Old Aberdeen Cemetery/Country Roads/Mississippi River/Little Rock, AR

After bacon and egg biscuits for breakfast, we set out for Aberdeen to run some errands and take a look at the Main Street.  

Checking on the Roadside America map, we saw the intriguing “Lady Whose Dress Caught Fire” nearby, so off we went!

The Lady in question is buried in the Old Aberdeen Cemetery, and her devoted husband decided the best way to memorialize his beloved was to order a custom gravestone depicting the grisly scene of her demise.  

The stone appears to have fallen over some time ago, and the red stuff growing in the standing water really makes those flames extra flame-y, right?

There were some other nicely decorated graves, including this crypt which, according to local lore, houses a woman buried in her favorite rocking chair, holding her knitting.

This column is carved with mysterious symbols that no one has been able to interpret!  Looks like a cheat code for a Ye Olde PlayingStation game to me. 

Having paid our respects, we returned to our camp site to have bread made by monks (from yesterday) with cream cheese made by ...Philadelphians? 

Then we packed up and hit the road once more!

We decided to pass on the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket just outside of town.

We drove through lots of beautiful farm land and put the camper through many bumps and jostles on the back roads.  

We crossed the Mississippi River at Helena, Arkansas...

 ...where we stopped at a really pretty rest stop overlooking the river.  It’s National Tourist Appreciation Week (about time!) and we were practically showered with free Arkansas-made goodies and Little Debbie snacks.  

Arkansas Essentials.  Fun Fact: Arkansas is the rice-production capital of the world!

An electric Guijo made from a ceiling fan that belonged to James “Super Chikan” Johnson, a local blues musician.

We arrived at Maumelle Park Campground in Little Rock at about 6:30 pm after 297 miles (6+ hours!!) on the road.  Our butts and a couple of the mugs in the kitchen cabinet were pretty busted up after such a long drive on roads so uneven that “they’re gonna kill somebody!” (Source: Dad)  

This campground is also run by the Corps of Engineers and is also on the water.  There’s a marina and a bunch of huge boat-lifting equipment adjacent to the park.

 Dad and I went for a walk while Mom made dinner and Dad found some first-time  RVers who were having trouble hooking their camper back up who he helped out.  The sunset was absolutely beautiful.

Tonight we’re swapping bananas with peaches in our dessert — Livin on the edge!