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| May 2005 | Louisiana HSTA Newsletter | Bob Chappuis, Editor |
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Email connectivity is great! Most email users are prolific web surfers also and when they find something interesting their first inclination is to share. Thus it was that our May 2005 LA HSTA Tunica/Memphis Cultural and Blackjack Junket was launched. The initial point of interest was the Art Of The Motorcycle Exhibit at the Memphis Pyramid expo hall, fresh from its critically acclaimed first run at the Guggenheim in New York. (I believe it was Bill Ellis who made the find and fired off the first email.) No way our group of hardcore motorcyclists would miss such a prestigious cultural event just a short days twisty back road ride away! Count me and several others IN.
But after a several clicks and calls a little problem surfaces… no rooms to be had in Downtown Memphis at an affordable rate. May is Memphis Festival month and the Downtown accommodations were booked except for the pricy ones starting at around $130 a night! Not a problem, Tunica, MS with its Casinos is just a short hop across the State Line. Lots of nice rooms at reasonable rates plus GAMBLING! Drew Newcomer could vouch for the Holiday Inn Express from a previous visit and the reservations were soon made. Time to mount that new Bridgestone on the VFR!
Time passes slowly when you're lost in a dream but Friday the 13th of May finally arrived. Stacie and I had been packed for two days so there was nothing to do but feed the cat, fish and dogs, lock the back door and ride. We met Jennifer and Tony Crowell (ST1300 Honda) and Bill and Sherri Ellis (FJR1300 & FZ6 Yamahas) on Hwy 10 in Jackson, LA a short 10-minute ride from our place. We were there early and gassed up and after a short wait the three bikes rolled in and we were soon on our way. Naturally, our way was not the direct way but the twisty way. We exited Jackson via 68 to Wilson, LA19/MS33 to Centreville, all scenic, mildly hilly and curvy country secondary highways. But at the Northwest edge of Centreville we picked up the Macedonia/Liberty road segment that takes you through some hilly southeast Mississippi farm and ranch country and wooded areas all the way to Natchez. Macedonia Rd runs through some sparsely populated country and significant speed can be maintained through the rolling hills and broad sweepers. Just what was needed to shake off any sleepiness! Macedonia got us primed for the smoother, tighter and more populated territory traversed by Liberty Rd. Some real nice curves on this road, definitely the Sport Tourer's preferred route to Natchez.
Exiting Natchez we entered the Natchez Trace Parkway for a restful stretch before more serious twisties on Rodney Rd. to Port Gibson and Fishers Ferry and Hall's Ferry Roads to Vicksburg where we had a lengthy brunch stop at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. Then on to Tunica via HWY 61, a straight, dull drone in comparison to the morning's ride. I think we stopped for gas and liquids in Cleveland or Clarksville, by now it had gotten hot. With all engines supplied with the appropriate fuel we began the final leg to our motel. As we got within 20 miles of Tunica we could see the sky grow progressively dark. It was obviously doing some serious raining straight ahead and as we got within about 7 miles to huge bolts of lightning trisected the dark horizon. I am leading so it is my call to stop or not to don raingear. So close! I have the Holiday Inn keyed into my GPS and I watch the miles tick down with one eye and the sky ahead with the other. Looking at the sky it seems we're in for a bath even though we have only 5 miles to go. But the cars in the oncoming lane are dry. Lights on most but not a sign of moisture so we go for it and make it. It turns out the major wet stuff never does hit Tunica, only some light stuff later that evening.
Our motel was located about 3 miles from the Tunica casinos, and since we planned to enjoy some adult beverages while we tested our luck we all went in together and hired a driver to transport us there and back. The front desk recommended Kenny and he proved both reasonable and reliable.
But our luck was not so good. Stacie and Tony love to play Blackjack and play they did. Bill and Sherri and Jennifer played a little. I don't think anyone had much luck Friday night except Tony and that did not last very long but we all enjoyed a great seafood buffet at the Grand before Kenny returned us to the motel. We made plans to depart for Memphis and the Pyramid at 9:00. Since the weather forecast for Saturday was hot, humid and wet we decided to again hire the services of Kenny. Bill successfully negotiated a group rate for the 50 mile round trip to the Pyramid and back that we were all happy with. In the morning after everyone had a free HI continental breakfast we made the call and were soon climbing once again into Kenny's custom minivan.
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Upon arriving at the Pyramid in Downtown Memphis we were surprised at the absence of motorcycles in the area, perhaps it was the threat of rain. The exhibit, although very well done and including many beautifully restored rare and historic motorcycles not what we, or at least I, expected. I expected an art exhibit based around motorcycles but it was just a collection of rare and historic motorcycles, like exhibit at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham only not as large or elaborate. It did include a wireless audio system with details on the history and technology behind representative exhibits-strictly motorcycle info, no art talk. Don't get me wrong, it really is a superb collection but simply overshadowed by the massive Barber collection. In retrospect I feel the exhibit is aimed at the non-motorcycling public who would typically never find their way to a place like Barber and as such I definitely applaud the effort.
After our tour and a little shopping in the gift shop we were off to catch the trolley for a ride to Beale Street and the Blues City Café for some ribs! We found a table and a waitress to take a group picture and sat down to some cold beer and outstanding Bar-B-Que. Memphis is famous for Bar-B-Que ribs and the Blues City Café did not disappoint! Next was a stroll to a nearby landmark to escape the heat and relax in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel. We had a great view of the famous ducks who were having a fine cavorting in the fountain. The ever generous Tony treated all to a drink from the bar and we settled back in the comfortable chairs and soaked it all in. We then returned via trolley to the Pyramid to catch our ride back to Casino Row. Stacie and Tony were eager to try to get revenge so the Chappuis' and Crowells had Kenny drop us of at the Horseshoe. The Ellis's and Drew would meet us there later. The four of us found a table and we dropped a few chips but we did score a bunch of complimentary dinners. Bill and Sherri joined us and we used the comps to fill up at the round the world buffet. You could get all you could stand to eat of just about any kind of food you desired. I think we all tried at least two desserts!
Then it was back to the blackjack tables. Drew had found us by then and we all tried our luck one more time. I managed to recover the $35 I was down before dinner plus another $5 and decided to quit while ahead and preserve my lifetime personal best! Throw in the complimentary food and Bourbon and Coke and I had nothing to complain about. The others? Well, you'll have to ask them. What happens in Tunica stays in Tunica.
Sunday morning and Drew was gone before dawn, as is his habit. The rest of us had a leisurely breakfast and packup before heading home via an alternative back road route through some fairly scenic Mississippi farmlands. It was an uneventful ride other than passing by the Parchman Penitentiary, of Rock and Roll fame. We lunched at a Sonic near Vicksburg and were all home by 4:00 pm in time to catch the Superbikes on the Speed Channel.
Everyone agreed this was another great road trip and it proves again that you don't need a fancy destination nor do you have to venture far from home. All you need is good friends, good roads and a trusty machine beneath you.
We only had four for the ride but Paul Lefort rode up from Thibodeaux and Bill Ellis and his stepdaughter also met the rest of us for coffee at Starbucks in Baton Rouge. Bill was on his FJR 1300 and & Paul on his FZ1. Bill had holiday family plans in Monroe, La and Paul had commitments with his business.
It is always great to chat with these two guys and I really appreciate them stopping by to visit. Prospective member/Guest Bill Hale joined Tony Crowell, Kevin Yeats and myself. Bill rides a Yamaha FZ1. Bill was invited by Bill Ellis, 
who he had been introduced to via the Internet. Tony was on his Suzuki V-Strom with a newly mounted video camera. Kevin was on his Honda ST1300 and I was on my VFR800.
After a full 40 minutes of checking out each others gadgets and talking motorcycle stuff we mounted up and headed out. We crossed the and exited at Port Allen and turned off of Highway 1 on the North end of town and headed upriver on River Road. The road is fairly well maintained and has several wide sweeping tcurves and several long straights as well as a few sets of tight s turns. This continues all the way to the New Roads ferry landing and the Big Cajun generating plants before finally feeding back into Highway 1 a few mile North aof New Roads. It is a straight and bumpy but thankfully short run to Morganza where we turned West on Hwy 10. 10 has some nice wide and medium sweepers through farmlands. After a few miles 10 veers southward and becomes Hwy 77 as 10 turns West and to gravel and becomes the approach road to the Melville ferry landing across the Atchafalaya River. We followed 77 through the town of Fordoche and to hwy190 where I pulled off to discuss lunch plans. Although it was a bit early we were just a block from Penny's Diner, 
one of Tony's favorite eateries so we decided to stop there for brunch. I must admit my French toast and sausage were delicious and I heard no complaints from the others.
After the meal we hopped on the bikes and made a spirited run south on 411 and 77 along Bayou Gros Tete. 411 runs along the east side and has several sets of nice, smooth sweepers with nothing but cane fields on one side and the bayou on the other. 411 dead-ends a few miles past Gros Tete so we cross the Bayou and get back on 77 all the way to Plaquemine. The last few miles before the drawbridge over the Intracoastal Waterway include some long straight sections where the big bikes can really stretch their legs and Kevin came by me on his ST. I tried but failed to keep him in sight.
Luckily he guessed right and we all crossed the bridge and completed the final stretch of 77 to Plaquemines. This run is in great condition and has some fine esses. From Plaquemines we got on Hwy 405 which follows the West bank of the Mississippi downriver. Near near Bayou Goula we all swerved (or attempted) to avoid a huge snake sprawled across what seemed the entire southbound lane. I did not realize that grew that big in Louisiana! We stopped at Donaldsonville to bid each other farewell as each would take separate paths home from this point. My total mileage for the day was 271, and I am sure Kevin's topped 300. A good warmup for our upcoming trip to Lexington!
Seven of us (the magnificent 7?) will be riding to Lexington, Kentucky to attend STAR 05. THere were 40 rooms still available at the event motel as of yesterday so it is not too late to join in the fabulous fun! Most of us are leaving from the Baton Rouge area on Friday, 6/17 and traveling via some awesome back roads with overnight stops in Alabama and North Carolina, email or call for details and JOIN US! I do not plan to lead a local club ride for June but if you want to volunteer to organize one I will gladly get your info out via email and the web.
Cheers,
Bob Chappuis225-281-0799