DeGray Lake, Bismarck, Arkansas

At last we left the dead end to drive about 20 miles south and spend a week camping with the WINs on DeGray Lake. The WINs are a singles RVing group that I have belonged to for many years and Leon for three weeks. Site 77 suited our needs where Leon began each day with a pot of coffee and fire for the group. At night we only needed a fire for atmosphere and marshmallows as we had a warm spell with temps reaching 80. We ran into former friends and met new ones while attempting to share a little about the area with the visitors. The floodwaters receded from the Shouse Ford campground and entry road only two days before the people arrived and one day later the Corps of Engineers got the electricity restored. One week before the gathering the normal 408' level of the lake was at a high of 417', the highest since 1982.


Day 1
We began the week with a drive into Hot Springs to acquaint everyone with the national park and the 143 degree waters that once flowed down the side of the mountain and allowed the spa city to "bathe the world" for many decades. The eight bathhouses still exist, one as a visitor's center and one that still provides bathing as was popular up to the 1950s. The introduction of new medicines, especially for arthritis, caused the federal government to close the remainder of the bathhouses.


We toured the lobby of the historic Arlington Hotel, host to the famous and infamous including Al Capone, where Ellie and Peggy are found in front of the bandstand . One block north we toured the Mountain Valley Water company headquarters building. The company was formed in 1871 and named for the community where the spring and bottling company are located. Nobody realized that the local folks were selling bottled water nationwide so long ago.

We had an Ecuadorian lunch at Rolando's in another historic building next to the parking lot that was once our Opera House. We strolled back down to bathhouse row and stopped in Arlington Park to feel the 143 degree water that flows down the mountain from the only open spring. The remainder were capped by the government. We toured the Fordyce Bathhouse, now the national park visitor's center. Few made it to the top floor to see the Hubbard tub where bathers were brought in on a rail attached to the ceiling and lowed into a mercury filled tub.

Our next stop was the top of the mountain for a look over the city and a ride up the mountain tower for some to get a better view. From this point some took the Goat Rock Trail while Carol, Allie, and Ralph hiked down Dogwood Trail from the top of the mountain to the spring at the base. More photos.

Day 2
The Caddo River provided the backdrop for two days of floating on this small serene class 1 stream. Our first float was 7.2 miles from the Arrowhead campground to the Glenwood bridge which took 18 of us over four hours! The beginning was a little slow as kayaks slithered over large smooth stones that were barely covered by the water. Later a creek flowing into the river created a better current for us. Afterwards we couldn't pass an opportunity for ice cream in Amity. Some of the group later went to the DeGray Lake State Park lodge for dinner. The float also provided an opportunity for the WINs dump hat to be passed on. More photos.

Day 3
At Garvan Woodland Gardens we enjoyed a myriad of azaleas in bloom. We had missed the vibrant display of tulips in every imaginable color by perhaps one week but a few still showed their stuff. The winding trails through the 210 acre botanical gardens provided for a nice hike and everyone delighted by the stonework and architectural design of the bridges, especially the Full Moon Bridge. More photos. That night we had a burn your own back at the campground. More photos.

Day 4
A rainy weather forecast interfered with our plans for the day. We decided to network among ourselves so some could go golfing, hiking, geocaching, get a Wal-mart fix, or just relax in the campground. For supper we went down to the Lakeside Grocery/gas station/laundromat for supper. It was a treat to only have to drive 7 miles to eat. Afterwards we roasted marshamallows for dessert. More photos.

Day 5
Before the second float on Friday we had a pancake breakfast. We then put in at the Glenwood Bridge and 12 of us paddled the meandering lazy stream on a cloudy 80 degree day for 9.4 miles to the Hwy 182 takeout near Amity. This time it only took 3 hours. There were enough rapids to provide plenty of action. Ten of the group almost missed the takeout point due to a diversion in the river. A ride in the back of Leon's truck got us 2 miles back up the road to enjoy ice cream on the sidewalks of Amity, population 762. After circle 12 of us drove to town and had a German dinner at the Brau Haus. The after dinner plan was to stroll the streets of downtown Hot Springs visiting some of the music venues or dancing at the Arlington Hotel, but the rains greeted us as we left the restaurant and we all ventured back to Point Cedar, Arkansas. More photos.


Day 6
Many left to meet other WINs coming in from the dance rally at the national park campground in town while others went on to Tyler Bend on the Buffalo River. John and Nick took a fishing break so the rest of us could enjoy a barge ride on DeGray Lake. Three of us even got to try a little fishing, but we had no luck catching crappie. Saturday night two of attended the Garrison Keillor live radio show broadcast in Hot Springs. More photos.

The comraderie with the 22 other WINs could not be surpassed. We made many new friends and enjoyed visiting with those we already knew. If only we could travel north with them to float the Buffalo and tour Mtn. View, but Leon is shopping for a new knee.