Getting In To The Finals - 210 miles

Slept in a lot today, almost didn't make the motel's breakfast hours.

Under way eventually, we did our final crossing of the Mississippi River. We've traveled near it for the last five days and crossed it a few weeks back. So it was a fond farewell. The River just rolls along.

In Arkensas, our final new state for the trip we traveled Hwy 82. A nice road through farmlands and small towns, mostly two-lane. Much nicer than the big slabs. Charleen even had a bit of a ride. However as soon as she started out, we came across roadworks and the thought of riding on gravel with me on the back as well as the trailer gave her second thoughts.

We sighted a Walmart and pulled in for a few items. In here we met Eddy Smith, a really nice bloke and WingRider. He is the happy owner of a 2000 GL1500 which he has triked as modern fuels and oils have made it too heavy as a bike!!?! That's his excuse anyway. Hi Eddy, don't forget to leave a comment.

We noticed that the Walmart did not have any beer and our esky was getting low in that department. There were no liquor shops in the vicinity either. So we continued on and after two more towns we found a roadside liquor store.

In we went and found the owners, Johnny and Vicki, to be a great couple. Honda owners of course. They tell us Arkansas has unusual liquor laws in that most towns are dry. Apparently alcohol consumption is supposed to be done behind trees. They can sell it because they are not in a particular town.

The short pump action shottie hanging from the shelves tells its own story about the safety of having liquor stores in lonely places.

So Hi also to Johnny and Vicki - Leave us a shout.

We also stopped at a small restaurant for a late lunch. It was also not in a town. It was run by a very lively group of ladies who laughed and talked a lot. We also had fun listening in to a group of four farmers talking about their livestock. Very hard to understand with their thick accents.

We arrived fairly early in Texarkana where we had a room booked at the local Days Inn. This town spans the border with Texas (I think that explains the name) and we are on the Arkansas side of the street with Texas just over the road. probably due to the proximity to another state with more liberal laws regarding alcohol, Texarkana on the Arkanses side is anything but a dry town.

I've looked at Jacks SPOT and they are now exactly a day ahead of us.

Sadly, the bike is now up for sale. Here's the advert.

Today's few shots:

Final Big River crossing

The new bridge will open soon

Entering our Final new State

This ox-bow lake. Lake Picton, was the main channel of the Mississippi until about 600 years ago. The Aussie term would be Billabong.

Can anyone guess the song? It was a big hit in 1969.

Cat fish farms were everywhere here. Looks like airating the water.

And of course the ubiquitious cotton.

My face in the pillion spot, but not for long

A huge plywood and paper factory in Crossett.

Our once again daily dose of rain. This is how our trip started out. Only difference now is we are welcoming the rains and not bothering with wets. We're dripping wet most of the time anyway.