Sunny and Clear -

The humidity broke overnight and the temperature was cool in the upper 60s when we got up at 5:30. After a typical motel breakfast, we got on the bikes at 6:30 and headed NW. We quickly learned that we needed more protection against the cool morning air and stopped to put on our jacket liners.

All the extra undergarments came off by noon as the sun and the humidity rose quickly. As for the roads, they were almost all US highways and except for a few miles in northern Mississippi, 4-lane divided highways. The two lane portion in AR was hilly and twisty. It was good practice for the real mountain roads ahead. Occasionally, we encountered a “bypass” (read- the main retail strip on the outskirts of town), but not nearly as many as yesterday, and the random senior going 30 in the 50 mph zone. No other Motor Maids on our route, though. Maybe tomorrow in Kansas or Nebraska.

We spent 12-1/2 hours on the road and covered 624 miles. Beth has discovered her motorcycle seat is really only good for about 300 miles a day; however! She just needs to make two more days until some respite in Cody. At least this evening, there was a hot tub at our Comfort Inn. Tonight we are south of Kansas City in Harrisonville.