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GREETINGS FROM DALLAS, Texas (TX) USA
We have now reached our final destination for this trip – Dallas.
And quite a day’s drive for our last day on the road.
After our storm last night, we woke to pretty overcast and foggy conditions which did not bode well for our planned scenic drive ! However, we set off hoping the fog might clear as the day got going.
Not far south of Poteau, our aim was to head into the Ouachita National Forest along the Talimena Scenic Byway. As we reached the start of the byway, this is what we found –
Fog !
The Byway itself runs east/west and there was a section further east where we could join it if we looped around a bit, so we started off in that direction hoping the fog might clear a bit given more time. We had driven about 1 mile – down hill – and drove into bright sunshine ! So we turned around at the first opportunity to go back to the start of the byway expecting it to clear shortly. When we got there we waited about 10 minutes but if anything the fog was getting thicker. Enter Plan C which was to go back to Plan B and try to join the byway further east and off we went. Again, going down the mountain we found sunshine but when we got to the next section of byway – back up in the mountain – there was still some fog, but visibility was quite good so we decided to take the chance. It turned out a good option. There are two sections of road – a higher section above the ridge and then coming back the other direction you are on a lower section below the ridge.
Talimena “High road” above the clouds
Must have been the chicken’s day off – Not much traffic, this little tortoise managed to get across the road !
Whilst not as tall as the Ozark Mountains in the north, the Ouachita Mountains in this southern area of Oklahoma/Arkansas provide some great scenery.The forests in this area are old growth as they were never of a standard suitable for logging. But it is a popular recreational area with hiking trails everywhere. In the late 1890’s a lodge – known as the “Castle in the Sky” was built and this is now known as the Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge. We had actually hoped to stay here instead of Poteau however we couldn’t get a booking for only one night. In fact, around this area we found a number of lodges or cabins which looked really nice places to stay however the old “two night minimum at weekends” put paid to those as well. Oh well, maybe next time …
Driving the upper road then the lower road back, we crossed from Oklahoma into Arkansas as we were first heading east and then back into Oklahoma as the Byway turned back. Along the higher section we were above the clouds so managed to get some reasonable views – still quite hazy though. But as soon as we dropped down to the lower section on the way back, we were in the clouds/fog again.
Geographical peg marker – a toe on Arkansas and a toe in Oklahoma
Leaving the last of our scenic byway drives for this trip, it was onto Dallas. The first part south of the mountains was still fairly hilly and forested and made for some picturesque driving. But once down he mountain it was back to the flat, open fields of Texas – albeit very green from all the recent rain they have been getting !
Our route took us through the town of Paris, Texas. If you think you are a movie buff then you would be aware of the winner of the 1984 Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival – a movie called “Paris, Texas”. We didn’t see a lot of the town but our route bought us in from the north and there were some pretty huge and plush houses ! And the “Country Club – Members Only” (using your best Thurston Howell III voice) looked impressive too Luvvie ! And what would Paris, Texas be without a model of the Eiffel Tower – and a 10 gallon hat on top !
Eiffel Tower – Texas style !
We are staying in the downtown of Dallas and, like so many US cities, even for a Saturday the traffic was busy. But we negotiated that pretty well and the biggest traffic jam was sorting out valet parking at the hotel ! We arrived late in the afternoon so we really just did a walk around the block to stretch our legs after a long drive and had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant nearby which we spotted whilst on our walk. Weather permitting, we will get a workout walking the Dallas sights tomorrow.
Dallas downtown ahead !
Today’s Trivia – it has been reported that more popcorn is sold in Dallas, Texas than anywhere else in the USA !