DAY 35 Hot Springs

(photos: Our campsite in Hot Springs; steam coming off a fountain of hot spring water; our Duck ride leaving the water and driving up the boat ramp)
The clouds have cleared. We headed into Hot Springs for a day of sightseeing. Tonight we are moving to a park near Little Rock. It took is awhile to find RV parking here. After trying unsuccessfully to squeeze into a couple of the pay lots, we learned there was free RV parking at a visitor center a couple blocks away. We walked the streets of the downtown and the old Bathhouse Row. Then we bought tickets to the Duck Boat tours. These are given on a thing called a Duck which is a bus and a boat. They were made in the mid-40s for military purposes, but they are still running. The driver has to have a CDL to drive a tour bus, plus he has to be certified by the Coast Guard to drive a tour boat. They just drive them down the boat ramp, engage the prop, and off we go on a boat ride. Very cool.
Then we visited the wax museum because you practically have to buy a ticket to the wax museum in order to go on the Duck Ride.
We are buying some art here, because it’s quite affordable. Also, right next to the parking lot where we are, people are pulling up, driving hours to come here and fill up jugs with the mineral water. The National Park took over the actual springs and made it a law that no one can charge for the water. So there is this big fountain-type thing with spigots all around it, and people just come and fill up their jugs with the water. We are filling ours up, too, because what the heck! It’s free! Sitting here in the parking lot, I noticed the Visitor and Convention Bureau apparently provides free wireless Internet access. Nora is taking a nap, so I will try to pay some bills and maybe update the blog.