Start of 2026 Road Trip, Little Rock, AR

The week after San Miguel de Allende was spent loading Roxie (my RV) and preparing for the next adventures. It was hot, hot, hot in Plano, and I expected more of the same until I get to Michigan. I had made reservations for campsites with electric hookups so that I could run AC in Roxie (nice rhyme there). My two new lithium coach batteries did not have enough power to run the AC.

Finally took off yesterday, Aug 14, to Little Rock, AR. Camped 2 nights at Maumelle Park, run by the Army Corps of Engineers (COE); only $15 a night, with my America the Beautiful Lifetime Senior Pass. It was a very well kept, quiet campground; spacious sites and nice views of the Arkansas River with ocassional barges passing through. Too hot to go fishing. Below is Roxie at site E07. My neighbors two sites over camped in a converted schoolbus. We chatted for a while: I wanted to take a photo of their schoolie. They insisted on being in the photo with their dog and gave permission to post it in this blog. The heat did not seem to bother them, they were sitting outside most of the day (yes, they were from AR).

This morning, I drove into Little Rock to visit the Bill Clinton Presidental Library. Found a great shady spot for Roxie at the end of the huge parking lot. At the entrance I discovered that today was the former President's 80th birthday. There was a huge sign and a schedule of commemorative activities although the President himself was not expected. Entrance was free for the day, with a coupon to pick up a whole watermelon after the visit, donated by a local farm. I regretfully declined the gift since there was no way I could handle and store watermelon in the RV.

I spent about 3 hours in the air conditioned space, joined an ongoing guided tour, took my time through the exhibits which were very well done, watched performances in the auditorium by the jazz and marching high school bands from Bill Clinton's alma mater.

Then it was time to get out into the broiling heat. I made the questionable decision to walk to downtown which was just 10 minutes away, in search of lunch. Despite using an umbrella for sun protection, it was hot and humid. Checked out the local eating places, including a food mall that looked promising. But the heat had zapped my energy and appetite. Decided to go back to the campground instead, and spent the rest of the day relaxing with the AC on.