Highway 49 to Helena, Arkansas

It's only a short drive from 61, across the Mississippi to Helena. Such a nice little town. A shadow of it's former self. It's really run down and decrepid. Some of it could actually pass for 'Old Gippstown' in Moe, Latrobe Valley. Really. But there are still a few large buildings, which suggest there is still some relative economic structure and community here in place to keep the town alive. Barely.

I did a quick cruise downtown and found the Shop and Office that the King Biscuit Festival is being run out of - there are some nice folk there who gave me the low down on what was going on and where I could spend the night.

Seemed the cheapest rooms were just back across the Mississippi at the Isle of Capri casino.