After my typical 4-5hrs of sleep, we started adventuring again. I took the better half to the area of North Dallas I used to live. Surprisingly my favorite Mexican joint was still there and in business. I snagged a Carnitas Torta, she had some Barbacoa Tacos and we hit the road.
Just East of Dallas is one of the biggest Truck stops I've ever seen. It is easily the size of a Grocery Store and has just as much stuff. The name of it is Buc-ee's and here is the logo and a couple shots from inside.
I picked up some shot glasses, a coon skin cap for the grandson and of course some beef jerky for the ride. After letting the dog run and stretch our legs, it was off to Arkansas to our first destination.
Located in Murfreesboro Arkansas, the crater of diamonds is the only public diamond mine in the world! For a fee of $10 you are able to go out in their mine (field) and collect gravel to process and look for your very own diamond. You can keep whatever you find and they will register and certify it for free!
Here is a little more info from their website.
One of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source, Crater of Diamonds is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings people from all over the world to Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Visitors to the park search a 37-acre field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, for variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones – and any rock or mineral you find is yours to keep. You may bring your own mining equipment to search with (no battery-operated or motor driven mining tools allowed), or rent tools from the park.
This is what the field looks like where you dig.
They have a few different wash stations for processing your gravel. Once you have everything classified you can either take your concentrates home or process them all onsite. Even if you take them home and find a diamond, you can still send it back to the park and get it certified.
If you've never seen a "diamond in the rough", this is what to expect to find. Very beautiful!
That's all for day 2 of the trip. We spent the day cleaning gravel and took the concentrates home with us. Each person is allowed to take out one 5 gallon bucket per day. I still have to go through what I brought home.
Hope you enjoyed this leg of the journey. Day 3 coming soon!
