moving on north

Hello friends and family! We are sitting in gloriously tacky Branson on our way to a square dance in southern MO. After successfully retrieving our van we spent a few more pleasant days in Fayetteville, where thankfully the rain dried up for a day or two and we could again bike around. We busted a hole in the wall thru Skye and Paul's kitchen into the living room to open up the space, and it was a fun and dusty project.

Leaving Fayetteville we headed out to beautiful Sweden Creek Farm to visit our mushroom growing friends Curly and Carole Anne. Check them out at www.theold78s.com great old tunes! The farm is amazing, tucked back into the Arkansas hills. We played tunes, ate fabulous food, and got to go on a hike to a Nature Conservancy protected area adjacent to their property. The goal of the hike was to check out the 100' waterfall which we did, and it was beautiful!

Happily around the bend from Sweden Creek was Way Out junkyard specializing in old VWs--it was serendipitous as we had a few pressing needs including a side mirror and a pad to finish our bed in the van, both of which we found quickly in the tidy junkyard. The owner was planning on leaving the next day for a cruise so we timed it just right! www.wayoutsalvage.com A super resource. We spent the night camping in the van for the first time last night and it was comfortable and of course kept the small amount of rain off of us! The van is stained by red red clay which is aggravating as it is very sticky.

So the goal of this current round of traveling is to scout out a new place to live. Fayetteville rated highly and it just might be the place we move. Highlights of the town include a good farmer's market, a community bike shop, urban biking trails, a VW mechanic, a food co-op, a university, beautiful surroundings, affordable, and several old time musicians. It is a little small and somewhat remote. A nice place!