Day 8: Pine Bluff to Little Rock. 47 miles. My first day carrying all my gear. While I pedaled to Little Rock, Linda was driving
back to New Orleans for her flight home. She'd be back in a little over a week.
As you can see, I chose the Brooks saddle for the long haul. And Oscar.


Pine Bluff is one of the most economically depressed cities I've been in. Even the self-storage places are failing.


Most of the day was on this rural two-lane through mostly rural areas. Amazingly, I had no problems with dog or man.


I was not even delayed by this train.
I rolled into Little Rock and checked in to my hotel a little after noon. Then I hit the museum circuit.


First, the Arkansas History Museum, which claims that this is the first Bowie knife. It actually says so on the handle.


They also have this...disturbing thing made out of glue and spit.


And they have the oldest building in Little Rock--which was a tavern.


Then on to the Old State House, which was infested with wedding parties taking pictures.



Inside there was a bicycle exhibit for some reason. Just looking at this bike made my bottom hurt.


Then across the river to the Arkansas Inland Marine Museum. They have a submarine! This museum was infested with boy scouts,
which meant I would have to wait 35 minutes for a tour. By then I could have walked back across the river (on that draw bridge in the background)
and sat down at a bar stool in a beer hall. So, that's what I did instead.



You can see the submarine (the USS Razorback, which finished its career in the Turkish navy). This drawbridge
is permanently open, and is now a pedestrian bridge (with an elevator).
I spend some time in a couple taverns before retiring to my room to write this report.