A journey south to a little cabin at the foot of Beaver Dam, then west across the Springfield Plateau to Dripping Springs Falls.
A clear and cold day led a push quickly south without much attention to exploration. Arriving in Carthage found the temperature a more manageable 18°C, but other departure delays only afforded time to pause for provisions. The 1894 Jasper County courthouse drew a moment of attention, standing out against the blue skies.
Connecting with base camp for the evening on schedule offered time to wander about the streets of Eureka Springs in search of sustenance. The only available option on a Tuesday evening appeared to be the usual haunt, the Balcony Restaurant at the Basin Park Hotel. Everything else either had not yet re-opened for the week after Christmas or did not open until later in the evening.