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Big Red and me were on the road by 5 AM to try and beat some of the heat. I love early mornings and watching the world wake up. I have seen lots wildlife like owls, hawks, and I think some falcons. Through Colorado and Utah the mornings were wonderful and since it had rained the night before, every day the smells were great. Douglas fir, sagebrush, fresh hay or mowed grass, and the smell of the forest. There were also the smell of the feed lots. Feed lots are 10's of miles apart, but in Arkansas the chicken house's are maybe a mile apart. And they are very smelly.
We cruised Eurika Springs, AK in the early morning. A very touristy old town, but probably and interesting place to spend a night.
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In Huntsville, we stopped at a local restaurant for breakfast. It has the usual "table", but there were two unusual things. One is there was a ladies "table". There were as many 5 there at one time. Second, an older couple came into the restaurant and they both set at the men's "table". I was quite surprised and it did not go unnoticed by the ladies table or the men at the table. Several men made comments to the lady in a good humored manner.
And the ride continued in through the Ozarks. Kansas...you see those green things...they are called trees and they produce shade. The shade is the black area on the pavement. You can grow a bazillions bushels of grain but not a damn tree. What's up with that?
South of Huntsville, AR I came to Humphin Cadillac Ranch. They mainly make chopper motorcycles and hot rods. Today they were only working on the bus. In the 100 degree heat they were not real talkative.
In Subiaco, AR up on the hill, was a chatedrale and a large interesting building. It is the Subiaco Abbey and was established in the late 1800's. It has the abbey, an academy, a farm and guest facility that you can stay in. Quite out of place here in the back woods of Arkansas. http://www.subi.org/Abbey/abbey.htm
The ride began to get hot. We were riding in the open country and temperatures on Big Red were moving above 100 degrees. Why do they measure the temperature in the shade? Especially in Kansas, were there is no shade. I made one last shade stop in the national park and then cruised into Hot Springs were it was to hot to be a tourist.
