a.d. elliott - Take the Back Roads

 Barely a single lane. This is the "Little Golden Gate Bridge of Arkansas" Henry, Constructed in 1947, its official name is Beaver Bridge, but you can see how it got the nickname. It is unnerving to cross.  It is a single lane bridge, barely. I don't want to try and ever cross this at night. xoxo a.d.

Within the canyons of the Valley of Fire.  These were my main reason for visiting the Valley of Fire Henry, I wanted to see the petroglyphs. I had read in Guns, Germs, and Steel about the lack of a written language in native US cultures...but couldn't these and other imagery (e.g. hide painting) be indicative of a written language? I need to write to Jared Diamond and find out. xoxo a.d. My Thoughts on Guns, Germs, and Steel

  Minding my mother. Here I am at Hoover Dam Henry - You said I couldn't miss it, so I came,  and damn it, it was really crowded at the damn. Damn engineering marvel too. Here is a dam picture. I suppose that is enough dam's xoxo a.d.

Look, Henry! No cars! Some months ago I had made plans to run the Las Vegas Rock and Roll half marathon just to get this picture, Henry. Due to some unforeseen training issues (otherwise known as not training enough) I had to pass on running it.  We had thought to cancel the trip, but after #VegasStrong we made sure we came. I was able to get the picture I wanted and I saw the race from the sidelines. Next year! xoxo a.d.

  What an amazing view, Henry. Remember that one place in Tuck Everlasting?  The one that is so peaceful and pretty? We hiked there this weekend.  It is lovely, all dressed up for fall. Whitaker point is also a popular hike, so in real life, the crag looks like this. We still had a lot of fun (and company!)   The views are spectacular. xoxo a.d.

 Elephants in the Ozarks Here is something unexpected Henry -  We were about to drive over Beaver dam when we looked to the right and saw a giant elephant down in the gully. It is probably the last place I would have expected to see an elephant. We found out later that once upon a time there was a "Dinosaur World" there, but it is no longer open. I guess you would call this a Jurassic Park ghost town? xoxo a.d. elliott

Is it still the Aquarius age? Henry Ever since our first date, when we went to the bar "Age of Aquarius"  (now torn down and transformed into a parking lot) we have had to stop by any establishment with the name Aquarius. The Aquarius we found this time was a taqueria named the Aquarius Taqueria in Eureka Springs Arkansas. I loved the food, the ambiance on the patio (with its own spring) made the visit. I did mention the food right? xoxo a.d.

Dear Henry, We took a tour of the Oak Alley Plantation, located in Vacherie, Louisiana. It was quite an experience. The Oak Alley Plantation was initially named " Bon Séjour" and owned by  Jacques Télesphore Roman. It would be a sugar cane producer throughout most of its history. After exchanging another plantation for this piece of land from his brother-in-law Valcour Aime in 1836, Roman began constructing the house in 1837, using enslaved labor. The house was completed in 1839.  Jacques Roman died in 1848, and his heirs struggled to maintain the plantation following his death, and the plantation was heavily in debt. The economic toll of the Civil war ended its viability, subsequent heirs were unable to maintain it, and the building fell vacant and into disrepair. In 1925, Andrew Stewart bought the plantation as a gift for his wife Josephine, who had the house restored and modernized. The pair operated the plantation as a cattle ranch until the 1960s, when sugar cane was rei...