby kept a steady course and we safely entered the beautiful Capital of Arkansas. We had one goal - The Capitol Building!

Arkansas State Capitol (Photo DT)

The Capitol is the second building serving this State. The first is now a museum and is called the Old State Building. The Arkansas Capitol isn't the nicest, grandest or best State Capitol we have visited, but it is still nice. You know, all State Capitol Buildings are basically the same... you have your dome, your House side, your Senate side, your fancy Governor's Office and a bunch of offices. There are portraits along the walls of each Governor and nice art work representing the Famous Citizens and Important Industries of the State. If we are lucky, there is a Gift Shop where you can buy a few post cards. If the Legislature is in session, you must go through metal detectors (as was true in Oklahoma City). If there is no Legislature, it is like it an empty tomb. Not a soul is about and a dozing guard waves you in. The metal detector isn't even plugged-in. However, this Capitol has something that only seventeen others can claim - it produced a President!

 
The Governor's Reception Room and President William Jefferson Clinton


Obligatory Dome


The marble steps to the House Chambers

I did have a very exciting moment in Little Rock: The Capitol Building is on a nice hill, and we were parked at the base of the hill. While we were walking back to the motorhome, for the first time EVER, I could see the roof of Our Intrigue. It is white! Who knew? DT said he knew, as he has been up there. I always assumed it was grey/silver like the rest of the coach. It looked very nice and very clean.
 
We continued out of Little Rock on Highway 67 to Searcy, Arkansas. Why would we want to go to Searcy? It is the home of Harding University! DT's high school friend, Mark, DT’s High School track coach and another old friend - all attended school in Searcy. Well, truth be told, they all attended Harding College, but it is now a University. HU is a small Church of Christ school. The campus is very traditional, with the required brick buildings, huge trees and long expanses of lawn. We took up an entire row in a parking lot behind the basketball arena and headed off to discover the campus.

Harding University scenes

We had a quick lunch in the Student Union after our self-guided tour, and then walked over to the track on our way back to the motorhome. After hearing Mark's college tales all these years, it was great to finally see the campus!

We left Searcy, heading north on Highway 64. We went to Memphis! It was a very pretty, though very warm drive. We saw many turtles sunning themselves on logs floating in swamps. We passed mile after mile after mile of rice fields! I was so surprised to learn so much rice is grown in Arkansas. But not as surprised as I was to see signs for several escort services. I couldn't imagine who would hire an escort out in the middle of no where in all this farm country? And if they did, where would they take her - the SMOK-E BBQ Pit?  Bubba's Alligator Farm & Gift Shop? This was until I realized that in the middle of no where an escort service is a company that will drive in front of, and behind, your over-sized-load farm equipment when it needs to be moved on the highway. Duh!
 
Traffic wasn't bad until we hit Memphis, but we knew where we were headed - The Graceland RV Park! I suppose it sounds tacky, but it is a very nice campground! Even acres of green grass right in the middle of this huge city. We are behind the Heartbreak Hotel and just down the street from a motel with a guitar-shaped swimming pool. I can't wait to see the junk in the local gift shops! Be ready for crazy postcards! DT has been to Memphis several times on business, but it is my first visit. He promises to show me around tomorrow. Tonight we rested and went out to find an office supply store for a few necessities. We found an office supply store just down the road - in Mississippi! Graceland is about three miles from Mississippi. On the way back to the campground we dined at a Horn Lake, Mississippi, wing joint with a bright orange and Owl theme. Everyone is very friendly around here and ebry buddy tawks rill funny.

RV Park: Graceland RV Park