Author Archives: Roger

Hot Springs National Park

This is a weird national park. Its prime feature is a row of ornate bathhouses where people in the early 20th century went to bathe in water from hot springs that were believed to aid in healing. One of the … Continue reading

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The Gangster Museum of America

From the 1920s to the early 1960s, Hot Springs was a hot bed of gambling, moonshining, and gangster activity due to friendly city officials. This museum tells the story of the city, with emphasis on its shady history. There’s quite … Continue reading

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Bird #609 — Western Warbling Vireo

vireo swainsoni Viento State Park, Oregon Tuesday, May 6, 2008 — 4:50 pm The Warbling Vireo has just been officially split into Eastern and Western species, netting me another lifer. According to my eBird records, I saw my first Western … Continue reading

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Illinois and Indiana

The day began oddly. As I was checking out at the Hampton Inn, the clerk saw where I was from and said, “Wow, you’re a long way from home. Did you drive?” I said “yes.” I thought it was an … Continue reading

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Hannibal

There wasn’t a lot in Hannibal we wanted to see — Mark Twain’s boyhood home, of course, but it is one of the few touristy towns in the Midwest I’ve never been to, and it was on our way to … Continue reading

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