July 14, 2021 : Hot Springs AR

John had a singular goal today: become a Hot Springs Junior Ranger! We learned more about the hot springs then had to tour the Fordyce bathhouse again to find many of the answers. Finally, he had everything he needed and was able to take his oath! The ranger, who was also from Texas, gave him an awesome centennial junior ranger badge. 

Now that that mission with complicate we decided to head a little bit out of town to see where Richard went to camp for many many years Camp Ozark. Well we couldn’t actually go in we decided to stop at a nearby lake and went to Crystal Springs. Here the boys played in the lake while the girls relaxed on shore.

After that everyone was hungry and a little cranky so we went to go find dinner. We found a place with seafood, of course for John, on a lake nearby Hot Springs. After a lovely dinner of seafood looking out over the water, We realize that if we went straight to the trail now John and Laura could make the hike back before it got dark.

The start was rather steep past an old army hospital…

But I had my ninja kid who could overcome!

We saw some deer and finally made it to the top of the mountain where we saw…

… the other side of the mountain!


It was about a 2 mile hike, and we made it back before sundown. John relaxed throwing rocks in the creek and making friends with the neighbor who declared John his favorite person he has met camping so far!

Tomorrow we pack up and move on!