Ride the Fault Line bicycle tour to make stop at Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center

PIGGOTT, Ark. – “Ride the Fault Line” bicycle tour will have a stop on the agenda at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center the last week of June.

“Ride the Fault Line” is a new, seven-day bicycle tour that’s coming to the Mississippi River valley June 25.

The tour kicks off with rider check-in at Sikeston, Mo., Saturday, June 22.  Participants will have the opportunity to explore history and ride a shuttle to restaurants for dinner, including Lambert’s, the “home of throwed rolls.” 

At dawn on Sunday, the cyclists depart for Piggott, Ark.   Southwest of Malden, riders will pass through a short section of hills, then cross over into Arkansas where the first overnight stop will be in Piggott, home of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer museum.  Outdoor campers will be able to stay on the grounds of the property where the literary giant wrote his novel “A Farewell to Arms,” while indoor campers will spend the night at the Piggott Community Center.

Monday, the riders split into two groups.  Those desirous of flat terrain will head south, while the adventurous will ride the Crowley’s Ridge Parkway.  Both groups will end up at the Paragould Community Center.  A shuttle will be provided to the Crowley’s Ridge State Park where riders can spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking or relaxing on the beach.  Later, cyclists will have a chance to hear a bluegrass concert downtown.

Riders leave early on June 25 for a trip across the Missouri Bootheel, passing through several small towns before arriving to spend the night in Caruthersville.  The group will be able to visit the riverfront and the Lady Luck casino, which is planning to offer some musical entertainment.

Cyclists start Wednesday by crossing the Mississippi River into Tennessee.  They’ll travel portions of the Great River Road, and then head toward Samburg in two groups with those looking for another century challenge heading into the foothills while the rest take a flat route to the shores of Reelfoot Lake.  The riders rejoin at Samburg and continue as a group toward the overnight stop at Reelfoot Lake National Guard Armory.   Cyclists will have the opportunity to tour the nature exhibits at the state park visitor center and take boat tours of bald eagle nesting sites.  A fish fry is planned for the evening meal.

Early on June 27, the riders head toward Tiptonville to see the boyhood home of 1950’s “rockabilly” star Carl Perkins.  Returning to the Great River Road, the group will arrive at the Civil War Battle of Island #10 marker for lunch then continue on the Mississippi River Trail toward Hickman, Ky.  There, cyclists will be able to view the restored Fulton County courthouse, the Warren Thomas Black History museum and a Carnegie Library.   Overnight accommodations will be at the Fulton County High School.

One of the high points of the tour will occur Friday morning, June 28, as the cyclists cross the Mississippi River on the Dorena-Hickman ferry.  Back in Missouri, tour members will be able to view the forest boardwalk at the Big Oak Tree State Park before moving on to East Prairie for lunch.  Friday afternoon will find the riders travelling toward New Madrid where a number of historic sites await inspection.  The city park/community center will be home for the cyclists that evening.

“Ride the Fault Line” wraps up for 2013 on Saturday morning, June 29, with a short return ride to Sikeston.  Registration is available online at www.ridethefault.com.

For additional information, contact Dr. Adam Long, director of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center, Piggott, Ark., through e-mail at adamlong@astate.edu or call (870) 598-3487.