Arkansas Love

We've had some beautiful sunsets, here a quick shot I got of the sky above our campsite

On our last climb day we lounged around until the afternoon, and got in 2 climbs. The first one I did was a 5.7+, so the hardest climb I am able to do here. The added + at the end means someone thought it was tricky enough it could be a 5.8. It was hard but I did it. I was glad it was my first (inevitably only that day) climb because it really wore out my forearms and I don't think I would have done well if it was the second climb. Oh, when I say we got 2 climbs in, I mean Matthew did two. I attempted the second climb, it was a 5.8+ and I couldn't get beyond the first few moves. After Matthew did it he confirmed it was a little out of my league, it was tough for him. We were going to head out to a third, easier climb when the wind picked up and temperature started to drop. I decided I wanted to head back to camp because it was getting cold fast and I was only in a tank top. We were both glad I made that decision because it got down to the teens that evening.

At the top of the 5.7+

The next day we headed back to a trail in the Buffalo River National forest. The hike was nice, got down to the hemmed in hollow falls, which was more of a trickle. They are in a bit of a drought here. As we drove down into the valley of our planned campsite we noticed the smoke. Apparently they were not done with the controlled burns. The entire valley was getting covered in thick smoke. We turned around and headed south again. This time we went to Ouachita National Forest, to a campsite about 3 and a half hours away. The site was ok but not as well loved as the campground at Sams throne.

Hemmed in hollow falls

I found a campsite but little planned for us to do in the area. I was disappointed because there were 3 hikes I had lined up at Buffalo river. We spent our first day there driving all over exploring the many dirt roads. It's one of Matthew's favorite past times. We also took a short trip to Lake Ouachita.

Lake Ouachita

The following day we did more exploring but mainly on foot. We didn't see signs for hiking trails so we just hiked more dirt roads we found. With luck the last one we hiked had both a spring and a river, along with a nice area far from the main road to camp out. I didn't mention that day was a gorgeous high of 78! Once settled in we walked back to the river for some MUCH needed bathing.

the photo doesn't do this place justice

The river is gorgeous, there is a break along the river of rocks covered in moss and it has a majestic feel. There are rocks along the side of the river of many different characteristics.  I picked up a handful and counted at least 7 different kinds of rocks. It made me go look up the characteristics that distinguish rocks from each other. There may be a rock hound brewing in me.

Matthew and I have been delightfully surprised at how much we like Arkansas. He even said, "Want to move to Arkansas?", and I'm sure he was only half joking. We are already seriously considering Missouri (and Virginia and Vermont). If we were to move to Missouri, being close to all this beauty would be an added bonus. Arkansas has three national forests in the northwest section of the state: the Buffalo River, Ozark and Ouachita. You can rock climb, hike, backpack, horseback ride, do a canoe float down the river.. it is full of amazing opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty. There are mountains, rivers, cold and hot springs, caves, diverse plants and geology and so far, some of the friendliest people we've come across.

We were worried about going south and what we may encounter. To be honest, we were worried about people not liking the color of my skin, and therefore not being kind to me/us. I read a little before coming here about a white supremacy leadership training near one of the cities we went to. This has made me, sadly, hyper concerned for my safety. I decided to not allow this to limit me in any way. I have continued to go out and do whatever I normally would, with a friendly smile to all I pass. The only hint of it was from a billboard advertising an alt right radio station and white supremacy. I have not experienced any racism. Everyone has been friendly and welcoming. I want to apologize for even feeling/thinking it would be a problem. It's interesting because Matthew was worried he would see a lot of it in Virginia before moving there. I thought he was crazy, since I grew up in Virginia. The fact is that it exists everywhere, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Perhaps because my boyfriend is white? I do wonder if my experience would be different if I were traveling with my brother or someone else of color. Does my white boyfriend offer a buffer? I feel strange typing this. It bothers me that there is a legitimate reason to even think these things.

I often get upset because I have an increased awareness of racism now. My parents had friends of all backgrounds, treated everyone equally and they did not speak about skin color playing a major factor in their lives. Society taught me the racism that exists. I remember the day we were looking at buying a new home. We were walking the neighborhood of a house we were considering when a car drove past, turned around and both passengers got out. They were a middle aged white couple who felt compelled to inform us that this area was not for us, we would not fit in. I have not experienced many blatant moments of racism, but each one I have had has left a strong impression. I remember being baffled, wasn't this history? Surely, we had moved past this. They knew nothing about us except what we looked like. By this time I was a teenager, still figuring out myself and the world. I remember feeling hurt and sad that they would want us gone for no other reason than our skin color.

We didn't choose that house and I'm not sure I'm glad we didn't. Part of me wishes we had, just to piss them off or better yet to prove them wrong by somehow getting to know each other and be seen as equal.. not someone to fear or hate. When I am talking to Matthew about possible places to live, I have thought "but there are hardly any people of color there". I want to live in a happy go lucky, liberal utopia of diversity. Then I think how good it would be to spread diversity by being one of the few people of color in a predominantly white area. I can choose to live in my comfort zone, or I can choose to make myself and others uncomfortable, in order to live where I please and with luck, to help change minds. For all I know we will end up in a happy go lucky liberal utopia of diversity, but I won't limit my possibilities. I've learned different places are not as different as I expected, and although racism is everywhere, good people are everywhere too. I continue to dream that my pre-racist awareness of the world will come true.

To end on a happy note, here are a few guys serenading us on Valentines day...

They were wonderful!