Once I got the positive news that I would be spending the summer at Tamarac NWR in NW Minnesota, I got out my road atlas to begin pouring over my route to get there. I have to begin by getting down to I-10 for a trip to Scott, LA, to visit my most trusted RV repair place, Billy Thibodeaux’s Premiere RV. Long time readers may remember that this is where I had my MCD shades and the residential refrigerator (twice) installed.
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Wildflowers blooming this week on the refuge will be the pics for tonight; like this candyroot.
At about 675 miles to Scott, which is longer than I thought it would be, it will take me three days to get there. Once there, I’ll have routine maintenance, new tires, and some more MCD shades installed. With the list I have of things to get done, it will more than take care of my nice tax refund this year.
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The first hooded pitcher plant bloom of the season.
Thibodeaux’s has full hookups for me, so I’ll be revisiting some places I’ve been before in the area to enjoy a shrimp po’boy or two. 
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Once everything is done, I’ll head north to Fargo, ND. I’ve taken I-35 and I-55 north before, so I want to take a different route this time. Since driving the rig is the thing about this lifestyle that I find least appealing, I tend to rely on interstates. Many others prefer two lane roads, but interstates work for me when I need to get somewhere on a deadline.
So now I have a question for any of you travelers. Has anyone taken US 71 from Texarkana to Fort Smith, Arkansas? It’s the most direct route to get me to I-29, but is a two lane highway that I’ve never driven before. I’m hoping someone can give me some input as to whether this is a good choice or not.
With only two weeks to the day to go before my departure, my mind is working away on a schedule of getting packed up and ready. My stomach is also doing the usual flip flops now and then…
THE END!!
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Posts
I've done US71 with a semi flatbed -- it's an ok road. NOT FAST by any stretch of the imagination. But it's doable. It's a long stretch if you prefer Interstates but I'd take it in a heartbeat. (But then I rarely go out of my way to get anywhere I'm not too tall or too heavy for.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Peter
A retired photographer looks at life
Life Unscripted
What an adventure - a road trip! I tend to keep us on interstates, too, simply because I feel more confident about finding place to fuel and take a break that are easy in/out. Without the RV, I'm all for those back roads, but with the rig behind me I want some room to maneuver without stress. Sounds like a fun trip shaping up!
ReplyDeleteWhen I left Savannah three years back I drove the two lane roads all the way to Little Rock, pulling a 5th wheel. I was surprised at how much easier it was than I thought it would be. Even fueling up wasn't a problem that I can remember. I couldn't say how driving a big motorhome would compare. There are times though when an interstate fits the bill completely.
ReplyDeleteCan't beat the Tabasco Factory tour! It's free (or used to be) and it's just fascinating to see how the simple manufacturing process is responsible for all that liquid goodness known throughout the world. Gotta be a great birding destination too.
ReplyDeleteNot the route you asked about but we took US 59/259 From Fort Smith to Houston, TX, in our 35' Class A towing a car with no problems when we took it from Mpls to PPL to sell it. We went that way because Arkansas was the only state we hadn't visited in our fulltime travels. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't help you on the trip part, but I sure love the header photo. But then of course I would, wouldn't I?
ReplyDeleteTurkeys, love turkeys. I enlarged the last picture to see the little bird feet. Cute!
Pulled the Casita from Texarkana to Mena last year on 71. Kind of twisty with a number of small towns along the way. Can't remember anything really negative about it, but I wasn't driving a motorhome, either.:-)..........jc
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on finding the driving my least favorite part of this life style. But I also don't want to stay in one place all the time. A real catch-22. Happy planning. I love that part.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.heartlandowners.org/showthread.php/14104-Highway-71-Ft-Smith-Texarkana
ReplyDeleteHi, Judy. I don't know how to make this clickable in a comment. We have driven from DFW to Grand Marais, MN for the last ten years. Several years ago, I had a bright idea to do something different on our way home. I THINK we took 71 south. We have a 30 ft. class C & tow a Honda. I remember being so stressed from the sharp turns & not-that-wide places that I couldn't really pay attention to the view. And I wasn't driving! I just found this on Google. Hopefully you will do some talking with others before you get there. Whatever route we were on, the turn-off places were few and far between. We expect to be on the North Shore again in July. MN is beautiful.
The hooded pitcher bloom is so pretty. Can't help with the route...we have never been to Arkansas.
ReplyDeleteMiss Judy, it might be best to stick to I-10, I-12, I-55, I-70 and then I-35 north.
ReplyDeleteOr do I have to come down there to drive you north.
Maybe we can set up relay drivers to take turns along the way.
Seeing things coming back to show their pretty colors and heads after what seemed like a forever winter is priceless.
ReplyDeletesorry can't help you with that drive neve made it myself.
Can't help you with that route... we've taken Rt 281 (I think) from ND, down to TX, but not 71. The pitcher plants are beautiful... I've never seen them in bloom. When you write about going to the Tabasco place, I'm guessing you'll go to the bird sanctuary as well ;-)
ReplyDeleteLooking at maps and planning routes is always fun, I like to travel on the slow roads, but my RV is much smaller than yours and I do not tow a car.
ReplyDeleteIt is spring...the best time for love.
ReplyDeleteBe sure to take a drive around Avery Island. That is where one of the Tarzan movies were made. If you walk one of the paths, you can easily tell why they chose that location.
Sure hope you get some good information about that route. Maybe some RV forums might be able to help?
ReplyDeleteIs that last shot a fleeing Yellow Warbler?
ReplyDeleteMy memory is that is isn't fun and its real slow - lots of curves. Then I asked Google and got this: http://www.heartlandowners.org/showthread.php/14104-Highway-71-Ft-Smith-Texarkana
ReplyDeleteI think if I were you, I'd take Jack up on his offer to drive you north. I sure wouldn't get to North Dakota any sooner than necessary. Al's family lives there and the weather is ugly!!!
ReplyDeleteWe prefer interstates when we're driving the motor home. It's always nice to have rest areas and no worries about low bridges or traffic.
We've driven the northern half of that route, from Mena to Fort Smith. Like most of western Arkansas, it's hilly. So, the route is a bit twisty. It's not bad. It's just slow. It's also quite pretty! Although it took extra time, it was a lot smoother than the pothole filled interstates of Arkansas.
ReplyDeleteHappy planning!
You're like me, going South to go North! At least that's what my GPS tells me to do, and you know they are never wrong!
ReplyDeleteHave you looked into the discount program FMCA has for its members on Michelin tires? $35 membership fee might save you some big bucks on the new rubber. Did for me.
I, too, enjoy the planning part of any trip.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are getting some good advice here. Hope it helps.
Personally, I like Jack's idea...tag team RV drivers...sounds like fun to me!!!
ReplyDeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to measure the space yourself and phone or email the order to MCD for delivery to the RV repair place you will visit.
Travel safe Judy. We hope that one day we will be able to meet up with you. We always love reading your post
ReplyDelete