BBBQ

We met up with the Daniels, our third cousins in Fort Smith. Joe and I had last met them in 1955 just before they moved from Cape Girardeau to Fort Smith. This is Pat on the right, her husband Cosby Hodges on the left and Tom Daniel in the middle. The youngest daughter, Julia was also there. We spent the night in their luxurious home on the golf course and we all went out to dinner. Anne, the fourth family member and my childhood favorite, died from cancer about four years ago.

The Bikers, Blues & BBQ bike rally in Fayetteville, Ark is supposed to be second only to Sturgis in size. We heard numbers like 300,000 but it must be very difficult to get a good head count as no tickets are required. There is a ton of bikes though, all throughout NW Arkansas. We camped at Dan and Debra's place in Fayetteville, a 30 acre hilltop that was a 20 minute walk from downtown. The rally itself was mainly vendors and outdoor music, the fun part being just watching people and bikes parading up and down the main drag which was closed off to cars. Lots of custom bikes and different creations. Our hosts are currently building a low energy house and we enjoyed their company and interaction.

We had had enough of the noise and congestion by Saturday afternoon and rode over to the Buffalo River and camped at the Steel Creek campground, making some friends and throwing horse shoes. The temp has been in the mid 40's at night, so we don't hit the road til 9 or so.

Sunday, we toured Eureka Springs and continued our habit of eating BBQ and catfish. Sunday night we checked into the 1929 restored Seville hotel in Harrison which had special rates for bikers and met some of the local characters in the hotel bar after doing our laundry.