May 17th, 2012
Another quiet night in XG. I left after bfast for Mtn Home stopping to do wash b4 heading east to Mississippi. drove out of Ozark hills to flats of eastern AR rice fields. Lots of chemical dispersion equipment visible to douse our food. Drove by Syllamo where I resisted the temptation to return for another ride.
I crossed the Mississippi river @ Helena. Barge traffic. Passed Parchman Farm in MS, I had no papers to enter.
I made Clarksdale and found the Delta Blues Museum. Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were born nearby. Charlie Musslewaite has ties here also. Exhibits were mostly glassed guitars, pictures, some paintings, clothing, and a part of Muddy’s family 1 room cabin. I been there, I bought the stickie.
Flat land, lots of fields and wood lots. Cypress groves. Muddy water, really.
Hot and humid. I am back a gravel road parked in front of a locked gate to a cultivated field. I was seeking a wildlife management unit which is public land. No traffic on the road. I am in Eastern time zone.
Tomorrow I finish my drive across MS then into AL and hills.
Bought qt of AR strawberries before leaving the state. I was told that the season is about done. I spent 3 weeks in AR.
The chigger bites still itch.
MS drivers drive faster than the speed limit.
Horse flies inside the van b4 i deployed the screens.
May 16th, 2012
Yesterday I hung @ Baker truck Service parked under a leaved out white oak sitting in my strongback chair reading Clay County by Grisham whiling away the day. Jim serviced a complicated truck repair ahead of me and the day ran short. repair is now first thing today which meant i still had my sleep spot instead of part way torn down outside his shop. Jim came over after dinner and he talked airplanes. His friend David drove up for their airplane commute over to another fliers house for burgers. They fly experimental airplanes or chutes. I watched as David piloted the 2 of them aloft. Later Jim arrived by truck as David flew others. Winds were calm allowing Jim to fly his chute plane. Fantastic simple but complex flying machines.
I camped right by Heart Cemetery. Jim said that he found a web site that showed burial plots of those interred. I searched on line but found only genealogy research. Hot night and the bites woke me several times. Once I even applied nail polish. Almost 2 weeks after bites and I am still scratching. Poison ivy is gone.
Greg from Pigeon Creek ride called to say he put together a ride @ Bull Shoals Wed and would pick me up right after 8. I did my bfast thing then drove to shop for water pump replacement. I left my home in their hands.
Greg drove us to Bull Shoals which is another flood control impoundment lake N of town. Johnny was back. Terry is a local that knows these trails. Plus Viv and Gary. Small trail system that we rode one way back to TH then turned around and rode loop mostly backwards.
Greg drove us back to shop. Van is not done, taking more time that 3 hours Jim quoted. I looked @ the van to see much of the front was removed to get at the pump. Took 6 hours of work that Jim charged me for 4. $567. He said the bearings in the pump were destroyed such that at any moment the pump shaft could have frozen for a catastrophic tow break down. Back on the road.
I told Jim my next stop is Jonesboro. He said it was was rice fields, flat, and mosquitoes. Changed my plan.
Drove back to Cranfield park on Lake Norwood for replanning my route. Tomorrow I head to Clarksdale in MS to the Delta Blues Museum. Next ride will be Lake Lurleen in AL then Oak Mtn for Sunday ride. Huntsville, AL perhaps on Mon.
Drank a bit of moonshine tonight. No driving on the road however driving this lap top has been weaving.
May 14th, 2012
Peace full night in the XG way away from the water loving crowd.
I completed my morning events then drove into town. Last stop was Post Office. When i came out I noticed a wet spot under my van under the engine. I looked underneath and saw where coolant fluid was running down from somewhere. Previously I had spotted a wet spot underneath but didn’t think it came from me. Today i could no longer deny it. I need to have the leak diagnosed then fixed but where?The joy of a smart phone. I googled Sprinter repair in Mountain Home, AR, only one displayed, Baker truck repair. I called and left a message. Shortly a man returns my call as I was driving to his shop way out in country. What oh where am I going? I find his shop. He greets me. Cordial. He slides underneath & examines my motor. Water pump leak is his diagnosis and while he is at it to replace the serpentine belt. The bearings on the pump shaft are still strong but the leak is a big deal. He is able to obtain the parts locally today, he said he might be able to work me in tomorrow for about 3 hours of labor. I committed to the repair.
Jim Baker has been at this location for 30 years. His place is right on the Trail of Tears. He flies small experimental airplanes from a grass strip beside his shop. He is letting me stay on his property even providing electric. We talked airplanes albeit the sizes were very different. He gave me a mtn bike riders name and number that I am attempting to hook up w/ Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. This is a case of good eating….. so far. Just never know when a door will open. Nor what is behind it.
No internet coverage @ his shop. I am able to drive my van short distances. Looks like I might be here till maybe Wed. I have ridden 11 out of 13 days so far this month. Roll into town for internet.
Jim’s friend Greg called me while I was in townn and made a ride appointment for 3:30 out @ Pigeon Creek where I had planned to ride. I drove out there early and hung out. A silver VW Beetle convertible pulled up driven by a guy a few years older than me. He was attracted to my van and its stickers. Turns out he knows Jim and is stretched in law to Greg.
Greg pulled in followed by a young guy in a pickup. He was invited to ride w/ us. Johnny is 21 and is just new to mtn biking. I have the joy of riding w/ a local who knows the trails, in Greg’s case he built a piece and has maintained much of the rest of it. Fractured limestone tread and ticks. Good fun for 13 miles and 1515′ climbing above Lake Norfork.
Greg & Pigeon creek
Young Johnny stuck w/ us older guys. The ride lasted till almost 7:00.
I drove back to Baker’s garage to spend the night. No fliers played.
Trail of Tears forcibly relocated Cherokee Indians. There were several routes that were traveled, one of them passed thru Baker’s property.
Tuesday I await my water pump replacement and maybe a rest day.