This is the 4th year of Camp Carpe Diem arranged and co-sponsored by our friends Debra and Barry Benton. Last year was in Kalispel, Montana and this year in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The locale and its proximity to our family in northern Arkansas made it a perfect start to our RV trip.
The RV park is as unique as it is dusty! It is called Hot Springs Off Road Park and caters to those wanting to test and probably at least minimally damage their Jeeps and ATVs as they take to the trails. It covers 1200 acres and has a web of trails rated from 1 to 5. 1 says take your family and camera and 5 says expect damage and a possible tow. We decided not to challenge our new Jeep and possibly our whole trip. But we did put her in 4-wheel drive and practice around the large off road staging area (and with no problems!)
So, we hung out with the CCD group. There were about 20 RVs and 40 people from all over. Some full time RVers and some out on a trip. Some RVs are big Class A “busses”, some were camper vans and a couple were just small trailers and a few Class C’s like us. We were the most novice of the group and had the newest RV. We also discovered that we were definitely not the youngest but also not the oldest either. And we fit right in.
Over the 4 days, there were group hikes, brewery and distillery tours, scavenger hunt around Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs, RV tours, dinners out and potlucks at the park. And every evening, we also spent time just relaxing and telling stories around the fire ‘til bedtime. We also did some exploring on our own including a trip up to the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. And we filled our water jugs with hot Hot Springs water!
The group liked their beer. One of the co-hosts brew their own in their RV! The first event was to visit a brewery where the hosts had brewed a special blend for Camp Carpe Diem. The last night was a tasting where everyone brought their favorite beers. So…. we brought pain killers since we don’t have a favorite beer. We made 3 batches, and they went fast!
Just before leaving, we decided to go see the park in the Jeep. We had been there 4 days and only seen the other off roaders going in and coming back out. So we paid our daily fee and with a map of the easiest roads, and crossing our fingers, we took off. Being Monday morning we were the only ones out early. And we covered the first road with little problem and few “bumps”. But the next roads were not as we expected!! Rock, gullies, ditches, and washouts! You get the picture. We even decided to turn around on a couple as the road looked almost straight up! Don’t know how the experts do it?! But we made it back with no damage and with a much better understanding of the challenges these guys face.
Grove Yacht 