Ride across the Mississippi with us.                          June 25, 2007 - Day 9

We had a long ride today. We were on the road before 6 AM due to our ride getting cut short yesterday. We had an additional 200 miles to make up so today was a long hard one. We stopped for breakfast at the Olde Mill Restaurant in Russellville, that we had stopped for breakfast too late on the way out. Now it was plenty early and we got another great meal and excellent service. It is hard to find a place that this happens repeatedly, so I would recommend you check this place out if happen to be in the area. Then we got back on the road covering some of the same road we had taken on the way out. We passed the Jefferson Davis Monument and on to the Land Between the Lakes again. Only this time we got a little wet doing it. It wasn't too bad up to this point, so we stopped again at Golden Pond for a short break. I managed to get a picture of a White Tail Buck across the field, but I was too far away for it to come out. I also got some of a badger watching us as he peeked out from his hole. As we crossed over the second lake and took some new roads, wouldn't you know it here comes the rain again. This time we decided to cover our packs and suit up cause I was tired of being wet. The clouds were dark for only a few miles though, and we dried out rather quickly. There is a lot of open land out here in the Mississippi River Basin and a lot of crops. As we crossed over the Big Muddy, I filmed the crossing so that you could get a chance to cross with us. (See link above, it takes about 30 seconds. 30MB) This put us in what they call the "boot" of Missouri. It is the section that pokes down into Tennessee and Arkansas. We then crossed over so rather nasty swampland and into Arkansas a few miles later. We were moving pretty good because we were a little late again because of the weather, when all of a sudden we got buzzed by a bi-plane. It was a bit odd, but it turned out we just happened to be right next to the field he was dusting. I just hope there was nothing toxic in the bug dust. A few miles later I noticed that my odometer was almost all zeros, so I looked a little closer and it seems that I have put over 60,000 miles on this bike. On a car that would be nothing, but not too many bikes get this many miles, at least with one owner. Still I hope it holds out for at least a hundred. As we topped one ridge, I saw a view that I can only describe as home. Even though we were still had a long way to go, I realized we were looking at the Ozark Mountains. From this vantage point I also realized that at times, it looks a lot like the Blue Ridge range. But the clouds, then smell, the rocky soil, maybe just the feel made it different. I just felt like I was almost home. Then we crossed over a lake I didn't even know was there. It is called Norfork Lake  near Henderson and was almost an extension o the lakes that stretch over half way across the states of both Missouri and Arkansas. The difference was that this one didn't appear to be actually connected to a river or waterway of any kind. It was just there, Also it way pretty high up and just north of the Ozark National Forrest, so I am guessing there is probably good trout fishing there. I'll have to check it out some time. As we dipped into the valley I realized how late it was getting as we as how beautiful the sunsets can get out here. As we rode on though it seemed that it became daytime again, but I knew it was just a little trick of altitude and before long it would be very dark. It did not seem as the though we would get home before dark. This was not the outcome I had wanted because the last 60 plus miles was on a a very windy mountain road through the woods. It is a great road to take a bike ride, but a great drive in any vehicle at night. Sure enough just about the time we filled our tanks for the last time, and made that last stretch of highway before turning onto the 125, dark overtook us and it got cold and damp as these roads get. We stopped to put on a little warmer clothing, and then took the road in the dark. The next hour and a half was one of those white knuckle rides you hear about, but at least we had our running lights. These were way too expensive when we got them several years ago, but when you see them work on a dark road like this, it was worth it. They put light on the actual road in front of you instead of just down the road where regular lights shine. When we finally came out onto the 60 by our house, true to form Karen got the scent and took the lead. When she feels that "almost home" feeling, she suddenly gets that gotta get there boost, and I follow the rest of the way. Still it was good to be home after a ride like that. So for now we are back home, but we'll be out again one day soon, and I'll see you on the byways then. Till next time, safe riding to all.