We had a wonderful trip in September through Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. 9 states in two weeks for more than 3750 miles. From Natchitoches, Louisiana on the Cane River for the first night to Natchez, Mississippi for the last night, we had one great adventure after another riding our Gold Wings and enjoying the beauty of this wonderful country we live in.
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Front Street in Natchitoches
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Our first stop was in Natchitoches, Louisiana on the Cane River. What a great place to start a vacation. We thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay and got into town early enough in the day to have lunch at Lazyone's for their fantastic meat pies! We had dinner in the Pioneer Pub and I particularly like the blackened alligator poor boy. No one complained of the food or hospitality. This is the place where they shot the movie Steel Magnolias. You have to take the time to walk down the street and go into the shops along the River Front.
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| After lunch we walked across the street to visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception. I love the beautiful architecture of these old churches. There is always something unique in each one we visit. |
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| Billie and Linda were entertained by this musician on the side-walk. He was inviting us to come into the bar for a listen. It worked. |
We were there for the first night of the Zydeco Festival and the festivities along the River were a lot of fun. There was a New Orleans kind of atmosphere.
We were off the next morning in the rain heading to Hot Springs Arkansas. We connected with beautiful Scenic Highway 7 at the State line and took it all the way to Harrison with a stop over in Hot Springs for the night. We did not get into Hot Springs in time to make it to a mineral bath and massage as we had wanted and our stay at the Park Hotel was a big disappointment. We had reservations in Angel's Restaurant in the hotel lobby. We had a very pleasant experience a year before but this was not a good one. The hotel and restaurant seem to be in the decline rather than improving. We have stayed at this hotel on two other occasions and were understanding from the first time that the owner was trying to renovate this old historic property. The second visit was OK and we could see the improvements made from our first stay but this one shows that nothing has progressed past the last visit and in fact seems to be on the decline. We are sad to say that we will not be staying there again.
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| Park Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas |
From Hot Springs to Bella Vista was a beautiful ride and the weather was cooperative. We finished scenic route 7 in Harrison and took 23 on into Eureka Springs and on to our destination in Bella Vista. We found our accommodations in Bella Vista to be very pleasant. Billie and I used our time share points to stay at a condominium at the Bella Vista Resort.
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| Bella Vista Resort, Bella Vista Arkansas |
We stayed in Bella Vista from Sunday through Friday morning and did day trips and rides from there. We went into Bentonville to the very first Walmart, Walton's 5-10, which is now a museum. Interesting place with a lot of exhibits and it is open and free to the public.
We left there and went to War Eagle to see the grist mill there and enjoy a picnic lunch. We brought home some great jellies and other goodies, much of which did not make the trip to Tennessee because we consumed it.
The War Eagle Grist Mill is still operational and we were able to watch them grinding some corn into meal while we were on site. The third floor of the mill is a restaurant but we did not try it.
This is the paddle wheel that operates the mill. This one works by water flowing under it pushing the paddles and turning the wheel. Other grist mills use water wheels that work by having water flow from above into bucket like containers on the wheel and the weight of the water turn the wheel, driving the machinery inside through a system of pulleys and gears.
On Tuesday we took a ride over to Coffeyville Kansas to visit the Dalton Defenders Museum and Death Alley where the notorious Dalton Gang met its end. A unexpected side trip to the Brown Mansion was very nice. We had our own personally guided tour of the property
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| Dalton Defender's Museum Coffeyville Kansas |
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| Billie at the teller's window inside the last bank robbed by the Dalton Gang. |
After Coffeyville, Kansas we took a trip into Bentonville and over to Eureka Springs to see the sights and ride the trolley through the old town. We really enjoyed our time here.
After our time in Arkansas, we were off to the wonderful rides of Tennessee and North Carolina. We got into Crossville, Tennessee on 9/10/11 and took 9/11off in respect and to catch up. Some of us were a little under the weather and needed to recoup.
We made a stop by the Lotz house for a most interesting tour by a very knowledgeable tour guide named J.T. Thompson. J.T. made this tour the highlight of our trip. He was so informative and narrated the story of the Lotz's struggle throughout their terrible ordeal of the Battle of Franklin and the Civil War. It is so heartbreaking to here of the tragedies that befell our nation during this dark hour of our history. We highly recommend a stop by this beautifully furnished museum to anyone interested in history.
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| The old Crescent Hotel |
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| A ride through the streets of Eureka Springs is enchanting and nostalgic. |
We took in Franklin, Tennessee on a re-visit from the last time we were through here and with no regrets I might add. We will probably make the effort to stop by this wonderful historic community every time we are in the area. Franklin is so rich with history and we were fascinated with it.
The Carter House is across the street and though we did not take the tour there due to time limitations, we did stroll the grounds and ate our picnic lunch in the shade. The house and out buildings are still pot-marked with bullet holes. This building alone has over 200 bullet holes through the back wall, many of which exit the front.
The Livery Stable was made of brick but still shows the impact of the mini-ball rounds that struck it during one of the most deadly battle of the Civil War.
Over 6000 Confederate Soldiers were casualties during this 5 hour ordeal of intense fighting. Nearly 2000 dead and more died from the wounds later. The Confederate army lost 15 Generals in this battle 6 of them were killed the others were severely wounded or captured. Confederate losses were so bad that the Army of Tennessee was effectually killed in this action.
We took a day out to ride the famous Tail of the Dragon and all of its 311 curves in 18 miles. What a beautiful ride through some really scenic mountains.
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| At the Start of the Dragon in Tennessee |
Once we made it across the Dragon, we stopped at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort for some keep-sakes. As you can see, even though we did this on a Tuesday, there was no lack of riders doing the twisties, and the picture below only shows the row we parked in. Everywhere you looked there were bikes and people.
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| At Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort in North Carolina. |
Leaving Deal's Gap we continued on through Robbinsville and around the mountain towards Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and we stopped for lunch in a beautiful little park by a river on the Cherokee Reservation.
Once in Gatlinburg, we made a stop at the Moonshine Distillery and had to bring home a little Moonshine.
On to Pigeon Forge and dinner at the Apple Barn. Yum! Yum! Some great food there. We then made our way back to Crossville but we were way past dark getting in. Did I mention a pig trail? Well, let's not talk about it.
We took another day and went into Chattanooga to see Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls. I have been by this place most of my life and seen advertisements for it but have never been to either place. I am so glad that we took the time this trip to do it. WOW! I'm glad that I did not miss it.
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| Chattanooga from Lookout Mountain |
Ruby Falls is the only waterfall in a cave that has been found. You have to literally walk into Lookout Mountain to see this fabulous beauty. No one knows where the water comes from but it was found in the early 20th century by a man who disappeared in a crevasse exploring a cave. He was gone for 17 hours before making his way back out. This is something you have to see to believe but it is so worth the walk.
After a picnic lunch on top of the mountain we made our way back to Crossville to prepare for the ride back to Texas, via Natchez, MS.
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| Twin Oaks B&B in Natchez |
We stayed at Twin Oaks B&B and Regina was a very gracious host as always. Billie and I stayed here in 2006 and loved the location and the hospitality. We took a little time to go into town and look around. Billie and I toured one of the plantation homes on the river and went into St. Mary's Cathedral which is breath taking inside.
This is a must see if you appreciate beautiful architecture. It rivals the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for ornate beauty. There is a nice park on the grounds with a memorial to all branches of the Armed Forces.
We went down to the riverfront for dinner and had a nice meal that evening. There is a lot to see and do in Natchez.
After a good night's sleep we got up and went across to the Dunleith Plantation's Castle Restaurant & Pub for a magnificent breakfast buffet.
Then we strolled around the grounds of the beautiful historic home before loading up and heading back to Texas.
All too soon the trip was in the record books of things remembered with great fondness. Another fabulous road trip with a safe and happy conclusion as we made it home without incident.
Until next time, lots of miles with lots of smiles.
We will see you somewhere down the road... on the Wing.
