2018 02 03-08 Hiking Hot Springs Arkansas and then on to West Memphis.

Sunday, January 28, 2018 - Shreveport, LA

Dinner with cousin, Marie Thompson Kalmbach and Smudge. Her husband, Bill, cooked roast beef. We had a good time in Shreveport and even had some decent weather. 

Hot Springs, AR - February 4, 2018

Hiking at Lake Catherine State Park. Tori wondered off the path a little and got some vine wild rose thorns wrapped in her tail. It frightened her so much she spun around wrapping the vine completely around herself. We spent 5 minutes trying to hold her still long enough to cut the vine off and unwrap her all while Dakota tied Bob's legs up with her leash.

Falls at Lake Catherine State Park. Tori loves to walk through streams but I have to watch her closely because she gets really close to the edge. 

Selfie. The last day that it actually got warm and had plenty of sun. This winter is freaking us out. 

Lake Catherine

There are no underlying supports on this bridge so the chains are very noisy as Tori and I walk across. She hates unfamiliar noises and really wants to get off.

Cloud Nine RV Park Rec Center porch had several rocking chairs so we could just sit back and look at the scenery.

 West Memphis, AR - February 8, 2018, Tom Sawyer RV Campground

Sure glad we found this place because we were rained on for over 24 hours the day before we left. Had we stayed at a site without concrete pads with 2 inches of rain on the ground it would have been seriously ugly.  

One of the "alternative" camping options. This is about 10 feet above ground. The campground is along the banks of the Mississippi and in May 2011 even that height would not have kept this place dry. 

Memphis Zoo - February 8, 2018

Took awhile to make the connection to the hieroglyphic facade.  Egyptian writing...Memphis. Get it? Duh!

Was not expecting to find the Asian motif so domineering at the back of the park. Not just a pagoda and a pair of lions. Inside the pavilion was a 6 foot bell and ...

Here are 5 of a rare, old world troop of Sulawesi crested black macaques. One named Zimm escaped in June 2015 and was luckily recaptured. Zimm now resides in an updated exhibit in the China section with her new family of six macaques. Sandy, Lyla, Cedric, Linberg, Marie and Stella. 

Only one orangutan but he was very interested in what Bob was doing. 

Kudo, giraffes, cheetah, panda (who knew?), orangutan and antelope.

Mandrill, Nile Crocodile and adorable baby antelope. There were 3 Nile crocs. Now while I have seen numerous alligators these where huge. The close up of the head reminded Bob of Smaug the dragon in the Hobbit. 

Nice rack of antlers on the reindeer.  A grey wold looking playful. There were a pack of 4 or 5 and all of them were cream colored and kept staring at Bob. Must have been his hat. Two lionesses on guard while the King of the Jungles was sleeping. The cougar was vocalizing continuously for over 15 minutes. Weirdest thing we have ever heard. Finally, a Fishing Cat. Someone went way out on a limb to name that feline. 

This very angry looking gorilla is made of recycled tires.  

The Majestic Grille Restaurant where we had lunch after the zoo. It is a restored movie theater built in 1913. We couldn't figure out what they were showing but it was a Cary Grant movie. 

It has the largest private movie screen in the city constantly showing silent and classic old movies. Can any of you visualize this space as a movie theater because I got nothing. 

For desert we shared a flight of 2 ounce sweets.
Tiramisu, Lemon Meringue pie, Carrot cake, Strawberry shortcake, Key Lime pie and Chocolate mousse (the best one). Yummy. 

After lunch we took a pleasant walk down Beale street which was only a block away from the Majestic Grille. Still was too early for any entertainment. 

Lots of "souvenir" shops. 

Chicago had their cows, New York had their bulls and Memphis has its guitars. 

The Man in Black.

Princess, your carriage awaits. 

A lot of tug and barge traffic. This one is heading down stream. Tugs with 12-15 barges were plying the "Big Muddy" all day and night. Those traversing down river were fine but the powerful engines of the tugs trying to go up river was disturbing during the early morning hours.

Someone wants a hug.

Tomorrow we move on to Paducah, Kentucky.