May 10-20, 2024

The Fawcett’s and Huth’s hit the road early for our journey heading West. Hot Springs was on my bucket list from our travels 2 years ago, located about 40 miles South of Little Rock proved to be a great place for our friends John and Melissa Hoffman to settle down. This town is full of history with thier famous Hot Springs Bath houses, stories of Al Capone visiting and buying alcohol during the prohibition and the baseball players coming from all over the country to get ready for the upcoming season. Hence the term “Spring Training” came about, they all played together in HOT SPRINGS.

We checked in to the Catherines Landing RV Resort, two great spaces right on the shore of the lake. On day one, we enjoyed the resort playing cards and having an Old Fashioned overlooking the lake. Saturday, we took the city tour exploring and understanding the history, also visiting the National Park. We rented a pontoon boat, packed some snacks, drinks then spent the next four hours exploring this beautiful waterway. Sunday morning was golf day for Glenna, Kathy and I, we played one of the 9 courses in this gated community called the Village. The Granada Golf Course was hilly, green, tough but very scenic. We had to try the drinks and snacks at the 19th hole, very delicious. Monday, the girls took a painting class that Melissa and Liz arranged while Ron and I hung at the rv’s. Met up with Melissa and Liz Hoffman for lunch at the Ohio Club where back in the day it was a restaurant, gambling hall and brothel. It is Arkansas oldest bar in the State. Time to see the Hoffman Estate located right on the shores of Lake Balboa with a 270* view of this beautiful lake. John BBQ’d a great dinner with Melissa providing all the sides to make this a perfect meal shared with old friends. Tuesday was another golf day, we played at their private course called Diamante CC and had a blast. John shot a 68 with Ernie, Pat and the girls all playing ok. Lunch in the club was great and time well spent telling old stories and cathing up. After golf, we met back at their house, jumped on the pontoon boat for a booze cruise around the lake seeing the gorgeous houses and properties on the shorelines. Dinner at the Sunset Grill located on the lake with seating upstairs with a perfect sunset and a great way to spend our last night in Hot Springs and say good bye for now to our friends from Hot Springs and Poway.

On Wednesday morning, we continued our journey West to Elk City, OK. Checked into the local KOA and set up for the night. We noticed that the front office also had a bar, store and two very nice ladies running this KOA. We decided to go back up to the bar, have some dinner, drinks and played cards and enjoyed the company of other campers and their stories.

Off to Albuquerque for another one night stand at the Route 66 RV Resort and Casino. After setting up, Glenna and I headed to the casino to check it out and came back with almost all the money we started with. Early night with Ron and Kathy as we reminisced about our trip and said our good bye’s for now. They are heading to Phoenix for one night then home and we headed to Pine Top to visit friends for a few days.

Pine Top is a small town in the White Mountains above the Phoenix area. We showed up at Jim and Linda Harper’s house, back the RV into their driveway and checked into the house for our final stay. OMG, what a place right on the golf course in the pines with stunning views all over the place. Dinner at the club catching up on old times and Glenna getting an earful of stories of Jim, Linda, special guest Brian Hilton and Pat from our working together and friendships over the past 40 plus years. Saturday was a golf day as we played this spectacular course with one of their friends Zodie joining us. Dinner at the Pasta House was fantastic, this authenic American Italian Cuisine restaurant served lamb as the special and the pasta was awesome with a great bottle of wine.

Sunday morning Linda, Glenna and I golfed on this perfect weather day. Jim stayed back and prepared his famous Chicken Ala Harper Style that we were having for dinner. We all played better and had fun watching a wild white horse roam around the first hole. Lunch at the club restaurant after golf and back to the house to watch the final round of the PGA Championship. Jim and Linda hosted Pat, Glenna, Brian, another friend Ed to a special sit down culinary feast. The famous chicken dish did not disappoint and the wines were perfect to share with old friends.

Monday morning was started early, we we up and out before 7am so we could beat some of the construction traffic going down the hill towards Phoenix. Very windy drive in the mountains and the desert all the way home, made for a long day but we made it home safe and sound.

Fun Facts from our Trip

62 days March 20- May 20, 2024

13 States: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Mississipi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma

5347 miles

18 RV Resorts

50 rounds of 3/13 card game: Glenna was the overall winner with 16 wins!!!! Kathy 14, Pat 13 and Ron 7

Lots of fresh shrimp, oysters and mussels

Many boat rides on Lakes, Rivers and Oceans

12 Different sets of friends visited along the way

3 Tornados had us change driving plans, all very good moves!!!

Lake at Catherine Landing in Hot Springs

Pat, Kathy and Ron taking in the view from Hot Springs National Park

Glenna and Pat on the Trolly Tour

Ron, Kathy, Glenna and Pat having lunch in Hot Springs

Pontoon rental boat at Catherine’s Landing

Captain Glenna giving us a great ride

Pat and Glenna at Granada Golf Club

Ernie and Liz at John and Melissa’s house

Pat and Glenna taking in the views on Lake Balboa

Glenna, Liz and Ernie

John and Melissa

Drinks at the Hoffman bar

Ron, Kathy, Ernie and John

Pat, John and Ernie

View of the Hoffman Estate from the water

A great stop near Oklahoma City to see these giant bronze statues of the Centennial Land Run Monument

Jim, Linda, Brian, Glenna and Pat at the Pine Top CC dinner

Beautiful views of the Pine Top CC

Dinner with Brian, Ed, Jim and Pat at the Harper house

Jim cooking his chicken dinner

Cocktails and good wine prior to dinner

Nice parking spot at the Harper house

Linda, Jim and Glenna

Driving thru tornado alley on Oklahoma

We are 13.3 so we drove in the middle of this low bridge slow but all good

Lake view spaces at Catherine’s Landing

Booze Cruise on Lake Balboa

Final tally for our 3/13 card games. Congratulations to Glenna !!!!

Cards in Albuquerque

Hoffman cat, what can I say. His name is Yotta.

Glenna and Kathy enjoying the 19th hole after a tough round at Granada CC

Pat, Kathy and Glenna golfing

This looked like an alligator but it was actually a log sticking out of the water. The shadow is perfect for the first bottom of his mouth

Had to post one wine picture, very good

Hot Springs

Hot Springs local cupcake shop, took these to dinner at the Hoffman’s

Fawcett RV travel partners

middle photo is our trip going East to Hilton Head and bottom is heading West going home.

Great trip with Ron and Kathy seeing this beautiful country. Thanks for following along and we look forward to sharing our next journey to Oregon, Washington, Canada and Montana in August and September. Oh yeah, and a few surprises along the way.

Take Care,

Pat and Glenna