Oklahoma!

We arrived in Oklahoma at Ken's parent's house on Wednesday night - a day early. The heat and humidity in Arkansas just got to be too much, so we cut our stay there short.

We did have a wonderful time during our two days in Arkansas, though. I have some great pictures, but I haven't been able to send them since we left Memphis. We were in the midst of state parks and national forest in Arkansas, with no cell phone coverage. We have limited service here in Oklahoma, so we can make calls now but still can't send pictures. We're just outside of Oklahoma City, not exactly out in the wild anymore, but Verizon has limited service here. I'll just have to save up the pictures for next week when we get on the road again.

After we left Memphis, we drove to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. What a cool place! It's the site of the world's only finders-keepers diamond field, a 37-acre field of volcanic dirt where diamonds and other gems have been found for decades. There are still an average of two diamonds found each day! There were three found the day before we arrived. Alas, we found none - and no one else did the day we searched either - but we had fun and found lots of pretty rocks, including a lot of jasper. And did I mention it was HOT?? After a couple of very sweaty hours searching for diamonds, we cooled off in the park's pool/waterpark. Jamie & Craig loved the waterslides.

We left Crater of Diamonds Tuesday afternoon and headed north. We stopped for dinner in Hot Springs at McClard's BBQ, renowned as the best BBQ in the south and Bill Clinton's personal favorite (he grew up there). Sure enough, the walls were covered with signed celebrity photos...and the ribs were outstanding! We pigged out, then continued through the Ouachita National Forest (a beautiful drive) to Petit Jean State Park.

Petit Jean was our favorite stop from our last trip to Oklahoma. It's a gorgeous state park perched high along a wooded canyon. We took our favorite hike there, Bear Cave Trail, which is covered with enormous rock formations perfect for climbing. The boys had a blast, but it was really hot and humid, so we decided to continue to Oklahoma a day early.

So now we're enjoying the company of Ken's parents (not to mention their air conditioning!). Jamie and Craig are having fun with their friend who lives next door and enjoying his pool. Our nephew Dean, his wife Fran, and their girls Karen and Ella arrive late tonight from San Antonio. We can't wait to see them all.

Pictures to follow, whenever I'm able to send them again!