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Sue’s Excellent Adventure Thursday, August 9 |
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Day Six: Thursday August 9th. Jackson, Mississippi to Kansas City, Missouri 840 miles. Because temperatures were predicted to soar again today, I was up and rolling by 4:30 AM. The fog lingered low over the bayous as I rolled west through Louisiana, and the early morning sunrise cast an eerie light over the moss draped trees. I can see how the Creole people along the Mississippi delta were superstitious. THOUGHT: The song of the morning in my helmet was “Blue Bayou” - the Linda Ronstadt version. But I have to tell you—- none of the bayous I saw were anything close to blue. Shortly after exiting Shreveport I hit the Texas border, and found a two-lane highway to follow north. As much as I was dreading this ride through Texas and Oklahoma, I am happy to report how WRONG my thinking was about this part of the country. The roads were curvy, rustic, and tree-lined, and I found myself making comparisons to northern Wisconsin. The differences were that the road-side taverns in Texas were pretty rough looking, and outside of all of the bars were pick-up trucks. RUSTY pick up trucks. Falling-apart, broken down, rusty old pick up trucks. ….. with faded Dallas Cowboy bumper stickers. In Eastern Oklahoma I discovered mountains. Really! I kid-you-not. The roads were as good as any mountains roads, maybe better because I was just about the only vehicle on them. Oh yeah……. yeah ……. That was fun. I stopped for a photo and used my tripod. But it was so low on the ground that I got great photos of the bike and sky, but no mountains. You’ll have to take my word for this one. Seriously. J Then onwards up through Arkansas where, at a gas stop, a cute young “Marshall” stopped to chat with my about BMWs and all things motorcycle. I think he was probably 16. Maybe 22. Luckily, he didn’t blink at the Valentine Radar Detector on my tank bag. Speaking of which… Observation: A radar detector cannot help you if someone on a cell phone calls you in, and a State Patrol is waiting for you just over the top of a hill. UHG. People should not be allowed to cell phones in cars. Harrumph! I spent the night in Kansas City, Missouri at a less-than-pristine establishment. I think the sign stating: “$130/week” should have been an indicator that some of Kansas Cities downtrodden may live here. Birthday Highlight: A malnourished and unkempt hotel ‘guest’ asked me if I could give him a ride on my “motorsickel.” And then he asked if I could show him how to ride it. And proceeded to keep yakking at me until I rode off with earplugs in and helmet on. At least I can say that a guy ‘hit on me’ on my birthday! “Yeah, that’s the ticket!” she walks away muttering…… What an adventure this is turning out to be! I can’t wait to see what happens next. |
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