Day 4: More Arkansas

It was nice in the morning but then the gray set in. Got dark early and now it's pouring like mad at midnight as I write this. Took tons of photos today. I know someone said there's not that much roadside in Arkansas and I hope I proved them wrong! I'll spare you doggie pix today since I have so many others to choose from. Let's get to it!

It seems inevitable that whenever I'm in a fairly big city on a weekend, there's some sort of running event. Little Rock today was no exception. A total drag when I'm trying to hit a downtown area quickly. I don't have time for strolling around. I've got to get from Points A-L and with a well-plotted map, the van's the fastest way -- until all the roads are blocked. I didn't see hardly any running but sure a LOT of standing around. So I had to be a pushy New Yorker, "scuse me, scuse me!" and get to my stops.



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I took tons of sign photos today. I put a bunch at Flickr and have lots more for the website. Here are my "rejects" -- still pretty nice!

A cone from the Yellow Jacket Drive-in in Sheridan:



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A golfer from Magic Hills Golf in Hot Springs:



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a neat liquor store sign in Hot Springs:



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Damn! I'm usually so good with my notes. I'll have to check on this one for tomorrow. I pretty sure this former theatre is in Hot Springs.



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Hot Springs is naturally very water-oriented. Lots of great and interesting architecture including this stunner:



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Also in Hot Springs: a nice painted wall sign that hasn't been "restored" to death:



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A fun one from Hot Springs:



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The Surgeon General probably prohibits making signs like this nowadays. Although this one looks fairly modern.



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Spring has almost sprung here in Arkansas -- I've been seeing daffodils and some cherry trees. I've been resisting photo-ing flowers thus far -- but couldn't resist this one. This is at the Central Park restaurant in Hot Springs: look carefully, those aren't tulips but rocks!



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Heading out of Hot Springs, here's one of those funky uses for geodesic domes: this time, incorporated into a church:



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Of course, I'm crazy about Sinclair stations because I'm always hoping they'll have a dinosaur. And they are still a novelty to me since they didn't have them in CA where I grew up and they aren't in the Northeast where I live now. I got all excited at the prospect of gas-ing up with these silvery old pumps in Crows -- but then noticed the plastic bags on the handles. Hope it's just temporary.



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A wonderful corner drug store in Clarksville (yes, still open):



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A wonderful old fire engine on display in Mountainburg:



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An Egyptian Revival / Art Deco Masonic Temple in Fort Smith:





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And, lastly, I envy the high school kids that live in Alma, the home of the Airedales. Actually, I went to Buena High and we had the Bulldog as our mascot but that is far too common. Airedales seem so much wussier. Not that I'm not crazy about all Terriers mind you! How I wish I could gas up at the Rat Terrier Express and could shop at the MinPin Mart.