French “Pig Trail”

The road out of town leads us directly into forests complete with winding turns and a dense overhang of trees.  The shade is welcome, and these roads remind me of Highway 23 in Northwest Arkansas – the well known Pig Trail, so named because years ago it used to be a primary road for students and others making their way to the University of Arkansas, home of the Razorbacks.

Raye and I have ridden the Pig Trail — which is a National Scenic Byway well worth coming to Arkansas to ride — on our motorcycles many times.  It can’t be beat for hairpin turns and stunning mountain scenery.  Spring and fall are spectacular, and we have met many motorcyclists from other states who come to ride the Pig Trail and the surrounding roads on weekends these times of year.  It is one ride that should not be missed.

We stop at a roadside overlook at Roc Suzadou, a peak in the region that stands 730 meters – over 2,000 feet – high.  It offers a splendid view of the entire valley below and other peaks nearby. A u-shaped stone wall standing about three feet high offers visitors an unusual way of orienting — various points of interest are painted and glazed onto several large slabs of cream-colored ceramic tile laid on top of the wall.  The artistry serves the natural beauty well, and we enjoy using it to determine where we are.