2019 Arkansas motorcycle trip
Day 9
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May 31
And now there were three. As per his plan Patrick slipped away in the dark of night. It was great seeing him again. He's a nerd like the rest of us. Ride safe Patrick! Til we meet again!!
On the day we head back home I am usually still sleeping when everyone else is ready to go. Today that isn't the case. I awoke in the middle of the night with a rumbling stomach. Unbeknownst to me, John was downstairs suffering the same fate. It would hit Donna in a few hours. The Mexican food had cursed us. Since Patrick was gone I defiled his bathroom so Donna could use ours. She would be in misery for the first leg of our ride...bless her heart.
 The trailer lids are shut so we are packed and postponing the inevitable. Our next door neighbor came over to wish us safe travels. His dog, Chulo, on the far right, has visited us several times. The neighbor from across the street (a former Indiana resident) also came over to say goodbye. Such a friendly neighborhood.
Our route brought us along some county roads to AR-23.
 We will ride familiar roads on MO-86, then head north on MO-13 to US65. South of Springfield we will turn east on US60 and stay on it for the rest of the day. The song 'Eastbound and Down' plays in my head and I think of Burt Reynolds who passed away last fall.
 Northbound on MO-13 and crossing Table Rock Lake for the last time. The weather is clear and should be in the high 80s today. The cool weather from yesterday is gone.
 Rogersville, MO. 9:35, mileage 101,107 - Fuel stop. We found a shady spot to park and stretch. None of the lottery tickets were big winners. I'm happy to report Donna's stomach is feeling better.
 This cute puppy followed the little boy across the parking lot. It reminded me of Buford. I'm missing my little buddy.
 This will be our view for the day. Four lane US60. Traffic was light so I set the cruise at about 5mph over the limit. No cops will bother with that.
 For about seventy miles there are railroad tracks in sight of the highway. We passed a long intermodal train waiting on a siding.
 Mountain View, MO. 12:37, mileage 101,200 - Fuel and stretch. We found some fleeting shade for our pullover. We are over halfway done for the day. A couple guys from Tennessee came over and talked about Goldwings with us. They have GL1500s. Many people have talked bikes with us on this vacation. Bikes and dogs are good conversation starters. Good news from Patrick. He's home.
 We took the opportunity to have a picnic lunch with all our leftovers. Donna made me a delicious sandwich.
Near Fisk was another intermodal train. When we passed Poplar Bluff I decided to stop at the next gas station. What could it be...five miles? Oh wait, this is Missouri.
 Thirty miles later we pulled into a Murphy gas station in Dexter. It was so crowded we just parked and used the restroom. We have plenty of gas. We met the couples we'd talked to back in Mountain View. They are headed the same way as they return to Tennessee. Cigarettes are much cheaper here than Indiana so Donna bought a couple cartons.
We saw another train near Morehouse. A coal train this time.
 At 16:22 we arrived at the Pear Tree Inn. It's always satisfying to ride up under the hotel canopy. Mission accomplished for the day.
 We got rooms 401, 403, and 405. Completely by coincidence Donna & I got the same room we stayed in two years ago. The elevator has a glass wall. We found they have free soft drinks so we filled up and lounged around.
 John & Debby had noticed a flea market behind the hotel so we walked there. I bought several items for around the house. Donna looked for gifts for the baby shower she is having Sunday.
 Heading back to the hotel. You can't see it but there was a wreck at the intersection ahead.
 Our next stop...Lamberts! Twice in one trip. Donna got frog legs again and I got chicken gizzards. They were so good. I took a full box of leftovers back to the hotel. We each took home a huge cinnamon roll.
Mike ended up ahead of me leaving Lamberts so he led back.
 Done for the evening. We got some more free pop and spent the rest of the evening lounging in the rooms. Tomorrow we complete our journey home.
305 miles. Click here for the next day's adventure.
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