Day 01 - July 24, 2001

 We started our vacation and the day at 7:00 am and rode for about half hour to stop in Ozark at Rosie Joe’s Café for breakfast. We then rode through some of the most beautiful forests in Missouri before being deluged with rain. We stopped and covered our packs and rode for awhile getting completely soaked before pulling under an awning at a closed gas station in Bradley Ville. After waiting about an hour and watching the rain clouds circle around us continuously, we took a chance on a break in the rain and headed south again. We got more rain but rode on through it and before too long it stopped and we started to dry out. We then got wet, we dried, got wet, dried out and then got wet one more time. We stopped in Theodosia for gas, then went on a ways farther and stopped in Gainesville at Subway for lunch. From there we rode the rest of the way to Mountain Home and arrived at the hotel before 2 PM. After a break, we headed out to the south end of the lake to check out the dam and the marina. While there we reserved a boat for tomorrow, and on the way backed stopped at Arby's for lunch. After eating Miesha walked into the bathroom and found another girl there, staring into the mirror. When she inquired as to the reason, she was told that she had been waiting for almost 20 minutes and that even though the sign said Employees must wash hands, she felt she would have to do it herself.  We then went to KFC to pick up a bucket of chicken, and a grocery store for fruit, chips, and cookies. This should do us fine for lunch on the lake tomorrow. I think we will call it a day and rest up for tomrrow. Till then we'll see you on the byways..............