About Me

Eugene, OR, United States

Niagra Falls, NY Sept. 24, 2007

Niagra Falls, NY  Sept. 24, 2007
My first helicopter trip! What a rush!

Many thanks to...

Several folks deserve some special recognition for different reasons.

Natalie, my wife, you are SO WONDERFUL! I'll be home "soon." (Next month???)
Josh, my tech guy (son) who puts up with simple, dumb questions asked for the 8th time.
Karla, my graphics person for the neat business cards!
Stacey, for taking care of her Mom!

Jon Hardisty, on the phone motorcycle mechanic!
Travis and the whole crew at University Motors in Fargo, ND.
"Ya'll are great!"
All the guys at Town and Country Motorsports in Murray, KY.
Jason at ASK Motorsports in Columbus, OH.
Greg and his crew at Riders Edge in Gettysburg, Pa.
I appreciate the QUICK service.

My church family at Fairfield Baptist in Eugene, OR who are continually lifting me
to "the throne of grace" for a safe and fun trip!

The wonderful folks of Kingston and Harriman, TN who took great care of me
as a result of Day #75's little "mishap."

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Day #34 September 13, 2007

Day #34
Thursday September 13, 2007

Oak Grove, MO to Eureka Springs, AR
307 miles today (21,363 - 22,062)
7,581 miles total

3 new states today: Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
20 states total

I went to bed last night at 8PM! Didn’t eat any dinner and took a
Benedryl to be sure I would sleep. I slept good, but the phone call
at midnight from someone looking for “Brandon” was an
unwanted interruption!

Felt like eating this morning. Had cereal, fruit and 2 cups of hot
chocolate. What a beautiful day. I woke up and got started before
the sun came up. The sky was getting lighter, and I would get to
see the sunrise. After breakfast, I hit the shower and packed
things a way at a leisurely pace. This was the first night in nearly
3 weeks I camped in the tent trailer. Strangely, it felt like “home”
for a change.

On the way out of Oak Grove, I heard on the CB that 19 cars
were left in a tangle on I-435 outside of KC by a semi truck that
left the scene. A whole lot of people will have a bad day today…

Made my way south on US 71 to Nevada, MO, then turned west
to Fort Scott, KS. An old army fort and barracks remain on what
was once the “frontier” to the west. From here I turned south on
US69 and made my way to Oklahoma, stopping for lunch in
Miami, OK. I felt like eating lunch, and that’s a good sign I think.
I have made good time, but barely 200 miles as of lunch, and
would like to do 200 more. But the Ozarks are in the distance,
and I’m afraid fast miles are not in my future.

One of the waitresses at the Hungry Henry’s restaurant, was
actually born in Hillsboro, OR. She left there when she was 2
and of course does not remember it. But she said she’d love to
go back and see it, as she hears it’s very beautiful in Oregon.
I confirmed that! The other waitress was helpful to write down
some directions to the library and a motel with a wireless
connection. And a man in the parking lot had a business buddy
who lives in Eugene, OR. Again, that Oregon connection is just
all over the place.

My last goal for this day was Bentonville, Arkansas the home of
Wal-Mart. To some of my friends, they will be shocked that I
wouldn’t AVOID the Wal-Mart corporate headquarters town!
But I just HAD to go there. Wow! The city map handed out at
the visitor’s center is dotted with Wal-Mart corporate buildings
just all over it. The guest book at the visitor’s center had been
signed by a Roseburg, OR couple last week, and the other
receptionist has a sister who lives in Hood River, OR.
Ah, the never ending Oregon connection….

I went to the “official” Wal-Mart visitors center, and it is
separate from the Bentonville visitors center. They have a
museum there, lots of corporate history, awards, etc.
At one of the corporate buildings, on an electronic reader board,
they have a big “We have saved our customers $XXX,XXX,XXX.”
I can’t remember the figure.

I made a very scenic ride from Bentonville to Eureka Springs.
It was only 50 miles, but very twisty and hilly. A true
motorcyclist’s road. Saw several sportbikes heading toward
Bentonville. It is quiet here. There are only 6 or 7 campers
in the whole place. The two cabins are occupied by bikers.
The lady at the desk told me to take my pick of spots. One of
the campers in the cabins has a trailer just like mine, but said
after 3 years of using it off and on, it’s just too much work to
tear it all down each morning. I am finding that to be true.
As I continue my musing on how to cover all the ground I want
cover, even ditching the trailer is coming into play as an option.
I’ll just have to wait and see.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay John, the fact that you actually stopped into the Walmart Visitors Center of your own free will tells me that deep down you must really like the store. :-)

Guess who? HW

John Brown said...

Heateher,
NO! NO! I don't, honest!!
Please don't accuse me of liking them!!!!
;)