Trip to Hot Springs

June 20 – I set the alarm for 7 again so Bill could get up and go get the oil changed in the car. Kam and I really got up around 8 and I made bacon, grits, toast and fruit. I rarely make grits for just me so it was nice to have someone to share with. We saved bacon and fruit for Bill when he got back.

We didn't get the car packed and leave until after 9 but then we were on our way to Hot Springs. We routed west of Little Rock and the traffic was not bad at all. Being a Saturday, there was a lot of traffic in the narrow main street of the National Park area. Kam spotted free parking in a garage directly across from the area we wanted to visit but it was up

Not the experience he
expected!

the hill so we had to continue down and turn around and go back up past where you could see the lot, go up the hill, turn right and the lot was on the left overlooking the promenade below and across from the old bathhouses. Luckily someone was pulling out on the second level and we got a good spot close to the stairs.

First stop for everyone was the bathroom! Then we stopped in the gift shop and I got my National Park Stamp and we looked around and made our way down the block to the Fordyce Bathhouse which is park of the park service. I believe there are 47 different springs and many have been capped in the woods to prevent

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contamination.  We did the “on your own” tour and it was very interesting all of the steps they take you through.  The steps are tub bath, shower, steam cabinet, hot and cold packs, whirlpool and massage.  The ladies’ changing rooms were tiny but had lounges in the center.  The ladies had a beauty

Lady's day dress and
gym outfit

salon and along one side of the third floor was a mixed room for guests to relax, play the piano and socialize.  There was a “gym” for the men and various older models of modern day exercise equipment.

The history of the springs is very interesting, dating back to the late 1700’s.  How they started in canvas buildings, then wooden buildings, then block and more modern.  They were used for relaxation and medicinal purposes.  Men and women were separated and blacks were not allowed so in 1905 they built their own bathhouse.

Leg machine --
looks painful

We were going to actually partake of a bathhouse experience but thought we better have lunch first. We ate at a small diner across the street. The food was good but the service was really slow which ended up causing us to miss getting a bathhouse spot. They don't take reservations and it is first come, first served. Bill could have gone right away to the men's side but we would have had up to a 40 minutes wait to start and then up to another 40 minute wait for the Swedish massage. Double crap! It would put us so late trying to leave for home and see the observation tower that we decided not to.

Bill and I filled 2 gallon water jugs from one of the public thermal fountains to bring home and try.  That water was 137 degrees and carrying the jugs we had to keep changing hands all the way back to the car.

Bill is about to get a really hot bath!

We drove up the hill and zig zagged to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower.  The tower is 216 feet high.  The three of us went to the top and got to see all of Hot Springs.  The view was great and one level down is a history of the area all around the platform.  It was interesting to see the changes in order of progression.

Time to head home!  We had to work

The Tower

again and thought we might have time to stop at the Wilkinson Mall in Conway for Kam to check out all of the shoes there.  We managed to arrive 30 minutes before closing.  Kam didn’t buy but I left with another new pair of shoes.  Since again it was eat out or scrounge at home, we stopped at a Mexican place just before leaving town.  We got in right away, served very quickly (and the food was pretty good) and managed to get home with about 10 minutes to spare.

Kam and Bill unloaded the car and I grabbed what I needed and went to work.  Bill arrived just before Barb and Bob left.  It was not as busy as last night.  The only major thing was a camper called in that someone was setting off fireworks so we radioed the ranger but by the time they got out there it was done.

It was a long day, but a fun day!