On the Rat

In Arkansas, we were searching for a grocery store before going to Petit Jean SP for the night. We finally stopped at a gas station to ask where one was located. The young girl working there told us there was one over the bridge “on the rat.” My mind started racing, “Rat? What’s a rat?...” It took me a minute to realize that the “rat” was not a place or even a localism for a geological formation along the river but was, in fact, the right!
(ooohhhh…right, right, right)

Which led us to…

The Guy in the Grocery Store

Dave was looking for beer while we were in the grocery store (on the rat) but didn’t see any. When a friendly employee asked if we needed help finding anything Dave asked him if grocery stores in Arkansas were allowed to sell beer. Solemnly shaking his head no, the guy informed us that we were in a dry county. We explained that we were headed up to Petit Jean to camp for the night and he replied, nodding his head in complete understanding, “Oh, yer goin campin at Petty Jean and you need some alcohol.” He then proceeded to put his hand on Dave’s shoulder in brotherly sympathy and camaraderie and listed counties where we could purchase beer. He tried desperately to come up with a solution to help us out. Dave attempted to reassure him that he wasn’t panicked, he did have a couple beers in the Westy, everything would be ok.

You meet the funniest people when you get off the highway :)

An overlook from Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

somewhere down there is a very helpful grocery store employee