Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 35: September 27th, 2008 Ft. Smith — Mt. Pleasant

Map Ft. Smith to Mt. Pleasant

To have a perfect finish of my trail, I have breakfast again at IHOP. First they show me the regular menu. But after asking for the special, they give me the menu with all the breakfast specials. The breakfast is again great and plenty, even when it is not as much as in Wichita.

Then I take I–540 to the next gas station and finally back to the Interstate.

Highway 9/271, State Line AR and OK

Highway 112, OK

On I–540 I cross the state line to Oklahoma and continue on Highway 271, 59 and 259 in direction of Texas.

Highway 59/270, OK

Highway 59/270, OK

Highway 259, OK

Highway 259 runs through a scenically and beautiful State Park to Broken Bow.

Highway 259, OK

Highway 259, Red River, State Line OK and TX

Highway 259, State Line OK and TX

Highway 259, TX

Then the wide open plane opens up, where I reach Texas.

Highway 37, TX

Now it’s only a short drive to I–30. Just to be sure, I gas up there, because I don’t know, if I am able to get a room at the motel in Winnsboro. As alternative I have Mt. Pleasant, which is a bit more than half an hour and around 30 miles away.

Highway 37/N Main St, Winnsboro, TX

Around 3pm I arrive at the motel. But due to a biker meeting they have no rooms left. There is only one smoking room available. When asking if there is any other motel in town, he answers almost triumphantly that he has the only motel around here. Well, already because of his arrogant way I would drive on anyways. Additionally, I am not really interested in taking a smoking room. Therefore I switch to my Plan B and drive back to the Interstate.

There is also a Super 8 in Mt. Vernon. But I am not able to see any nice restaurant. So I continue to Mt. Pleasant. There they have at least an Applebee’s. The motel is completely empty and I even receive a room in the one story high section of this motel. Perfect!

Then I take care of my further tour and do a small research on the Internet about the gas shortage in the south. This area goes up to Kentucky and southern Indiana. There I have no other choice than to make a huge detour and drive a corner via St. Louis. So I replan my drive back home once again, which takes a lot of time. Way too fast it is 6pm and I have to leave to be on time for the concert of Christine & Chris.

Sunset I–30, TX

The Applebee’s is not really busy and so I receive a good and fast service. Then I drive again to Winnsboro. On the road I get a wonderful sunset.

At a quarter past seven I arrive at the Crossroads Coffeehouse. First I am greeted as a regular guest until I tell them that I am from Germany and would like to surprise my friends. Now they give me a nice chair close to the stage. Perfect, this gives me the chance to take some nice pictures of them.

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Christine Albert, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Albert and Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Christine, Lynn, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Albert and Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Albert and Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Christine Albert, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Albert and Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Christine, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Christine, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Lynn, Lindy, Christine, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Lynn, Lindy, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Chris, Kate, Lynn, Lindy, Christine, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Albert and Gage, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

Christine Albert, Crossroads Coffeehouse, Winnsboro, TX

First they have not recognized me until I approach them in the break and say Hi to Chris. Now the hello is really big. And after the break I am announced to the audience with the longest arrival journey.

After the concert I have the chance to chat with them and also join a small Jam Session with some local musicians. Finally, the owner of the Coffeehouse, Lindy, plays his new CD which he recorded with Lynn. But they are still working on it and it is not on the market yet.

During the concert they also were on stage with her daughter Kate and played two songs. This was really homelike around here. It feels like being with a family! There were also only locals at the concert. After this session I help my friends to load their truck. Then we say good–bye. When saying good–bye to Lindy he tells me, that he also plans a trip to Germany! This would be really great! He also would like to have my business card and he gives me his card. I am really anxious to see if he will be really writing. Around midnight I start my drive back to the motel and around 1am I am eventually in my bed…