I survived yet one more Greyhound marathon landing in Hot Springs at 8:30 am yesterday, feeling very tired as a result of the two-hours of sleep with one eye open that I had on the bus. Hot Springs is a tourist town, and that intensified the feeling that I usually get when I am walking around a town carrying a huge backpack after taking a break from the walk for awhile. Needless to say I was stared at all day with looks of, "What the heck is he doing here?" but that' okay. I seem to get used to it more quickly these days.
I acquired some very useful maps from the nice ladies at the visitor center, and proceeded to have a look around town. Thermal water is obviously a big part of this town, and right outside of the visitor center there are sinks where people can fill containers and take some of it home . There was a sign indicating that scientists have determined the water to be more than 4,000 years old. The sign also said that the water was naturally sterile, so I had a taste.
Next stop was Bath House Row, where they have restored many of the old bath houses from the days when thermal bathing was all the rage. Today, thermal baths run about thirteen bucks, and as much as I wanted to have one after the Greyhound trip, I decided to spend the money on a sandwich --which is about how much a sandwich costs in Hot Springs. I definitely can't spend much time here.
The racetrack is running now, so I walked about two miles with hopes of seeing a horse race for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, today I can still say that I have never seen one because they wouldn't let me in with my pack. The security officer politely put it this way, "I'm not trying to be a hard ass with you buddy. We just have rules." I guess it wasn't meant to be.
At this point of the afternoon, when I would sit down on a park bench to rest, I'd begin to nod off. This intensifies the look of homelessness that I carry around with my backpack, and the stares that people gave me changed right along with it. Walking across America never lacks opportunity for people studies, and I just love it.
I called my friend Tom who I met at church here right before I took the extended holiday break, and he invited me over to his house. We went to church last night and also had some time to talk for awhile before my body could not take the lack of sleep anymore.
Sunday, February 13, 2000: Hot Springs, Arkansas
I have spent the weekend here in Hot Springs putting together a website for a woman named Trish who is interested in selling her ceramic artwork on the internet. The website is almost finished and turning out just fine. I am glad to be helping her out as well as grateful for the opportunity to earn some traveling funds doing something that I enjoy. Although I am not making any miles south towards Louisiana yet as I had planned, the money will help purchase things like tuna, Rice-a-Roni, Pasta Roni, Tobasco sauce, beef jerky, bagels, soda and cheeseburgers to keep my legs moving once they finally begin propelling the rest of my body south towards Louisiana.
My friend Tom is a cabinetmaker, and he and his family have been very nice to adopt me while I'm here. They have all made me feel very welcome, and I'm glad that I didn't go walking off towards Louisiana yet, because I have had a chance to get to know them better. I am living in a room above their garage, and it's kind of like my own apartment up here except there is no heat, running water or furniture --but that's okay because there is electricity, and their house is unlocked and right next door if I need anything.
Tom's family has a "Coffee House" every Friday night.
my friend, Tom
Tom and his family are all very musical people, and on Friday nights they have the tradition of "Coffee House," when many of their friends and neighbors come over to Tom's shop to play, sing-a-long, and praise God with some live Christian music. Coffee House was the highlight of my weekend. I had a great time and met some really nice folks, too. I also enjoyed sitting in on a few tunes playing the drums --something I rarely get a chance to play on the road.
Wednesday, February 16, 2000: near Bismarck, Arkansas
I said goodbye to Tom and his family yesterday and headed south on Highway 7. It has been about two and a half months since I have felt that rush of adventure I get when I begin walking down the highway. It is that moment when I say to God and myself, "Here we go," and just start walking not sure exactly where we are going or what will happen when we get there. I love that feeling.
It didn't take very long to realize that Highway 7 was far too busy for walking, so I found a dirt road heading south on my map that looked a bit more peaceful and appealing. Late in the afternoon, a van stopped out on that dirt road, a window rolled down, and a man named Clarence asked me where I was going. I told him that I was walking across Amerieca, and he offered me a plot of land to set up my tent for the night on his farm that was right down the road.
I have been enjoying the farm life out here today. Clarence has been showing me around his farm and explaining what he does, and I have been listening, taking pictures, and learning. I felt a goat's udder for the first time in my life --which was quite interesting, and I am drinking goat's milk in my coffee as we speak.
Clarence and his "kids"
There are thunderstorms moving into this part of Arkansas tonight, and I have decided to sit tight and see what they produce before walking on. Clarence, his wife Anita, and his son Justin are very nice folks and have given me permission to "just make myself at home."
Justin is building an F-14 flight simulator out in his trailer. That's someting you don't see everyday. As I was taking a few pictures of Justin and his impressive project, he asked me if I would like him to take a picture of me in the simulator. The picture...well...I thought it might make a few people laugh.
sitting in Justin's flight simulator
Thursday, February 17, 2000: near Bismarck, Arkansas
I fell asleep last night to the sound of rain falling on my tent. I woke up this morning to the sound of rain falling on my tent. It is just misting right now, but there's no doubt it will rain more. I am putting on my rain gear and walking on. There is no sense in waiting for the storm to pass. I am walking through Arkansas in February, and that means that I am sure to be walking in the rain now and then.
Friday February 18, 2000: between Arkadelphia and Gurdon
The weather forecast by late afternoon yesterday was predicting severe thunderstorms, and my fear of being struck by lightning caused me to seek shelter in a cheap motel (something that I rarely ever do) last night. This morning, it seemed as if I was seeking shelter from a storm never came. At checkout time, I went next door to the Chinese Panda to enjoy an all you can eat buffet (highly recommended if you are ever in Arkadelphia). The Chinese Panda had a television, and I sat and watched as meteorologists interrupted Jeopardy about every ten minutes to advise residents of Hot Springs (and later Benton) to take cover from the severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes in the area. Although Arkadelphia was only about forty miles from the storms, it only sprinkled rain for a moment.
I couldn't really spend the afternoon in the Chinese Panda (well...I guess I could have), but I didn't want to go off walking towards Gurdon with tornadoes touching down forty miles away from me either. So, I went to the public library to lay low for awhile, use a computer, and wait for the weather to pass. At the library I heard reports of severe thunderstorms in Gurdon (fifteen miles away) but still no sign of rain in Arkadelphia. Finally at about 3pm, the storms had passed to the east, and I still had couple hours of daylight left to walk about five miles out of town and find this really great spot on somebody's farm. I went with the "If you ask for permission to camp, you just give them the opportunity to say no." philosophy tonight. They'll never know I was here.
Saturday, February 19, 2000: Gurdon
I had a fabulous day. Everyone that I met today was so incredibly nice to me. Even the guy who drove out on his ATV to tell me to get off of his land ended up being friendly once he found out that I was only taking a shortcut through his property and not out there looking for something to steal or vandalize.
I was somewhat determined to stay off of paved roads today and spent most of the afternoon on gravel roads, but I also cut across a couple of alfalfa fields (that's why the guy was telling me to get off of his land) and even followed the railroad tracks for about five miles. I guess that I just wanted a break from people staring at me as if I look out of place hiking along with a huge backpack out in the middle of farm country. I am not sure why I wanted a break from it today --I just did, and I really enjoyed my walk today.
I finally made it to Gurdon, where I had planned to spend the night and attend church somewhere in the morning. I called the police station to let them know of my plans and to ask if I could possibly camp in the town park if they had one. A guy named Ricky offered to come down to the market (where I was calling) to run my ID. He told me that I couldn't camp in the park, but that the radio dispatcher (Barbara) had already called a church in town, her uncle (Virgil) who attends the church would be coming over to the police station to pick me up for Saturday Night Singing, and I already had permission to camp in back of the church. I receive so many different reactions from different people when I explain to them what I am doing. The folks at the Gurdon police department understand what I am doing. They had the ability to help me out while I am in Gurdon, and so they did.
Gurdon P.D.
I never know exactly what is going to happen when I walk into a little town like Gurdon. I usually know what I want to happen when I walk into a little town like Gurdon, and I pray to God that He will guide my feet as I walk and give me the opportunity to meet the people that He wants me to meet. Then I just trust Him, and sometimes things fall into place so quickly and better than I ever imagined. Sometimes things don't fall into place, but there is usually a lesson to be learned from the experience.
Virgil picked me up at the police station. He took me to Sonic for a burger and then out to the church. I was planning to set up my tent, but Virgil unlocked the church and told me that I would be welcome to stay inside. I thanked him, and he left.
As I am sitting in this church eating a Sonic burger and wondering what I will do for a couple hours before Saturday Night Singing begins, a man walked in and I uncomfortably said, "Um...I suppose you are wondering what I am doing in here." He replied, "No, I know what you are doing in here. I just wanted to see if you would like to come over to my house for pizza." At this point, I am speechless and wanting to take back everything that I have ever said about the people of Arkansas not being very friendly to me. I went over to J.B.'s house, met his wife Jean, and the Sonic burger still left enough room for three slices of pizza. We all went to Saturday Night Singing together and over to Pastor Bob's house for coffee afterwards.
Jean and J.B.
Sunday, February 20, 2000: Gurdon, Arkansas
Tonight, a couple of teenage boys (Jonathon and Justin) who attend the church that I am currently living in took me out for a walk on the railroad tracks in an attempt to see the infamous "Gurdon Light." The Gurdon Light is a mysterious light that seems to appear and disappear along the railroad tracks near Gurdon. There is an old legend about a local man whose head was lopped off by a train many years ago, and now he supposedly roams around the tracks at night with a lantern in his hand looking for his head. The television show, Unsolved Mysteries, did a story on the Gurdon light a couple of years ago. No one knows exactly what it is, although some people claim that it is swamp gas. On any given night, you can find local teenagers and adults out walking on the tracks, looking for the light and scaring the pants off of each other. Jonathon, Justin and I walked the tracks for about an hour, but we didn't see the light tonight. We still had a good time though, and before calling it a night we wandered around an old cemetery and looked at some very creepy sunken-in graves.
Brother Bob (the pastor of the Church of God in which I am living) welcomed me to stay here at the church as long as I would like and also invited me to go to work with him tomorrow. Bob works at a Christian hospital called Living Hope in Texarkana, Arkansas. I am looking forward to the experience, and a short stop in Gurdon seems appropriate.
Monday, February 21, 2000: Gurdon, Arkansas
This afternoon, I was a guest of two groups (of about ten kids each) at Living Hope in Texarkana. I answered questions for over two hours, and I think that I talked more this afternoon than I have in the past two months. They asked me all kinds of questions ranging from, "Have you ever stepped in dog doo?" to "What do you eat?" to "Don't you ever get scared?" to "What are you going to do when you are finished?" It was a wonderful experience with a great group of kids. Sometimes it sure feels like God has plans for me to be working with kids one day. I hope so. The answers to the questions by the way are, "of course, lots of tuna, not much anymore, and that is in God's hands."
After "the questioning," a man named Scott who works at Living Hope asked me if I would like to do some painting with him tomorrow. Scott paints apartments in Texarkana for extra income and offered me a chance to earn some extra walking funds in the next few days. I accepted his offer, and a longer stay in Gurdon seems appropriate.
Wednesday, February 23, 2000: Gurdon, Arkansas
I was able to work yesterday painting with Scott, but today he was busy with other things so I had the day off. I went out for lunch with Bob, his wife Jeannie, and her father Bob. There are about to be two Bob's involved in my Gurdon experience, so from here on out I will refer to Bob the pastor as "Brother Bob," and Jeanne's dad I will just call Bob. Jeannie said that when her family has get together's there can be as many as thirteen Bob's present. It could get very confusing if I meet any more Bob's in the near future.
Anyway, back to lunch, during which Bob mentioned that he was driving to San Antonio, Texas to visit his brother next week and invited me to join him. I thought about it for a moment and said, "Yes, I would like to go to San Antonio next week." I have never been there, and it's not every day that such an opportunity arises.
Tonight, Brother Bob invited me to Big Bob's Youth Group (they call him Big Bob) to share with them a little about my trip and what God has done in my life. What used to be an emu barn is now where Big Bob's Youth Group gathers together every Wednesday night to talk, listen, learn, and get closer to God. Meeting them was yet another wonderful experience I have had in this little town of Gurdon. I feel so very fortunate to have stopped here.
I survived yet one more Greyhound marathon landing in Hot Springs at 8:30 am yesterday, feeling very tired as a result of the two-hours of sleep with one eye open that I had on the bus. Hot Springs is a tourist town, and that intensified the feeling that I usually get when I am walking around a town carrying a huge backpack after taking a break from the walk for awhile. Needless to say I was stared at all day with looks of, "What the heck is he doing here?" but that' okay. I seem to get used to it more quickly these days. 
