DAY #1...(THURSDAY)...THUMPERVILLE TO MENA, ARKANSAS...624 MILES

About 7:00 a.m. I left the house on my once-again-clean KLR, just as the dawn of a new day was arriving on the horizon. The only reason I even mention the clean thing is because after the Maryland trip I wasn't sure it would ever be clean again. It was 38* with 100% humidity so it was plenty damp and cool.....but it wasn't raining, and with the heated clothing it was quite pleasant riding weather. At lunchtime I was in Miami, Oklahoma and it still was only 42* and cloudy.

I picked up the old Route 66 in Miami and ate lunch at the KU KU Restaurant.

I also rode past the old historical Coleman Theatre.

I then rode back north on Route 66 through Baxter Springs, Ks., Riverton, and Galena. Close to Galena i rode across the Rainbow Bridge, an old bridge also on Route 66. A lot of the old buildings still exist in these towns and have been restored.

Heading South I rode to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and then continued southwest to Ft. Smith, Arkansas where I went by Miss Laura's, the only old brothel on the National Historical Sites list.

After leaving Ft. Smith I rode to Mena, Arkansas where I am spending the night. I've ridden 624 miles so far and the Thumpercafe in Gate, Oklahoma is only 188 miles from Thumperville. I think I've been riding with Jack too long, because he never takes the most direct route to anywhere.......but 400 miles out of the way??.... and I'm still not close to Gate. I did have fun though, and it turned out to be a beautiful day to ride.
Tomorrow I plan on riding over Talimena Drive, then head NW towards Woodward, Oklahoma where I'll meet some more FSSNOC members, after a stop in Chickasha to have lunch with some friends.

Talk to you Friday night.
Motor Mike