Due to bad weather and conflicts, the annual Charlie Brown Christmas Campout did not happen. However, Charlie didn’t let us off the hook … he appeared during the Super Bowl camping weekend.
Charlie Brown campers.
I must explain further. We camped one night at Kyle’s Landing on the Buffalo National River and commemorated Charlie Brown Christmas the second night at our friend’s home … Santa hats, campfire and all.
Warm campfire Longtime friends Brothers.
There is little more enjoyable then time in the outdoors of Arkansas, the Natural State. Add to that, time on America’s First National River, THE BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER and one emerges refreshingly prepared for cars, paved surfaces and the cacophony of urban living.
Footnote: we choose Super Bowl weekend because most of us are at home. Chiefs fans probably wish they had stayed another night on the Buffalo.
While returning home, my buddy. John and I witnessed a majestic Bald Eagle lift from feeding just a few feet from my car … beautiful!!! Maybe an omen?
We enjoy Hallmark Movies … especially Christmas Hallmark movies. Without a doubt, the 10” snow in Little Rock set the stage for our entire city to look and feel like Hallmark.
Our Daughter in law
This video sums it up. Son, Jeff, (the videographer) daughter in law, Eileen, plus Freida and Charlotte caught the spirit of a big snow in Arkansas’ Capitol City.
Our Personal twist on Snow Couple.
Patti and I have always enjoyed the seasonal spirit of the Christmas Season … from snow to the lights to music to family and friends.
Blessed Mother
More than anything, we take a moment to be grateful for all God has given us and to celebrate the Birth of Jesus to his Holy Mother Mary. We love that Mary wears a shroud of white snow in our patio.
God be with each of you and all those who are suffering from fires, severe weather and other conditions around our World.
I pray also for the leaders of our nation and other world leaders … may we gravitate toward peace and love.
Sept 11 to Oct 1 … First night in Shawnee at Grand Casino. Night two in Amarillo at Comfort Inn and suites … stopped in Hinton at the Oklahoma Casino for play and lunch. I won a bit on the Leo machine … my horoscope sign. Patti is usually the lucky one but not this time. Dinner at Red Robin across from our hotel … we split a rack of tasty ribs. Head for Santa Fe and went directly to the Railyard, an arts district with restaurants, shops, galleries theater and awesome blended mixture of new and historic architectural styles. Had lunch at Tomasitas in the Railroad district. Wow. This place was hopping and delicious. One of the best Mexican meals I’ve ever had. Need this in LR.
Culinary extravaganza
Today bfast at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino where we spent the night. I’m mindful of the day ,.. my dad’s birthday. Lunch at Oscar’s in Alamosa then stopped at the oldest church in Colorado.
Oldest Church in Colorado
Then on to Salida where we checked into an older Comfort Inn … older but fastidiously maintained by the owner and his Staff. Mick was so friendly and helpful… nice big room as well. Dinner at a local success story … an awesome burger in an old Burger King building. Also had a delicious vanilla malt. Walk Sunday morning 46 degrees. Went downtown and had lunch at Boathouse on the Arkansas river. Patti’s birthday
Arkansas River in Salida, Co
Salida’s riverside park continues to expand and beautify. I sang happy birthday to Patti from the amphitheater stage. LOL Later, went for dinner at a first class Sushi Thai restaurant. Chris brought a dessert with a candle for the special occasion.
Beautiful lady
Monday morning I had a nice cool walk and then we went to Buena Vista … one of our favorite places and had lunch at Crave a superb Italian restaurant. Shopped and watched as the city was preparing for a Community dinner for Three thousand locals in honor of a local hero who died in a rock slide. What a special treat for us and a meaningful way for a community to share history, the meaning of citizenship and love of neighbor.
Dinner for 3000
We head for Edward’s tomorrow for four days Sept 17-21. I’ve enjoyed our time in Salida… it’s charming history, architecture and beauty on our Arkansas River. In route to Edward’s, we stopped in Leadville at Casa Blanca, a small 4th generation Mexican Restaurant.
Patti and I have eaten here many times over the past 30 or 40’years and it is consistently delicious and hospitable. Mother and daughter run it now and when asked about the future, it’s unsure …. a lot of work. The enchiladas, tacos, beans. Rice etc were amazing,,, but our mouths were still watering for the sopapias… wow.
Patti had the cinnamon version. I had the plain one slathered with honey. I hope we have a few more years to enjoy this stop in the highest elevation city in colorado… Leadville, with the backdrop of 14.000 foot mountains reaching for the sky from the headwaters of the Arkansas River Valley. Arrived in Edward’s during a chilly light afternoon shower, checked into a nice room at THE INN at Riverwalk, went for dinner at the Mainstreet Grill where we shared coconut shrimp and Chicken Piccata,,; delicious and finally with a leisurely stroll in and out of retail shops. The skies cleared and we had a cool restful open window night …slept like a rock. Missed the partial lunar eclipse but did see the super moon this morning setting in the West.
Spent four nights in Edwards. Went for walks along the river and along the commercial district.
Early Aspen Gold
Went to Minturn one day, had lunch and walked the shops. When we were coming up from Leadville we drove Tennessee pass by Ski Cooper. In our snow skiing days we came here when slopes in Summit County were too crowded. Local resort for sure … I once asked a young adolescent girl where she lived. She “gave me her address”… sooo local. I was expecting an answer like Leadville, Buena or Salida … not her home address!
OWE LEFT EDWARDS AFTER FOUR DAYS AND HEADED FOR SILVERTHORNE WHERE WE JOINED DAUGHTER DONNA AND SON IN LAW JOHN.
John and Donna
The aspen trees were gorgeous. John and I did a number of stunning hikes. We hit the peak!Take a look!!
Even had snow in the higher elevations.
Another incredible trip out West but now it’s time to start home. Of course we stopped at a few more casinos on the way home. Buffalo Thunder and Hinton and Shawnee Grand. Patti won this time. What a great trip and a great way to end our vacation. GOOD TO BE HOME. THANK YOU GOD!! ◦
For nearly twenty years, four out door loving guys have travelled to national parks and other notable scenic places to hike, explore and share common friendship interests.
This year, 2024, we went to New Mexico where we hiked amazing trails, explored early indigenous American sites, visited pioneer and early settler heroes’ museums and graves … plus art, architecture and landscapes of the Southwest.
Bryan Jim DarylThe Original Four
Unfortunately JC is no longer physically with us. We miss him… His wit, his passionate love of hiking, his smile while sipping a Single Malt and his unwavering friendship. Despite missing him, he is with us palpably every step along our trail.
RUBBER RABBIT BRUSH
This plant … and I may not have the correct name…. Is like 3-5 feet ground cover providing beautiful natural buffer between homes in platted foothills residential areas.
Our Taos HomeMore RR Brush landscaping Taos Pueblo
Located a short distance from the center of Taos, this World Heritage site … continuously occupied for hundreds of years, is now open for tours.
North HouseKit Carson Burial Site Kit Carson Home … Taos, NMWest Rim TrailRio Grande Gorge Trail
I’ve driven over this 600’ gorge many times but this is my first hike along a section of the Rio Grande trail. I hope to do more.
Nambe Trading Post
I asked my buddies if they knew anything about Nambe cookware. They did not so off to the town of Nambe, NM only to find it is no longer made there.
Nambe todayThermal pool hikeTrail critters
This was a short beautiful trail in the Carson national forest. Along the trail was Piñon Pine Cone squirrel litter. I was only able to retrieve a couple of actual Piñon nuts because the squirrels were pretty thorough. I ground them in my teeth just for the experience… ok I’ve done it.
I’ll start off immediately with a photo of the mission church near Taos, New Mexico. EL SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO SHRINE is a National Historic Landmark known for its healing soil and as a destination pilgrimage for 300,000 visitors per year.
While spending three days in Taos, Patti and I drove to Chimayo to see and experience the beauty and story of this 1816 Catholic Pilgrimage Center. We were asked to not take photos inside the church or the small room with the healing soil. After a prayerful moment, we placed a small amount of soil in a bag to bring home and then attended Mass in this humble yet starkly beautiful sanctuary.
Though we did not do a pilgrimage on foot, we both now share a special spiritual and physical connection with those who walked before plus the thousands who have been touched or healed in some miraculous way.
NEXT STOP … DURANGO, COLORADO
We’ve not been to this growing Southwestern tourist destination in a number of years. Over the years we’ve done the Silverton train, I’ve hiked the trails with my buddies … this time, we came to enjoy the city and the area. Fortunately we discovered ANTLERS ON THE CREEK BED AND BREAKFAST … owner, Karen and Manager/Chef, Brittany, made us feel at home immediately in this beautiful luxury property. The setting is out of a country estate magazine. The interior details and appointments are impeccable. Breakfast and happy hours rival the best we have experienced. Unless you wish to stay downtown, this is the perfect spot.
Antlers On The Creek, Durango, Colorado
This year, our plan was to spend at least three nights in each city … a good decision. In each case, it was sufficient to rest a bit, explore a little and leave wishing we had another day.
Downtown Durango is hopping and was an enjoyable place to stroll, get parking tickets (another story) and partake of local flavors and homemade pasta at Primi Pasta and Wine Bar.
Wine is bottled poetry
OFF TO OURAY
I should make this LITTLE SWITZERLAND a stand alone blog post because it is so unique, so beautiful and so friendly. Ouray is surrounded by snowcapped mountains on three and one half sides. For the life of me, I’m still trying to find that one half without a mountain.
The drive in from Durango thru Silverton on THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY is one of the most magnificent scenic highways in the USA.
Top of the world.Patti and Jim
Our Ouray three days was immensely enhanced by Arkansas connections, Tonya and Ralph McCormick who have homes in Ouray and Russellville, Arkansas. Tonya manages the hotel where we stayed and she knocked our socks off with the reserved parking cones at our front door. Now, that’s a true Ouray welcome.
Reserved for Mayor Dailey … thank you Tonya!!
Their hospitality didn’t end there. Ralph drove me around to see things I might have missed. He was an angel as well when Patti was down with altitude sickness, bringing her a full tank of oxygen so she could rest. He and Tonya took me to hike the Box Canyon falls. We were overwhelmed with their warmth, genuineness and attention. THANK YOU TO OUR NEW FRIENDS, TONYA AND RALPH.
Our new amazing friends, Tonya and RalphRalph took me to see the True Grit film siteBox Canyon Falls hike with Tonya
Ouray is a majestic spot. Here are a couple more photos of the natural beauty.
Last stop… three days in a favorite city of ours … BUENA VISTA, COLORADO … ON THE ROARING ARKANSAS RIVER
We love this small city in the Arkansas River Valley with the river, the 14,000 foot mountains and its growing outdoor recreation tourism. It has become a destination for more and more due to a hometown feel with a positive energy toward the future. I see even bigger and grander things for Buena Vista. All that said, we took a step back in history and spent three delightful nights in a small log cabin at VISTA COURT CABINS AND LODGE.
Snow still covered Cottonwood PassArkansas River was thundering
I could cover so much more …. But it’s 9:00 and my bed time. Suffice to say, this was one of our best “out west trips”. Patti and I are glad to be home but ready to return.
These two hotels are important to me because they were fixtures in my life for more than forty years ... part in my youth, part in my early business years and part … the 60’s and 70’s … when my own community and political engagement was aborning.
I recently discovered these old 35mm photos taken by me on a very cold day, standing on the Main Street Bridge with my family to witness the first significant implosion of large buildings in Arkansas.
Simply finding the old photos was serendipitous enough. Upon further research, this blog became even more personal. Marion Kahn, a dear friend of Patti and me, is the great- granddaughter of The Hotel Marioncreator/developer/owner, Herman Kahn. To add even more interest, Herman was married to MARION COHN KAHN … ergo, THE “MARION” HOTEL. Our friend, Marion, in a phone call, confirmed the connection and elaborated even more about Herman, a 17 year old German immigrant who contributed so much to the Arkansas business, banking and Tourism industries.
Manning and Marion moments before demolition. Note the colorful artwork on the Manning. This “design” element was an attempt mid century to cover up the past and modernize buildings. Unfortunately, too many buildings were lost during this period of “Urban renewal. Fortunately, the colorful exterior decor was later removed exposing the beautiful original historic structures.A unique family outing in downtown Little Rock. Laura, Donna, Jeff, DJ and a friend.Thousands came to witness the first major building implosion in Arkansas.It started with a puff of smoke and a loud explosion at the Manning. Hotel Marion stands in waiting.Split and crumble of the Manning.Manning going down … Hotel Marion begins to collapse Manning down … Marion faltering.Just a cloud of smoke, dust and building rubble. A palette of land awaits the new Convention Center and Convention HotelButler Center for Arkansas Studies.
It is almost impossible to believe one could ever get a multi course gourmet Thanksgiving meal in a fine hotel for $2,00 … Check it out.
There is much more to this story than I cover here. So much more about these business pioneers, so much more about Little Rock at that time, more about the part these buildings played in the social, and political fabric of LR, the Gar Hole Bar, the world leaders such as President Truman and General MacArthur who stayed here … on and on and on. Plus, where I fit into Little Rock leadership … Chairman of the A&P Commission, City Board Member, LR Mayor …. This period and these buildings are fundamental foundations of my place in our history. Thank to those who came before and those with which I have partnered to build a better Little Rock and Arkansas.
Our second Total Eclipse of the Sun … Monday, April 8, 2024
On the 21st day of August 2017, Patti and I ventured into Tennessee to witness and photograph our very first total eclipse of the sun. It was our first, it was amazing and it set in motion our desire and the planning urge seven years in the future when another totality would occur … this time in our home state … Arkansas The Natural State.
In 2017, I was involved with the Arkansas Parks Heritage and Tourism Department. Within days of returning from Tennessee, I began nudging the department to get ready for visitors from 50 states and many countries. To the credit of the Parks and Tourism Commission, the planning worked and every city in the path … big or small … was ready. Patti and I spent a perfect, cloudless eclipse Monday in Morrilton, Arkansas supporting this community and our friends, Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer and his smiling, energetic wife, Stephanie. What a day it was … fun, food, families, friends plus over four minutes of Total Eclipse darkness. Below is a photo grouping of three shots I took with my Sony A7. My main goal was to capture what has been called, The Diamond Ring and … I think I nailed it! What you see in the photo is: Top, the thin crescent sun, maybe 30 seconds before full coverage; Middle, the instant of coverage when the last big burst of sunlight sparkles from the moon’s edge creating, the Diamond Ring and Bottom, about 30 seconds into the full totality. Once again, it was amazing, it was surreal, it was indescribable, it was REAL. I’m so thankful we had great weather and that we were able to share this with our friends. It is doubtful I will be around for the next one in 2044 but I will continue to relish the memories and photos of 2017 and this one ,,, ARKANSAS ECLIPSE 2024.
An Eclipse is somewhat rare, maybe once in a lifetime for some but … ARKANSAS IS THE NATURAL STATE … EVERYDAY
Below is a Charlie Brown Christmas photo at Falling Water Falls in the Richland Creek Wilderness area. My hiking buddy, his girlfriend and I camped and hiked there two days before the Eclipse. My point … awesome natural wonders abound. The stars were stunning … almost as breathtaking as the eclipse. We have several dark sky areas in the state and i promise you a spellbinding, magical, almost spiritual experience. Just get away from the city lights and have that awestruck moment.
In addition, we have 52 of the best state parks in the United States, plus the first National River declared by Congress … The Buffalo National River. Sure, we will talk about the Eclipse in all its wonder but there is unmatched beauty in the mountains, rivers and right now in the wild flowers blooming throughout Richland Creek, Indian Creek and so many other places to be discovered … right here in Arkansas.
Falling Water Creek in the Richland Creek Wilderness Area … circa, December 2022 during the annual Charlie Brown Campout and Tree decorating outing.
For more photos and commentary on my favorite spots to hike, camp and simply “enjoy”, scroll deeper into this blog. Arkansas is truly The Natural State.
Thru the years, most of our family gatherings have been at Patti and Jim’s … “ ie. our house.” Before that at at Ellen and Dalton’s. This year, Easter Family get together was hosted by daughter Laura and her husband, Mark. A big thanks to the two of them. However, much like a pot luck, everyone pitched in and brought something. We had more than enough. Thank you, Family.
Here are a few photos…
Laura and JoyCooks Mark and Leslie Beauty Table. JohnLaura/Patti/DJLaura+Jeff DJ Mark MichaelLeslie Jim Donna
It was fun, delicious, entertaining and memory filled. Most of all, it was about the celebration of Faith and the Resurrection of Our Savior … JESUS CHRIST.
HAPPY EASTER BLESSINGS TO OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Wood from Cross on which Christ Died. Cathedral of Saint Helena. Helena, Montana
Yep … I pulled away from the pump, entered Broadway and stopped at a traffic signal. While waiting, a tall mid thirties man (my angel), got out of his car, tapped on mine and quickly closed my gas cover. He jumped back in his vehicle, the light changed green and we were both on our way … all this in maybe 20 seconds.
Thank you and God bless you and all the other angels out there.
He was in a small white sedan with a round logo … possibly a state employee. Regardless, he was my Angel today.
PS: I stopped last week to throw a full muffler dangerously blocking the right lane on Chenal Parkway. Just maybe angels were watching then too.
As you will discover in the photos, Arkansas, The Natural State is a perfect moniker for this beautiful state.
What a way to greet the morning.
This past weekend was an annual camp out, usually scheduled around Super Bowl, but this time one week earlier. The weather was warm but with a threat of rain. We were fortunate to have one night of camping, two days of hiking and one night sheltered in a beautiful home near our Buffalo River campground a few miles from Historic Jasper, Arkansas. Here below are photos along the bluff lined River.
The first National River, Buffalo RiverBuffalo River, Kyle’s LandingHammerschmidt Falls An overly eager beaver Our gracious host on rainy Saturday night.
Jim Dailey is just an ordinary guy who has travelled many trails, met a bunch of heroes along the way and finally decided to write TRAILS, TRIBUTES AND THOUGHTS before his LAST PAIR OF BOOTS bite the dust.
Jim grew up in Little Rock, AR., owned a furniture store, has a wife of 50 plus years, four grown children, six grandkids, is VP of Government Relations with Kelley Commercial Partners, served as Mayor of Little Rock for 14 years and Director of Tourism for the state of Arkansas
Jim Dailey 