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| April 2002 | Louisiana HSTA Newsletter | Bob Chappuis, Editor |
Four riders showed up at Starbucks Sunday, April 21st. There was me on my Interceptor, Tony Crowell on his Blackbird, Cindy Earle on her BMW K1200S and Keith Gutbier on his Hurricane. Who is Keith, you ask? Keith is a non-member who heard about our ride at the local BMW shop from another non-member named John who wanted to ride with us but could not join us this day. John has a new 02 Interceptor and we have trade emails on the VFR email list. WE hope to ride with him soon.
The four of us chatted over coffee and then saddled up and headed for River Road, 'though not before Tony had a chance to show off his new high rise wind screen and running lights, his latest additions to the Blackbird. We hit the GRR at speed and wasted no time arriving at the Sunshine Bridge. The on-ramp is still under construction so we had to loop around to HWY 70 to cross. No more tolls though! We headed upriver on the west side. Along the way I nearly made some opossum stew with the Interceptor's front tire but the dumb but lucky varmint managed to squeeze by. We maintained a good pace until my GPS nearly followed my map into oblivion as my tank bag map case cam unzipped We took a break at Plaquemine for some refreshments and planned the rest of the route.
Tony, who had worked the previous night, needed to get some sleep so bade us farewell and headed for home. The rest of us jumped onto smooth and curvy 3066, 77 and 411 of to Livonia, where we stopped for gas. Then 78 and 1 to New Roads where we had lunch at Satterfields. We enjoyed some great sandwiches and conversation overlooking pretty False River. This spot has become one of our favorite lunch spot. Not only is the food and scenery great but we usually managed to find tree shaded parking in the corners of the lot that the cages can't fit into!
To sum up, another great Sunday ride!
RED - 98 - BMW - K1200s - 73K - custom seat, raised bars, lowered pegs, heated grips, throttlemeister, new tires. $7,000. Call Cindy at 225 766 3217 or email at cindyearle@cox.net
Renews. Why not save your club some postage? Many people are delaying renewals until after the second reminder notices. This is costing your club significant bucks! Send in that renewal EARLY and don't forget to sign the renewal form. You DO NOT want to let your membership in the best bike club on the PLANET lapse! For your convenience future STAReview mailing labels will include your expiration date.
We have several members registered for STAR in Hot Springs, AR. Here is what looks like a good route for members heading to STAR form the East Side of Louisiana
This was posted to the State Directors work group
Entering Arkansas from the east on US Highway 82 just out of Greenville, Mississippi, you enter sleepy Lake Village, which is nestled along Lake Chicot, which is the longest Oxbow lake in North America.
US Highway 65 will merge into US 82 and just to the right ten miles from the state line is the state's Visitor Center. Stop, get a cup of coffee and a free map and take a moment to absorb some of the color of the Delta Region of East Arkansas. It is late June and the farmers are rolling past in their expensive but extremely muddy 4X4's.
As you leave the Visitor Center, turn right onto AR159 and follow the lake through the center of Lake Village. You may even stop and take a picture of the Confederate Soldier's Memorial that is smack dab in the middle of the road.
At the turn of the last century, Italian and Chinese immigrants settled in the area and the local population has developed a unique culture. Lake Village has exported more sons and daughters in the last hundred years than have chosen to remain. Yet, once a year they all return home for a huge family reunion. The reunion is so large the entire city is blocked off for a fantastic party.
Motor on through the town for 8.7 miles along the lake past the remains of an old hotel that burned many years ago. A small sign commemorates the spot where Lucky Lindy made the first night landing on water back in the 1920's while he was staying at the hotel.
Turn left on SR257 and head west. Cross the railroad tracks and US65 and continue west on SR144 for almost ten miles to US165 in the village of Jerome and turn right on US165. Just past Jerome on the right is the location of one of the WWII Japanese-American Concentration Camps. You might miss the small marker placed out in the field, as no one is proud of this American historical fact.
Continue north on US165 for 10.6 miles to Dermott and turn left on AR35 west 24 miles towards Monticello. Just before entering the city limits of Monticello on the left will be the Drew County Fair Grounds. Behind the fair grounds in the thick deciduous forest is the location of a WWII Japanese and Italian POW Camp.
The Italian prisoners were allowed the opportunity to leave the Camp, live, and work on the local farms. There are no recorded incidents or escape attempts. It is interesting to note this opportunity was not offered to any of the Japanese prisoners.
From Monticello, continue west on Highway 35 for 35 miles to Rison. This section of AR35 offers a few curves and rolling terrain, which is absent east of Monticello. The Saline River is just west of Rison and there a secret community on the river called Mt Elba. The Mt Elba area offers some of the last virgin timber in the southern US. You cannot get there by vehicle. The only industry in this region of Arkansas is timber harvesting so be aware of the log trucks.
Stay on the rolling terrain on AR35 west to Benton for 54 miles and cross I30 where AR35 turns into AR5. AR5 is a little twisty but heavily populated for 34 miles and Hot Springs. The Majestic Hotel will be on your right and you just took the best direct route to Hot Springs through Southeast Arkansas.
Due to a lack of positive feedback to the notice in last months newsletter as well as other factors we will try to schedule an annual members lunch meeting at a future date. While several of our regular participants emailed me to report prior commitments or conflicts with the May 25 date I have not heard from anyone with plans to attend. While I still think an annual statewide meeting is a good idea apparently May is not a good time for it. At this point I am thinking about a survey to gather input about a good date for a get together. Stay tuned.
Anyone wishing to make a run to Natchez for lunch at the Magnolia Grill meet us at our house at around 9:30. Check the web site or call for updates.
KEEP IN TOUCH! chappuis@demco.net and my telephone number is (225)635-3171 home (225)281-0799 Cell.
and Ride Safe,
Bob Chappuis
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