Sat July 11.
So at this point, I haven’t installed my camera on my helmet up till now. I did some testing and I had it working on my phone, tablet and gps, which I really wanted it to work with so I could see that the view was great while on the bike. Packed up the bike at the hotel, tried to connect to the cam, and…nothing. So it still wasn’t installed and I took off. Decided to skip the TAT so I could make up some time and get a bit closer to Colorado, which is where I imagine the ride will be spectacular. Besides that, the trail here is still asphalt or gravel, not really fun and takes forever to get far. Left at around 8am and it was already 90°. Drove from Mississippi back into Tennessee for a little bit and then into Arkansas. I dripped sweat all day but had to be covered up because the sun was blasting all day.

I approached Memphis around 11am and thought it was too early for lunch, so I passed by the city. About an hour later I regretted it as I had a hard time finding somewhere to eat.I finally stopped for lunch at a BBQ place and figured out that my cam reset it’s password so I got it set, videos can finally be made. I talked a fair bit with a guy working there as he wanted to know how far I was going and where I came from.

I rode towards the Ozarks and was told it would be beautiful. It is, but saw the oddest thing: a nuclear power plant on a scenic lake. I actually turned around so I can record it on video. I also ran across the TAT again and took a tiny part of it. It was a gravel farm road that I can’t fathom how i escaped without crashing. About 5 minutes in, I had just about zero control of my traction at 40mph, and by some miracle, rode it out. It felt like a jet ski on gravel and the fear I felt for a few moments made me rethink future gravel roads. As the day dragged on and riding in 98° to 102° all day, I knew there was no camping again tonight and as I sit in air conditioning, I know I chose wisely. I found a motel I showered and went a mile down the road to a “sports bar”. It was a metal building and as I approached the door, heard the country band playing. Not being a country fan, I wasn’t sure I would stay long. I may have been the only guy there without a cowboy hat. The band did covers but they were really good. I didn’t know any of the songs but it was great finally hanging out with all locals. Old people are really fun to watch when they dance, even though I am sure a few of them were my age. Off to sleep at a motel, the Paris Inn in Paris, Arkansas.
Day travel= 356.3 miles