Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground, as the name implies, is a primitive campground. There are vaulted toilets, but any other convenience is up to you to bring. There is one thing that Arroyo Salado does have over other, more developed campgrounds in Anza-Borrego: an amazing view.
Welcome to the Flying Fish in scenic, downtown Little Rock Arkansas. We came for the animatronic singing fish, we stayed for the frogs legs.
Cars cruise past our campsite, methodically crunching the gravel. It initially seemed odd to have a parade of vehicles regularly circle through the group camping area. Now we know better.
I bounce in my chair as we turn into Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park. The name, however, is a misnomer. These massive man made Mounds were originally attributed to the Toltec because locals believed that regional Indians were too savage to achieve such great earthworks. We now know that assumption to be wrong for multiple reasons.
We didn't have plans for lunch until we drove by the Cotham Mercantile, "Where the elite meet to eat". The sagging porch roof, faded hardware hanging from a pegboard wall, and farming equipment leaned against the register were like a full set of gold stars to a traveler in search of a novel experience.
East Arkansas is drenched. Flood waters have transformed roads into docks and campgrounds into harbors. Mobile homes on blocks barely float above the water level. Rice farmers block the highway pull off with orange cones to park their truck at the lake bank that was once their front yard. A boat is docked at their front porch—their only means to reach the road.
We are coming back here.
Hot Springs is a National Park.
Hot Springs has historic spas.
Hot Springs has a historic spa that continues to be open to customers. I want to be one of those customers. Sadly, we only had time to see, not soak.
Next time.
Next time.
We hiked up a viewing tower to overlook Hot Springs from a mountain top. Oh, feel the burn!