VOX#5 – Week 2: Bentonville AR

“VOX” = VanDOit Owners Experience

We took a 3-week trip in May & June 2022 to attend VOX#5. This particular VOX was put on by the VanDOit company. Prior VOXes have been self-organized by fellow owners at various locations around the US. Since this one was in Bentonville and close to the VanDOit factory in Kansas City, VanDOit wanted to be a part of it. This was the first VOX we have attended so I can’t compare to others, but they did an excellent job. For us coming from Seattle, the journey there and back was just as interesting.

Day 8 (6/1)

Went to the VanDOit headquarters for a factory tour and lunch. Then ~10 vans caravanned to Bentonville.

When we arrived, there were ~40 vans at the campsite. The campsite was in a field right next to the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. Great location.

We did a 4-5 mile walk then ate dinner at the van.

Day 9 (6/2)

Tracey slept in until after 9am.

Got up and had some breakfast (oatmeal for Mike, grape nuts for Tracey).

Did our Wordle for the day then went for a mountain bike ride at Coler Mt Bike Preserve. When riding from the campsite to the bike park, we saw a big snapping turtle.

Back at the van we ate some lunch (turkey sandwiches) then packed up and went to Planet Fitness for showers.

Got gas then went to downtown Bentonville to look around.

Cool store called Moosejaw where we each bought some new shorts. Walked around and went to a bike shop and the Walmart Museum. They were having a special event and there were a bunch of Walmart associates in town for it. I don’t think we were supposed to go in the museum, but we did and got to see some of Sam Waltons old junk (old desk, old truck). It was kind of cheesy. But not as cheesy as the associates singing a Walmart cheer in the museum.

Walked to the Crystal Bridges art museum. It was really nice (inside and out). Saw a couple of deer eating in the stream on the walk back.

VanDOit provided dinner at the campsite. Food trucks that served pork tacos and bratwursts. Good food.

Then back to the van to have some wine after dinner.

Saw some fireflies as we packed up for the night

Day 10 (6/3)

Got up and ate breakfast. Drove to the “Slaughter Pen” trailhead. These are some pretty nice trails. Rode around for 1.75 hours (~1 hour of ride time) got turned around a couple of times but had fun. These trails are smoother than Coler park trails. I like them better.

Sat in the park where we parked the car and had some snacks in the shade. Went to Planet Fitness for showers.

Went to the Bentonville Brewery where VanDOit hosted a party. Got to try some good beer. Ate dinner at Beef O’Bradys. Had a burger and a French Dip. Then back to the campground.

Day 11 (6/4)

Tracey’s birthday. Got up and watched Below Deck. Then ate breakfast. We for a mt bike ride at Slaughter Pen. Mike biked while Tracey hiked. Then we had a picnic lunch. Went driving around and looked at a couple of houses for sale. One was a really nice lake front home. But the driveway was so steep it didn’t seem like any car could go in or out. Went to Planet Fitness to shower. Then we went to a Walmart super store (on Walton Ave in Bentonville) to get a few groceries for the next 2 days. It was the nicest Walmart I’ve ever seen. Huge, super clean, organized, and tidy (unlike most). They even had a wine tasting going on. Got our groceries and went back to the campsite. Had a catered BBQ dinner that was really good. We won a prize for “the furthest traveled”, an EverShower! Sat at our campsite and had some wine and watched the lightning bugs. Tracey kept playing the “Sam the firefly” song on her phone.

Day 12 (6/5 Sunday)

Got up late-ish (~9am) and had some breakfast. Started packing up just before 10 and it started raining. We left the campground by 10:20 and we were the 2nd to last van to leave. Everyone left pretty early. We went to Planet Fitness and showered before leaving town. Drove ~5 hours, mostly thru Oklahoma. Went thru about 4 different toll roads. I forgot how many tolls there are in OK. Camped at a KOA in Burkburnett outside of Wichita Falls TX. Had to opt for a pricier campground because there aren’t many options and we definitely needed power so we could run our air conditioning. It was ~95 when we parked. Lows are still in the 80s. They have a pool, but it wasn’t open. Otherwise, it is a nice campground. Very clean.

Day 13 (6/6)

Had breakfast at the campsite, then drove ~ 20 minutes into Wichita Falls to go to the Planet Fitness. Did the treadmill and then the 30 min workout circuit. The Planet Fitness was in a strip mall next to a doctor’s office that performs “Brain and Complex Spine Sugery”. Not sure I’d go to a strip mall for that kind of procedure.

Then drove 3.5 hours to Lubbock TX.

Stayed in Lubbock for a few days visiting friends and showing Tracey Texas Tech (where Mike went to college). Sat on patio and visited with the Warnick’s (JQ & Loretta). Watched Lorretta scare grackle birds away with her pistol pellet gun. Played with Baxter and Tucker (their dogs). Jay and Ericka came over for dinner. Had a brisket that Lorretta smoked. Good times.

• States covered in this leg
  • Missouri
  • Arkansas
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas