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.