Arkansas local radio was a treat

New Mexico marked the start of long, long drives, which have taken us to familiar sounding places - Oxford, Leeds, and Birmingham.

The temptation to drop by Newcastle, Oklahoma, was also too much. We stopped for breakfast at a place called "Big Dave's" (or similar). The menu featured "all you can eat catfish". Newcastle (Tyne and Wear) would be proud. I managed to pick up a copy of the "Newcastle Pacer" for 50c- the equivalent of "the Chronicle"? - which featured a nice pullout map.

Then, on the drive out of Oklahoma, through West Texas, we came across an unusual series of Cadillacs planted nose down into a large corn field. Graffiti was the order of the day - and the opportunity was used for some shameless blog promotion.

Next up was Arkansas (where the mispronunciation of "Arkansas" is illegal). It was rather a "hit and run" on this state unfortunately, but we did camp in a lovely spot in Hot Springs on Lake Ouachita, and also visited the Clinton Presidential library in Little Rock.

Arkansas local radio was a treat, and confirmed the state's position on the bible belt. A programme called "Politics and Religion" decreed that a new world order had been established when George W. Bush met the Pope, and that the United Nations will spawn the anti-Christ. Concerned listeners called in to discuss whether they were bad Christians because they could not speak in tongues. Interesting stuff.