Price Chopper

A fond memory-

So far my favorite store is the Price Chopper in Pocahontas, Arkansas. The girl running the register at the checkout is Brooke.

"My day is going just awful, how's yours," said Brooke. Her greeting seemed more out of habit than genuine concern. She looked 17, round face, and an all-about-me attitude.

"Is this community named Pocahontas after the Indian Pocahontas," I asked.

"No," said Brooke confidently, then.... "Who's Pocahontas?"

It kind of cracked me up.

"Where are you from," questioned Brooke.

I told her the Milwaukee area, and was met with a blank stare. "Wisconsin," I said.

More meaningless wide-eyed, gum chewing.

"I biked here from Dallas and I'm headed home to Milwaukee," I said.

"On a bike? No, you're not," said Brooke with a very matter-of-fact tone.

I bit my lower lip so I wouldn't laugh.

Brooke tipped up on her toes and glanced over the checkout counter to look at my legs. Like I'd have 'On Wisconsin' stamped on my knees. I left Brooke and went to consult another clerk about the park by the river.

"Hey, what's the name of that park by the river," said the clerk who turned the question back on Brooke. "Blackfoot River Overlook," said Brooke. Who followed quickly with, "I just made that up, I have no idea," she said.

Brooke was fast on her feet, but probably not the best resource for increasing tourism in Pocahontas, Ark.

This and that

A few more bits and pieces from the trek through Arkansas....

- Had an awful dog chase the other day midway through Arkansas.. The two dogs were big and I thought they'd give up quickly. Sadly, the chase was a pretty good one and the experience, unnerving. I relayed the story to friends who asked why I didn't just give them a shot of pepper spray. I explained that the spray is in a pocket in the back of my jersey. It's not like you're making out on the couch and you can just reach over and pick up your watermelon Lipsmacker. The situation is a bit more tense involving speed, balance and protecting meaty leg flesh.

- There are some classic small-towns in Arkansas; Bald Knob and Possum Grape - that was back when they spelled it with a 'P.'

- Rescued a 15-pound snapping turtle the other day as I was on a back road leaving Fredericktown. First of all, let me say I didn't know turtles could jump. Second, a very bad tactic is to put your hand on the turtle's back - even that is too close to its mouth. Since Missouri is the 'show me' state, I had to show the turtle how to get off the road. That meant pushing a stick in its face, and then he locked on it, it took a couple elephant heaves, but I managed to lift him to safety.

Clinton Library Museum

Flashback - Arkansas:

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library, 1200 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock, Arkansas is - in one word - impressive. The library is a raised building overlooking the Arkansas River and its bridges. Locals refer to it as the 'double-wide on stilts.' The trailer reference has little to do with Clinton and more to do with former Governor Mike Huckabee, who lived out of a trailer, parked on the front lawn while the governor's mansion was being remodeled. The Clinton Library is far from a trailer. The entire building is environmentally friendly with solar panels, recycled materials and energy efficient everything.

The three-story facility opened in 2006 and was financed completely through donations and contributions. Filled with a mix of black-and-white and color photos, the library details Clinton's eight-year administration timeline from 1993 through 2000. There are interactive touch-screen stations, a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, biographical material of Clinton's early years growing up in Hope, Arkansas and monthly binders to access the President's daily schedule.

Most impressive were a series of hand-written letters from people like Fred Rogers (Mr. Roger's Neighborhood) who praised Clinton for encouraging children to read, and there was a letter from Paul Newman. The Hollywood actor turned race car driver received a note from Clinton about a racing accident March 7, 1996. Newman responded, "Dear Mr. President. Thank you kindly for your note. It was a humiliating experience. I'm the only race car driver in modern history to crash off the circuit at 25 m.p.h."

The other impressive section paid tribute to the Little Rock 9; a group of black students from Little Rock Central High School who tried to integrate the school in 1957. The story about the students was fascinating, especially since Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus defied federal orders when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial integration was unconstitutional. The Governor used the Arkansas National Guard to block entry to the school, but he was trumped when President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened and sent the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students to school.

Aside from the Clinton Library paying tribute to the Little Rock 9, there was also a life-size bronze statue of the nine students outside the State Capitol.

The Word on the Traveling Elvis Exhibit

First, the promised note on the Elvis exhibit, then I'll update you on the Clinton library visit -- (See previous post picture HERE.)

ELVIS AT 21...

A traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute is on display at the Clinton Library through September.

"Elvis at 21" features black-and-white photographs by Alfred Wertheimer. Hired in 1956 at age 26, Wertheimer was instructed to exclusively shoot promotional images of the rising star.

"First of all, he made the girls cry, and second he permitted closeness," said Wertheimer.

The photos captured an intimate Elvis, sitting in a train car with a phonograph on his lap, or in a rare instance, standing alone in a train station - unrecognized. There were photos of Elvis lying on a couch using a pile of fan mail as a pillow; a bunch of letters torn to bits, lying on a table in the foreground. "I'm not going to carry them with me," said Elvis. "I've read them and seen what's in them and it's nobody else’s business."

While in the Elvis exhibit, a woman said her husband busted her out for crying as she looked at the photos. "I mean he's been dead since 1977," said the husband

Guys just don't get the impact of Elvis.

Award-Winning Helen

Many churches across the south have provided safe haven for me as I bicycle home from Austin, Texas.

Wheeling into Newport, Ark. last Tuesday I stopped at First United Methodist Church. A handful of administrators in the office spent about five minutes debating my request for a corner in the church hall where I could throw my sleeping bag.

They mulled what room I'd stay in, who would turn on the air conditioning, and how I would get a shower?

It was five minutes too much for Helen Bullard who was sitting across the room trying to send an attachment with an email. Helen swung her head back and said, "She's coming home with me tonight. Problem solved."

Helen was a get-it-done kinda gal.

"Well you've just been adopted by the 2010 Jackson County Woman of the Year," said the pastor. "Pfft," said Helen, waiving off the recognition and returning to her typing. A small woman, Helen wore wire-rim glasses, had collar-length blond hair and endless energy. She also had a direct demeanor and a common-sense opinion about everything.

"I'd like to know who made the rules about women and makeup," she said.

We had been talking about her woman-of-the-year award and her invitation to President Clinton's inauguration. "I mean men have it easy and Kenneth (her husband) can fit into that same tux for years," she said. There was quite a bit of lamenting about women and fashion until Helen finally ended with "high heels should be outlawed."

And we were onto other things.

Helen lived on a farm on the outskirts of town. Retired and a grandmother of twin teenage girls, she donated a lot of her time and was adept at volunteering friends as well.

"Hi, it's me. You're making beans for this summer cinema we're doing," she said, multitasking phone calls while we ran last-minute errands. "Two of my least favorite, beans and potato salad and we're having both at this thing." After solidifying a few more details, Helen hung up. "I'm not sure how they like it, but these people need to get involved," she said. Volunteering came easy to Helen.

Aside from her work at the church, she was vice president of Keep Newport Beautiful, secretary of the local garden club, and head of the Newport Newcomers Club. Helen also started a free clinic in Jackson County and she and Kenneth often took home top prize in an annual catfish cooking contest.

The couple spoiled me with wonderful conversation, a fantastic homemade dinner of ham, coleslaw, cornbread, and a squash and bacon salad.

Kenneth was dressed in his designer of choice; Carhart.

He kept half an eye on the St. Louis Cardinals game as we talked about farming, how I planned to cross into Missouri, and what Helen was going to do tomorrow.

"Well, I don't want you to fall over when I say I'm going to attempt to clean the house," she said.

Helen was so dry.

"And I'm not a morning person so don't expect me to be seeing you off," she said, speaking in my direction. As I prepared to leave around 6 a.m. Helen was already in the kitchen, offering to whip up bacon and eggs.

After another two hours of conversation about Helen's attempt to incubate eggs, a fox killing her first round of chicks, and Arkansas's attempt at generating tourism with the Rock n' Roll Highway 67.... I was on the road again, knowing if I was ever in Newport I had a place to stay.

Homeward bound...crossing the Illinois border

Visited the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, MO.

and finally...........one state closer to home!

Ride, ride, ride.....Hitchin' a Ride

Bowling Green, MO-

What are the chances?

Tom & Dick from Fond du Lac Express,

a moving company based in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Met them outside Crystal's Restaurant in the

small community of Bowling Green, MO.

They were going back home this morning and had room

in their truck for one bike and one passenger.

The Katy Trail

A portion of the famed Katy Trail,

a bicycle trail that caters to TransAmerican tourists riding east/ west across the U.S.

The Katy Trail even crossed this bridge which got me over the Missouri River.

St. Francois County Jail - Farmington, MO

The exterior of the county jail turned hostel. (See blog post and picture below.) That's also a view of the north side of the building that former inmates blew up with dynamite.

West Bend on the Map in Missouri

Representing West Bend at Al's Place - a bicycle hostel in Farmington, MO.

Adventure of a Lifetime ---

From the Panola Watchman - Texas - Read the entire article HERE:

Carthage was home for the night to a woman who tours the country, and the world, on her bike as she enjoys the adventure of exploring the world and writing about it along the way.

Judy Steffes, 47 of West Bend, Wis, has been traveling the back roads of countries around the world for several years. She says she has a bike riding habit that's constantly in need of a fix.

She grew up riding bicycles. Her dad fixed a bike that carried her and her three small sisters in seats while he drove them around. When she got out of high school, she got the bike she continues to ride today and eventually began touring with organized groups. Once her independence asserted itself, she decided she knew how to map, and she struck out on her own. On her first trip on her own, she took a month’s leave from her job and from West Bend to visit her sister in Colorado Springs. The trip took her 18 days. From there, she decided she wanted to continue to tour, although her boss back in Wis. told her “I hope you got it out of your system.” But, she never has.

Farmington, Missouri

Entering Farmington, MO. Came into town on Hwy OO. Saved a HUGE snapping turtle; I didn't know those things could jump. A lady stopped and we used her window scraper. The turtle latched on and it took me two elephant heaves to get it to the side of the road. Phew! If you need anything else rescued, just give me a call.

Mark Twain National Forest

In the middle of Mark Twain National Forest along Hwy 67 in southeast Missouri.

FAMOUS CONNECTION...

A lot of the smaller towns I bicycle through often laid claim to some famous person.

The super small community of Linden , Texas had been home to Don Henley of the Eagles.

Popular TV talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres went to high school in Atlanta, Texas.

And, of course, Hope, Arkansas is all about William Jefferson Clinton. Born in Hope in August 1946, the city has made Clinton's birthplace on Hervey Street a presidential landmark. Clinton's boyhood home on 13th Street is also marked and the old train depot features a timeline of President Clinton's life on his journey from Hope to the White House.

There was an interesting thank-you letter in the collection from Hillary Clinton to Dale Drake, a cousin of Bill Clinton.

Dated March 13, 1980 the letter noted how Chelsea "was so excited to receive real money.

She put it in her bank but thinks she'll use it to buy a baby giraffe," wrote Hillary.

The Clinton's weren't the only people to turn heads in Hope. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee hailed from Hope.

There were a series of musicians that toured Hope, stopping in town via the train.

Black-and-white photos showed piano player Count Basie in Hope during 1932 and Duke Ellington and his 13-piece orchestra from 1935.

There was also a small tribute to Elvis Presley who rocked Hope in Feb. 1955. Admission to the City Hall Auditorium was one Holsum bread wrapper or one Campbell's soup can.

Nevada County Picayune - Sharing the Love

Sharing an article from the Nevada County Picayune - and sending a shout out....

Read the article in its entirety HERE.

On May 18, Judy Steffes set out on her annual summer bike ride. Steffes, from West Bend, Wisc., has spent her summers riding all over the world for the past 15 years. She lives by the philosophy that the day a person is born and the day he dies are both dates on a headstone, but the dash in between is your life.
Steffes has taken bike tours in Germany, Spain, New Zealand and all over the United States. She often speaks to youth groups and averages 50-60 miles a day depending on the weather. Steffes said that the longest she traveled in one day with the 80 plus pound gear that she carries on her bicycle was 140 miles. The purpose? "I love it," she said. "I love having the adventure."

Steffes said that she travels day to day and often sleeps in churches. She carries a small sleeping bag on her bike.

"I sleep hard at night, like a mini-coma," she joked.

Enter Missouri

‎1,312 miles since May 18th and I've had only one flat, one broken spoke,

and one really bad dog chase.

Oh yeah, I'm having a good time.

Traveling Elvis Exhibit

Traveling Elvis Exhibit

(I'll drop a note about this a bit later.)

State Capitol/Rock 'n Roll Highway

Part of Rock n' Roll Highway 67 in Arkansas

State Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas

More from Arkansas

I would have LOVED to stay here, but the bums beat me to it. And, they beat up the cute little building at Round Top corner at the edge of Sherwood -

just outside North Little Rock.

Political buttons from the Clinton Library Museum in Little Rock.

I laughed out loud when I saw this sign, just outside Little Rock.

Patty passed me in a car and yelled out the window. She was headed to Madison. What are the chances. We talked at the outskirts of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She's a teacher and was transporting her class projects... 2 cats, 2 rats, a tank of crayfish, mill worms and pill bugs.

From Texas to Arkansas ---

Do you remember Dolly Dimple Dolls? Me either. Dolls were printed on sacks of flour from the Arkadelphia Milling Co. in Arkadelphia Arkansas.

Moms cut them out, stitched and stuffed them. Little girls loved them.

Hope, Arkansas... birthplace of President Bill Clinton. That's me on the right.

Crossing the state line from Texas into Arkansas in Texarkana. Picture taken in front of the federal courthouse where I would later encounter U.S. Marshalls who surround my bike because of an apparent security threat.

A bronze sculpture outside the state capitol in Little Rock representing the Little Rock Nine, a group of students who tried to integrate Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

A rifle used to shoot around corners, on display at the

Historical Society in Jefferson, Texas.