July 6th, 2005 had Peter and I continuing our wandering at our own leisurely pace. Since neither one of us had ever set foot in the state of Oklahoma and Joplin, MO being a mere ten miles from the Oklahoma border, we headed west on I-44 into Oklahoma to have breakfast. The town in the northeast corner of Oklahoma is called Miami. Miami, OK is the childhood home of the NY Yankee legend, Mickey Mantle. Who knew?
In the short time we spent in Oklahoma, I learned that before it became a state, this land was known as the Indian Territory. Native American tribes that had been displaced or had become disenfranchised were given a chunk of land for their tribes. The Modoc Indians of Northern California were moved to this part of Northeastern Oklahoma back in the late 1800's.
Our route through Southwestern Missouri, follow the purple circles
Just as quickly as we entered Oklahoma, we left. Driving east, we saw that the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri all met in one place. Of course, we had to find it. Having just knocked Oklahoma off my list of states never visited, it was time to take Arkansas off as well.
A journey of a thousand miles.....
begins with a first step.
Southwest Missouri is known as the land of caves. In the tiny town of Noel, Peter and I took a tour of the Bluff Dweller's Cave. This was no dinky one room cave. The tour lasted a good hour and we went in all different directions.
Heading south, we entered Arkansas for good and entered the town of Bentonville, AR. Why does that sound familiar?
Look here!
Of course we had to go shop at the Walmart. I purchased a pair of swimming trunks and here's my receipt to prove it.
One for the scrapbook!
We drove around Bentonville and determined that it too was subject to retail stripland along the highway. But we found Bentonville's charming town square, had lunch and took a tour at the Walmart museum housed in Sam Walton's original five and dime store.
Walmart #1, now home to the Walmart Museum
Northwest Arkansas is booming and you could tell by the numerous subdivisions with rows and rows of McMansions. Leaving Bentonville, we commenced on our last leg, Little Rock of bust.
Follow the purple line again.
As you can see we took a route that took us through the Ozark National Forest. According to a book that Peter had, there was a picturesque swimming hole right on our path. Four miles on a dirt road off the small two lane highway and then a .75 mile hike, we got to the swimming hole on the Kings River.
More water needed, but refreshing anyway.
As the sun set, we pulled into Conway, AR and slept at the Motel 6.
In the short time we spent in Oklahoma, I learned that before it became a state, this land was known as the Indian Territory. Native American tribes that had been displaced or had become disenfranchised were given a chunk of land for their tribes. The Modoc Indians of Northern California were moved to this part of Northeastern Oklahoma back in the late 1800's.
Just as quickly as we entered Oklahoma, we left. Driving east, we saw that the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri all met in one place. Of course, we had to find it. Having just knocked Oklahoma off my list of states never visited, it was time to take Arkansas off as well.
Southwest Missouri is known as the land of caves. In the tiny town of Noel, Peter and I took a tour of the Bluff Dweller's Cave. This was no dinky one room cave. The tour lasted a good hour and we went in all different directions.
Heading south, we entered Arkansas for good and entered the town of Bentonville, AR. Why does that sound familiar?
Of course we had to go shop at the Walmart. I purchased a pair of swimming trunks and here's my receipt to prove it.
We drove around Bentonville and determined that it too was subject to retail stripland along the highway. But we found Bentonville's charming town square, had lunch and took a tour at the Walmart museum housed in Sam Walton's original five and dime store.
Northwest Arkansas is booming and you could tell by the numerous subdivisions with rows and rows of McMansions. Leaving Bentonville, we commenced on our last leg, Little Rock of bust.
As you can see we took a route that took us through the Ozark National Forest. According to a book that Peter had, there was a picturesque swimming hole right on our path. Four miles on a dirt road off the small two lane highway and then a .75 mile hike, we got to the swimming hole on the Kings River.
As the sun set, we pulled into Conway, AR and slept at the Motel 6.
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