Bestie always looks at the road map before we start but doesn't usually have a set plan. We generally just head in a direction and see where the road leads. This time he decided to head southwest and maybe end up in Hot Springs or somewhere near the lake. I didn't care. I had a warm jacket and my cell phone had a full charge so I would be fine no matter how long we were out or the destination Bestie would finally choose.
Now getting ready for a road trip usually takes me 10 - 15 minutes. If the road beckons, I put on jeans and a t-shirt, grab my cell phone, credit card, helmet, jacket and boots and am out the door. Bestie takes a little longer to prepare. As with most everything, Bestie can take an action that should be easy and turn it into a full production. From dressing in the right "tough biker outfit" to polishing and packing the Harley, it can be 30 minutes to a hour before Bestie actually starts the bike and it moves toward the road.
About 45 minutes after I was ready to go, Bestie was finally ready to hit the road and we were off.
After an hour or so of riding we ended up at Lake Ouachita State Park and Bestie had to scope out the marina. Like most men, Bestie is just an overgrown boy who loves looking at "toys" (boats, bikes, motorcycles, planes - you get the idea). The lake is fairly low right now but this part of the lake does have a lot of fluctuation in depth.
Now, I'm not confirming that we skinny-dipped at this point, but the lake here is very secluded and the weather was just about perfect.......
Dry and back on the bike and down the road, Bestie assured me he was dodging the potholes, but I was beginning to wonder. The weather was perfect and Bestie promised the road wouldn't be this rough the whole way so I settled in with Twitter and waited to see our next destination.
Lo and behold, we did end up in Hot Springs . With Bikes, Blues, and BBQ in Fayetteville this weekend I didn't expect to see tons of bikers out in this part of the state, but I was mistaken. There were tons of bikes out and lots of people strolling just enjoying the weather. Hot Springs is such a great town to visit. I always feel like I should be wearing a flapper dress and looking for Al Capone or Bugsy Malone and perhaps even carrying a Tommy Gun. Like Eureka Springs, Hot Springs has such a great history and visiting is like taking a step back in time.
Bestie was ready for grub so we wandered Central Avenue looking for some place cool to eat and boy, did we find it! The Ohio Club has great food, excellent staff and a fabulous history. The bar is lovely and the pressed tin ceiling adds a great feel to the place. It was a gambling hall until 1968 when it was finally closed down and now is a bar/restaurant where some fantastic bands play on the weekends.
(Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo is there September 27-28 and they are WONDERFUL!)
Bestie had to try out some of the micro-brewery flavor but I don't have that much of an adventurous streak in me.
We just absorbed the local flavor (and an Ohio Sampler Platter) and marveled at how wonderful it is to spend time together not just because we are married, but also because we are best friends. I know Bestie loves riding motorcycles so I go with him and we have a great time. He knows I love junk shopping so he goes with me sometimes and - guess what - we have a great time doing that too. Whatever you do with your partner, make a point of enjoying it because you are together. Even work is fun when done with someone you enjoy so imagine how fun it is when you are with the one you love!
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