 AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINAFamous for its tree-lined streets and their names, Aiken abounds in flowers most of the year. |
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 Bill,Day 14 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Decatur, AL to Aiken, SC. 412 miles. A really long day in the saddle and mostly on the dreaded Interstate. OZ is a wonderful place, but there is no place like home. There is no place like home. Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |
 Greetings from ALABAMA1. The birth place of Helen Keller, Tuscumbia. 2. Big Spring Park, Huntsville. 3. Wheeler Dam, North Alabama. 4. Vulcan, Birmingham. 5. Dock Scene, Mobile. 6. Bunker Tower, Anniston. 7. Denny Chimes, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. 8. Azalea bushes in full bloom. 9. Noccalula Falls, Gadsden. 10. State Capitol, Montgomery. |
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| Bill, Day 13 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Memphis, TN to Decatur, AL. 215 miles. Today’s highlight was dinner 300′ up in the Renaissence Tower overlooking Wilson Dam in Florence, AL. Good thing the view was spectacular, because the food was so-so. Got to see the lock system go through a cycle for a barge heading down stream. Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |
 NIGHTIME FALLS ON HISTORIC HOT SPRINGSThe sun sets as another day is slowly fading away in historic downtown Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. The last breath of sun shines on the old Army/Navy Hospital (1933) in the upper left as the lampposts light up the historic district waiting on nightfall. Some of these historic buildings date back as far as 1912 (Buckstaff Bathhouse.) |
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| Bill, Day 10 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. McAlester, OK to Hot Springs, AR. 198 miles via the Talimena Scenic Byway. This was one of the first highways designated as scenic by the U.S. Forrest Service. Maybe we will get to see it next time. We were either high enough to be in the clouds or low enough to be getting poured on by those clouds. Hot Springs is an interesting place, we’ll come back when it isn’t raining. Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |
 INDIAN TERRITORY – OKLAHOMAIn 1834, 70,000 Native Americans in over twenty tribes were forced to leave their land and relocate into Indian Territory, reserved by the U.S. government. Located west of the Mississippi River, much of Indian Territory is in today’s Oklahoma. By 1907, the remaining Indian Territory became part of Oklahoma. |
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| Bill, Day 9 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 4 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Didn’t win the new car last night, but I did win a door prize of leather seat covers. And at brunch this morning I won a $10 gift certificate, so I can’t really complain. Spent a couple of hours at the speedway this morning as we tried to line up 400 cars for a photo on the finish line. Dallas, TX to McAlester, OK. 175 miles. The wind really does come sweeping down…. Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |
 DALAS, TEXASHighlights of this exciting, cosmopolitan city: twinkle-lighted skyline; multi-level Galleria; Dallas Cowboys Statium; Southfork Ranch Gate and Reunion Tower with its geodesic dome. |
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| Bill, Day 8 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 3 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Skipped the track this A.M. and went to Six Flags Over Texas. Rode the Texas Giant, the #1 rated roller coaster in the country, and one ride is worth the admission price to the park. For metal mayhem, Mr. Freeze is the ticket. That must be what a jet pilot with the Blue Angels feels like. Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |
 TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAYAmerica’s second largest sports and entertainment facility, hosts more than 1 million people each year for exciting NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Bush Grand National Series and Craftsman Truck Series racing. Also included are Indy Racing League fans and Automobile Racing Club of America fans who come watch their favorite racing stars. Texas Motor Speedway also hosts a number of concerts and auto shows. |
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| Bill, Day 7 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 2 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Today’s and tomorrow’s activities are based at the track: hot laps, autocrossing, vendors and lunches. The NASCAR boys would get a chuckle about these little cars circling their track. But even with cone chicanes on the straights to keep the speed down, over 110 MPH is possible on the banked turns. Oh yeah, all those seats, EMPTY! Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |
 DALLAS, TEXASWelcome to downtown Dallas — the most beautiful city in America. |
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| Bill, Day 6 of 14 of the “Slow Miata to Texas” tour. Day 1 of 4 of “Miata World ’99.” Our car and 449 other Miatas and their contents gathering for the 10th anniversary of the birth of the car that revived small convertible sports cars in America. One of the participants here is going to win a special 10th Anniversary Edition Miata. Brian & Donna, Aiken, SC |
Bill Kirby The Augusta Chronicle P.O. Box 1928 Augusta, GA 30903 |