Little Rock, Arkansas - Clinton Presidential Library, Flooding and Trolley tour

Tuesday June 2nd, 2015

We decided that we would walk across the Clinton Presidential Bridge, a former train bridge that was converted into a pedestrian bridge, and along the river walk to the farmers market and see what we could find.  The bridge opened in 2011 completing a 14 mile bicycle river loop along the Arkansas River.  Maybe one day we will come back and ride on the loop but unfortunately we won't have time this trip.

As we crossed the bridge over the river, flooding was evident on the opposite side by the library and in the wetlands.

The trees are in the water with the Presidential Library in the background

Clinton Presidential Library with a reflection of the flags on the side.

In the picture below, taken from the opposite side of the bridge, the trees should be on land.  This is the area that is the Wetlands part of the park.  You can see the roofs of the educational classrooms just above the water level.  The pathways through the wetlands are mostly under water.

William E Clark Presidential Wetlands  tells you about the Wetlands and the first picture on this site shows what this area looks like when it is not flooded.  Please compare, you will see how flooded this area is!!!

The following picture is taken from the bank facing the bridge and shows the tops of the educational buildings in the wetlands that are in the distance in the picture above.  This is directly across the river from our campground but we couldn't see the flooding from there because the trees blocked the view.

William E Clark statue

These boats had been pushed up against the shrubbery by the flooding.  A row of turtles were sunbathing on the log in front.

Here's a close up

Further along the river, these three turtles from small to medium to bigger, perched precariously on this log.  Were they making the baby walk the plank!!!!!

Love this picture!!!

More flooding shown by the tops of the trees just above the water.

The Presidential Bridge from a footpath along the river above the flooded wetlands.

Part of the bridge that used to rise to allow ships through

Further along the river path we saw this bicycle station complete with repair accessories and tire pump.  What a great idea.

We continued our walk along the bank

Wild Flowers

We could see our campground across the river in the distance.

Past the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Coming up to the Farmers Market, we bought some fruit.

Bird feeders on high poles, what a good idea.  See the bird on the right one.

The Riverfest Stage, an outdoor auditorium on the riverside for concerts.

 Reach for the Sky statue of 4 children playing

These police horses were tied up by the Farmers market.  Strange to see police horses in a town.

A British phone box, now made into a book exchange.  You can swop books here.  Another great idea.

Metal Figurine

Chinese/Japanese style

We walked around downtown and looked for a trolley bus stop as we decided to take a ride around on the trolley.  We eventually found a stop and saw that a streetcar was due in 5 minutes so we sat patiently and waited.  Sure enough along it came, we had a 2 for 1 pass and so it cost $2 for an all day ticket for the two of us.  

We stayed on the bus for the first loop that took us through the Historic District and across the river  and back again.

Policeman on his horse

Riding across the river

USS Razorback, a submarine you can tour but we stayed on the trolley.

 Steamboats…..

The driver, and a nice lady with her grandson who recommended we get off at the historic area as there were some interesting things to do there.  We decided we would do the whole tour and then go back to the historic district to look around.

Bryan enjoying the ride

We rode all around and then got off near where we got on.  We decided to have some lunch and went to the indoor market area and had a sandwich.  It wasn't that good but at least we were no longer hungry.

We went back to the trolley stop to get the trolley back to the Historic District and a military museum that we were interested in.  It turned out that the trolley didn't go to the museum so we got on it  expecting to go to the Historic area and ended up at the Clinton museum.  Ordinarily we could have just stayed on the trolley and it would have continued onto the historic district but it broke down!!!!  They weren't sure how long it would take and we decided not to wait.  We had seen the historic district from the trolley just hadn't walked around.

The trolley broke down!!

 We walked pass the Heifer International Center and debated whether to go in but decided to skip it and go to the Clinton Museum instead.  We were both a little irritated that we couldn't get to the military museum or the historic area but it was getting later and we didn't want to hang around any longer so the Clinton Museum was convenient.

Neither of us are Bill or Hilary fans but as we were here why not look around. We knew Bryan would be free so would just have to pay for me.  Well surprise surprise they let me in free as well!! 

There was a dinosaur exhibition going on.  One way of getting people to visit.

Here are videos of the animated dinosaurs, especially for Leanne, Aimee, Bailey, Kai, Adrian and any other children who may want to watch. Dinosaur VIDEO one  Dinosaur VIDEO 2

Presidential Limousine

As you probably know Bill is a saxophone player.  There was quite a collection on display.

I have to say I thought the library was very well laid out and very interesting.  In the picture below you can see the bookshelves with the presidential papers on.  You were unable to read these but there were binders that held the itineraries for each day he was in office, so you could look up what he did on any specific day.  I looked up June 25th, 1993 which was my 40th birthday. Bill was in the White House holding regular meetings, nothing too earth shattering happening for him that day.  I, on the other hand, was preparing to leave my homeland England, and embark on a life in the good old USA.  I left UK in November 1993 with Bryan and Ryan.  They say life begins at 40 and for me it certainly did.

Replica of the Oval Office

There is a replica of the White House President's Office

President's Desk

Couches, sorry but couldn't help but think of Monica Lewinsky, although maybe the desk is more relevant in this case!!!

Bill's Bicycle

White House Dining

A decoration

From the presidential library we could zoom in on Lily, safe & sound.

 Statue of Bill E Clark from the Presidential library

More flooding in front of the Presidential Library

Getting ready to head back home across the bridge.

The lights are on during the day as well.

Looking down at the water rushing past

Nearly home Lily, just got to finish crossing the bridge.  She's looking a bit lonely.

The moon rising tonight, after another long and interesting day.

Finally, a VIDEO of the lights changing on the bridge at night.

Stay safe. 

Memphis to Little Rock, Pugh's Mill a magical place, and flooding and the Arkansas River

Monday June 1st, 2015

We left Memphis and headed to Little Rock, Arkansas.  From the home of the King of Rock, Elvis to the home of former President Clinton.

Heading out of Tom Sawyer campground

We saw this greyhound bus.  It was the first one we have seen on our travels and went a little faster than us.  Before long, it was a speck in the distance but we like our pace better.

We arrived at Downtown Riverside RV Park on the banks of the Arkansas River in North Little Rock.  Here is the view from our front window.

After getting settled and having some lunch we went to find Pugh's Mill.  I had found out about this spot on Tripadvisor, which I often use to find interesting and usually free or inexpensive places to see in towns that we visit.  

I have to tell you that this place was the most magical place I have visited.  It was located in an outside suburb and you would never have stumbled across it by accident.  It was only a small area but so serene.  

The Mill peeking through the trees

A bridge carved in stone but looked like wood.

At the entrance to the bridge 

 The Old Mill was used in the opening credits for the original Gone with the Wind movie in 1939.

View of the Mill from the bridge

Can't you just hear the water going over the waterfalls, you will later!!!

The view from the Mill

I found it so relaxing and walking around made me feel like a child again, with not a care in the world.  In fact it was as if I was in another world.

Although everything here is man made, it is so well done that it feels so natural. The design and incorporation of the water from the river and streams is inspiring.  No wonder couples get married here and choose to have their pictures taken here.  It was a wonderful experience and writing about it now makes me go back to that moment.  Aaaah,  oops back to the real world, ha!! ha!!

Sue walking around and discovering every little thing

A smaller bridge, a lot of the structures are made of stone but look like wood

Water going round the waterwheel at the Mill

Water flowing from the mill

Bryan took these pictures of me taking a close up of the Mill and looking out of the window.  

This is what I was taking a picture of.  The drainage and water collection system.

The entrance to the Mill

Upstairs in the Mill

The sun threw shadows all around as it peeked through the trees and bushes.

 At different times of the year there are different flowers on show.  These hydrangeas were among the flowers on show today.  It would be awesome to come back in spring or fall.

How awesome is this.

Can you imagine the sound of the water? Listen to the video later.

 Bryan coming across the bridge.  What was that fairy tale with the troll under the bridge???  Watch out Bry!!!

Here are some more pictures.  Sorry there are so many but I just couldn't pick out a few.  There were so many great ones.

 After walking around we sat for a rest and just listened to the sound of the water and birds.

Here is a VIDEO of the sound of the water running and unfortunately also a plane going overhead!!!  Although at the time I can honestly say I don't remember hearing the plane.  Amazing what your mind zones out when it wants to.

We don't usually venture out on a travel day but we made an exception as we only have tomorrow here in Little Rock, and once I read about this place I knew I wanted to see it.  So glad we did.

When we left we drove around the houses that surround this magical place.  There were some wonderful homes on the river and with views of the river.  Imagine being within walking distance of this little fantasyland, hmmmm.

We stopped on the way home at Olive Garden for dinner, yummy!!!

When we got back to the campground we walked to the riverbank, about 50 steps.  The river was at 21 feet high due to the rains and it was flowing very fast. Flood level is 23 feet. They are due to do a controlled flood in the next couple of days and so the level will go up.  We are glad we will be out of here before then just in case!!!!  Here is a VIDEO of the river.

The sun started to go down and the moon started to rise.

I didn't realize that I got the sun setting in the side mirror of the motorhome in this picture of the Clinton Bridge at dusk.

The moon rising through the bridge

North Little Rock skyline from the campground.

Well, it was an interesting day.   We were definitely keeping an eye on the weather, preparing to dodge tornadoes and now floods on our way west.  Tomorrow we will take a walk around North Little Rock.