March 2005 - Lake Ouachita, Arkansas

Monday, March 21, 2005:
      We left this morning for the Elders, stopped for a short visit, left the motorhome, and departed in the car for Hot Springs. The boat turned out to be on Lake Oauchita, about 20 miles northwest. We got there about 45 minutes ahead of the Best family and when they arrived, we boarded the house boat, Presidential 1, 16'x75'. It is really nice and has a lot of space. Since we are forcast to have severe thunder storms with possible hail and tornados, we won't be going out tonight. Bob and Nita took off for town to buy groceries. The boat has all the comforts of home for at least 10-12 people and has 6 queen beds, full kitchen, large refrigerator, a big ice maker, trash compactor, dish washer, two bathrooms, washer/dryer, satellite TV, DVD/VCR, stereo sound system, etc. We got a good nights sleep and the storms were mild.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005:
      We got up this morning to no rain and even had a little sun. We went into Hot Springs and ate at McClard's Bar-B-Q, which we had heard a lot about and is supposed to be world class. We weren't impressed! We have eaten better BBQ in many other places. In fact, we can't recall any other BBQ place which wasn't better. We asked for pulled pork and they didn't have it. They had "chopped" pork, which turned out to be chopped so finely we decided it was to try to hide the fact it was half rice. The sauce was OK, but we've eaten much better. It didn't help our appetites that the place was plastered with pictures of Bill Clinton. Hot Springs is his boyhood home. We stopped at three different crystal and rock shops on the way back to the boat, because Jenna is really into that.. It is solid cloudy, but forecast to be clearing during the night, so Bob got another briefing from the owners and about 4PM we got underway. Captain Bob steered us through the narrow channels, between the tree stumps to the main lake and we tied up to a gravel bar on Hotel Island to spend the night.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005:
      We stayed tied up on the same gravel bar. The kids explored the island and Joe and Nita worked on her house plans. It was a nice day, but chilly.

Joe & Nancy Sue, On the Lake, Lake Ouachita, near Hot Springs, Arkansas