SKY HIGH

One of the nice things about the Magazine Mountain Lodge is that any old body, wealthy or penny pincher, can enjoy a few of the amenities there. Oh, the pool and spa are off limits to the poor, but the bluff-top patio is free to all-comers and the restaurant is open to anyone with a few bucks or more. Both have views of the valley below that are “ooooh and aaaah”-worthy.

While I went browsing in the souvenir shop after our big hike, Big Bore lounged in one of the patio rockers, soaking in the sun. “This is heaven,” he said, when I joined up with him after dropping some dollars on items I just HAD to have. Here he is, relaxing in his old man’s threads, watching the turkey vultures soar on air currents before him.

We brought along our own breakfast and lunch grub but dined at the lodge restaurant in the evening. Our first experience from the menu was mediocre, but we hit the jackpot on the second night. I decided to forego a meal and just went straight to the cheesecake. Our waitress, the attentive 70-year-old Patricia, who moved to Arkansas 62-years ago but who still speaks with a “Joy-zee” accent, let Big Bore go “off-menu” with a special order of a hamburger steak drowned in a mushroom and onion topping, at her suggestion, and he finished it off with a piece of pecan pie that Patricia said he must have. “I’ll bring a piece right out to you, honey.” Now, his taste buds were in heaven, too.

After dinner we watched the glorious golden sunset from the lodge patio rockers before heading back to the campground. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.