So far, we have traveled through East Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and today, we are in Memphis, TN. Some of the interesting things we passed along the way include: a Baptist History Center & Museum in East Texas, a Trump 2020 sign that takes up someone’s entire property fence, bayous, a university in Louisiana, the University of Arkansas, and we crossed the Mississippi River. We drove through the Davey Crockett National Forest (in Texas) and it was beautiful. We had the road to ourselves early in the morning and it was so refreshing.
As we traveled through the south, we have seen some beautiful landscapes, some beautiful homes, and some extreme poverty. People are living in what I would call shacks, with dilapidated front porches, roofs that are about to cave in, and junk in the yard. It reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for.
We stopped in Mississippi at the Southern Thunder H-D, and that was a fun store! They have a huge gong that people crash when they buy a bike. The motorcycle horns are blaring, music is loud, and there is a countdown to the gong. The coolest part was that they had two Elvis prototype H-D motorcycles on display. Next, we went to a H-D in Memphis, where I assumed we would find Elvis H-D shirts, but I was sadly disappointed. I found out they are not allowed to use his image, but they did have some shirts with the Blues Brothers. As we visit various H-D stores, I am amazed that not all of them have water available for everyone (including visitors) in the store. Our home store has a nice cafe area where you can enjoy coffee and water. As a biker, the water is a must.
To see a video of a bike purchase at Southern Thunder, H-D, click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF4c3kvTrk8
The pace of life is definitely slower in the south. You have to make small talk with everyone, and you have to be ready to wait. We stopped for gas at a hole in the wall gas station, and the machine wouldn’t take our card at the pump. So, I had to pay inside and it took forever! We lost almost 1/2 hour at the station! I wonder what they think of northerners. : )
Traveling in the summer is H-O-T! It is hotter than a firecracker, which is why we have to get up early to get on the road and beat the heat as much as possible. My arms are sunburned, and I am so thirsty all the time now. It is exhausting, and I fall asleep quickly after I shower at the hotel.
Tomorrow, we are off to Graceland! I can’t wait!!!
Motorcycle diaries de una chula 