We arrived after dark, having had a pleasant trip from Ft. Worth.  The wedding itself was, of course, marvelous.  We exited off I-30 onto Scenic Highway 7  around Arkadelphia.  Since we didn't get off until the afternoon we had been hoping to travel along 7 during the daylight.  For the most part we did.  The autumn colors amid the twists and turns were just beautiful.  It was just about dusk as we entered Hot Springs.  The sunset blessed us as we crossed over the Hot Springs Lake.

The town was bustling.  Tourists were everywhere strolling among the historic shops and spas.  Tour buses and horse drawn carriages punctuated the main street.  Once, passing a guided tour bus (surplus amphibious vehicle), the guide noticed our "Just Married " on the rear windshield.  "Just married. . .  Uh Ohh," he quipped over the P.A.

Trip navigation was as much on the fly as plotted.  Carole has a pretty keen sense for distance and vicinity but this Scenic Byway, shrouded with pines and oaks, didn't let much of the moonlight through.  We passed the entrance to Mountain Thyme, having noticed the sign only peripherally.  We made a quick turn-around some distance up 7, just managing the narrow pavement.

A relatively steep gravel incline guided us up to the B & B.  Crunching slowly in the gravel, we were greeted by the festive atmosphere of a group of fellow B&Bers making merry with song and piano on the Victorian porch.  Laughter, song, and the joyful voices of people set free of their ordinary cares.  Carole and I approached from the parking lot, still a little groggy after our drive.  As we reached the steps, Rhonda greeted us merrily, "If y'all aren't Carole and Tom, you're at the wrong place."  She and a group of the merry-makers had just recently returned from placing several enclosed candle holders on the entrance sign to help us locate the driveway.  The welcome was indeed warm and we were immediately made to feel right at home.  Rhonda guided us through the establishment, introducing us to the other guests, pointing  out the homey features available to us and the, as we were to come to expect, obligatory pet cats.  Kindly, Rhonda pointed out the "coffee-pot" area where we got to add our pin in the map of the USA that was nearby.  Interesting to see where B&Bers come from.

It didn't take us long to get our luggage in.  The "Dogwood Room".  The most wonderful room in the place!   From this second floor room we had the most marvelous sunrise steam through our window in the morning.  And the breakfast. . . was almost as splendid.

That first morning we walked around the property mostly, having bid farewell to the guests from the night before.  At the front entrance we were greeted by a little lizard (Anole) who seemed to relish the warm spot he found on that crisp morning.

All-in-all our stay at Mountain Thyme was very nice and we plan to visit again someday as well as recommend it anyone looking for a B&B in central Arkansas. . .

Next stop. . .