River View Cabins, Oden, Arkansas

So we headed out this past Saturday morning for Arkansas. A much needed trip for Seam, we left around 8:30am after loading up the car and leaving Hero in boarding. We followed the directions from the "Maps" on the iPhone, which seemed to lead us off the beaten path through Oklahoma and into Arkansas. Let me just say, after heading West from Atoka, OK, there was NOTHING except dotted homes and dirt roads...we kept thinking, "Where do these people get gas or buy groceries?" Still, we continued. We reached Mena, AR and ate lunch at a VERY small McDonalds, then bought some groceries at a Walmart Supercenter. Perhaps I'm "sheltered" but Mena, AR has a pop of 5k, so it's literally, the biggest "city" around...strange to me but should have been very indicative of what was to come. So, we got some supplies and headed to our cabin, in Oden, AR (pop 227). I should've known then just how "secluded" we were going to be, but after spending almost $200 as a deposit for ONE night, we HAD to continue on. Now, don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful, country drive, but what awaited us was a mystery.

We, finally, arrived at the Riverview Cabins and checked in at the office. It was a very "understated" check-in, but that was to be expected given the area I suppose. We got to our cabin, #3 "A Little Country", and stepped inside. The best way to explain it is this...it was well built, smelled of pine and various timber, the furnishings were ok...quilts on the beds, various knick-knacks throughout. However, what irritated me was the kitchen utensils, silverware, plates, cups, bowls, etc. Everything was mismatched and completely odd. I thought to myself, "Kevin, you're being a snob...it's ok, no biggie!" So I went on. The back deck was completely surrounded by trees, not like a "forest" per se but overgrown brush/trees. So, privacy was in order...not that it mattered but ok. I sat down in a wrought iron chair facing the "forest", only to turn my head and see an Assassin bug EATING a Cicada! I jumped from my chair and quickly noticed that, just behind my head where I was sitting on the window, there was a 7" STICK BUG...yeah, I grabbed the OFF and sprayed, then felt sad as they stumbled off to die. I knew then, it might be a LONG weekend...