T-Town Travelers in Arkansas - Hiking, Caves, Rappelling and a Tepee

I love the friends that call and tempt you with adventure.  Fortunately Laura called a few months out and we were able to plan a great weekend getaway.  The best part is that I have chosen adventure as a lifestyle, and this weekend proved to be a great thrill with two awesome women.

We started with movie night, popcorn and homemade pizza.  It is absolutely critical to prep with food, laughter and packing and repacking gear.  We might need 12 pairs of socks and underwear.  Who knows?

The next morning, an early start took us to Pigeon Roost to break in some hiking boots.  We ran into the Arkansas Master Naturalists along the way and experienced divine weather.  The sun was shining, a light breeze cruising through and not really much to worry about.

Now that our boots were warm and we burned off a light breakfast, it was time to head to Eureka Springs for a little culture and lunch.  We found a perfect shaded patio with dueling musicians, a paranoid and possibly familiar waitress (we've all had that party where we don't quite remember the folks that were there...), and lots of local wildlife of the 2 legged variety going by.  

ON TO THE CAVE! (This is my favorite part of the trip)

A critical point to this story is that Laura and Taylor have never been caving.  They agreed to a wild cave tour after very little information along the lines of "mud, lots of mud, sliding, crawling, climbing."  I love them because it was greeted with, "let's do it!"  We geared up for the standard tour at Cosmic Caverns north of Berryville, AR.  Our guide had a delightful rural accent that made every scientific word uttered sound so much better and genuine.  If he had said hydrostatic pressure one more time...

Look at that Eureka Springs hunk with all those big words.

Take a note at how clean we are.

Once the normal tour was over, it was time to change into boots and clothes that could be completely muddy.  We had a beverage, sat around and relished in the adventure that was coming.  After encouraging our guide to make sure we came out as muddy as possible, we headed back down.  It's a tale best told in pictures. 

Cleanliness is overrated.

Soda Straws

Curtains

More soda straws.

Mother and Daughter scoping out some features.

Climbing up and out.

The joy of success.

This smile was pervasive through the whole deal.  I'm so proud of Laura for rocking this cave like a pro.

A little chimney action required.  Its a totally different experience in the wet and mud.

Hanging out, because coming out feet first is overrated.

If you aren't dirty, you didn't do it right.

As noted above, this was a completely new experience for Laura and Taylor.  There were a few moments of "I don't know if I can do this," but everyone of them was followed by victory and smiles wider than the helmet straps could contain.  We had a few hilarious moments, reaching in your sister's pants to keep her from sliding off the edge, getting stuck on the Tarzan swing mid-swing, realizing that your guide is a bartender in the town you hang out in, etc. that only made the experience more fantastic.  

After a fairly rustic shower experience, think guardian spider on overwatch, we headed to Walmart for dinner supplies.  What Arkansas experience would be complete without it!  The girls thought we were heading to a park to set up a tent, but then we pulled up on this:

I'm pretty sure I got the awesome adventure guide award.  An air mattress in a tepee is pretty luxurious after playing all day.  That in combination with a fire, hot meal and a midnight walk in the neighboring cemetery was a perfect end to the day.

The next held a much cleaner activity, ziplining.  We met my Dad for a quality diner breakfast full of awesome carbs and grease.  Again, this was a new activity for our adventurers so we harnessed up, got on a bus and headed to the woods.  

Laura

Daddo

Taylor, in her hideous LSU sweatshirt (she can't help it)  

I'm the pink dot in the distance.  That was a great valley.

We survived and looked good doing it.  

I can't say how thankful I am for friends and adventures.  There is really no other priority in life outside of loving and living.  Laura and Taylor are a blessing that came in the most round-about way.  I look forward to whatever the future holds and for having a sister near to my heart!