DAY 17 BRANSON MO TO VAN BUREN AK

Said goodbye to the dogs, I know they'll miss me,

and left Branson to make the old timers annual brunch in Springfield. Spent two hours eating, visiting, renewing old acquaintances and telling lies about how great we were.

After our brunch the day really started to go my way. We change leaders every tank of gas  and it was now my turn. My favorite spot, out front leading with perfect temps and cloudy skies. Headed west on US 60 shortly ended up on a few miles of interstate before turning south on Arkansas 59, not to be confused with US 59 just across the border in Oklahoma.

I road AK 59 all afternoon, small towns, farms, forests, and corners that allowed you to stay at speed. All of it lightly traveled two lane in great shape. Even the breaks were good, full of the usual mix of characters more than willing to talk.

I think I can squeeze another 40 or 50 miles out of this tank before I have to give up the lead. 

DAY 16 RUSSELLVILLE AK TO BRANSON MO VIA THE PIGS TRAIL

Highlight of the day was the Pigs Trail one of the many named rides in Arkansas.

An absolutely beautiful ride through the forests of Arkansas on two lane roads with varying difficulty of corners and road surface. All with great temps and no threat of rain.

Finished the day meeting up with JB's wife Susie and a great dinner at a long time Branson hangout Shorty Smalls.

Turning west tomorrow.

DAY 15 DYERSBURG TO RUSSELLVILLE ARKANSAS

Started the day under threatening skies following a brief shower. Heading out on green dot road and while the scenery was green the road was straight and wide, not our usual definition of scenic.

After lunch the wind decided that we should get several hours of wear on the left side of the tires by leaning into the wind mile after mile.

Then it happened.. The road narrowed, the forest got thick to block the wind, and the road started twisting back and forth. Posted speeds ranged from 55 to 15 with actually speeds not to be discussed in a forum accessible by wives and law enforcement.

We also did some trick riding today which included at least one of each the following:

Parking like a clown car routine.

Multiple parking lot u-turns.

An elongated, egg shaped, 360 degree turn in the middle of a busy intersection by the leader.

A fun day finishing with an easy find on a place to stay with a good restaurant in walking distance.

DAY 14 BOWLING GREEN TO DYERSBURG TN

Looking at the map it's just a short drive, a quick run, from Bowling Green to Dyersburg but there are lots of ways to get there and the one we picked is long. So we turned a short drive into a 300 mile ride through the countryside.

They say to keep your spot on the ladder
An’ keep that money rollin’ in
They say keepin’ up with the Thiles, boy
You can’t back off one inch
But I been puttin’ in my time
An’ I built up a pretty good deal
I'm gonna spend some, maybe waste some
Before my time comes an’ I wind up dead

Yeah tomorrow I'm takin’ me fishin’
Hang a sign on the door of my life
Tell the world that I’ve gone missin’
An’ I won’t be back for a while
I’m so tired of only wishin’
I could leave my troubles behind
I wanna be front porch rockin’
With a big sun droppin’ in a blue sky
Kick back an’ get high
On the livin’ part of life

Eric Church

Small towns, roads of varying quality, questionable signage, but as long as the sun told us we were west south west who cares. At the beginning of the day we saw lots of groups of Corvettes out for a drive on the same routes.

Yesterday at the hotel in Bowling Green we had the opportunity to meet a gentleman named Ron. He was there with a car club for the annual meet at the museum. We spent some time talking, since he had retired from the same career, and enjoyed each others company. Some of our conversations with Ron hit home when I heaard Eric Church on the radio today.

Stopped along the road in some small city today and a young man walking by asked if we needed help. So many things rolled through my mind, "sure can you guide me away from the craziness in the world", or "can you explain why riding brings a zen like peace" and a multitude of other questions but settled for where is a gas station.

Ride somewhere tomorrow.

DAY 13 BOWLING GREEN TO BOWLING GREEN

Corvette Museum day, laundry day, sit around and bulls**t day. Riding tomorrow.

DAY 12 MORRISTOWN TO BOWLING GREEN APRIL 24

One of those days that we ride for. Shirt sleeve weather on lightly traveled roads winding back and forth for mile after mile.

11E to 27 to 52 to I-65 North to Bowling Green for the day.

Barbed wire fence carving out a hillside, cutting holes in the midday sun
Like a postcard framed in a windshield covered in dust
I love the rhythm of an old grey blacktop, 33's just whistlin' by
Steer the wheel, one handed on a two lane, hugging that line
I got the windows down, no one else around singin'
Freedom is the miles I'm rollin' on
Out here cruising to a backroad song
I feel the wheels like a melody, like a radio dialing in strong
C'mon, c'mon sing along, sing along to my backroad song

Granger Smith

Good tunes on the radio, view alternating from forests to farms to small cities. Close to 300 miles of great riding.

To quote my brother-in-law "LIFE IS GOOD"

DAY 11 ASHEVILLE TO MORRISTOWN

Beautiful day, decided that we need to head northwest so we immediately turned southeast to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. We only rode the southern 90 or so miles of the parkway before it sadly came to an end at the Smoky Mountain National Park entrance. Crossed the park and stopped in Gatlinburg which to our surprise was packed with people and traffic.

Happy to leave the traffic behind headed out on another scenic road north to Morristown. Found a hotel checked in, desk clerk gave us a "Harley" discount. Sat around outside the rooms enjoying the view and recapping not only this but several other days, years, rides.


Talkin' to myself again
wonderin' if this traveling is good
Is they're something else a doin'
We'd be doin' if we could

All the stories we could tell
If it all blows up and goes to hell
I wish that we could sit upon the bed in some hotel
And listen to the stories we could tell

Stared at that guitar in that museum in Tennessee
Name plate on the glass brought back twenty melodies
Scars upon the face told about all the times he fell
Singin' all the stories he could tell

All the stories he could tell
And I bet you it still rings like a bell
I wish that we could sit upon the bed in some hotel
And listen to all the stories it could tell

John Sebastian

That's a big part of the riding, the friendships, the stories, the people we meet every day that are willing to listen to our stories and share theirs.

DAY 10 CHEROKEE TO ASHEVILLE

Great day, awesome time at the museum. Took a route recommended called The Rattler curves, curves, and more curves. See Ken's for more details

Wheels Through Time Museum

DAY 9 PULASKI TO CHEROKEE NC

Easy route today highway 64 to Interstate through Chattanooga then highway 74 to 19 and into Cherokee. Although this sounds boring, it wasn't, great roads clear skies and pleasant temperatures. 

The roads were lightly traveled with the exception of the few miles of interstate. We were winding through mountains, forests, and numerous small towns.

A very pleasant day ending a dozen miles short of Maggie Valley NC. We are going there tomorrow to visit the Wheels Through Time Museum (click here for museum link).

DAY 8 JONESBORO TO PULASKI

Left Jonesboro after a quick stop at Harley dealer for a couple of parts then headed south. A check of the map showed Route 1 heading south just the way we were going. Close by was a road that only showed as light gray on the map but was lined with green dots (scenic per the atlas), a little longer, a little twistier and a whole lot more fun, route 163.

 Eventually made our way through Memphis didn't stop since we were there a few years ago:
Walking in Memphis, walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale  Marc Cohn

Continued east on highway 64 along the southern border of Tennessee. Passed through dozens of small towns, farms, and forests. A green dotted  road all day under clear skies and cool enough for a jacket and light gloves all day.

In for the night in Pulaski TN a town of 7600 and the biggest we have seen since Memphis. Still eastward tomorrow.

I'm gonna get up in the mornin', 
Gonna hit that Highway 49I'm gonna get up in the mornin',Gonna hit that Highway 49I'm gonna dust my blues, peoples,Leave this raggedy-ass town behind

Tom Johnson

DAY 7 HOT SPRINGS TO JONESBORO

We turned a 183 mile ride to Jonesboro into almost 300 miles of scenic two lane road winding through the Ozark National Forest and numerous small towns along the way.

It took us all day to ride the 300 miles due to the much colder weather than we have had so far. This translated into longer breaks consuming more coffee, this in turn caused more frequent breaks as punishment for consuming more coffee.

Even with the cold a beautiful day with threatening skies, but no rain, great roads, with no traffic, and good music on xm radio, with no commercials.

Well it's all right, even if you're old and grey
Well it's all right, you still got something to sayWell it's all right, remember to live and let liveWell it's all right, the best you can do is forgive
Well it's all right, riding around in the breezeWell it's all right, if you live the life you pleaseWell it's all right, even if the sun don't shineWell it's all right, we're going to the end of the line

BOB DYLAN, GEORGE HARRISON, JEFF LYNNE, ROY K ORBISON, TOM PETTY

Today's route
Route 7, 5, 9, 10, 9, 65, 27, 14, 67, 226. Try to follow that north and east.

DAY 6 0,0,0

Day 6 zero miles, zero sights, zero fun. Rain day stayed at the hotel walked to lunch and dinner. I get more tired doing nothing than I do riding.

DAY 5 SHREVEPORT TO HOT SPRINGS

Another beautiful day riding absolutely gorgeous country on small two lane roads with very little traffic. There really isn't any more to say, light jacket, light weight gloves, and a grin from ear to ear.

For route info Ken has the abridged version, minus several of the short side trips. If we used a GPS we could have avoided some of the turns but would have missed some of the great roads.

Until tomorrow.

DAY 4 TEMPLE TX TO SHREVEPORT LA

After a few miles on I-35 we turned east on route 7. A beautiful ride through the Davy Crockett National Forest, cattle land, thick forests, and small towns. The road followed the lay of the land up and down around the rolling hills with good pavement and 75 mph speeds.

Pulled into Shreveport and found our last member, JB, and soon we were all checked in to a nice Best Western Plus. Hotel had a bonus in that it's taco Tuesday with all you can eat tacos, nachos, and salad, a trifecta!

That's about it for today, started in jackets finished in shirt sleeves. It was just like baby bears porridge, not to hot not to cold.

DAY 3 BIG SPRING TO TEMPLE TX

Day started cool and windy but the wind was consistent not gusty so riding wasn't a big challenge. Started on divided highway but soon transitioned to two lane roads with 75 mph speed limits as is typical around here.

Once we turned east the wind was less of a factor and we entered green rolling hills with a mix of pecan farms, horse property, and cattle ranches. At one point several miles of pecan trees in perfect rows with blue, red and yellow wild flowers blooming beneath the trees. Add in smooth roads with very little traffic, comfortable temps and you have the makings of another great day to be alive and ride.

The desert wind blowing your hair back
Window down, town after town
Where will we be in half a century?
Two down and forty eight to go 

David Walsh

Great lunch with a six year old at Subway who made me miss my grandkids.

Before the day ended we were on a highway in traffic glad to find a place to stay with a steak house next door.

Route today was simple 87, 190 to Temple.

DAY 2 BIG SPRING TEXAS

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend and sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

Thomas William Cochrane

"Life is a Highway" from the movie Cars strikes the right cord for today. Great roads, an unexpected climb into the pines to the community of Cloudcroft. Riding into Texas on two lanes with a 75 mph speed limits and a tail wind.

Lost another hour, put on another 400 miles, finished off with dinner outdoors at a deli across the street from the hotel.

Smiled all day this is why we ride.

Today's route I-25, 70, 82, 529, 62/180, 176 to Big Spring. 

DAY 1 APRIL 13TH 2019

The start of another ride always begins with a bit of apprehension. Did I bring everything, followed by the realization that a Walmart is never more than a half day away. Will everyone stay healthy, we are ALL on medicare. This is always followed by, what will be will, be this IS the 13th ride of three or more weeks we have done together.

Then suddenly you are heading down the road under clear cool skies, bike just purring along and all becomes right with the world. Picked the long way to Las Cruces and once out of the valley also found the road less traveled.

Route today was a repeat from the past but still great 60, 70, 191, 78, 180, I-10.

DAY 0 2019 RIDE

Tomorrow!