This trip has been filled with numerous pleasures and joys. From wonderfully carved roads through the mountains to straight-aways as far as the eye can see. Today would start with us leaving Oklahoma’s fairly flat and farm filled world and entering the forests of Arkansas.

The things we most often stopped for were water, gas, and pictures and then food. We rarely took the interstates and for the most part steered clear of tourist attractions. This made it some what challenging to get something for my children along the way as I was attempting to get something from each state. But every so often I would come across something cool. Like I did today,  a Cafe/gas station with my name, a welcome sign to the town of Sheridan that made me think of Lee and Greg at Full Throttle, and as

we were cruising through the Ouachita National Forest on 270 when we passed a place called Judy’s Crystals and Things. Being Ladyfingers name sake I had to stop. They have literally tons of stones crystals and glass   to choose from in all sizes if I had a car or truck I would have picked up stuff for my property. Anyway I picked up a couple of items and we were on the road again. 

   270, 79, 49 funny thing is I was in this state about a week ago and I am cruising about 40 miles from where I stayed, Just too weird. During lunch we discussed are we going to the Blue Ridge Parkway or Kentucky? Now I didn’t wanna be a tool but I was going to Kentucky. I had already done the Blue Ridge. The thing is I have been trying to get to Kentucky for a couple years and every time I would schedule the trip some drama would turn up, guys would cancel, unrealized family commitments, my dad fell ill. Why Kentucky you say?

   Quite honestly it started as a “because its there” thing but as I looked into it I found the Corvette plant and the underground caves, The derby and Louisville home of the worlds biggest baseball bat. And let’s not forget the chicken lol. All right all kidding aside I wanna ride Kentucky and that’s how this whole trip started with me going to Ladyfingers family reunion in Arkansas on my bike through Kentucky. Then my friends Zach and Diane call about being part of their wedding in California the same weekend. That’s when I came up with this crazy idea to go across country on Dyna and called Rob over at Lighthouse to see if he new a good shipper to get her to California. And Rob was going to be out in Denver for Harley-Davidsons corporate convention that week so he decided to do the jaunt back as well. It’s Funny how things work out sometimes.

   Another funny thing is how you will ride out of your way just to eclipse a state. So we went south to go north just so we could go through Mississippi. Besides if you’re going to cross the river it should be in the state I figure. So we are heading down 49 for Mississippi and realize it’s a helmet state. Ugh I have not worn a helmet since Vegas. 5 minutes in and my head is itching like mad. Couldn’t be the sun scorched scalp. A short scoot north and we are in Memphis Tennessee.

   Now there was no way in hell we were going to cruise through without seeing the “King” yup we’re going to Graceland. Graceland made 40 million in 04 alone according to one lot attendant. So they didn’t need our money and the last tour already started anyway. I have a feeling if it was earlier this might have been the one touristy thing we would have done. But as I’ve said we came to ride so after a photo op in front of the Graceland gates we hit the road and we hot dogged it up I-40 to somewhere around Jackson Tennessee. After a day tearing up asphalt the thing I enjoy most is a swim. Really stretches out the muscles and refreshes the body. Thankfully we found a hotel with a pool and finally I got a chance to touch base with home again.  I am really starting to miss the family. The guys go out for a brew while I go through my nightly ritual and hook all my equipment up so I can empty the memory cards and recharge everything. This is really starting to suck. I think we did 429 miles today. Zzzzz. oh yea there are a few more pictures in the gallery. Zzzz