Bentonville AR Mile 2098.8

We have been driving under cloudy skies or rain since Albuquerque which seems like a long time for us although it has only been a couple of days. When we woke up Tuesday morning, in Tulsa, it was raining Since this drive was short – only 121.5 miles, it turned out – we spend the morning and most of the afternoon in Tulsa in intermitant rain. As an aside, my whole worldview is that it only rains when it is cold and I am shocked every time I walk out of an air-conditioned building into the rain, and it is warmer. End aside. 

Michele standing at The Center of the Universe, a place on a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks, that has very strange acoustics.
The Woodie Gutherie Center was a great reminder that, while Oklahoma is politically conservative, it also has strong Populist roots.
Michele – I guess that you already know that this is Michele – in front of a stunning mosaic showing the geology of the area.

It was still raining as we left town. I liked Tulsa a lot. Because it has had several booms and busts, It’s got lots of interesting buildings and it’s fun to walk around the Downtown area and see what seems to be buildings from three eras. The 60s buildings, of which I have always been a fan, come off as pretty blandly out of a human scale, compared to the earlier buildings. 

I don’t know what to make of the “Kum & Go” name of the gas station. I am slightly offended by the name and slightly more offended by the bad spelling.

Once on the road, the rain seemed harder before it let-up..  

Crossing the Arkansas River on its way from Colorado to the mighty Mississippi.

Entering the Ozarks which were beautiful even in flat light. .
The Welcome Center for the Cherokee Nation with both flags at half mast.

 

A little after when we left Tulsa, we got into the Ozark Mountains and the road cuts became spectacular, but we seemed to be mostly out of them by the time we got to Arkansas. Still, Arkansas was beautiful even if was marred by giant chicken factories, and, driving into Bentonville, much of it seemed like a park.  We ended the day at Doe’s Eat Place, a place we had first run into in Greenville MS, where Michele had a long conversation about Rye whiskeys and Irish whiskeys before choosing a very nice Cornel Taylor Rye.

2 thoughts on “Bentonville AR Mile 2098.8

  1. I’m enjoying reading your notes as well as seeing what both you and Michele are seeing. Interesting that you’re in the rain as you are. Definitely changed how I would spend the day.
    I’m in Aspendell with Nikki, 23 miles into the mountains, west of Bishop. Leaving Friday. Her sister has a home here.

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