9-10-11 Jun 2022 - Laptop is alive, last day at Tom Sawyer RV Park

9-11 Jun

My laptop died so I have been off the air.  It is going again but not sure for how long.  The last two days have been busy and as time permits I will try to go back and capture them and post, but for now just a brief:

9 Jun we met up with Air Guard comrade Jason Hunt and his wife Kim.  Jason gave us a very interesting tour of the USDA facility where he manages the IT section.  There they create and manage the cotton standards used nationwide to grade cotton, and they analyze cotton samples sent in from across the nation and grade them.  There is a lot to this and I have some great pictures but will edit this and add them in the near future.  After the tour we had some great southern comfort food at a local establishment called Sling Shot Charlies. 

We also connected up with two other Alliance families from Texas.  Again, more to follow,

10 Jun we visited the Bass Pro Shop pyramid, ascending to the top, about 300 ft up, where the picture above was taken. 

11 Jun my replacement battery arrived and I did surgery on the laptop as the battery is buried inside.  At first it did not look good but later it sputtered, coughed a couple times, and started breathing again.  We will see how long it lasts.  Unfortunately I have to power it down when we leave here in the morning.  Will see what happens when we get to Bull Shoals tomorrow,. Our oldest grandchild Joe Ervin graduated from high school today and we were able to watch via online broadcast.   Our big TV died so we made a trip to Walmart and bought a new one.  Of course the mount does not interchange so will tackle that at Bull Shoals also in between fishing trips.  Our Texas Ally's pulled out this morning and we wished them farewell.  

Tomorrow we will pull chocks and head north and a bit west to Bull Shoals State Park campground for a few days of trout fishing.  We also hope to reconnect with Air Guard buddy Chuck Leonard who lives near Mountain Home AR.