Lake Hamilton

In the Ozark foothills of west-central Arkansas flows the Ouachita River, ancient homeland of the Washita people. These original inhabitants and their ancestors utilized the river for crop irrigation and travel for thousands of years. Since the demise of the indigenous people, the great river was a highway for European explorers, pioneers, and developers. Several dams were built along the river in the last century, creating large reservoirs like the one where we spent a week being lazy for our summer vacation.

We spent August 6th - 13th at Dusty's mother's timeshare on the shore of 80-year-old Lake Hamilton, just minutes away from Hot Springs, Arkansas. The little town with its shops and natural spring-water stations reminded me of my home in Manitou Springs, Colorado. In the same time period, during the gilded age and early contemporary times, people flocked to Hot Springs and Manitou Springs to partake of the healing waters, and to spend their money on souvenirs and good food. Which is precisely what people do there today.

photos taken with my Nikon Coolpix L110