Day Trips by Trip Hilliard The Run to Jefferson/Lunch at Auntie Skinner's - Saturday, March 4, 2006 It was an absolutely beautiful Saturday. Temps were in the 70's and the skies were clear. Perfect day to make a run to Jefferson, Texas and eat lunch at Auntie Skinner's Riverboat Club. So, Curt and I met at the Exxon station at the corner of Highway 271 and 155, right across from The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. After meeting up, we left at about 10:15am heading North on Highway 155. 155 took us through Winona, Big Sandy then Gilmer. In Gilmer, continue up 155 until you pass over Highway 259 and Lake O' The Pines. Right after that, take a right on Highway 729. 729 will take you to Highway 49 then into Jefferson. Once in Jefferson we stopped at Auntie Skinner's for lunch. A visit to Jefferson isn't complete without stopping by Auntie Skinner's, named from the old song, "Auntie Skinner's Chicken Dinner". They describe their place as "the best East Texas Cuisine and live Rhythm & Blues!" They're not wrong. After eating our fill, we decided that we would head back to Tyler by way of Highway 80, which runs parallel with I-20. We left Jefferson around 12:45pm and traveled down Highway 59 to Highway 80. Then we turned West heading back to Tyler. When we hit Hawkins, Texas, we turned South on Highway 14. Trip stats: 5 hours (3.5 hours riding time) - 158 miles traveled - Stopped for gas in Gilmer and White Oak. Travel map below: The Run to Queen Wilhelmina - Saturday, February 4, 2006 It was a cold, sunny morning when Robert Hilliard, Curt Jordan and Matthew Vaughn met at 7:30am. We decided to spend the day riding to Queen Wilhelmina Lodge in Arkansas. From our vantage point in Lindale, Texas, this would turn out to be a 11 hour riding day. Even though it was 32 degrees when we left, the day turned out to be pleasant as the sun rose and the temperatures rose a bit. Our travels today would take us up Highway 69 from Lindale to Mineola. Then we would catch Highway 37 which would take us to Idabel, Oklahoma. In Idabel we went around the loop and headed North up Highway 259. In Smithville, we detoured onto Highway 4 which took us East to Highway 59 at Cove, Arkansas. We then headed North on 59 and gassed up in Mena, Arkansas. Once gassed up, we headed up highway 88 to Queen Wilhelmina Lodge for an excellent lunch. After eating lunch and talking a bit, we left and rode Highway 88 which turns into Highway 1 (The Talimena Scenic Highway) in Oklahoma. We rode Highway headed West past highway 259. We stopped at the Panoramic Vista and admired the beauty of Lake Wister and the Oklahoma valley. Now, it was time to head home. We made our way back to Highway 259 and headed South eventually arriving into Broken Bow and Idabel. Then it was back on Highway 37 for the trek over the Red River and back into Texas. We arrived in Lindale just after 6:30pm. Trip stats: 11 hours (10 hours riding time) - 485 miles traveled - Stopped for gas in Clarksville, Texas/Cove, Arkansas/Mena, Arkansas/Octavia, Oklahoma/Red River Conoco/Lindale, Texas. Travel map below: