West Memphis to Central Texas: Bunny Checks & Buc-ee’s
Leaving West Memphis
We left West Memphis heading toward Little Rock, planning to stop in Hot Springs on another trip. It was a Sunday, and the traffic let me know it. The same two-lane Arkansas roads were packed with semis. They kept passing each other, slowing things down again and again. For whatever reason, I always hit this traffic on this stretch.
Driving around Little Rock is something I weirdly enjoy. It feels like a full-sized city that just dropped into the middle of nowhere.
We stopped for gas at a Love’s next to Bass Pro Shops. As I was pulling out, we saw a ton of geese —like, way too many for a corner near a gas station. Turns out there’s a private little pond on the corner called Cathy’s Pond. Took some pics because it felt like a strange, peaceful pocket in the middle of traffic and trucks.
Texarkana & The Bunny Incident
Near Texarkana, we took a short detour down the Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway (yep, that’s the real name), which took us to a unique landmark: the old post office that straddles the state line. Literally. One half of the building is in Texas, the other in Arkansas.
Texarkana is technically two cities—one in each state. The name supposedly comes from Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, though the city itself only splits Texas and Arkansas. Still, the post office was such a cool stop. It’s rare to see a federal building that operates across state and city lines. Bee and I did the tourist thing—took photos, wandered around, tried not to melt in the 93-degree heat.
They even had a selfie stand for tourists like us!
Photo by Bee. She insisted!
That’s when everything almost went downhill.
Bee wanted an Icee. She swore Shell gas stations always had them, so we went hunting. Found one. No Icee. We got back in the car and… no Bunny. Not just a toy—her lovie. One of the two stuffed bunnies she’s had her entire life. She was heartbroken. I was panicking.
We drove back to the post office as fast as I could. No bunny outside. We tore the car apart. Nothing. Checked under seats, behind blankets, in cracks. Still nothing.
Then—last resort—I opened the driver-side back door. There was Bunny, wedged between the cooler and the door, looking entirely unbothered. Relief doesn’t even begin to cover it.
After that, we started a new rule: bunny checks. Every time we get in or out of the car, Bee does a headcount—Bunny and Baby Bunny. I’m happy to report they both made it all the way home.
Buc-ee’s Magic
There’s one Buc-ee’s we always stop at on this route. I stopped on the way to Memphis, and of course, again on the way back. But this time? Buc-ee himself was there! In full mascot form. We said hi, got a photo, and Bee scored some free stickers. It made her day.
Let’s be real—Buc-ee’s is the gold standard of road trip stops. Cleanest bathrooms, aisles of snacks, random shopping, fair gas prices, and about a zillion pumps so you’re never waiting long. Road trip MVP.
Reflection: From Solo to Sidekick
Having Bee with me on the drive back changed everything. The trip out was peaceful and reflective—I jammed to music, sat with my thoughts, noticed the scenery. Coming back, the energy shifted to keeping her comfy, answering her questions, and stopping whenever we felt like it.
But honestly, it was better.
We made time to explore. We stopped at places we’ve passed dozens of times before. We wandered. We learned. We laughed. She asked about post offices and ponds and how Icee machines work. I got to teach her about the world around her, not from a book—but from the road.
I love traveling solo. But I love traveling with Bee. And while this blog may focus on solo adventures, she’ll definitely be tagging along for some. Because these are the moments that matter.
