I dont know if I ever mentioned this but the big reason I don't ride when its below about 55 is because of my hands. I've got some good gloves but my hands still just about freeze solid in cold weather. I think I may try some of the HD winter gloves, I've heard they're some of the best available. I spent three years in Alaska and my hands got bad cold a couple of times. Maybe thats why they get so cold nowadays, I don't know.
This was to be the first good ride of the year, although it wouldn't be a long one. I decided to take some pictures of Galla Rock. Galla Rock is on Hwy 105 along the Arkansas River between Pottsville and Atkins, just East of Sweeden Island Park. I loaded up and started riding in that direction. It felt good to be back on the road with the wind in my face. I would say with the wind in my hair but I don't keep alot of hair and I wear a helmet.
Galla Rock is a town full of history. Did you know that the city of Atkins was started with immigrants from Galla Rock? After the Railroad went in, a lot of Galley people moved to the area that is now Atkins. Before the railroad, most commercial travel was by way of the Arkansas River.
Also, did you know that several hundred Cherokee Indians settled at Galla Rock before branching out to other areas in the River Valley. George Guess, better known as Sequoyah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyahwas one of these Cherokee. He was the one who invented the Cherokee Alphabet. He inventually moved to the Scottsville area where he had a blacksmithing shop. He also had a natural salt lick in the area, he boiled the water down and sold the salt. Later, along with so many other Cherokee he was moved to Oklahoma.
I took Hwy 247 South from Pottsville, then River Road until it turned into Hwy 105. Along the was I found this old house on the North side of the road. I know this isn't a good picture but the land was posted. The thing I like about this place is that it's two story and has windows lined up like it was an old hotel or something. I'd like to find out more from someone in the area and if I do I'll be sure and post it.
A little further down 105 I found this old house sitting out in a pasture.
I thought this old tree was kind of neat, its just to the left of the house in the above picture.
Below is the infamous city of the dead, all that is left of Galla Rock, Arkansas. You may notice the sign says Galley Rock, it was known by both names.
The historic marker.
Masonic Lodge 172 put this marker up.
The Jonquils were blooming. Along with the Dogwood, Peach, Pear, Cherries and Red Buds, among others, the river valley is starting to look like Spring.
An old rock grave, in the distance is Petit Jean Mtn.
Some of the graves have fences around them and some of the fences have been stolen and all thats left are the posts.
This was the tallest gravestone. Can you see Cindy back there.
This is looking towards Petit Jean and the Arkansas River. On that land below is where the town of Galley Rock once stood.
Heres a couple of links I found pertaining to Galla Rock.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=350
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~argrha/
After getting back on Cindy, I rode on to Atkins. I raised a little havoc in the area, revving my mighty Honda engine and scaring children, honking my horn when I got up alongside skaters....that kind of stuff (just joking of course). I rode around looking at all the old houses and finally, stopping on Hwy 64 across from the Atkins Cafe, I wondered what it would be like to have about 500 bikes show up here one nice spring day for a meal. Five Hundred burger baskets. After taking a short break at the Hwy 64 park, I rode up Crow Mtn. and back home. It was a good ride, just a beginning, hopefully this year will be great for Cindy and I. Theres still alot to see out there.
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