Monday, October 17, 2011

Ride Across Arkansas 2011. Day 6, Thursday September 29, near Ozan to Louisiana/Arkansas border.

Click here to go to day 1.

Map of day 6: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/54914626
Hello flat lands, good bye granny gear! Rode the entire day today without having to shift to my smallest chain ring!
Time goes fast when you are cycling, well, sometimes not as fast as you'd like when climbing those hills. But after it's over, it seems like it went fast.
We got an early start today, Lajunta drove us back up to an old church where we'd stopped the night before, the Sardis Methodist Church. We rode about 5 miles to the community of Ozan. The roads improved at that point, with a wider shoulder to ride on and no rumble strips. Next town on the map was Washington. What an interesting town, especially if you are a history buff (I'm not, but still found it interesting). Took lots of photos here. Many old, historical buildings. The town is actually a state park, http://www.historicwashingtonstatepark.com/.
After about a 45 minute tour, it was time to hit the road, if we were going to get to Louisiana before dark. We stopped a few miles before Hope. There was a John Deere dealership, that was owned by friends of Scot and Jerrie. We visited with Clark for awhile, then headed to Hope.
We rode on to Hope, passed the home where Bill Clinton lived as a child, then on to Jerrie's parent's home, where Lajunta had lunch prepared for us.
After lunch, we took hwy 29 and headed south once again. The roads were perfect for cycling, nice wide shoulders all the way to Louisiana. Turned out to be the hottest day of our trip, with temperatures near 100. I can handle those temperatures when cycling, so long as we don't have hills to climb and have plenty of water. Lajunta met us a few times that day, to make sure we had plenty of water. We stopped in Lewisville a bit, then went through the last town of our trip, Bradley. About 5:30, we arrived at the state line.
Mileage for the day, 72.
That evening, Jerrie and I took turns enjoying "Mr Bob's" massage chair!



Morning began with good shoulders to ride on, once we reached Ozan.


The courthouse at Washington, or as the locals call it, "Old Washington". There's a tourist information center inside, and  you can tour the facility.

Ladies at the Washington courthouse who give out tourist information.

We were a little too early for lunch, but Jerrie asked the workers at the "Williams Tavern Restaurant" at Washington if they would come out for a photo. Jerrie's dad,  "Mr Bob", eats there every day.
One of the locals in a period costume. Not sure if he was a tour guide, or an actor.

This tree, located in Washington, is the largest magnolia tree in the northern hemisphere.
It has grown so large, they had to close the road!



Stopped by the John Deere dealership just north of Hope to visit with one of  Scot and Jerrie's
long time friends, Clark Crellin. 
A Hope, Arkansas business. 
President Bill Clinton's first home, located in Hope. It's right on the main road  in Hope. 
Cycling through Hope to Jerrie's parent's house. Lajunta had lunch prepared for us.

My lunch....peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Grain bins south of Hope.


There's got to be a good story here....Big raccoon found dead in the middle of a bunch of persimmons.  Guess he just ate too much.
Three crosses on a  hill.
 Horses that ran along side us.
One of the nice, tree-shaded areas we found.



I get bored on long stretches of road. Took this photo over my shoulder,
riding down the road with camera upside down.
We had GREAT shoulders to ride on, all the way from Hope to the state line.  The last 10 miles or so had just recently been repaved. 
The last town we rode through....Bradley, Arkansas.
High-fives.....we made it!

Lajunta waiting for us. Anyone find a hub cab between Jasper and Russellville?
Click here to go to day 7.



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