Spoffords Travel

November 8, 2023 Day 32 West Helena Arkansas to Malvern Arkansas 148 miles

The tires and tubes are supposed to arrive today by 5:00 pm. That will be too late to go further so we are pretty sure we will be spending another night here. At about 10:00 am the front desk clerk knocked to say our package had arrived. Rob jumped into action. He got the tires in place and the new tubes blown up. I packed the room and carried our things to near the car.

The car was ready to go by about 12:20. Then it was across the street to fill up and decide the target town. We were on the road again about 12:45. The wind has been quiet the last five days but today it is very windy again. Rob really has to work at keeping the car in our lane.

The terrain is very flat. Lots of cotton fields again. Many of the fields are lined with trees. Some have finally started to change colors. Some have lost their leaves.

We stopped in Clarendon Arkansas for some lunch at a little drive in called the Lion’s Den. What a great little place. We had pulled pork sandwiches that were cooked right there. The owner made her own sauce as well. Another of her specialties is pork skins. She sells them all over. She also sells homemade cookies. Since we were new she gave us our choice of a bag of skins or one cookie each. Difficult choice but we took the pork skins. Later Connie saw the sign that said they sell for $5.95 for a gallon zip lock full. We tried some later in the day and thought they were quite tasty. Several people stopped to take pictures or ask about the car. One young black man kept going on and on about the car and the fact that was a piece of American history. Rob noted he wasn’t wearing shoes. Across the street was an interesting old house in major need of repairs. Rob thought we could get a cheap room there but we really need to get some more miles.

Just out of town we had to wait about 15 minutes for the pilot car past some construction on the bridge over the White River. The bridge is much longer than the river is wide so there must be other water there too.

When we arrived in Stuttgart Arkansas there were lots and lots of big silos. The fields must have changed to grain. Actually they are for rice. Turns out this area is a large producer of rice. It is considered the Rice and Duck Center of the World. It is an international destination for hunting waterfowl. Duck season is about to open.

A bit further we come to Pine Bluff Arkansas. This is home to a huge mill that uses logs. Just not sure what they do with them because they are not very big in diameter. Tyson Foods also has a very large plant of some kind here.

We did see a Model A coupe sitting in a yard. Then as we got into Malvern Connie saw Tanner Autos which also had at least one Model A as well as other vintage and classic vehicles. We made it to the hotel about 5:00 so we didn’t have to use the headlights. Well, that is the one that is working. The headlight switch is being temperamental.

November 7, 2023 Day 31 West Helena Arkansas 0 miles

Well another exciting day at the hotel. About the only thing that changes is what items you choose for breakfast.

We did do laundry however. They have guest laundry here that works. The price was good too.

We went to lunch at the Mexican restaurant across the street. The food was good. We had as much hamburger or more than the McDonald’s on Sunday. The staff here really hustles. That is different from most places.

Rob did a few things on the car. He took the tires off the rims and checked them very carefully for any damages. Everything looks very good. Now we just need the new tubes and tires to be delivered.

November 6, 2023 Day 30 West Helena Arkansas 0 miles

We are still here but it is Monday. Rob called and ordered tires and tubes to be delivered to the hotel. We paid for overnight but who knows.

Rob’s big outing for the day was to walk to the hardware store to buy a tool to use to check the tires. On the way back he stopped at the grocery store and bought lunch and dinner. Not many choices but not many other choices.

The little Mexican restaurant across the street is closed on Mondays. The tamale food truck doesn’t seem to be open either.

Rob did some work on the car in the afternoon. It appears that we bought some bad tubes and that is causing our current problems. The tubes seem to be coming apart at their seams. Then he went to a tire shop to buy more patches. The patches are not for this tire/tube event. They are just for an actual nail in a tire event in the future. Just trying to find something productive to do in our down time.

Connie worked on the shopping list for Thanksgiving. That didn’t take long. Hopefully we will be home in time.

November 5, 2023 Day 29 West Helena Arkansas 0 miles

Today is a day of rest. The tires are still very flat and the stores are closed. Rob needs to make some parts calls in the morning. Model A parts are just not to be found at your local Walmart.

We have been promised a downstairs room but not until 3:30 after the cleaning crew finishes. They are not very speedy. Seems they have to have a morning catch up on the local gossip time when they arrive. Then they get out the carts and have the first morning break. Strip the beds and then have lunch. So goes the day. They may not clean all the rooms in one day. They are a friendly bunch of very slow workers.

We did get our new room about 3:00. It is on the first floor but on the opposite side of the building from the car. Seems the first floor rooms on that side are all smoking rooms. Well we certainly don’t want one of those.

Our big outing for the day was to walk about 2 blocks to McDonald’s for lunch. There are no sidewalks anywhere and the road is very busy. The town looks depressed and very rough. The area we walked along doesn’t have much commerce or houses. The Sears store is closed as is the mini mart. Seems to be a new Mexican restaurant on the other side of the street. May have to try that tomorrow. Bummer, we just found out that they are closed tomorrow.

No pictures today. Nothing of interest to photograph.

November 4, 2023 Day 28 Demopolis Alabama to West Helena Arkansas 280 miles

The morning is cool but skies are clear. They remained that way all day.

The landscape hasn’t changed much. It is rolling hills with cotton fields, patches of forest and pasture. We past through very small towns. Small churches are scattered throughout.

In Livingston Alabama we passed the University of West Alabama. Since this is Saturday things are very quiet.

A huge bug hit Connie’s side of the windshield it sprayed yellow gunk over a large area. So much for taking pictures now.

Then we crossed into Mississippi. Looks just like Alabama. The roads however seem bumpier than in Alabama. We drive some on back farming roads and some on divided highways that are not freeways because entrance and exits are not ramps. Traffic seems light for such roads.

Well we came to Oxford Mississippi. We didn’t realize this is home to the University of Mississippi better known as Ole Miss. They had a home football game against Texas A&M which just ended. A red river of people was coming toward us. Once in awhile a slash of maroon. It went on for blocks. Then once they got to their cars the traffic went for blocks. Several policeman were out directing traffic. Ole Miss won just barely 38 to 35.

After awhile we got a flat tire again. Rob put out the triangles and started in. The manager of the fields where were came to help. He stayed with us the entire time. We learned that the pink wrapped cotton is for breast cancer awareness. We also learned he can’t get local folks to work so the cotton gin is run by Mexicans and the tractors and other farm equipment is run by South Africans. Some of the big tractors went by while we were parked there. They take up all of the two lane road.

So we are off again. Eight miles down the road we got another flat tire. Now we have no spare and no more tubes. Time to call AAA. Well that is an experience all by itself. It took over four hours from when we called until we were at the hotel. It took AAA over an hour to get the trouble call from the national office to the local dispatch. By the way that is considered shortly. When they called they said they would call and be right back. Twenty minutes later they called to say no one was available and we would have to find someone ourselves. They AAA might over time reimburse us for some of the call. They did give us the phone number for the local police and said they might know someone. The police did give us a number and that person said AAA had called but he was unable to get to the phone quickly enough. It AAA would call him back he could make the run. We called AAA again. They started the trouble ticket all over again with the same someone will call you shortly. After 30 minutes we called them. This person was more willing to help. Even then we initially got the same response. Well Connie lost it and told them this whole thing had been absurd. It was dark, our vehicle was difficult to see and it was dangerous. Well finally she got approval from her supervisor and the truck was on its way. The driver was an interesting fellow. He said he is the only truck in the area and that AAA knows that. Sure glad he was willing to help. Since tomorrow is Sunday everything we might need is closed. What a place to get stuck.

We are having problems with the inner tubes failing in the radial tires. From research on the web, apparently the radial tires flex more and sometimes overheat the inner tubes. Rob brought two new tubes along but has already used them. So, we are going to wait until Monday to order and overnight some parts. Maybe we will be back on the road again on Tuesday.

November 3, 2023 Day 27 Bainbridge Georgia to Demopolis Alabama 248 miles

Today is cool and mostly cloudy. But it became mostly sunny as the day went on. The high temperature got to about 72 degrees.

One of the first major sites was a large feed mill. We didn’t remember seeing much corn or grain so not sure what the feed is made of. Maybe it is something to do with the cotton seed. The parking lot has many semi trailers to haul whatever they input and or output.

Then a little further down the road is a large cotton gin. The area has lots of bales sitting on the ground to be processed. They also have some that are cubes rather than cylinders. A semi just unloaded more bales. They simply tip the trailer up and the bales roll out.

We have not mentioned the fact that all three dollar stores are everywhere. Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar are sometimes all in the same town. They have several cars parked at each one. The other thing that seems to be everywhere are storage sheds for purchase. Like at home they come in several sizes shapes and colors.

We cross the Chattahoochee River into Alabama. Still lots of agriculture but the terrain is rolling hills. The road is straight but up and down. A couple of road kill deer and numerous raccoons are a food source for the vultures.

A business sign saying Coleman flanked by an antique truck on each side is on the opposite side of the road. We have not determined if that is Coleman camping gear or something else.

Then going up one of the hills the car started to weave even without wind. We have a flat tire. By the time the car stops and we get out it is really really flat. We can’t pull very far off the road because there is almost no shoulder. Rob set out the triangles and went to work. Two guys did stop to offer help but Rob turned them down. After about 40-45 minutes we were back on the road. Rob says he does not need any more practice changing flats.

We drove on divided highway until shortly after the flat tire. Now we wandered for five miles on one road and then five miles on a different road. Then four miles on yet another. We came to one intersection that had about five roads coming together at odd angles. You can only hope you are in the correct lane.

We drove through Selma Alabama. We remembered that name from the 60s. The town’s population is 80% black. Seemed peaceful enough today.

Then we arrived in Demopolis. We found our hotel that supposedly had a guest laundry. Unfortunately it was broken but the owner would do it for $10. Rob took her up on it. We walked next door to Captain D’s which is a fast food fish restaurant. The specials were either two pieces of fish or one fish and shrimp plus fries for $5.99. Not bad but they were really slow. One of the workers didn’t really work. She moved like a turtle without a shell.

November 2, 2023 Day 26 Ormond Beach Florida to Bainbridge Georgia 269 miles

Still very windy this morning. Maybe not as bad as yesterday. The skies are less cloudy as well. Rob starts with his window open. Just can’t believe the temperature is this cold.

We saw one of the larger white birds walking in the barrow pit. It didn’t seem to concerned about the car. Much later we saw 5-6 vultures on the road eating a roadkill. They did fly off as we approached. They know how good the brakes are on the car.

Another large group of solar panels is hidden behind some of the taller trees. A lot of the road today is lined with tall trees and brush.

A very large manufactured housing factory is on each side of the road. We have seen lots of these in Florida. Who knows maybe they are preparing for the next hurricane. Looks like the factory is on one side and the finished units are on the other side.

Another area where trees are down and limbs are piled along the road. Looks like the same storm that hit Perry Florida must have hit this area as well. Some roofs were also covered with plastic. Sure glad we missed that storm.

Then came a large peanut processing plant. This one seemed larger than the ones we saw in Georgia. Two large trucks were going into the plant.

At last we are back in Georgia. The cotton fields are back. Florida doesn’t raise much cotton.

We passed along the edge of Thomasville where the Glidden tour had been. Felt like home. On the other side of town were two schools on opposite sides of the road and a short distance apart. When we came to the first school a police officer was directing traffic. Cars were lined up in the school’s drive and along the road. When we came to the second school we could really see why the officer was directing traffic. The school buses were coming out of the bus facility headed to the schools. We counted 23 of them. It was like a giant caterpillar.

In front of one of the churches was a giant white cross. Couldn’t get the camera out in time for a picture.

We got to Bainbridge and finally found the sign for our hotel. That sign and another one were very close together and there is a traffic light. We turned where we thought the entrance was but that seemed to be for the gas station. So we got back on the road to go 10 feet to the next entrance. Turns out we were right the first time. Back around that 10 feet and further down a drive. The hotel itself sits quite far back from the road. The signage is terrible. However, there should be less road noise.