Slipstream - December 2003

Photo by Bob Bianconi
Arkansas Tour
By Bob Bianconi
Uncle Ted and Aunt Bonnie’s Big Adventure
straight-aways but lots and lots of twisities and long sweeping curves to
Lombard Street in San Francisco is billed as the most crooked street in
challenge everyone. This was our first trip to Arkansas and I have to tell
the US. Well, the Maverick members who participated in October’s
you that the scenery, mountains, and roads were just awesome. I think
Arkansas tour might dispute that claim. But I’m getting ahead
everyone’s favorite was Route 123 near Mt. Judea. This road rivals
of myself...
Lombard Street in its switchbacks and elevation. This is a must do if you
are touring Arkansas.
The weekend of October 24-26 was this year’s big 3-day tour finale
with Uncle Ted and Aunt Bonnie presiding. If you have participated on
By lunchtime in Jasper (C-5 on your map), we all took a welldeserved
break. It was starting to get really chilly as we started back
previous tours you may know what I am talking about; for everyone else,
you’ll just have to show up to become a member of the tour family.
towards Hot Springs. You wouldn’t know it though as some of the
cabs/Boxsters were still driving top down. Despite the chilly weather, we
Friday morning started bright and early
at Einstein Bagels in Plano. Seventeen or so
cars began the weekend journey heading
north into the Kiamichi Mountains and then
on into Oklahoma’s Quachita National Forest.
Friday was perfect weather-wise and all the
cabs and Boxsters took advantage of it. Joann
and I were at the back of the pack watching
and photographing the line of cars taking the
curves ahead of us. What a great sight that was!
Following a day of exploring, we
arrived at the Arlington Hotel in Hot
Springs around 5PM. Being the anal-retentive
sort, I always worry about parking the
car. Not to worry on this occasion, though,
as Uncle Ted had arranged (somehow) for
private parking with a capital “P.” All of
those lovely Porsches got their own private
garage! The day ended with a great seafood
buffet at the Arlington.
Saturday it was up bright and early
again (one of these days I’m going to really
‘fix’ his alarm clock) to head north, back into
the Quachita Mountain range and then into Talimena Scenic Drive - one of the best roads within a few driving hours of the metroplex
the Ozark National Forrest. Not too many long
Photo by Bob Bianconi
Don’t let the beauty distract you, there are a few sharp corners that will sneak up on you!
voted to take 123 back towards Hot Springs. This
time we went up the hills and switchbacks – a
completely different experience than
coming down towards Jasper. Saturday night
was dinner Italian-style and then off for some
shut-eye.
Sunday saw us – you guessed it – up early!
But to make up for it, Uncle Ted and Aunt
Bonnie saw to it that we ate breakfast at the
Queen Winelmia Lodge located on a mountaintop.
Great food and an opportunity to take some
more photos with the many valleys down below
as a backdrop. This place would sure make a
great base if you ever plan to visit and tour the
Oklahoma/Arkansas national forests.
So what was the best part of the trip? The
roads? The scenery? No, it was Rich and Robin
and Buddy and Rene and Jim and Margie and
Brad and Susie and Steve and Debbie and Joey,
Charlotte, Douglas, Mimi and Bill and, well, you
get the idea. All new friends. And then, of course,
there’s Uncle Ted and Aunt Bonnie…
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