May 15-17, 2022
A thunderstorm with gusts of 50 miles per hour tested the trailer the evening we arrived. We were grateful for the big Class A motor home beside us that served as a windbreak. The trailer shook a little but kept us safe and dry.
French explorer Jean-Baptiste de la Harpe is credited with naming Little Rock (“la Petite Roche”) for a small rock formation on what is now the Arkansas River near downtown. The river and state of Arkansas were named for the natives who lived here, although the name has changed with the speaker. Originally, the natives were called the U-gakh-pa, the downstream people, and their descendants are known as the Quapaw.
Our search for interesting geocaches took us to a variety of locations.
We completed a virtual cache on the grounds of the capitol. (There’s no log to sign but the cacher might have to answer questions or post a picture to prove he or she has visited the site.) One stop was a sculpture honoring the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who integrated Central High School in 1957.
Another cache took Dave across the Junction Bridge, a railroad bridge converted to pedestrian and bicycle use in 2008. It was completed in November 1884.
Jane chose not to brave the 185 foot height of the Junction Bridge and instead looked for a very popular cache near the public library. The cache is called “Reading Rainbow”, and it’s located in the parking garage.
Jane was wondering how she was going to determine on which level to search. A clue in the cache description suggested she look for red. That turned out to be on the fifth floor of the garage which Jane found nearly as unnerving as she would have found the bridge. She was very grateful the cache wasn’t hidden on the stairs–although she did look there. The cache container was held to a support by magnets.
Our tour guide at the Capitol suggested a lunch spot near the river. She said Paul McCartney had been very impressed with the food when he stayed there. We liked the food, too, but loved the atmosphere more.
A second railroad bridge across the Arkansas River has been dedicated for pedestrian use. This one leads from the RV park where we were staying to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Dave took the walk over the river.
Twenty-six globes present solutions to climate change at “Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet” at the Clinton Presidential Park.
Heifer International Headquarters are located near the Clinton Library.
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