ARKANSAS TRAVELERS RALLY, VIDALIA, LA – Day 1  We awoke to beautiful skies, then a beautiful sunrise over the Arkansas River.

Kay remarked that we had the same view as the really expensive houses along the river, and we were only paying $12 a night (thanks to her  Golden Access pass).  Maumelle Park, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, rates as one of our very favorites.

After several cups of coffee, we began the tasks of readying for the day’s trip to Vidalia, LA.  We took US Highway 65 south all the way to Ferriday, LA, and except for the stretch from Little Rock to near Dumas, it was terrible, and was worse than all the paved roads on our trip to Alaska in 2009.  We finally bounced in to River View RV Park in Vidalia at 3:00 PM.  It is a really nice RV park, but once again, because we have a Class C, we were put in the only back-in space among the rally attendees.  Class C motorhomes are definitely discriminated against.  It’s not that we mind, but having a pull-thru when towing a vehicle is sure handy, and allows room to park the toad—oh well, something we have to live with.

We met other members of the Arkansas Travelers RV Club one by one as we parked and completed the set-up process.  We attended the social hour with heavy appetizers (hors d’oeuvers?) and bring your own drink, and met the rest of the folks.  Kay and I managed not to eat anything, and drank iced tea, maintaining our low calorie diet.  Interestingly, 5 people at the rally are from my hometown of Bradford, AR, several couples were from Kay’s old haunt of Jacksonville, AR, and several couples were from near the Twin Lakes Area.  After the food and chit chat, most resorted to playing cards or dominoes while we went back to “Mellie” for our dinner of baked fish, broccoli, and salad.  Tomorrow, Natchez, MS.