San Antonio to Hot Springs

We’ve left southern Texas, dry and hot, for central Arkansas, which so far has been wet and cool.  It’s raining this morning with occasional bouts of thunder.  Mister Guy, attempting to seem unconcerned, nevertheless somehow winds up on someone’s chest as soon as the thunder starts to roll.  He’s curled up and sleeping on J’s chest at the moment, only opening an eye when the rain picks up.

( Last week like June, this week like March )

Of Mining and Mud

Yesterday we drove through a downpour to get to Arkansas and camp at Lake Catherine State Park, in Hot Springs.  Tomorrow and the next day are set aside to visit family.  The rain slacked off and stopped in mid-morning, so today we took the afternoon and drove down to Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, AR.  This park is touted (in the old fashioned sense of the word) as “THE ONLY DIAMOND MINE IN THE USA!”  Everyone we talked to about it had a story: “Oh, someone just last week found a two carat diamond.”  Everyone said the same thing: “Oh, you’re going at a good time!  It’s best to go after a heavy rain; that’s when people find diamonds!”  We could tell we were getting close when every business we passed had ‘diamond’ in the name:  “El Diamante Mexican Restaurant.”

( Diamond mining for fun and profit (by the State Park at least) )