“The long way around Toledo Bend from Pineville, LA - almost no Interstates” is a motorcycle ride through Louisiana and Texas, United States.
This 553km ride visits Shreveport, Tioga, Montgomery, Clarence, Campti, Coushatta and 9 other places.
Pineville, LA
Head N. on Hwy 167 to Hwy 71 N., keep left
Tioga
at 4kmRapides Parish
at 9kmKeep left toward Colfax
Montgomery, LA
at 62kmgood place to stop if you need it
Clarence
at 85kmCampti
at 96kmCoushatta
at 124kmBossier City, LA
at 185kmMake a left to the Jimmie Davis bridge over the Red River
Shreveport
at 187kmShreveport, LA
at 193kmMake a right to Harley of S'port - they'll welcome you - very nice folks (get a T-shirt).
Harley of Shreveport
at 194kmShreveport, LA
at 198kmContinue under I-49 - heading to helmetless country!
South Shreveport, LA
at 203kmMake a left on Hwy 171 So. toward Mansfield - starting heading out of town
Stonewall
at 216kmKickapoo, LA
at 227kmyep, that's the name. Turn off a very nice road onto a not-so-nice road - don't worry, it will get better
Keatchie, LA
at 234kmAt stop sign, continue on Hwy 5
Longstreet, LA
at 245kmNot to be confused with Logansport, where we will cross over to Texas
Logansport, LA
at 258kmReady to cross the Sabine into Texas and the land of the optional helmet.
Entering Texas
Joaquin, TX
at 263kmMake a left, the roads in Texas are so much superior, well-kept almost without exception, smooth, and 70 MPH only on two-lanes.
Center, TX
at 285kmMake a left on Hwy 87 South and be prepared to start a south Tennessee like leg of the journey, rolling hills and sharp curves all the way to Burkeville. Nice four-lane to Shelbyville.
Shelbyville, TX
at 299kmroad goes back to two-lane, but very nice, speedy.
South of Shelbyville, TX
at 303kmKeep left and you're about to hit the beautiful Sabine National Forest
Milam, TX
at 342kmWow - what a ride! You might have seen some deer, tight curves, high speeds, watch yourself - it only gets better. You could make a left back to the land of pot-heads (no, I meant helmets required - not that kind), and go across Toledo Bend on the Pendleton Bridge, but you gotta get some more of those smooth roads, rolling hills, great scenery, 70 mph limits, and tight curves. Hold onto your hat (if you're wearing one).
Hemphill, TX
at 353kmNice - right about here, the road get very whitish with high quality pavement/asphalt, great signage, and still tight curves and good speed.
Yellowpine/Fairmont, TX
at 373kmRight here, get a great view as the forest opens up on to a branch of Toledo Bend - makes you want to trade in the scooter for a bass boat - nah.
Hwy 87, West of Toledo Bend Reservoir
at 388kmAbsolutely the best non-mountain road I've ever traveled. Great signage for curves, high speed, great scenery
Mayflower, TX
at 394kmyou could make a left here and go across the Toledo Bend dam, which is a sight that should be seen, but we want a few more miles of helmet-less freedom, so we stay the course
Burkeville, TX
at 407kmLeft back toward Louisiana and the Sabine River, still good roads, 70 mph speeds.
Burr Ferry, LA
at 424kmcross the Sabine River - back in Louisiana, stop to re-can your head.
Entering Louisiana
Leesville, LA
at 450kmGo left to get something eat - Wagon Master Steak, Burgers, and Ribs about two miles down on your left - definitely recommended
bear right on this cut-off to Hwy 28 - if you miss it, just ...
at 455kmbear right on this cut-off to Hwy 28 - if you miss it, just go to the main intersection.
Right on a now very nice road to Alexandria, and just gettin...
at 456kmRight on a now very nice road to Alexandria, and just getting nicer - will be fourlaned completely by 2011, in the meantime, just a nice ride
Alexandria, LA
at 534kmLeft on MacArthur - to I-49 So.
I-49 South to the Pineville, Expressway
at 537kmAlexandria
at 546kmPineville, LA
at 549kmback to point of beginning - about 340 miles