As you will recall from an earlier entry, my and Stewberts cross-country bike trip plan was ambitious, but simple. We were to head south along the Mississippi River to New Orleans, then east along the Gulf Coast to Panama City Beach, Florida. It was at the end of Day One that I got a phone call from my good friend Kelsey Miller, stationed in Panama City Beach with the US Air Force:
Hey dude, hope youre not planning on coming to Florida anytime soon because theres a hurricane here and I just got off work for the weekend that never happens.
Well my friends, lesser individuals than Stewbert and I would have gotten cold feet and turned for home. Not us Day Two of the trip simply saw a revision in our plans. We would stay on a westerly course, and head to Hot Springs, Arkansas, picking up scenic Route 7 as we bisected the state. As Tropical Storm Fay pummeled the Florida Panhandle, Stewbert and I elected to steer clear of the state of Mississippi our original destination.
Saying goodbye to my cousins in Kansas City we rolled south, breaking boundaries as we went. No doubt, this was the first time a pair of Yamaha R1 supersports have purposely used rutted, gravel roads as an intended route. Aside from a stupid detour in Springfield, Day Two went flawlessly, especially when we picked up Scenic Route 7 in Arkansas.
Scenic Route 7 is the quintessential example why Stewbert and I travel on supersports. Before we left, a Honda Goldwing rider friend warned, When they post a corner at 20 mph, THEY MEAN IT! Just before crossing the border into Arkansas, a group of friendly Harley riders said the exact same thing, word-for-word. Stewbert and I knew we were on to something tune in next time.
Hey dude, hope youre not planning on coming to Florida anytime soon because theres a hurricane here and I just got off work for the weekend that never happens.
Well my friends, lesser individuals than Stewbert and I would have gotten cold feet and turned for home. Not us Day Two of the trip simply saw a revision in our plans. We would stay on a westerly course, and head to Hot Springs, Arkansas, picking up scenic Route 7 as we bisected the state. As Tropical Storm Fay pummeled the Florida Panhandle, Stewbert and I elected to steer clear of the state of Mississippi our original destination.
Saying goodbye to my cousins in Kansas City we rolled south, breaking boundaries as we went. No doubt, this was the first time a pair of Yamaha R1 supersports have purposely used rutted, gravel roads as an intended route. Aside from a stupid detour in Springfield, Day Two went flawlessly, especially when we picked up Scenic Route 7 in Arkansas.
Scenic Route 7 is the quintessential example why Stewbert and I travel on supersports. Before we left, a Honda Goldwing rider friend warned, When they post a corner at 20 mph, THEY MEAN IT! Just before crossing the border into Arkansas, a group of friendly Harley riders said the exact same thing, word-for-word. Stewbert and I knew we were on to something tune in next time.
