My Family Jeep

This past weekend we took a Jeepless trip to visit my parents in Memphis, five hours away. The trip there was eventful, the trip back boring.

We went the long way to Memphis and swung by our home in Harrison to check the mail and give the kids a break from the car. We stopped by our next door neighbors and had a brief visit with them. Since I know they read this blog I have to say they are great neighbors but I would say that even if they didn’t read it. They look after our house since we’re never home, our kids love them and they always have alcohol

We managed to get on the road about 4:30 and decided to head South down Highway 7, through Jasper and out to Russellville where we would get on to 1-40. We got just the other side of Jasper and there was an 18 wheeler that had run off the road, into a ditch and was on its side. It was right before a curve so I commented the he must have lost his brakes. We’ve driven the road numerous times and know there is a mandatory truck break check area and a run away truck area a bit further up the hill. We get up the hill and there is a van parked right in front of the run away truck area with people in it. Who in their right mind parks in front of a run away truck area that is clearly signed? I hope that person got a ticket or a kick in the butt for being so stupid.

We drove another 30 miles and came across a huge chunk of road that had disappeared down a steep hill making a section of the road one lane. That road was at least a couple of feet thick so it must have been something really big to make it drop away like that. This of course would be more interesting with pictures but I was driving so no pictures were taken. The rest of the drive into Memphis was pretty much uneventful except for the exit we got off right after Little Rock. We were a bit too clean cut for that area and got right back on the interstate.

Our next bit of excitement was the following day when we watched a work van get hit by a train. We were sitting at a traffic light on Poplar Avenue; it runs parallel to the railroad tracks. I don’t know what the driver was thinking. He tried to beat the train to get to the other side of the tracks, problem were there were cars stopped there at the traffic lights and there was not enough room in his lane. You’d think that the boom gates, flashing lights, ringing bells and huge hunk of metal barreling down the tracks sounding its horn would be enough to make him move out of the way, hell no. He did manage to get most the way over and the train only caught the back end. We were watching the whole thing talking about what a moron he was and thought he made it over far enough until the van went spinning. Anyone familiar with Memphis knows when a train stops the traffic is horrific. We went a few streets up, got to the other side of the tracks and stayed there. The really stupid thing, this guy forgot was that those lights stay red when a train is passing so he would have been stuck at that intersection until the train was gone anyway.

We had a pretty good weekend despite the fact we spent it Jeepless. Even I couldn’t have figured out how to fit clothes, golf clubs, a pack n play, toys and all the other things a family of four needs for a five day weekend. We thought about it but our luxurious Yukon with her plush leather seats, DVD player, satellite radio and better gas mileage won. Arriving back at the apartment was nice when we came around the corner and realized our Jeep was still there and hadn’t been stolen.

We went home over the weekend and made a last minute decision to take the Jeep. For the first time in months there was finally one day without rain and figured we’d enjoy it just in case the sun didn’t come out again this summer. It was a beautiful drive home via Eureka Springs and an even more beautiful drive back via our favorite short cut. When friends ask me why I moved to Arkansas I email them pictures of the beautiful landscapes that surround this area. This is not the Arkansas people think about; the North West corner is a little slice of heaven. It is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise and in my opinion one of the best kept secrets in the Unites States.

Our favorite little short cut starts on Hilltop Road off of Highway 43 and cuts through to Highway 412 at Osage. It technically is a short cut and the first time we took it in the Yukon it was faster. We have had a lot of rain in this area recently and the road has suffered some erosion in areas. We have no problems with this but it has slowed us down.

This is the beginning of our Journey, Highway 43

After turning off Highway 43 you are greeted by rolling hills and the beginning of the dirt road

The first part is very well kept; the next five miles are beautiful tree covered roads with loose rocks and some erosion from recent floods.

Coming out of the trees you are greeted by a beautiful view

This is followed by two low water crossings

The view before entering Osage is beautiful.

We didn’t stop to take pictures; these were all taken out the front windshield.

So to all of you that ask why Arkansas, look at the pictures above, that’s why.

My husband and I have always known that we have amazing kids but getting the Jeep has made us realize exactly how lucky we are. I took this picture on Saturday of my adorable daughter enjoying the breeze blowing in her face. A lot of kids her age would freak out. Our son is also happy in the Jeep; he has never once complained and like his sister just sits back and enjoys the ride.

Have you ever seen one lonely shoe at the side of the road and wonder how it got there? Anyone around Bentonville that finds a toddler size 6 white and pink sandal I can tell you, my daughter took it off and launched it out of the Jeep. On the way home from doing our grocery shopping I heard Georgie say “uh oh” and was wondering what she was up to. When we got home I went to get her out of the car and there she was; one sandal almost off and the other one gone. I have made straps for everything I could possibly think of that Georgie could throw out the window and never thought that she’d resort to shoe throwing. So much for a summer of cute little sandals, its double knotted tennis shoes for my little trouble maker.

Attention all children shoe designers, toddlers like the sound of Velcro, use buckles.