Overview

Join Dennis R. Simpson and his lovely mate Diana Simpson on beautiful Lake Nimrod, Arkansas, for an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend! In this episode, we explore the pristine Carter Cove campground—a hidden gem run by the Army Corps of Engineers—and immerse ourselves in the surrounding national forest. Along the way, we cross paths with some incredible fellow travelers, dive into fascinating life stories, talk shop about specialized welding, and identify native Arkansas plants.

Episode Highlights & Features

🚐 Meet the Travelers: Motorized Kayaks & Vintage Plush

While touring Carter Cove, we link up with Greg from Missouri, an full-time RVer with some incredible stories and unique gear.

• The Ultimate Custom Kayak: Get an inside look at Greg’s 26-year-old kayak, heavily customized with an 80lb thrust trolling motor and GPS tracking.

• A Blast from the Past: Meet the original 1980s vintage ALF plush riding shotgun.

• The Pups of Carter Cove: Say hello to Dobby, Greg’s two-time rescue Catahoula, and our very own Scraps the Trail Dog.

🛠️ Craftsmanship, Retirement, & Full-Time RV Living

With 56 years of welding experience under his belt (starting from picking cotton at age 3), Greg shares his wisdom on tradecraft and life on the road.

• Specialized Repairs: The ins and outs of mobile welding and TIG welding aluminum pontoon boats.

• The “Most Dangerous Year”: A candid conversation about retirement statistics and transitioning out of the workforce.

• Life on Wheels: What it’s really like traveling full-time from Corpus Christi, Texas, to North Dakota.

🌿 Nature Trails, Native Plants, & Campfire Talk

We take you deep into the national forest surroundings to enjoy the peaceful lakeside atmosphere and test our foraging knowledge.

• Flora Identification: How to spot the differences between Poke Salad (Poke) and Nightshade.

• Southern Traditions: Reminiscing about the old-school delicacy of Poke Salad fried in eggs.

• Wildlife & Conservation: A look at federally protected Canadian Geese and addressing local lake pollution issues.

Campground Spotlight: Carter Cove (Lake Nimrod)

Why is this one of the best Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds in Arkansas? We break down the top features:

• Top-Tier Amenities: Spotless bathrooms, dedicated lantern hangers, and great setups for classic Coleman gear.

• The Great Escape: Exceptional swim areas and hiking trails that make you feel hundreds of miles away from civilization.

• Peace of Mind: Walking across the massive flood control structure and enjoying nature’s decompression chamber.

⏱️ Video Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro and arrival at Carter Cove on Lake Nimrod.

• 3:06 – Meeting Greg and his original vintage ALF plush.

• 4:58 – Checking out the customized GPS and motorized kayak rig.

• 6:53 – Discussions on mobile welding and bone-on-bone joint pain.

• 7:16 – Meeting the dogs: Dobby (rescue Katahoula) and Scraps.

• 8:01 – The story of Scraps coming “in out of the cold.”

• 11:01 – The “most dangerous year”: Discussing retirement statistics.

• 12:16 – Specialized boat repair: TIG welding aluminum pontoons.

• 14:37 – Greg reflects on 56 years of welding and picking cotton at age 3.

• 16:00 – Full-time RV living: Traveling from Corpus Christi to North Dakota.

• 18:03 – Exploring the swim area and national forest surroundings.

• 20:57 – Scraps stops for a drink of lake water.

• 23:42 – Decompressing in nature: Why we enjoy doing the show.

• 25:44 – Campground features: Clean bathrooms, lantern hangers, and Coleman gear.

• 27:52 – Feeling like you are hundreds of miles away from home.

• 29:58 – Identifying native plants: Poke Salad (Poke) vs. Nightshade.

• 31:02 – Reminiscing about eating Poke Salad fried in eggs.

• 33:05 – The Buzzard Joke.

• 34:12 – Federally protected Canadian Geese and lake pollution issues.

• 36:12 – Remembering a stressful “COVID lunch” at a campground table.

• 36:29 – Walking across the flood control structure.

• 39:01 – Local business sponsors and advertisements.