Day 5.0: The Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas

Memphis to Little Rock...about three hours driving time. Memphis is on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River...and within minutes of leaving our hotel we were crossing the biggest river yet. We were well rewarded with our visit to the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock...the multimedia exhibits are chronologically displayed. The events of the 1990s are there for you to see, from the shutdown of the government over the budget to the attempt at universal health care, Dayton accord, to the Balkan War and the bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Many themes were like déjà vu all over again (borrowed from Yogi Berra). Killing health care is back on the Republican (non) agenda, shutting down government is there too.

Five more hours of driving on local roads took us through the Ozark Mountain National Forest. A beautiful drive through pine forests, and although I'm not sure of the altitude, my ears were popping...so we were probably around 5,000 feet or so. Before the climb up the mountains, a sign warned us of a "crooked and steep" road ahead. It was like driving a route along a pretzel. But after miles of roads with semi trucks, it was scenic and less stressful.

Our destination for the day was Cave Springs, Arkansas, to visit Virginia's friend from Peace Corps Days in Fiji and later Cornell Nutrition grad school roommate. Pat & family have been living here, near Bentonville, home of Wal Mart, for about 20 years. We had a walk down memory lane over dinner, and today, our sixth on the road, will be spent touring Bentonville and the new Crystal Bridge Museum with our friends here.

Virginia at the Clinton Presidential Library