PDY

I’ve been wanting to write about this since it started, and just hope I can do it justice. Have spent a memorable, completely unexpected weekend in and around Conway, Arkansas, and very appreciative of my freedom and flexibility. There is something to be said about not having a plan, or deviating from it every so often!

Saturday morning started off much like many before, hot and humid, but it was a beautiful walk north out of Benton. Google maps did a nice job of keeping me in some nice neighborhoods as I made my way up to Congo, then Ferndale, starting my loop around Little Rock. After 15ish miles, my friend Tanji picked my up and drove us to Conway, where I met her husband Jim, at their home, which they immediately made me feel a part. My loose intention was to spend Saturday night and head out early Sunday, but after several threats on my well being if I left Sunday, I stayed. It was such a welcome break - no hotel, completely relaxed, incredible food, and a really great time, totally off my radar screen.

In the early evening, we headed to Toad Suck Bucks. No, that’s not a typo, Toad Suck is a place, right along the Arkansas River, and Toad Suck Bucks is the place to go! Just look for the illuminated sign (on left!) and you’ll find it!

This is the coolest place you can imagine. Dinner was superb, and those that know me know that the steak I ate was the first I’d had in perhaps 3 years! (I’m the guy that ordered salmon in Chicago steakhouses!). It was superb, as was the baked potato, washed down with an Iceberg, that is, frozen margarita doused with XX Amber. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it - very refreshing and nice. Whodathunk?

So after a great dinner, we migrated 20 feet to the outside patio/dance floor/concert venue. Bunch of people out there, several different groups. Linda and the boys played some great music, interrupted occasionally by the likes of Jim and all his friends. So after a while, everyone was talking to everyone, sharing stories and lives, and it was a really nice little party. Mr. Buck himself graced us all with a song, much better than some of the wanna-be country singers! So on the way over to Bucks, it was three friends, Jim, Tanji and Marta… when I left, it was twenty! On the way home, I asked my hosts how they knew all these people, asked if they were locals. Their answer… “never seen them before in my life”. Couldn’t believe it, but now do… people are really friendly and nice around these parts.

Great evening, and thankfully, no walk the next morning. Woke up to something that smelled incredibly good. Walked outside to find Jim tending to 18 racks of ribs on the smoker. After a few more hours, many of them were consumed throughout the day. Grand kids came over for a swim and lunch, parents in tow. Had a great lunch, best blueberry cobbler, and just hung out. There really was no agenda, didn’t need to be, and we solved about 75% of all world problems just by talking about them!

And I found a hose, a garden hose! Was able to truly wash my backpack, for the first time! And my shoes! Never have I been happier to find a hose, and happiness is a clean, fresh backpack. It’s the simpler things in life…

Getting myself ready and on the road this morning was a little like going back to school after spring break. A couple more days would easily have been nice, but off Tanji and I went to my dropoff point just East of Little Lock (not Eden). But on the way we went to this really cool place.

So we get there and there’s this funny little round green circle sign on a modern looking building. Inside the green circle sign, a long haired girl with a heavy tiara and funny looking arms. And this building, cars were lining up after one another, which we did, following suit. And then we waited, and when the car in front of us moved, we did too. Then we finally advanced far enough to be right in front of a giant iPad, and the thing started talking to us, asked us what we wanted! So we ordered. I ordered a thing they call lah-tey. I also ordered an extra shot in said lah-tey. And I ordered a vin-tey. So we waited some more, and just followed along whenever the car in front moved, until this time we advanced far enough to be in front of a window, behind which was a pretty young lady with headphones on. Nice they let her listen to her music at work. And after handing her some money, she handed us two white paper glasses. They looked like all the others she handed out, figured everyone was getting the same thing, and I just hoped they got the same drink I ordered. Glass in hand, I took the first sip, and it was the best damn lah-tey I have ever had! Oh lordie how I’ve missed my lah-teys. Another simple pleasure, but I really do enjoy a really good cup of freshly prepared coffee in the morning, and this was the first one since I left. I was incredibly good. This is how it all went down…

And a great kickoff to a 14 mile day to Lonoke, AR. Took only a mile or two to get back in the groove as I walked through yet again another flatland, primarily sown with soybeans and cotton. Hills were all gone (and missed) as were trees… but they’ll be back. One thing I forgot to get was a picture of the Arkansas River (right next to Toad Suck Bucks!), quite a way from the source in the Rocky Mountains. Several years ago, at a corporate meeting, we actually rafted the whitewater of the Arkansas, incredibly beautiful up there, slightly deteriorated down here, but still very pretty in most parts, People all continue to be nothing but nice. Week five off to a good start.