Arkansas Vacation - Day 3 - Part 4 - Christ of the Ozarks and more

 Is it still the 20th?  This has been such a fun day and it just keeps getting better and better.  Just look at our view.  Who would not be at peace here?  This is another one of those rare "scenic turnouts."

As we return to Eureka Springs, I want to see if it's possible to get a closer picture of the Christ of the Ozarks statue.  The web says the grounds are closed, but maybe we can get close enough.  It's worth a shot.  The area that it is in is a HUGE tourist attraction and there is a Passion of the Christ play tonight so people are arriving for that.  We drive through and get to the gates of the statue and happily discover that it is still open.  Woot woot.  At least this time the internet being wrong is in our favor.  The sun is starting to go down and our timing is awesome.  Another thing --- it has been cloudy and rainy off and on all day.  Right at this minute, the clouds part and the sun shines, just for me.  How cool is that?  I am feeling rather special right now.

Quick Facts:  The statue stands 67 feet tall and has a 65 foot arm span.  The foundation of the statue required 340 tons of concrete interlaced with steel virtually welded into the rock of Magnetic Mountain.  The statue is made of 24 layers of white mortar on a steel frame.  It was necessary to build an elevator up the side of the framework, which was completely surrounded by scaffolding during construction.  The face is approximately 15 feet in height and total weight is over 2 million pounds.  It was dedicated in 1966.

Mister spots something and walks over as we are returning to our car.  This is an actual 10 x 10 section of the Berlin Wall.

It is in the side yard of this cute little chapel.  

It is the Church in the Grove and was dedicated March 30, 1986.  Simple and yet all needs are met.

We are calling an end to our sightseeing for the day.  About a mile away is a brewery and it's time for feet up and deep breathing. Eureka Springs Brewery doesn't have a lot of road appeal and it's location is, well let's say it could be better.

However, things change once you are on the other side.  This is perfect.

And so are these.  Great beer, perfect location to sit outside, minimal other humans.  What more could we ask for?  

We stay for a bit, order a pizza for pickup and then it's back to our cabin to sit outside and enjoy THAT location as well.  Inside the cabin are a couple of books that I want to order as this is one area I fully intend to return to --- armed with even more information

Well, that's it for this day.  Finally.  We stayed on the porch eating pizza and enjoying the sounds of nature until well after dark.  It's time to close the eyes and get ready for another day in Arkansas.  Tomorrow --- we hike!