Day 4, Leeds AL to Conway AR

Table of Contents

	Previous 40 to Phoenix Rides
	Video
	People Like to Talk to Us
	Elevation Changes During the Day
	Google Map Track Log
	Comments
	Other Blogs About This Trip

Previous 40 to Phoenix Rides

This is my 3rd 40 to Phoenix ride. I have visited just about all the Route 66 sites I want to see and have written about them in previous years. To read about this day and see photos from previous years, please see Day 4, 2017 and Day 4, 2018.

Video

People Like to Talk to Us

People are really curious about the two of us in our helmets and jackets. This morning we stopped for a biscuit at Hardees and this older gentleman kept sneaking looks at me. I never said anything. We got our food and sat down near him and his wife. Then he had to speak up. At this time of year every one opens the conversation the same way. "It's pretty cold out there ain't it?"

We told them about our heated gear, where we are from and where we are going. Older folks find our trip fascinating. There was another older lady and her daughter there and they joined in the conversation. They were a pleasure to talk to and said they would pray for our safe travels (which may have helped us later in the day).

At a fuel stop a lady drove up, rolled down her window and said "I just have to ask. What does follow us at bobbystuff.com mean?" I explained our trip and my web site. She thought it sounded fun and she likes the city of Wilmington. If you talk to someone long enough you will find something in common with them.

Laurie has neck and back issues so if I see a bump or pothole in the road I can't miss, I yell "bumpie" and she bends her back to absorb the shock. Today in western Mississippi we had crossed several railroad tracks and they had not been too bad. We had just gotten on a state highway that was much smoother than the previous US highway. I saw a railroad crossing up ahead and it did not look too bad. So I told Laurie "we'll just hit her at full speed."

The crossing had a little bit of a rise that my one good eye did not pick up on. I think we caught a little air under the Goldwing. About a half mile after the jump, Laurie said "I hear a jingling sound." I told her it was just my music. She said "No, turn the music off, there is a sound coming from the trailer." I turned off the music and my co-rider was correct. There was a jingling noise coming from "back there." It sounded like one of the safety chains bouncing on the pavement.

I pulled off at the next wide spot in the road, scared off a snake that was sunning himself in the sand and got off to inspect. I did indeed have a dangling safety chain. When we landed after going airborne the chain hook had bounced out of the ring on the towing hitch. Never had that to happen before.

The rest of the day was uneventful and we arrived at the Days Inn in Conway Arkansas intact. This is my favorite chapter meal on the ride. They throw a great BBQ in the parking lot. Be sure to check out the photos below. The first one is a selfie I took at exactly 1000 miles into the trip. I had been watching the trip meter and we had to stop for road construction at exactly the 1000 mile mark. Good time to take a selfie.

Tomorrow we head to El Reno, OK

Elevation Changes During the Day

Google Map Track Log