Eureka Springs - August 9, 2013 - Day 1

My brother and sister-in-law invited us to spend a week with them at their cabin near Boulder, Colorado. Our plan was to drive to Colorado, spend a week with them, and then drive to Mt. Rushmore (and parts thereabout) for a few days. Unfortunately, our mother got sick and was hospitalized, and she was still in the hospital on our planned departure date. We did not feel comfortable doing such a long road trip with Mother in the hospital. We opted, instead, for a road trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, which is about a 6 hour drive from our home.

We headed out at about 9 a.m. and drove to Arkansas at a leisurely pace. We wasted a little time in Mt. Home, Arkansas, looking for a restaurant that did not exist - at least, it did not exist in the area in which we were searching. We have a fairly hard-and-fast rule about eating on the road: no chain restaurants or fast food, if we can help it. Finally, we spied a little Mexican restaurant in a shopping center and decided to go there. It was okay (though not nearly as good as our little Mexican place back home).

It was about 6 p.m. when we reached Eureka Springs. The streets were choked with traffic - cars, motorcycles, trucks pulling boats. Joel had booked us a "suite" in a "resort" on Beaver Lake, several miles outside of Eureka Springs. The road to the resort is crooked and steep, but we found the place without incident.

This place is called Sugar Ridge Resort. It consists of a main building and several cabins. Our suite in the main building is on the second floor. We checked in and hauled our suitcase up the steps. At the top of the steps, there were several turds on the treads and the landing. I made a face and stepped over them, calling to Joel over my shoulder, "Watch out for poo!"

Our "suite" turned out to be one large room with a sofa, a king-sized bed, and a kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, and coffee pot. Opposite the foot of the bed is a mirrored wall, and in front of that mirror is a very large, deep jacuzzi tub. We had not gone looking for a room with a jacuzzi tub, but nearly every hotel/motel/resort advertises in-suite jacuzzis. These Arkansans must have a thing about cleanliness. ;)

After stashing our suitcase, we stepped out on the balcony to take in the view. Not bad.   

 

 

I snapped a couple of pictures, then started back down the steps to get something from the truck.  On the way, I wondered out loud what in thunder had POOPED on the steps.  Joel said it was probably a raccoon.  When I turned to glance at him, I saw it sitting in the rafters, right above Joel's head.  It didn't seem to be the least bit frightened of us.

 

 

Inside our room is a journal where previous guests write their opinions of their stay in this suite.  Nearly every entry mentioned the raccoon(s).  We went back out to the balcony, tiptoed, peered up toward the rafters, and saw at least three more 'coons peering back down at us.

 

By the time we'd hauled our stuff up the steps, it was time to look for some dinner.  The down side to staying several miles out of town is that we have to drive a good ways to find food.  We ended up at "The Rowdy Beaver" on the west side of town, mostly because we liked the name.  Joel had ribs.  They were oven-baked, drowned in barbeque sauce, and seemed complete strangers to the grill, but they were edible.  I had spaghetti and meatballs.  I must say the meatballs were pretty good.  The sign outside the Beaver advertised karaoke on Friday nights.  I have never been around karaoke singers when I wasn't embarrassed for one or more of them.  This time proved no different.  After a few beers, Joel was about ready to grab the mike, himself.  I promised him that I would video it with my phone and put it on Facebook if he did.  He restrained himself.  I saw some other wives videoing their husbands/boyfriends.  I smell blackmail.  ;)