Acetaminophen considered safe as well as e_ective

3rd annual Flatlander fields more than 100

Bike ride highlights tourism potential of river trail

news@theeveningtimes.com

Flatlander bicyclist enjoyed a glorious day to grind gears and gravel Saturday in West Memphis.

More 110 riders from the region turned out for a two stage bike event in West Memphis. The third annual Flatlander that rolled 100 kilometers to Horseshoe and back to Pancho’s coupled with the second Gravel Grinder off road rally provided enthusiasts two group rides.

“We started this event to help answer the question of what folks would do when they rolled off the Harahan and into West Memphis.”

said West Memphis Tourism Director Kim Jackson.

Jackson cast his vision for cycling tourism and said the two stage event is a harbinger of things to come with the Harahan Bridge crossing set to open later this month. The Big River Crossing and bicycle access to the levee system make West Memphis the logical hub for a new kind of tourism.

“West Memphis is going to be an outdoor recreation destination,” said Jackson.

“The Flatlander is a preview of what is coming and we’re re proud to be a part of it.”

One weekend cycling enthusiast, Darin Day came from Southaven for the ride along with his wife Cherone. While it was Darin’s second Flatlander, Cherone enjoyed her first ever group ride taking the shorter twenty mile option in the morning. Darin mounted a micro camera on his recumbent styled bike and videoed the full metric century ride along the levee to Horseshoe. The riders were escorted to Horseshoe by police but the open road still presented challenges.

“It is really something to share the road with grain trucks swooshing by,” said Day.

The two met back at Pancho’s for lunch, the first time for the couple at the restaurant. Inside the north banquet room, a duo sang to the tired cyclists with acoustical accompaniment of mostly soft contemporary ballads during the lunch buffet.

“This is our first time here,” said Cherone. “The food is really good.”

Pancho’s Manager Tim Wallace said that was music to his ears. He saw the event driving tourism dollars into the till.

“All it takes is one taste,” said Wallace. “We have customers that come here from Southaven every week. They’ll be back.”

By John Rech