Thur - Day 7 - Tulsa & Natl Cowboy Museum (sunny & windy) .. Tulsa/Jenks RiverWalk the walk took us across the Arkansas River, past the Oklahoma Aquarium and by the RiverWalk shops (in Jenks) and then along the Arkansas River Trail in (Tulsa) that passed by an eagle sanctuary. Then we went and did the La Fortune Park Walk (the weather gave us 5 minutes of sprinkles, but otherwise sunny and warm). The "field of dreams trail" walked around LaFortune Park and golf course (lots of water features for kids to run around in), passing the swimming pool, Heart & Children's hospitals, statues, High school & their sport fields, and a croquet match. Then we went to Oklahoma City to the Natl Cowboy Museum .. it had statues, paintings, sculptures, event (rodeo) & early time (pioneer cities) exhibits, a really neat garden, memorabilia for cowboys, famous bucking horses/bulls, rodeos, western movies & about the actors too .. etc and so much more. The day was long, but really nice.--Angela

We had a couple of newcomers join us today from Beaverton and Milwaukee.  I remember one of their names was Patti  They took off and did the 5k while the rest of us did our nice pace out to the lookout.  It was fun catching up with our "Snowbird" Sandy and Linda who just got back from a long trip to Illinois.  After we headed out for coffee where we had a chance to meet up with Andrea and the talk turned to the walks that Angela was doing..  It's amazing that we have this wonderful opportunity to visit anyplace in the US and see things the way the "locals" see them.  When you think of all of the paths and neat things we have found in Portland, how fun it must be for volkswalkers to come here and enjoy the local color.  When you read her blog and look at the pictures, it just starts you thinking "where should we head to next?"  The maps and the directions are a definite part of that, but where else can you go to get an intimate tour of someone's backyard?  

Happy Memorial Day! There were 20 walkers who showed up today at the Forestry Center & Dan was our guide. He lead us on CRVC's Crown Jewel walk. What a special day to do this walk with all the Veterans holding Memorial services. So many flags, men & women for us to honor, a time to Thank & reflect what this day has truly cost us...to be free!
Phil & Linda got a late start but joined us at the half way mark. The Rhody's were in full bloom which real very special to see since the Roses are getting a late start and were not blooming yet. We enjoyed the trails, views & fellow walkers. We had a couple from Scandinavia and Michigan. The Scandinavian couple shared with us some rich deep dark  chocolate which made the end of the walk go so much easier...Happy trails, Starr*
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Wed - Day 6 (sunshine and slight breeze) - It is the 2nd day we have tried to do Holiday Island (the first way to get there - GPS way, the bridge was flooded due to storms .. a local said it was the 2nd time this year that it has happened and told us of another route to get there on a different bridge). The other route was alot more driving than we planned. The walk is in a golfing community situated at Table Rock Lake. It passed the firestation, golf course, near the "handicapped fishing pier" (which was completed flooded to it's covered roof), a small cemetery (close to being flooded) and walked around the island (we saw deer too). Bentonville - the original Wal-Mart store that is now a Visitor’s Center housing many Wal-Mart and Sam Walton memorabilia, parks, gardens, trails, court house, churches, schools, Historic Eagle Hotel, and a lovely library (a very pretty walk indeed). Finally ... Hard Rock (in Tulsa). A must see/stop for Angela .. we ate at the "Toby Keith - I Love This Bar" (even though June is not a huge burger buff, she was a great sport about it).--Angela

Tues - Day 5 - Happy to say, the entire day was sunny and the "storm" predictions only brought needed wind to help the humidity feel like "none". We were so giddy from getting such a wonderful break in the weather (that we ate ice cream at  the Rocky Mountain Chocolate store in Eureka Springs). Morning walk was Lake Leatherwood - Walk was on natural trails along the lake to the "dam" where the water is flooding over more sections (then the water normally flows) out of the lake and down to the stream below (storm flooding). 10km would have walked around the lake (but there were sections of the trail closed due to flooding). 5km was out and back (no trail closures). We did have to cross/wade in "streams" along the trail; the first crossing brought wimpers that our shoes were finally dry and we didn't want to spend all night drying them again.. but after that, the cold water felt great to stomp through and take great close up pictures of the "little" water falls that the storms/rain had brought down. The afternoon walk was the Historical Eureka Springs; beautiful old houses, natural springs food and shops everywhere. The walk also had murals, court house, fire station, gardens, Carnegie Library, historic churches, museums, humpty dumpty sitting on a wall AND at the Veteran Memorial (in the downtown park) there was a guy performing talking and singing the most fascinating tales (truly a Prairie Home Companion moment). Afterwords we drove to the location of the live performance area of "The Passion:" play (not a day being preformed, so parking was great) and saw the Christ of the Ozarks statue (huge) any taller and they would have had to put the "plane warning flashing lights" on top of it. They also had a good sized piece of the Berlin wall. It was a wonderful and very long day. :) Angela

Mon - Day 4 - Fort Smith. The weather was unpredictable but held out (storm wise until we we done in Fort Smith). Walk takes you to the Natl Cemetery and the Forth Smith Historic Site where some of the points of interest are Trail of Tears overlook along the Arkansas River, reconstructed gallows where Judge Isaac Parker sentenced 79 of the 86 men executed here, the downtown area did have a ferris wheel, museums, carnagy library, and churches. The moonsoon rain started on our drive to Pea Ridge Military Park. By the time we arrived (we saw/heard more thunder/lighting than we could count). The walk was along the paved road with lots of side trips available to learn even more about the military life and battles. We did give it a try; but the rain was so much worse than Oregon and the thunder/lighting was also very close (with tornado watching listed for the day). Shortly after starting, we turned around - bought the driving tour (and drove the route instead). The history, the trees creating a blanket over us (very pretty), all the historical stops ((we did get out and look around at each .. then sopping wet, got back into the car)) The route was so beautiful, we wished we could have done it (even when the weather said no). We both agreed that we will have to come back and walk the whole thing one day. That night (late, after bed time) we were called to come down to the lobby as a tornado warning was in effect. (There was one that touched down 12 miles away). After what seemed forever for us (45 minutes) we were told the tornado (and storm that created it) had dis-appated. We were finally allowed to go back up (and go to bed.)

Friday-Day 1, People and luggage did not make the destination to Oklahoma City Airport at the same time; making for a long day to finally "start" the trip/adventure.
Sat-Day 2, Tourist day. Went to the Clinton Presidential Library & Clinton Museum Store and also checked out the State Capital of Arkansas (all in Little Rock).
Sun-Day 3, Combined the Little Rock Capital Walk & the North Little Rock - Argenta walks ... weather permitted a small amount of sun & a warm DoubleTree cookie (June's 1st DoubleTree cookie ever). But the day was mostly rain with an occasional thunder & lightning off in the distance. Saw the State Capital, Liberty Bell replica, old State House, Governor's Mansion (Clinton statue is there), the art museum (was a nice break from the rain) Clinton Presidential Library, Central High School (civil rights landmark), Macarthur Park & Military Museum and other interesting and historical sights. The shopping/dining area of the River Walk area was also nice; the historical representation murals in North Little Rock were great too. Got to hotel and find out we were 143 miles away from Joplin, MO (when that devastating tornado hit). 

One of our newest members, Nancy, just got home from a cruise and she said she is looking forward to joining us again but she kept on walking, even on the trip.