Wheelsucker Blog - Week Eleven

A big thank you to everyone who has visited my Just Giving site and donated money. Please continue to spread the word to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause. http://www.justgiving.com/Graham-Young-cycles-USA

Sunday 27th July

Graceland, Memphis. Left hotel about 8.30am and walked the 2 miles to Graceland. By 9.30am there were 100's of people arriving in a car park/cafe/souvenir/ticket office area opposite Graceland. You were then taken by mini bus to Graceland over the road. You were shown all over the grounds and house, and then taken back across the road by mini bus. Brought some souvenirs and my daily burger, and then just sat about outside listening to 'Elvis music'. Well worth a visit, but it's a well oiled machine made to take your money.

Saturday 26th July

Memphis, Tennessee. 87 miles. Average speed 14.5mph. Left West Helena about 8.15am. Very warm so cycle top and shorts. After only about 10 miles and I crossed the Mississippi River, a massive bridge that was quite steep to climb. Again the countryside was quite flat, but the hard shoulders either became very narrow or non-existent. This made cycling very dangerous at times, as the traffic passed by too close. Had some lunch at Tunica on Highway 61 heading North and then went east on Highway 304. This took me to Hernado and Highway 51 which leads me straight onto Elvis Prestly Blvd and past Graceland. My hotel is about 2 miles away and so I have a bit of a walk tomorrow. Picture shows the start of the bridge over the Mississippi.

Friday 25th July

West Helena, Arkansas. 63 miles. Average speed 12.9mph. Left Stuttgart at about 8.15am. Quite warm so just cycling top and shorts. Easy going day with open farmland and only a slight breeze. Stop for lunch at Marvel and met an American whose wife was English, and they had visited Bognor Regis! Last night the manager of the hotel I was staying in heard about my 'journey'. He asked if he could contact the local newspaper (Stuttgart Daily Leader) and so after breakfast I met reporter Bill Shrum. Picture shows C.K. Patel (manager), Bill Shrum and me. And just to prove how generous people are C.K. let me stay without paying, thank you.

Thursday 24th July

Stuttgart, Arkansas. 64 miles. Average speed 11.9mph. Left Dumas at 8.15am. Warm and muggy but cooler than yesterday. Cycle top and shorts. The countryside is flat, but I am riding North on a slight uphill all the time. And guess what? With the wind against me. Picture shows the bridge I crossed over the Arkansas River.

Wednesday 23rd July

Dumas, Arkansas. 68 miles. Average speed 13.4mph. Doing a slightly shorter route today but added a bit on to make a bit of a ride of it. Left Warren at 8am. It was already very warm so just cycle top and shorts. At 9am saw sign in Monticello 88F. All of a sudden the forests disappeared and it was open farmland. Cotton and potatoes looked the main crop. Had a snack at Dermott and an ice cream at McGehee. Picture shows a cotton warehouse with a sign that's difficult to read on the side.

Tuesday 22nd July

Warren, Arkansas. 105 miles. Average speed 13.4mph. Warm and muggy so gillet and shorts. Then saw sign at 8.30am which said 80F. Scenery change though, big forests but that brings big logging lorries. Again roller coaster hills but thankfully only slight breeze. Lunch at Camden and ice cream at Hampton. Picture shows a sign that apparently tells the story how the native Americans were herded off to reservations.

Monday 21st July

Hope, Arkansas. Left Idabel about 7am into a chilly start. Long sleeve top and shorts. Soon started warming up and when I crossed the State Line into Arkansas I wearing cycling top, and it reached 85F in the afternoon. Lots of big roller coaster hills again, down to granny on the big ups. Lunch at Nashville, then only a gentle ride in to finish the day off. The wind is still not in my favour, but it was only a gentle breeze.