My trip to Jerusalem

I thought to myself....what to do with seven days off...hmmm..go for a ride to Petit Jean or maybe Mena or Hot Springs? I've been to those places, I wanted to see something different, something kosher. Ahh haaa, I'll go to Jerusalem. What an idea, especially since this is Israel's 60th birthday. Thats right, the state of Israel was founded in 1948 and is still around today.
It was a tough ride, I had some real ostacles to overcome, but I did it and above is the first pic I took after stopping on the shores and on top of that bypassing all of Israel's security forces. I cant believe those motorcycle skis I bought from ACME actually worked as well as they did. The hard part was getting gas and the food was a little salty...here I am though.

All kidding aside, here I am at Jerusalem.

Theres not much to Jerusalem, thats why I only took one picture. The metal siding gas station just did'nt appeal to my Pentax. The town sign didnt say how many people live there but I counted no less than three churches. No Falafel or Shawarma at this Jerusalem but it was a good country ride.

Not far to the West from Jerusalem is Appleton. There was a road sign when going into town that read Mt. Zion...hmmmm...I did'nt see a mountain anywhere close. I went down the road anyway and it came to the Appleton Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It was a nice looking old church so Pentax went to work.

The pavement ended at the church so I turned around and went back to the highway. A little ways down the road just after passing Buttermilk road, I saw this nice looking pasture.

I have more pics in my folder, Jerusalem was just the beginning. I'll save them for another day though.

David and Dicks Illinois trip - May, 1980.

My brother Dick and I decided to go on a trip before I got married in June. The destination was Illinois. We camped out... no Motels, it got a little cold at times and a little wet. We didnt take a tent, we slept under the trees and stars.

We took Hwy 27 North from Hector. A light rain started soon after our departure.


The first night out we stayed at Buffalo Point Campground on the Buffalo River.

I like to read a little when I first wake up. Kind of let the fog settle before getting out of the bag.

The next day, we went through Mammoth Springs, Ar. It was a beautiful area, the kind of place I'd like to live. I just wish I'd taken more pictures. Back in those days you had to pay for film and then had to get it developed. Some things have gotten alot better. I take all the pics I want now.


After having a burger at Mammoth Springs, we headed North into Missouri.

At one point on Hwy 13, we crossed Kimberling Bridge.



We did'nt take many pictures in the George Washington National Forest. We just kicked back around the fire, cooked hot dogs and roasted marshmellows. The trip was getting fun after having passed through the rain in Arkansas. I did have some problems with my battery, it wouldnt stay charged. We had stopped earlier in the day at a gas station and had it charged. Luckily, I could easily roll start my bike. It was embarassing but ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get the mission done.

We stayed in the forest that night, this is the only pic I took. Thats me sitting at the campfire.

The next day I believe I stopped at two gas stations to use there battery charger. This was costing me money and time. Most importantly time, who wants to sit around a gas station when there are roads to be ridden. I stopped and bought me a new regulater somewhere along the way, I have forgotten where exactly I got it. The thing is that it solved my problems, for the rest of the trip. Maybe a month later I had to buy another. I was having problems somewhere in my electrical system. I don't think I ever did fix that problem.

A day or so later we arrived in St. Louis and visited the Gateway Arch.
These two pics show the arch and a nearbye old church. Its not important I suppose but thats me standing in the parking lot.


We headed into Illinois next. Our destination was the Cahokia Mounds State Park, Illinois http://www.cahokiamounds.com/cahokia.html.
The mounds were not too far inside Illinois, they were very impressive. The view from atop Monks Mound was spectacular. The surrounding land is flat, its easy to imagine what the leaders of the original inhaditants must have felt like standing there looking out across all their land and subjects.

The pic below gives you an idea of how immense the top of Monks Mound is.

Monks Mound in the background.

Dick and I headed back into Missouri after visiting Cahokia. I know we were in a hurry to put St. Louis behind us. We got back into the mountains as fast as we could.
We stopped at this old barn somewhere along the way.

Not too far South of St. Louis is Elephant Rocks State Park http://www.mostateparks.com/elephantrock.htm.

It was interesting. The largest rock was named Dumbo.

I took my first ride through Branson, Mo. on our way back to Arkansas. It was a lot different riding past Presley's back then. There were only a couple of music places, a two lane highway and very little traffic. That place changed quick and probably because of the price of gas it will change again. I guessing there are going to be alot of shows closing for lack of business.

We camped out at Table Rock Lake. You can get an idea from these pics, what it was like bringing firewood to the campsite. It would'nt of surprised me if Dicks Honda 350 had of flipped backwards. It did'nt though and we enjoyed a good fire all night.




We decided to take Peels Ferry to get across the lake system and back into Arkansas. Peels Ferry the the only operating Ferry in Arkansas and its Free. Look it up on Google map, it crosses Bull Shoals Lake.

What a dork.



We spent the night in Northern Arkansas then it was a short ride down to Eureka Springs.

We spent some time riding around town then headed home. We were gone for five days and four nights. It was a good trip, one we'll always remember.