Sunday

I headed off to Hot Springs first thing in the morning and went over to the Buckstaff Bathhouse on historic Bathhouse Row. I soaked in the thermal waters the same way they did 50 years ago. You have an assistant that helps you through the process. It started with a 20 minute soak in 105 degree water in a clawfoot tub with a whirlpool. Then you move to 10 minutes in a sitz bath (not so impressed). Next is 3 minutes in a steam cabinet and a 20 minute full body hot wrap. You finish off with a 2 minute shower in a "needle shower" that completely surrounds your body with water jets. After a short time in the cooling room, you get dressed and leave. It took about 75 minutes to complete and was worth the $22 for the experience.




After the bath, I walked around some of the trails and looked at one of the few hot springs that is not covered up with steel doors. The water is 147 degrees when it surfaces. I also drove the windy road to the top of the mountain and went up the 250 foot mouontain tower. It was a nice view, but not wirth the $6 to ride the elevator.

My next stop was the Garvan Woodland Gardens. It was one of the best gardens I have walked through. I got a lot of ideas for working on my yard this winter.

I spent the night in a cabin at Lake Catherine State Park. It was a nice cabin with a full kitchen and living room. It was a cool evening, so I took a walk down the waterfall trail loop, which is about 2.5 miles long. It follows the edge of the lake to a waterfall then goes back into the woods.