Arkadelphia,
Arkansas,
United States
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Going North on TX 21 towards Nacogdoches the road narrows, and there is no shoulder. The highway is now the size of a residential street. It courses through a pine forrest whose trees are large enough to be harvested, and they are. Now I'm made aware of this when a logging truck flies by me on a solid yellow line. Being past by a truck is always an experience, but is even more exciting on a narrow road. I'm goiing 55, and know that the trailer is riding on the line because the road is narrow, the trailer is wider than the Excursion, and my depth perception isn't the greatest in the world. I all but close my eyes as the logger is passing me. Several pick-ups pass me as well, and then a semi pulls into que. The semi has the common sense, and isn't on a clock, to be aware that it really isn't safe to pass, so he settles in behind me. This has the affect of keeping the drivers behind him from passing. I get to a hill that has a passing lane, and I pull over to let the 13 or so vehicles go around. The semi has a chore climbing the hill trying to pass me so I slowed down to 30 so he could get around and pull in front of me. At Nacogdoches I get on a US highway with much wider lanes, and relax again.
I stay on this highway all the way to I-30 just West of Texarcana. The interstate is just another blue line, so there isn't much of interest along the way. It is also a major East/West artery, and 200 semis or more passed me along my way. I arrived in Arkadelphia at a decent time, and the RV park was a much nicer place to spend the night. You actually felt like sitting outside. I had supper at the local Cracker Barrel which was pretty decent.
To Memphis the next day.
Comments
Your Travels
Hi Tom! Please stay safe. I would have the same fears with that large EX and Airstream behind me. I miss the photos to go with your colourful narration of the trip. Found any good cemeteries for Pat and me lately?
Hugs from California! Susie
Re: Your Travels
Susie, Darlin'
I know you understand bad drivers. Riding a motorcycle you must encounter the same idiocy on the road, just on a smaller scale.
No cemetaries, they're more appealing to Pat.
I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. I'll have to post some pictures when I get home. After our trip to see you, and then up the Calif coast, this trip doesn't seem to offer nearly as much to take photos of. Everyone's seen a cow, but how many mid-staters have seen Morro Rock, a giant Redwood, or surf crashing onto a beautiful black lava-sand beach?
tom
Driving Defensively
Tom - Best thing to do is drive defensively and pretend they don't see you. On a bike they really *don't* see you, but with the size of your rig, you are very visible at least.
How much further are you going with your load of daughter's possessions on board?
Susie
Re: Driving Defensively
The stuff I took out of the uhaul goes back to San Antonio with me. If I'm overweight, it's not by much. I don't drive fast, so the excess weight, if there is any, shouldn't create any stress. Especially since there are no steep grades for me to climb or go down.
tom
--------------------------------------------