9/9/09-9/10/09 - Branson to Memphis & Elvis

Wednesday, 9/9/09

We had intended to spend the whole day riding Peel's Ferry Route, Bulls Shoals Dam Route (and the ferry from MO to AR), The Ozark Moonshine Run, The Mountain View Run and the Jasper Disaster.

So much for the dreams of men and mice!

The morning of the 9th found a healthy rain in Branson, MO. To ride the twists and turns, often with a healthy drop off the mountain side, while raining, gave us pause. So off we went, returning to Arkansas by way of Route 65, until back in Harrison. It was raining there as well so we decided to head to Memphis, to visit Graceland.

Down 65 to I40, to Little Rock, then I40 to Memphis.

The bridge into Memphis was really a sight, then off to the right to the visitors center.

Their instructions .. take I55, to exit 5b .. we missed entirely.

Fortunately, the locals guided us to the right place.

Thursday, 9/10/09

We took the tour of Graceland! Unbelievable as to how many people wanted to see Graceland. Elvis makes more money dead. Simply amazing!

The picture of the little house is Elvis's birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi. The remaining pictures were taken at Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee.

9/7/09 - Altus - Arkansas Wine Region

Oops! Got this a bit out of sequence.
9/7/09. From Route 7, we went west on I40, to the tiny town of Altus, the wine region of Arkansas. This isn't Napa!
We pulled in Monday evening, after riding all day, timing our entrance to align just perfectly with a very wet rainstorm. 2 miles from Altus, we had to pull over and quickly put on our rainsuits, getting a bit wet in the process.
We visited http://www.wiederkehrwines.com/ just in time for the harvest.

Terry tried some of their wine back at the drinkhaus (oops, they're of Swiss extraction .. ordered here in 1880 by the local monks). Vinegar ... from Terry's palate.

9/8/09 - Riding the Ozark National Forest ending in Branson, MO

Tuesday, 9/8/09;
We spent the noon hour in Hot Springs, Arkansas, an interesting town commercialized on their hot springs (oddly enough). Terry had his bike looked at, at the local Harley shop .. all ok was the verdict.
After another bbq lunch, we continued on Route 7, riding through the Ozark National Forest. Now that was some fun riding!
http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/motorcycling/suggested-rides.aspx

These videos were further up Route 7, part of the Ozarks motorcycle rides; this one called the Eureka Springs backroads route (route distance, 132 miles with 571 curves, through Huntsville (where we had lunch at the local hangout), through Eureka Springs (an interesting little town), then onto Harrison, where all these rides originate from. We had intended to spend several nights in Harrison, but then decided to reverse course, take 65 north and spend the night in

9/7/09 - Eldorado to Altus, Arkansas

Monday, 9/7/09; leaving from Eldorado, Arkansas (yes, arriving 5pm-ish on the 2nd day, 1,073 miles); traveling north on Route 7, which took us some time to find (we ended up on Route167, but then realized our mistake and switched over to 7.
We drove by the town of Smackover.

Once past the 4 lane highway, we drove the back roads of Route 7. A delightful ride over lonesome roadways.

These pictures were taken on a bridge just before the town of Arkadelphia.

9/5/09-9/6/09 - FL to Arkansas, 1073 miles

From South Florida, riding the back roads of Arkansas, an evening in Branson, MO, and then back again. Here's a few pictures and videos from our trip.

Saturday - 1st day - 09/05/09
Leaving from Coral Springs at 7am, I met Terry on the Turnpike in Ft. Pierce. From there, we rode all day, stopping at 4:30pm in Chipley, FL, only because of the rain storm we decided not to ride through (way too menacing).


Sunday - 2nd day - 09/06/09

We rode through Mobile, AL, during the morning hours, in the pouring rain. We pulled over in a truck stop to put on rain suits. The overcast skys to the west don't look all that threatening but looks can be deceiving. It was a bit disconcerting riding in the rain across the bridge before the tunnel in Mobile, AL. It was a challenge seeing through the rain covered windshield and fogged over helmet visor.

Later that day, traveling to I20 (from I10).
The video was taken while riding on RT49 from Gulfport, MS to Hattiesburg, MS.

This clip was taken on I20, driving west, just after entering Louisiana, from Mississippi. To my right was an intriguing farm, although a little tough to visualize because I couldn't hold the phone camera steady.