An Early Spring Arkansas / Oklahoma Stamp Trip

Throughout the winter, I have been on the lookout for a three day clearing in the weather. Finally, it came this past weekend!

My plan was to leave Paducah, KY taking a clockwise, southwesterly route across central Arkansas and on to Oklahoma, returning across northern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri.
Day One - Friday, March 21st

Arkansas Post National Memorial

I left home Friday morning at 6:40 am headed southwest, arriving at my first destination near Gillete, AR, 342 miles later. The temps began in the mid-thirties and climbed thoughout the day. I made several clothing changes as the day warmed to the mid-seventies.

Settled by the French in 1686, the remote "Post de Arkansae" was the first permanent European colony in the Mississippi River Valley and played a valuable role in the long struggle between France, Spain and England for dominance of the lucrative fur trade.

Little Rock Central High National Historic Site

Ninety-Nine miles later, I arrived at Central High in bustling, downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. The brand new visitor center is located on the corner, near the high school.

On the morning of September 23, 1957 nine African-American teenagers stood up to an angry crowd protesting integration in front of Little Rock's Central High as they entered the school for the first time. This event, broadcast around the world, made Little Rock the site of the first important test of the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.

Little Rock Central High School The Arkansas State Capitol building is near Central High.

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs is a quick 56 miles southwest from Little Rock. I arrived around 4:15 pm. This is a somewhat tough site to visit on a motorcycle due to the lack of secure parking. I nervously parked a block and a half away on a very busy street, and walked back to one of the many bathhouses that serves as the visitor center.

People have used the hot springs here for more than two hundred years to treat illnesses and to relax. Both rich and poor came for the baths, and a town built up around the Hot Springs Reservation to accommodate them. Together nicknamed "The American Spa,” Hot Springs National Park today surrounds the north end of the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

From Hot Springs I headed northwest, riding some great roads in the Ouachita National Forest and the Quachita Mountains. One hundred thirty miles later I ended a very enjoyable first day in Fort Smith near 7:00 pm, after riding 680 miles for the day.

Day Two- Saturday, March 22nd Fort Smith National Historic Site

Saturday morning I began my day early, visiting Fort Smith National Historic Site and the National Cemetery.

At Fort Smith National Historic Site you can walk where soldiers drilled, pause along the Trail of Tears, and stand where justice was served. The park includes the remains of two frontier forts and the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

Judge Isaac C. Parker, known as the "hanging judge," presided over the court for 21 years. While in this position, Parker sentenced 151 men to death by hanging (of these 83 were actually executed). In a territory noted for its lawlessness, his harsh but effective administration helped make the settlement of the West possible. Fort Smith National Cemetery

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Departing Fort Smith about 9:15 am, I rode westward 209 miles to Sulphur, OK to visit Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Unfortunately the National Parks office in the Chamber of Commerce was closed and I was not able to collect the NP stamp.

The “Peaceful Valley of Rippling Waters” appropriately describes Chickasaw National Recreation Area, known for its many mineral springs, cool water, flora, fauna, and wildlife. Here one’s mind may wander back in time to when the early American Indian came to this area to rest, relax at the water’s edge, and hunt for their food from the abundant wildlife.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Oklahoma City lies 86 miles northwest of Sulphur, OK. Arriving at the Memorial, I parked on the street, walked the solemn Memorial Grounds, paying particular attention to the visitor center. I can only say I was left with an overwhelming sense of “why”? How could anyone do such a thing?

Oklahoma City National Memorial honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. The Gates of Time: Monumental twin gates frame the moment of destruction - 9:02 - and mark the formal entrances to the Memorial.

168 chairs stand in nine rows, each representing a floor of the building, and represent the 168 lives lost on April 19, 1995. The field is located in what was the footprint of the building.Leaving the Memorial, I rode northeast 188 miles, through Tulsa, OK, continuing due east to Siloam Springs, Arkansas where I found a great steak dinner and spent the second night.

Day Three- Sunday, March 23rd Buffalo National River

Sunday morning, 7 am, after a quick Hardy's bisquit and hot cup of coffee, I left in a chilly 32 degree, light rain. Riding two lane roads through the Arkansas Ozarks, I arrived in Harrison late morning. It was on southward to Marshall, AR to visit The Tyler Bend Visitor Center on The Buffalo National River.

The Buffalo National River flows free over swift running rapids and quiet pools for its 135-mile length. One of the few remaining rivers in the lower 48 states without dams, the Buffalo cuts its way through massive limestone bluffs traveling eastward through the Arkansas Ozarks and into the White River.

After visiting this site, I once again pointed my Wing eastward, riding through Mountain Home and Salem, turning north into southeast Missouri at Thayer.

The low temp for the day was 32, briefly touching 50 as a high in the early afternoon. I arrived home near 4:30 pm after riding 1,680 total miles for the three-day trip.

The superior rider uses superior knowledge to avoid situations
which require superior skill. ~Todd Ryan~ MTF Forum

2008, KY Oaks Mall-Gold Wing & Valkyrie Display

The Annual 2008 KY Oaks Mall Display was conducted this weekend. Chapter B Gold Wings and Valkyries were brought into the mall Thursday night and remained on display through Sunday.

Chapter B Directors - Rhonda & Mike Jennings

Mike & Carolyn Blevins - Dark Gray Metallic 2005 GL1800A Mike & Rhonda Jennings 2008 GL1800A & Escapade Trailer
(2004 Tomato Red Tupperware)
Fritz Poat's 2001 Yellow GL1800 Trike
& Hannigan TrailerMike & Carol Parker's Yellow 2002 GL1800Jim Lampere's Titanium 2004 GL1800Frankie & April Sledd's 2007 Blue California Sidecar Trike
& Escapade TrailerPerry & Twila Coleman's 2006 Dark Red GL1800
& Escapade Trailer Kay Wheeler's Emerald Green & White 1997 Valkyrie Tourer FDR Honda's new 2008 GL1800 Display

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

"Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once." Unknown

Famous Quotes & Quips

I am sure anyone who has read this blog has noticed I am fond of both famous quotes and quips. I use them regulary at the end of each post. It has become apparent I have a backlog so I thought I would share. (Besides, it's slick and nasty outside, I can't ride, and I'm bored ... ;^)

Enjoy!
______________________________________________________
“I’ve seen a heap of trouble in my life, and most of it never came to pass.”~Mark Twain~

"Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity." -- Albert Einstein

Anticipate! -most accidents are predictable, and avoidable.

When we all think alike, nobody thinks much. ~Walt Whitman~

"The reason that most people don't recognize opportunity is that it generally looks like work.

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will lead you there." -- unknown

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.-Anonymous

I refuse to tiptoe thru life only to arrive safely at death.

"As far as I can tell, there are no prizes for having your $#!+together." ~Tomato Rodriguez~

Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

"Those who would sacrifice essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin

"One does what one can with what one has"

“There are no gains without pains.” - Benjamin Franklin

Success is not permanent. The same is also true for failure. ~Unknown~

Ride it like you stole it. Live each day like your last. Greet each friend as if you will not see them again. ~Brian Roberts - LD List~

"I have no quarrel with a man who sells for less; Who, better, would know what his product is worth?"

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine~

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. ~Charles Dickens~

We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. ~Will Rogers~

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. -- Billy Crystal

The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out.

You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.

Life may begin at 40, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 110 mph!

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

Midnight bugs taste best.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.

Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you.

It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.

The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.

Never be afraid to slow down.

Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise.

Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight.

Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.

Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.

Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.

If you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride.

A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.

Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived.

Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go.

A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.

Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.

Always back your bike into the curb, and sit where you can see it.

Work to ride and ride to work.

Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.

Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude.

When you look down the road, it seems to never end - but you better believe it does.

Winter is Nature's way of telling you to polish.

Keep your bike in good repair: Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.

People are like motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently.

Sometimes, the best communication happens when you're on separate bikes.

Good coffee should be indistinguishable from 50 weight motor oil.

The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.

The twisties - not the superslabs -separate the riders from the squids.

When you're riding lead, don't spit.

A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at 2 am to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.

Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt @ 70 mph can double your vocabulary.

There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.

Don't lead the pack if you don't know where you're going.

Practice wrenching on your own bike.

Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't.

Never argue with an 18-wheeler.

Never be ashamed to un-learn an old habit.

A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of fuel.

If you can't get it going with bungee cords and electrician' s tape, it's serious.

If you ride like there's no tomorrow, there won't be.

Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.

There are drunk riders. There are old riders. There are NO old, drunk riders.

Thin leather looks good in the bar, but it won't save your butt from "roadrash" if you go down.

The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside.

Always replace the cheapest parts first.

You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze .

Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

There are two types of people in this world, people who ride motorcycles, and people who wish they could ride motorcycles.

"It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end."

A January "Cabin Fever" Ride

Anyone who knows me, knows I ride year-round. With the arrival of the holidays, and a busy schedule at home, riding has suffered. I postponed a planned trip to Oklahoma several times due to winter storms, as well as a trip to southeast Georgia, due to predicted bad weather at home. All of these events combined, led to a minor case of cabin fever.

During my winter stamp research, it became apparent I had overlooked four relatively close National Park Stamps. I left Friday solo with the goal of riding a two-day loop south to Nashville, and down into northern Mississippi to collect these four stamps. Naturally, I managed to visit with my daughter and her family, spending some "quality grandpa time" with our 13 month old grandson.

I left Paducah Friday, mid-morning, at a leisurely pace, riding back roads and stopping at will. My first stop was The Hermitage in northern Nashville. This site is the historic home of Andrew Jackson, however, it is not a National Park. The state maintains the second of two Tennessee Historical Commission Stamps at this location. The other stamp is located at The Shiloh Military Park. It was important for me to have both stamps in my collection. After leaving The Hermitage, I rode to the west side of Nashville, and quickly picked up The Natchez Trace. It was not long before I found the Leipers Fork visitor center, abandoned. As it turns out, this visitor center was closed due to lack of funding, and the National Park stamp was moved to Tupelo, MS. The trip was not in vain though, as I spent the next couple of hours riding the Trace and surrounding back roads.
Saturday morning I woke to a brisk 30 degrees and light frost. I left Nashville at 7 am hoping to clear the city before weekend shoppers clogged the highways. This was my first experience wondering if the light white covering on the interstate bridges was slick at 70 mph. I solved the problem by riding the semi-truck tracks whenever possible. I later wondered if it wasn't all in my imagination, because I never did feel the bike slipping or sliding.

I made a quick breakfast stop at Dixon, TN and then continued southwest 200 miles to my second stamp at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth, MS.From Corinth, I continued due south another 30 miles to Baldwyn, MS to visit Brices Crossroads National Battlefield. After Brices Crossroads, I called home, and then turned north and rode the 201 enjoyable and uneventful miles home.

All in all, a nice 678 mile, two day, winter stamp trip, with some much needed, therapeutic, cabin fever benefits.

"The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power to tell
Just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still." ~Unknown~