One thing about going to National Parks is the camping is great except for no Wi-Fi. We are now in Bentonville AK and our campground has Wi-Fi.

Olive has something to say and I warn you, I do not think it is going to be ladylike.

“Whose idea was it for me to come along? I promise I will never hide from the dog sitter again. We have long hours in the car, anything over 5 minutes is long as far as I am concerned. You would think after 1600 miles of panting in the back seat they would get the hint and turn around and go home. I really find them impossible. As if having to ride in the back, strapped to a seat belt isn’t bad enough, they stop at the most disgusting rest stops, expecting me to pee by the garbage. When I finally get to sleep in “our bed”, I take as much room as I can out of revenge. Just as I am settling down, feeling pretty smug, the thunder and lightning storms start up and there I am panting away clinging to them. It is absolutely embarrassing, but I am so scared. Maybe Maggie will read this and come get me. “

Enough from Olive. When the storm came in, I was reminded of the storms in Pennsylvania as a child. It has been awhile since I have heard the thunder rolling continually while the lightning cracks away. Those storms always seemed to go on for hours. This one certainly did and seemed even longer with Olive panting in my ear. In Vermont they seem to pass quickly, are not as dramatic and the thunder and lightning don’t seem to happen simultaneously.  

We have had only one hot day, the rest of the time it has been like home, 50-60 degrees. What surprises me is the lack of foliage in most of the areas. Spring does not seem to be any farther along in Tennessee and Arkansas than in Vermont.

The Smoky mountains, it says, is the most visited Park in the world. I find that hard to believe. But the windy roads through miles of rock, trees and rhododendron and the vistas offered are beautiful. There was much fog, but it floated around allowing glimpses of the valley below. This area seems very much like Vermont, also areas of Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina. When I think of the South I think more of the coastal areas and warmer weather.

Below are pictures taken along the way. How about that turtle? He was at the Indian Mounds where we road over gravel roads to this amazing out of the way site to view the mounds. Nothing in site but the turtle and the birds. A great place to have lunch and learn about Indian mounds.

We have made it to Bentonville, home of the Walmart fortune. At dinner tonight, I made the mistake of mentioning how Arkansas is one of the states against abortion. The waiter did not take kindly to this remark. I will have to learn to keep my politics to myself, but I am so distraught over this I find it hard. I am old enough to remember back of the house abortions and friends risking their lives. I am sick that our country is going backwards.