Hot Springs NP is off the itinerary. After finally reviewing what there is to do there I decided it wasn’t worth two days off the main route. After initially considering driving all the way to Baton Rouge today I came to my senses and decided I would stop in West Helene, AR.

I also studied the route described on the wiki page so that I actually knew which roads to expect. For the most part the Arkansas signage seems a bit better than Missouri’s. It was a mostly uneventful drive, with flat straight roads going through many small towns. Oh, and lots of soy beans and cotton. The only excitement was north of Marion, AR when a truck driver apparently decided to pull out into the road without looking. Fortunately my brakes work just fine! Phew!

Arrived in West Helene about 3:15, shortest day on the road so far, and settled into the hotel. Finally started updating this blog. Eventually got hungry and went across to the Mexican restaurant suggested by the hotel clerk. Food was great but wow was the waiter slow.

Plan for tomorrow is to get to Vidalia, LA. which is just across the river from Natchez, MS.