TWT Arkansas Invasion Rally 09/16--09/19 2004

[Vio]

Being my first groop ride all I can say is wow. I had the best time I could of possible had. Scott and Will, you guys did a fantastic job, thank you for getting that together. Since I'll be gone for the next 13 weeks, will everyone please! keep there pics/videos so I can get them upon my return home in december. Again, it was great trip despite oil leaks/burning/ and a blow'n engine, and I hope to do it all again as soon as I can with you guys and girls.

Thanx,
Matt L.

[Dirtrideroader]

I hope that everyone made it home safely. I pulled into the garage at 9:45. Unpacked nothing. Thought I would check here to find out if anyone know the details of what happened to Debbie.

I know there was probably nothing I could have done, but I felt terrible when I found out her bike cratered instead of you guys taking another road.

This was a classic case of you can't depend on cell phones. We stoped at some kind of CCC built Forest service compound and waited for close to an hour. We sent Mat back to see if he could find the missing group.

It wasn't until we got to the next town that we were able to get Scott on the phone.

I had a great time, well except for when the federal officer handed me my citation for having too much fun.

[r1150gsrider]

Yes the trip was a blast. It took me 12 hours to get there Friday night and 14 hours to get get home on Sunday. My mileage was 1693 up, back. and riding the tour on Saturday.

I hope everyone made it home safely. Around 9pm tonight I had a close call in Thrall 30 miles from home. A car pulled out in front of me on Hwy 79 and stopped in my lane. I was able to jam on the brakes and maneuver around the car. The ABS kept the rear wheel from locking. Talk about a heart stopper. My guardian angel was working tonight!

I enjoyed meeting everyone and look forward to seeing everyone again.

[Squeaky]

I had a blast meeting everyone and riding those great roads. Debbie's bike has seen better days, but is now back home safe and sound in Huntsville. Debbie, Will, and Scott are still, as I type this at 11:45 pm, on thier way home. With the lost time getting a rescue trailer and my already slow pace, me staying with the group and Debbie going back in the truck with the bike was risking a 4am return. They should be back soon though, and Debbie will either be convinced to get an SV of her own or she'll hate me for not leaving her the throttle rocker...

I'll write up more details when I have a chance to unpack and relax, but just wanted y'all that were ahead of us to know that everything got worked out and everyone should be back home soon.

[Tourmeister]

I had a great time, well except for when the federal officer handed me my citation for having too much fun.

Hehe... on the Talimena Scenic Byway? He was a friendly guy. Did you get him to pose for pics for you? The little short sheriff did nothing but stand around, smoke and shoot radar. How bad did he tag you? got me for 65 in 55 :-| Will for 71 in a 55 hehe.

Adios,

[Tx Rider]

I think it was 70, and then there's that detail about passing the forest service guy on a double yellow. We were totally busted.

He let us off with a 65 in a 55 ticket.

I ended up getting home just about the time the sun started getting really annoying shining in my eyes, and learned never to take Hwy 121 home.

Sorry to hear about all the trouble you folks had on the way back.

[Dirtrideroader]

I had a great time, well except for when the federal officer handed me my citation for having too much fun.

Hehe... on the Talimena Scenic Byway? He was a friendly guy. Did you get him to pose for pics for you? The little short sheriff did nothing but stand around, smoke and shoot radar. How bad did he tag you? got me for 65 in 55, Will for 71 in a 55.

Adios,

Did Debbie not get a gift?

There was no sheriff. Just the fed. He started out really pissed, then turned pretty friendly. Didn't cite us for the double yellow incident or me for not having a DL, even after he told me it was law I had to have that on my person at all times. The only thing I had was my CHL. He took that.

Told us if we send in our $80 to George W., withing 21 days, they wouldn't send the federal marshalls to visit us and it would not go on our record.

He also recommended a good place to eat in Talahina.

[Steve strom]

I am unable to fully understand this thread.
Sounds like it was a generally good trip.

Hope that Debbie is alright. A posting of this would be relieving.

Steve

[Tourmeister]

:tab Debbie is fine. Her bike is not so fine. There was no accident. The bike just "gave up the ghost." Thanks to Stuart "Thermalser" Robles for going far out of his way to come rescue the bike and get it back home safely. Rebecca rode home with Stuart and Deb's bike. Debbie finished the trip on Rebecca's SV650S. She did not get a ticket, only because she just happened to be going slow when she passed the Sheriff :lol: Must be that woman's intuition thing :roll: After riding the SV all those miles, she really has an itch to get one! I guess 606 miles in one day is a good test ride, hehe.

:tab The lead pack of the group did not realize we had stopped when Deb's bike cratered. They finally got a hold of us about an hour and a half later when they made a gas stop. At that point, there was no reason for them to backtrack, so they just continued on their way. Chris "mrr1150gs" had to get all the way to Richmond and Matt "Vio" had to get back to Texarkana in time to ship out to boot camp. He upped for the Marines!!

Adios,

[Dirtrideroader]

I am sure, someone will post a less cryptic, more complete trip report soon. With lots of pictures. I remember thinking maybe we should stop at some of the scenic overlooks on the Talimena scenic byway, instead of standing up on our pegs to try to see over the edge as we blasted by. Randy(R1150gsrider) said he thought about stopping at the last scenic overlook, but didn't. Instead all the people up there watching us go by got a front row seat to see the officer catch us slightly exceeding the speed limit.

Evidently, he called in backup and had a Sheriff helping him when second group came through. The federal officer was very nice and said he was just trying to get us to slow down. Evidently they life flight a rider out of there almost every weekend.

I would like to thank Dyna Sport for reminding me, that I don't have quite the clearance when I am carrying my monster saddle bags. He told me the bags were getting about 4 inches from the road. Even with my "lift" kit.

The weekend was great. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Debbie is going to get her a new bike. Rebecca is going to sign up for a track day, in search of her missing confidence. She can do it, she just forgot that she can do it.

[Snoopster]

Thanks to Tourmeister for organizing a great rally. :chug: I really enjoyed the roads in Arkansas. It probably helped that I had gone on the Colorado trip & I was not intimated by the roads. They were a bit more techical though. Dower & I left out on Wednesday morning. We did have to break out the rain suit & stop for a little construction but it was a very nice relaxing ride. This allowed us an extra day of riding on Thursday. I felt like I was riding by myself most of that day but Will was always waiting at the end of the road.

On Friday we split up the group into two which were suppose to be the long & short ride. Dower led the large group & Tourmeister the other. I chose the long ride b/c someone told me that he was going to slow down the pace from the day before. It didn't take long for me to realize that it was going to be a challenging day for me. We had stopped at a bridge for a few minutes. I had decided I was going to talk to Will about the pace. You would think I would have learned from Colorado to not keep it in neutral and get off the bike. Lucky for me I noticed the bike starting to roll & grabbed it. It started to fall over but I was able to save it. I waited for everyone to pass & then took off. I came up to a 25 mi curve w/ a bit of gravel & a few cars & had an oooh sh#t moment but was able to save it. :shock: It seem to be better in the middle of the group b/c if you were in the back it seem like you were always trying to catch up. When both groups met for lunch they came to the conclusion that the long ride would need to be cut short. Scott's group got there before us & were ready to leave before the rest of us had finished lunch. I had decided that I was going to join the slow group but was told that we would just meet up at the ferry. We managed to catch the ferry before Scott. By that time I was physically exhausted but the short ride over the water helped to revive me a little. I think we only had 10 miles difference between the 2 groups. Apparently my bike was burning a lot of oil & blowing smoke on that ride. Leadwolf said that he was going to nickname my bike "Puffy". I had to add a quart & 1/2 of oil.

On Saturday we all stayed together. I started up towards the front but decided to fall back w/ Squeaky so I could actually enjoy myself & not feel like I was having to work. I was having another issue with my bike dying when I pulled in the clutch & held it in while coming to a stop. I would hit the starter button & it would start right back up. If I down shifted & release the clutch right away it wouldn't stall.

Everything seem to be going okay on the way out Sunday morning. The bike was holding oil & the stalling issue was not apparent. We were outside of Huntsville, ARK (I think) about an hour out when all of a sudden my RPM's dropped to zero & I lost all power. The bike gave me no warning & luckily I wasn't going fast through a curve. I tried to restart it & it would act like it was going to & then jerk forward. I got worried for a moment b/c I knew I needed to get off the road & I was sure if the guys ahead of me would notice. Dower wound up turning around & coming back for me & then Squeaky & Tourmeister came up behind me. The guys tried to push start it to no avail. Thank goodness Stuart was still at the hotel & had a trailer to load up my bike.

Thermalser: I don't know what I would have done w/o you. Thank you sooooo much for all of your help.

Squeaky: I'm so glad that you decided to ride back in the truck & give me the opporunity to ride "Ally". She did so good & the reach issue was not a problem. Now I kinda wished I would have gotten my own SV before the trip but I really didn't have enough time to work out the deal.

The guys were patient w/ me getting use to the SV. I took it slow through the pig trail but it wasn't long before I realized I could do this. I was a little hesitant at first but remembered Scott saying earlier "It's all about the adventure." Since we were already behind schedule, we decided to take a detour through OK. At one point, Will had pulled over to take pictures on the ridge & asked me why I was going slow through the byway. I told him that I was enjoying the scenery. Shortly after that I passed Will being stopped by the sheriff. I don't know how fast I was going at that time & just waved at the ranger on the other side. I waited ahead thinking Scott would be coming by soon. After a good while, I decided to turn around & look for Scott & that's when I saw both of the smiling & talking to the LEO's. I pulled in to them thinking they just got a warning but I guess they were just putting on a happy face. :lol: The last few hours of the ride was grueling & we pulled in at 12:30. The city limit sign never looked so good.

[Squeaky]

So far we've mostly talked about the ride home, I guess because it's fresh in the mind. Some of the highlights of the trip, for me anyway:

:-) -Finally being able to put names with faces - Larry (leadwolf) and his wife Sherry, John (dynasport), Matt (vio)

;-) -Catching up with those I've met but haven't seen in a while - Chris (mr1150gs), Randy (r1150gsrider), Bill (wasabi), Stuart (thermalser)

:-) -Meeting new people who didn't even know who the Two Wheeled Texans were (but will hopefully join up and meet us again on a future ride) - the Mt Vernon crew

:-D -Riding up there and making it in less time than anticipated. We left a half hour later than planned, but it only took 12 hours, including a stop in Texarkana to meet up with John and Matt, lunch in Mena, a few wrong turns, and the pig trail.

:chug: -The after-ride meet-n-greet on the first, second, and third floors. You'd think with a group our size we could have all met in one spot so I wouldn't have to jump from party to party, but oh well. Garbage cans for coolers, chairs for bottle openers, and a liquor store within walking distance made it easy for everyone to relax and unwind at the end of the day. *Disclaimer - nobody (that I noticed, anyway) was actually intoxicated during this trip.

:roll: -Riding with the 'short route' group and riding almost all of the long route anyway. We got to the ferry just as the first group was getting to the other side and had to wait, and wait, and wait, and - wait, where's the restroom? you want me to do what behind that tree? in all this gear? ok, but I better get a merit badge for it...

:shock: -Lunch on Saturday with one of the most scenic views you can imagine. (someone will post a pic eventually) According to Scott, they made a grilled cheese sandwich that rivals King's, Larry got some frozen salad dressing, someone got Chris and Randy's jalapenos but lost out on their onions, and Will got half and half cobbler a la mode (an original, for sure). The waitress was great and even remembered our names! All in all, a great lunch stop.

:bigokay: -Dinner at the Bavarian Inn Friday night. It was a good splurge - the chicken melted in my mouth, I was able to get rid of at least some of my peas (but no takers on the carrots), and the tiramisu was rich, sweet, and simply delicious. Conversation was hard to keep up with from the middle of the table, but I got to be a part of what was going on to each side.

:shrug: -Found out that the lunch spot on Friday's ride, a small cafe in Missouri, wasn't going to open until 4pm. We managed to find a little place just up the road that was able to accomodate the group, and lunch was yummy but nothing to write home about.

:dude: -Managed to stay away from rain for 99.9% of the trip. We ran through a very brief sun shower around lunch time on the ride up, but other than that mother nature was definately on our side. The mornings started off cool, the evenings were dry and clear, and the days weren't so hot and unbearable as long as you were moving.

:hail -A big thank you to Scott (tourmeister) for taking so much time and effort to help and guide me on my journey to mastering the ability to turn and lean a motorcycle. He is definately a patient man and encourages new riders to learn to do things the right way so that they can still be around for rides for years to come.

:oops: -Thanks to all those who waited for me at the back, and for the patience y'all had when I - somehow- ended up at the front of the pack. I still don't know how that happened...

:kiss: -Bill, thanks for the midnight ride into the historic district and up into the mountain. As much as I love riding my own bike, it's nice to be able to sit as a passenger and just take in all the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Just watch out for that deer!

:clap -Stuart (& Jordan) - thanks again for helping rescue Debbie's bike and getting it and me back to Huntsville. Jordan did a great job with the music selection, and now we know that Neverland isn't a real place...

:headbang: -Debbie's bike. The little GS500 that could. Debbie's nickname after day one - Puffy! Add more oil. Day two - check and add more oil again. Day three - the bike is stalling out during gear changes. Day four - I guess it just couldn't take it anymore. I'm sad that the bike gave up, but any help you need (that I can actually do) getting it back up and running, I'm here to help. I can basically hand someone tools and a rag. That should come in handy, right?

:roll: -Nobody went down (well, not while moving, anyway). Will (short legs) dower will never again stop on an incline while riding a bike that he can't touch the ground on, that's for sure. I'm just glad it wasn't me. I almost dropped my bike out of sheer exhaustion while turning it around in the middle of the road.

:moon: -Tylenol is good. Tylenol is my friend. My knees were sore, my ankles ached, my toes and fingers were numb, my back couldn't hold me up any longer, and it felt like the wind played a game of ping pong with my head.


I am really looking forward to more time in the saddle practicing what I've learned. I know that I can do it, and I will recognize that I am still learning and not get frustrated when it doesn't happen overnight. I'll definately be joining y'all on another tour! :mrgreen:

[Tourmeister]

:tab Chris, you are too hard on Rebecca ;-) By midafternoon on Saturday she was riding great. Her average pace had picked up considerably (almost 10mph) and her tension level had visibly dropped off... well... until I freaked her out by hiding in the ditich for a picture, hehe. Otherwise, her lines had gotten much smoother and she was doing a great job of rolling on the throttle through the curves. By late afternoon, EVERYONE's lines were getting sloppy as fatigue began setting in. Considering that Rebecca only started riding in April or May of this year and this was her first foray into serious twisites, I think she did quite well!

Adios,

[Squeaky]

I wasn't going to mention the picture from the ditch. I was hoping if I didn't think about it or talk about it, it would just go away. Bad moment. Move on.

And besides, you weren't the only one who scared me from a ditch. Short legs dower did it on an even worse curve, but the camera missed me flipping him the bird. I guess that's one way to ease the grip on the bars when I'm nervous...

[Tourmeister]

:tab Oh come on now! How bad could it have been?? You didn't even flinch, jerk the bike, or go offline. Besides, the picture came out perfect! Definitely a desktop shot for you! ;-)

[pdef]

Sounds like you guys had a blast! Now if only Scott will schedule a ride during spring break.... :roll:

[Squeaky]

We'll work on spring break. By then he may not have time for many trips, but we could all still go somewhere with his guidance. Who knows...

[scratch]

Sounds like you folks had a real adventure on the return trip. Let's hope that next month's journey up there isn't quite so...eventful. ;-)

Glad to hear that everybody made it back intact, but sorry that your bike expired, Deb.

[Tx Rider]

It was definately a good time, well except for that little note from the park ranger to send him money. :shame:

Was nice meeting folks and putting faces to names, with my short term memory I'll forget a bunch and get to meet em all over again next time :-D

I'm a bit worn out physically from tossing that harley around, but I needed the exercise anyway.

If whoever edits up the videos needs hosting just sound off when they are done and I'll gladly host them, plenty of space and bandwidth. I didn't take very many pics but I'll put up the few I did take tonight sometime.

[Dirtrideroader]

I apologize if I seemed too hard on you Becky. I did my best to help, but I am no Tourmeister. In teaching or riding ability. I followed you several times and saw that you could ride. You just seemed nervous and stiff. Stiff is one of your worst enemies. First off, it makes the day that much more tedious. I can get that way myself. When I do, I try to flap my arms like I did at the LSTD.

Most of all, ride within you abilities and keep working on what Scott is teaching you. Your confidence will come. Remember, we do this for the fun of it. It is no competition. Ride to live and live to ride.

[r1150gsrider]

Some photos from the Arkansas Trip

Where's the visitor center, the free maps, the fanfare...not at AR 41
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819718-S.jpg%20

Pre-ride photo op on Sat morning
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819719-S.jpg%20%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819721-S.jpg%20%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819722-S.jpg%20%20%20%20

First break on Sat ride
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819723-S.jpg%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819725-S.jpg%20%20%20

Mid-morning break on Sat ride
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819726-S.jpg%20%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819727-S.jpg%20%20

Pre-lunch break
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819729-S.jpg%20%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819730-S.jpg%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819732-S.jpg%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819733-S.jpg%20%20

Lunch on Sat
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819734-S.jpg%20%20%20%20%20
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819735-S.jpg%20%20%20%20

Regroup
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819737-S.jpg%20%20%20

Paying respect to the twisty god
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819738-S.jpg%20%20

Sunday on top of the world on Talimena Drive (pre-citation)
I have 4 or 5 attempts at panorama at this spot. Who's the splicing expert?
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819739-S.jpg%20%20%20

Dyna Sport (John) and mrr1150gs (Chris)
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819747-S.jpg%20%20%20

Rest stop in Athens, TX
http://MrR1150GS.smugmug.com/photos/8819748-S.jpg%20%20

Still not sure on all of the names. TM please add captions as you wish.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Hehe... it is funny you mention the flapping arms. There were quite a few times when I saw her doing this. It was good to see that she was really thinking about what she was doing. Man I remember when I first started riding. It was all I could do to take a big sweeper at the speed limit. I totally felt like the bike was going to just fall over when I leaned it at all. I could feel my arms tense up on the handle bars and I would be fighting myself trying to make the bike turn. The only way I got through it was to ride, ride, and ride some more. It will be fun to ride with her in the near future on familiar roads to see how she does. For me, riding in Arkansas always made riding here at home seem like a piece of cake!

:tab I would like to have ridden in various locations within the group. I like to watch other riders, see how they take corners, etc,... Often times I have learned quite a bit in doing that.

:tab You flatter me Chris ;-) And it will get you far hehe, maybe even a complimentary beer :chug:

Adios,

[dower]

I wasn't going to mention the picture from the ditch. I was hoping if I didn't think about it or talk about it, it would just go away. Bad moment. Move on.


Will this method work for the dropping the bike incident? :oops:

[Squeaky]

Will this method work for the dropping the bike incident? :oops:

Nope. Won't work for you. I already wrote about yours... :mrgreen:

[Hood Ornament]

It was pretty cool seeing you guys pull up in Kingston on Sat. As soon as I saw Scott's GS in the front I knew you folks were TWT's. I was up there with some of my TSBA buds. Can't get enough of AR. We got stopped once just before Push Mountain, but the park ranger was pretty cool. Let us go with a warning. :chug:

Scott, hope you'll put together a dual sport ride up there before too long. That's one I'm definately gonna sign up for.

[Tourmeister]

Hood, what DS do you ride? I am dying to put together a DS ride up there!

Adios,

[Thermalser]

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=3578510093

:chug:

[Tourmeister]

Ggrrr... I can't stand having to join just to view images :-P Guess I need to look into setting up a hosting service for TWT members.

Adios,

[dower]

Here are some pictures from the trip. I'll add captions and a ride report soon.

TWT Arkansas 2004 (http://users.ev1.net/~dower/Pages/ArkTWT2004.htm)

[Dirtrideroader]

Great pictures Will. Where were you swimming?

[dower]

Great pictures Will. Where were you swimming?

Remember that one lane bridge on 123. (i think) We stopped there on Thursday. And I decided to cool off. IT WAS COLD.

:chug:

[pdef]

The one with you and Scott stopped is kinda funny. I can't tell if Scott is smiling or upset.

[dower]

The one with you and Scott stopped is kinda funny. I can't tell if Scott is smiling or upset.

That is his, "But Officer, I didn't do anything!" expression.

[Squeaky]

Will, great pics. Debbie looks right at home on Ally...

I expecially like the shot where you get the road reflecting off your mirrored visor. I know you had tried that before but this one looks great!

[Hood Ornament]

Hood, what DS do you ride? I am dying to put together a DS ride up there!

Adios,

1150 GS ADV.

[Tourmeister]

How cool is that? :mrgreen: I think I will start planning a trip for the spring. Big Bend... Arkansas... Southern Missouri... So many choices!

Adios,

[Hood Ornament]

Big Bend would be very cool also.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

Here are all of my pics with some narration:

:tab The intrepid duo, myself and Squeaky about to set off on her first "big trip". Can you see the grin on her face? This is about 7:30am on Thursday.
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02449.JPG

:tab We made the run up to Texarkana via some highways and backroads. We played phone tag with John "Dyna Sport" MacQueen and Matt "Vio" Lanier in an effort to hook up with them in Texarkana. We finally found them waiting near the Waffle House on Hwy 71 and I-30. John had been there since 10:00 because he thought I said we'd be there at 10:30am! It is noon when we arrive, I could swear I told him 11:30-noonish. No matter, he is ready to ride as is Matt. Did I take any pictures? Heck no :roll:

:tab We head up Hwy 71 towards Mena. Matt has a little cafe he knows about and that is where we plan to eat lunch. It is warm with spotted cloud cover. Matt takes us down a nice little road just North of Hattfield that comes back out on 71 just South of Mena, a nice diversion from the traffic and boredom of 71.

http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02451.JPG

:tab We reach the cafe shortly after passing through Mena. I have no idea where we are because Matt has been leading and I have been daydreaming. However, the food is good. While we sit inside letting things settle, it begins to rain quite hard. Matt and Rebecca run outside to rainproof what they can and bring in what they cannot. Soon the rain has let up. we pay the tab, and get back on the road. I expect it to be muggy but am pleasantly surprised to find out the rain has cooled things off nicely.

:tab We reach Hwy 23 and turn off of 71. The run up to Booneville is nice and relaxing. We stop in Booneville for a break then take off for Ozark. Once North of Ozark, Hwy 23 gets fun. This section is known as the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. It consists of lots of tight 10, 15 and 20 mph hairpins and switchbacks. I let everyone else go on ahead and hang back for a few pics and a nature break :mrgreen:

Looking South on 23 just before entering the Pig Trail
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02453.JPG

Hwy 23 continues straight, 215 goes off into the mountains and deadends into gravel... my knobbies are back at the house :-(
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02454.JPG

http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02455.JPG

:tab I catch up with everyone at the end of the road and we turn North. Hwy 16 and 23 run together here for a while. We are now back down in a nice valley with pastures lining the sides of the road.
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02456.JPG

http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02457.JPG

:tab We stop for gas in Huntsville and then make the final run up to Eureka Springs. Rebecca had been very nervous about this trip but so far she has been riding well. She's happy because we have bike-to-bike communicators and she can sing to me :-? Fortunately, there is a volume control on the unit... :nana We arrive shortly after 7:30pm, almost exactly 12 hours and 520 miles. We see other bikes already in the parking lot. Some of the early arrivers have already gone for dinner so we walk up the road and get dinner at Sparky's Grill. Good food!

:tab Friday morning rolls around and we have the whole gang in attendance except for Randy and Chris Blaschke. They will be arriving tonight and riding with us tomorrow. Today, I plan to lead a slower group on a shorter route and Will "Dower" Howard will lead a group on the longer route. At least that is our plan.

Johnathon with his BMW R100GS/Dakar and John on his Dyna
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02460.JPG

Larry "Leadwolf" Johnson waiting patiently on his VFR 800
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02461.JPG

:tab Will heads out with his group in tow and they take US 62 West out of town. Myself, Rebecca and Danny head directly North on Hwy 23. I plan to get ahead of the others so we can hopefully hook up with them for lunch if our timing is right. Rebecca is a little stiff when we first set out, but she soon visibly relaxes and start working on her form in the corners. Arkansas is a great place to get your cornering skills down! We head Up Hwy 86 in Southern Missouri, a twisting winding snake like road with perfectly smooth asphalt. Near Cassville, we head South to a little county road that cuts a few miles through a bunch of pastures before plopping us out in Washburn on Hwy 37. It's flat here on this little road and there are the typical ninety degree corners around the pastures, but it is still a fun little road.

:tab In Washburn, we hit the start of Hwy 90. At first blush, this does not seem like anything special. Then we reach that first long hill topped off by a nice right hander. From that point on, the name of the game is rythm and smoothness! The curves come back to back in rapid fire succession, few if any posted at more than 25-30 mph. The road snakes along a ridge through the forest for nearly fifty miles before dropping down into the teeny weeny town of Noel... where everyone smokes, including kids. :-| We stop for gas and to grab a mid morining snack. The gas station sits on the banks of the Elk River:

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As we are getting ready to head out, the main group arrives, surprised to see us here before them, hehe. Hoping to stay ahead of them, we take off without waiting on them and again take another short cut ;-) We take Hwy H out of town and follow the Elk River to Hwy 71 just South of Pineville. It is a nice scenic ride. We head South on 71 a mile or so and pick up the start of Hwy K, another real twisty strip of road. This one runs through the Huckleberry Ridge State Forest. At one point, I realize we have lost Danny. Rebecca has no idea where he is. Moments later he arrives and everything seems fine. We keep going.

:tab The road looks like white pavement but in reality it has been tarred and covered with a fine white gravel. In the center of the lane and on the shoulders the gravel is a little loose. As long as I stay in the tire tracks, everything is groovy ;-) Howver, Danny's Harley felt a little squirrely to him, making him think perhaps he had a flat when in fact he was sliding around on the gravel. Soon we are back on Hwy 90 and continue East back to Washburn. Here we backtrack on the little country roads to get to the far side of Cassville. The rest of the group is routed to go up through Cassville on Hwy 37, a little out of the way, but again gives us a chance to head them off at the pass so to speak.

:tab We make our way back up to Hwy 76 and continue heading East. Now we are heading into the Mark Twain National Forest. Hwy 76 is a lot like 86 and 90, the pavement is real smooth and the curves are just incredible. There are literally no straights! Everything is gong just hunky dory until we get stuck behind a slow moving eighteen wheeler. It's not that he isn't doing his best to go fast, but on such a twisty road he just can't! There is nowhere for him to get over so we can get around and there sure as heck aren't any safe places to pass. So we just wait it out. Evetnually we get around him, just a few miles before our next stop. Sure enough, we stop and he arrives moments later hehe.

:tab We have stopped in Cape Fair. This little town is right where Hwy 76 and 173 meet. There is a nice little 50's style cafe here and the food is great. The only problem is that they have changed the hours on us since we were last here!! It is only 1:15 or so and they don't open until 4:00pm :-| We decide to head on into town and see what we can find. Just up the road we find the Maple Hill Restaurant. I pull in and park in the corner of the lot so the main group will see the bike when they come looking for a place to eat as well :-) We head inside to see what is in store for us.

:tab Mere moments after we place our order, the main group comes along and finds us. We pretty much take over about half of the little dining area.

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Johnathon's immaculate R100GS/Dakar - entirely too clean for a GS :-P
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with a fancy shmancy Ohlins shock on the back :hail
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And the rest of the gang's purty motorsickles, most of them anyway...
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Meanwhile back inside... Kevin, Larry and Kevin
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Matt "Vio" Lanier and Stuart "Thermalser" Robles (Matt is usually smiling hehe)
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:tab During lunch, the consensus is reached that there isn't a chance in the world that the main group is going to be able to finish the full route and get back to the hotel before long after dark. So the decision is made to cut the route short. Rebecca and Danny decide that they would like to continue heading East to run Hwy 125 and ride the ferry across Bull Shoals Lake. This means we will be doing close to 350 miles instead of the planned 250 for our little group. It also means we will be doing the same route as the main group, so we have to get a jump on them again. Off we go...

:tab The ride out of town on Hwy 76 is fun and twisty. We reach Hwy 13 and then head over to Hwy 248 so we can cut over to US 160 which we plan to follow around the North side of Branson. US 160 is a nice wide road with wide shoulders. It is still a really nice ride though as it twists through some hilly countryside. Soon we reach US 65, an interesting intersection.

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:tab I have to wonder what Highway Engineer planned this out? The intersection is right IN the middle of a large hill. Rather than go around it, or over it, it was decided to just go through it! The terracing looks pretty cool up close. We pass thorugh and keep heading East on US 160 until we reach Hwy H. Lettered highways in Missouri can be confusing because they get repeated. Recall that we were on Hwy H when we left Noel earlier? That is a totally different Hwy H than this one. In reality, they are County roads that happen to be well paved most of the time and they are referred to as highways. Still with me? So anyway, we turn North on Hwy H and head into some great twisties... on white pavement again :brainsnap

:tab For me, the white pavement thing is not really an issue. The GS just plows right through it without missing a beat. Rebecca and Danny are not so wild about it. Fortunately, there is not too much loose stuff on this road. It winds up and down with lots of fast elevation changes. There really aren't any side roads to speak of, just the occasional driveway. Woods line both sides of the road for miles and miles. Before long, we reach Hwy 125.

:tab Hwy 125 is one of those special roads. It doesn't really go anywhere important or start near anything important so there isn't really much in the way of traffic. It is however, one of the best twisty roads around. It has tons of tight technical corners strung together in and endless ribbon of perfect pavement. Many of the curves are banked like the rim of a bowl. It requires flipping the bike from side to side constantly and is a great workout. I let Rebecca take point for a while so she can read the curves for herself without anyone in front of her and distracting her. When we reach Bradleyville, we pull over to gas up and take a break.

:tab While we are hanging out, Johnathon comes around the corner. He looks like a man on a mission... A mission to find the bathroom :shock: We get out of his way. The rest of the group is aroud the corner, apparently oblivious to our presence. Johnathon comes back out and disappears around the corner and moments later the group pulls away, never even seeing us. :roll: Now I realize that this is probably the last time we will see them until we get back to the hotel. Hopefully, we can catch up to them when they stop to wait on the ferry at Bull Shoals Lake. So off we go in hot... well luke warm pursuit!

:tab We cross back into Northern Arkansas, the road goes to crap, and soon arrive at the ferry dock... just in time to see the main group unloading on the far side of the lake, doh! Then the ferry sits, and sits... The sound of all this water lapping up on the rocks is more than we can stand, so off into the woods we go, hi ho the derry O! Rebecca whines about how unfair it is that we can go off into the woods, sheesh! Like we should suffer for her having been born a woman? With a little heckling, she is soon huffing off into the woods herself, my warning of poison ivy trailing her into the thicket.

Scenes like this always make me want to go swimming
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Suitably relieved, Rebecca rejoins us :lol:
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:tab and now she feels like she has really lived an adventure... city folk :roll:

Danny checking out the clear water, his Night Train perilously close to the edge of the dock!
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How much longer is the ferry going to be??
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:tab Well, after a good twenty minutes or so, we hear the ferry rev up its' engines to head back to our side of the lake... EMPTY!! Man, I hope they don't make us wait another twenty minutes before they take us across!? We'll be hopelessly behind the main group and they'll start getting worried when they get to the hotel and we are no where to be found. Fortunately, the operators are feeling nice. They load us up, cast off and off we go. The ride across is a nice relaxing cruise that only takes about 8-10 minutes. The weather is absolutely perfect, cool and dry with mostly sunny skies. I really don't think I could have custom ordered it any better :shrug:

:tab We reach the far side, unload and head South on Hwy 125 to Hwy 14. We run Hwy 14 West to Hwy 7, and then 7 down to Harrison. After a quick u-turn because of a missed turn, we are on our way to US 62 and the final run back to the hotel. Traffic is not too bad and we are making good time. The road is wide and sweeps over long low hills. Somewhere along the line in Berryville, we lost Danny?!

:tab Just out of town we pull over to wait, he doesn't show :scratch I tell Rebecca to stay here in case he comes by and then I head back into town. I reach the last place where I know I saw him and then turn around to head back to Rebecca. No sign of him. Well, I figure he must be up to something, we are close to Eureka Springs and he knows the rest of the route, so I hook up with Rebecca to make the last 20 miles to the hotel. As I come up on her, she tells me in the communicator that a cruiser just went by but she could not tell if it was Danny. So we take off after it and sure enough it is him. I must have missed him in town. We follow him back to the hotel where we find the rest of the group already relaxing and asking about dinner plans. Danny stopped at the Wal-Mart for something and we did not see him trying to signal us from behind before he pulled off the road.

Today's stats:
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:tab I think the main group did a whopping ten more miles than us :lol: Rebecca did great and already I can see an improvement in her cornering.

:tab We decide to head for the Bavarian Inn on the outskirts of town. We pile most everyone into Larry and Shelly's truck and head out. Rebecca and the Mt. Vernon crew ride their bikes. The restaurant gets us setup minutes after we walk in and get to taking care of us immediately. When the fighting over the wine/beer list settles down, they start taking our orders. The food is fantastic but a little pricey. I had a Trout dinner with a bowl of their Potato soup and two tiny scoops of ice cream and my tab came to $30, with no alcohol. Eh... I'll only live once and I don't do this all the time :chug:

[If I have the motivation, I'll try to finish tomorrow ;-) ]

[buck000]

Ggrrr... I can't stand having to join just to view images :-P Guess I need to look into setting up a hosting service for TWT members.

Adios,

for Thermalser's imagestation link (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=3578510093), try logging in as 'aprilia', password 'futura'... ;-)

smugmug.com seems to be a really reasonably priced, full-featured image hoster...

Oh, and as regards the trip reports and pics: nice! However, I'm really bummed I don't have/make the time to go on some of these... :-(

[Thermalser]

Thanks Buck! I knew there was a way to do that! :pound:

[Squeaky]

YAY!!! A trip report!!!
I'll have to settle for day one and two so far, but you're already bringing back some great memories!

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab Okay, Saturday morning arrives a wee bit too early. Bill opens the hotel room door and I have one of those near death experiences where I feel like I am standing in front of the bright light. Fortunately, I have the blankets of darkness to pull over my head... He heads out to meet some of the other folks for breakfast and I sleep in a little longer.

:tab A few minutes before 9:00am, I roll around to the front of the hotel to find everyone waiting. Today we are just going to run as one group since we are doing a route of only about 350 miles. It is cool and clear. As we ride out of town I am kind of wishing I had a liner in my mesh jacket. However, the road is fun and I soon forget the edgy chill on my arms. Heated handgrips help in that regard ;-)

:tab We head East out of town on US 62 toward Berryville. I have decided to run the route backwards so we can hit Hwy 123 earlier in the day. Hwy 123 is the highlight of the route and I want everyone to be fresh for it. The run over to Berryville is relaxing and a good warmup for everyone. The fun starts though when we head South on Hwy 21 into the mountains. We run 21 all the way down to the small town of Kingston. This is where some of us took shelter from the hail when we were here back in May for the TWT rally. Today, we pull into town, which is nothing more than the town square, to wait for the tail end of the group to rejoin with us. There are several other riders relaxing in the little gazebo in the center of the square. No sooner than we stop and people start pulling their helmets off. I go into drill sargent mode and remind them this is not a rest stop! Pansies :roll:

:tab The tail end of the group shows up moments later and we are off and running again. If we are to have a chance of doing the whole route, I've got to keep the stops to a minimum and keep the group moving. When we reach Boxley, we turn on to Hwy 74 and head East. I float from the front of the group to the back making sure everyone makes the turn off and stays with the group. Hwy 74 follows the ridge of the Buffalo River Valley. Parts of the route are reminiscient of Deal's Gap. The woods line the edge of the road, the hill side dropping away quickly on the left into the valley below. The GS goes into tractor mode, lugging down to low RPMs and then pulling hard through the corners, shift gears? Nah...

:tab I am settling into a nice groove when I come around a corner and see what looks like a huge bag of dog food in the road :shock: I motion to everyone else to watch for it. As I round the next corner, a car is coming from the other direction... Man I hope he doesn't have to swerve right when a bike is in the way :-| I slow down for a bit and watch for the other bikes behind me. When I see them we pick the pace back up a little. Well, until a few corners later when we get stuck behind an SUV putting along. With nowhere safe to pass, I just settle in and inhale the fumes from his cooking brakes. Soon we are coming down off the ridge into Jasper where we stop for another break.

Randy "r1150gsrider" Blaschke and his new R1150GS
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Randy's home made highway pegs, curtesy of his Dad I think...
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:tab While we are hanging out at the gas station, the riders we saw earlier in Kingston arrive to gas up. Never one to miss an opportunity, I head over to talk with them. It turns out that we've run into one of our own members, Hood Ornament and some of his TSBA riding buddies. When I walk up, he knows my name before I say a word... creepy hehe. Like us, they are having a blast and enjoying the incredible weather and roads. Gased up, they rumble off through town heading South, the same way we will be headed in a few minutes.

:tab Once I get everyone back on the bikes, we head South out of town on Hwy 7. The road immmediately starts a steep climb up out of the valley through a series of 25mph curves. There are skid marks all over the place :-| Apparently some people have been underestimating the sharpness of the curves or the handling abilities of their vehicles! There are warning signs all over the place, especially for eighteen wheelers, including a run away truck ramp for those coming down the hill. Within a few miles we reach the top of the ridge and our next turn, Hwy 374. I stop for a few pics again and drop to the back of the pack. They know now to just wait for me at the next stop sign or intersection.

It's steeper than it looks...
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And another... ;-)
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That tree to the left is about the extent of the fall colors so far.
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:tab The fun thing about dropping to the back of the group is that I get to catch up to them :twisted: Hwy 374 is a fun road for doing just that. There are a lot of quick elevation changes and tight technical corners. It starts at the top of the ridge and drops down into a long beautiful valley before ending on Hwy 74/123 in Vendor. The group is waiting patiently for me when I arrive. I move up to the front, making sure everyone is there and ready to continue before I head South toward Mt. Judea. Now we are heading to one of the best roads in the state, Hwy 123 South of Mt. Judea down to Hwy 7.

:tab There is the obligatory warning sign about steep grades and tight curves just outside of town when 123 splits off from Hwy 74. A few people shoot a picture of the sign. Then we are off and running, the curves are marked 25mph and some have loose gravel scattered about on the pavement. We are not running hot and heavy so evading the gravel is not really a problem. A minute or two later and we reach the base of the mountain, Rebecca and I are bringing up the rear, Leadwolf doing the Leadwolf thing, going fast at the front of the pack, hehe.

:tab And so, here we are at the base of the mountain, looking at a long series of 5-10mph steep switchbacks. I've hung back with Rebecca because I know this is going to set off her panic reactions. Watching her in the mirror, I can see her making the effort to control those reactions and to look up and through the corners. It doesn't help that there is quite a bit of gravel on the road here as well. I'm sure she thinks she's doing terrible, I remember feeling that way too, but she negotiates all of the corners fine and soon we are on top of the ridge. We catch up with Debbie and Will, the rest of the pack already gone.

:tab Once we are up on the ridge Hwy 123 turns into one of the smoothest best laid out roads for motorcycle riding you are likely to find. The road is only a few years old. It goes nowhere so the only traffic is the locals and there are few of them, usually running their ATV's up and down the road with the whole family on board. The corners are nicely banked with wide shoulders, few of which are decreasing radius corners. Debbie and Rebecca set into a nice pace and I just follow along. Will has taken off for a more spirited run. As we near the last few miles, I tell Rebecaa to have the others loop back for pics and video. With that, I make a fast u-turn and head back to where I want to set up for the pics.

:tab Larry shows up first. I'm hiding in the woods and he doesn't see me until I yell out to him hehe. Soon I hear the rest of the gang rumbling through to the woods getting closer. I start the camera and they all go right by me without even realizing I am sitting right there on the side of the road. . Everyone goes by and then we start wondering if they are coming back, or are they going all the way to the end of the road... uh oh...

:tab So we stand around and wait. While waiting, I use Larry's video camera to get some footage of him grinding off what is left of his peg feelers. Let's just say that Larry [i]really trusts his tires ;-) Still no sign of the others, so he does a few more runs. Eventually, Matt shows up and then a few others. It seems that Bill "Wasabi" Joye is having mechnical difficulties further up the road. Before long, most everyone has returned and we get pictures and video of them coming through the curves.

Everyone else has the good pics from this stop, sorry...
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:tab I set off to find Bill and he passes me going the other way. I guess he got things taken care of and is good to go. Now we are spread out all up and down the road. We finally get everyone regrouped and then head back North to Mt. Judea. It's time for lunch! When we take off, Larry is leading with me giving chase. Watching him slam the VFR through the corners is a hoot! Right before we reach the really tight stuff to get down off the mountain, he pulls over at a small overlook on the side of the road.

I can't help it, it is just so photogenic ;-)
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Johnathon on his R100Gs/Dakar with its' massive 9 gallon tank :shock:
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John "Dyna Sport" MacQueen on his shake-n-baker! Rides it like he stole it!
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Stuart "Thermalser" Robles and his FZ1
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Randy again? Hard to tell... he and Chris are the Day-Glo twins. Hmm...? Wonder Twin Powers anyone?
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Squint hard and you can see the road running along the side of the ridge just below the peaks
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Matt "Vio" Lanier and his SV650S, see he can smile ;-) He was just practicing to be a Jar Head yesterday, hehe
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:tab He leaves for Marine bootcamp tomorrow at 4:00pm :-|

:tab On the way back, Larry and I swap bikes. It feels funny to be back on a VFR, but probably not as funny as he feels on the GS! For me, the tight switchbacks are effortless on the GS, even when going down them, on the VFR I am really having to think about brakes, clutch, RPM's, being smooth, etc,... Then there's the gravel in the road I would normally drive right through, can't get away with that on the VFR! But it is fun to play with the zoom factor on the VFR, listening to it scream through the RPMs, past the engagement of the Vtec hooplah right up to a goose bumply wail. Man I miss my VFR...

:tab We head back over to Hwy 7 via 374. Now I am back in the lead and just having fun with the VFR, slipping into the corners smoothly and ripping out of them at WFO throttle. Eh..? Larry's back tire seems a little slick :shock: Guess I'll have to be a little more careful. All to soon I have climbed up out of the valley and back up on to the ridge where I stop to wait for the group to reform.

:tab While we are sitting at the stopsign, I look over and see the front end of John's Harley shaking all over the place. The fender is moving, the forks are flexing, the tire is shaking around, hehe. I point it out and the others kind of giggle. John starts looking around with a perplexed expression wondering if something is wrong with his bike before he realizes what we are laughing at :lol: I swear you could strap a can of paint to his forks and it would be well mixed in just moments :-P

:tab We turn South on Hwy 7 and go a few miles before reaching our lunch destination, the Cliff House Restaurant. We tried eating here on one of our previous trips but got here right at 3:05pm. They closed at 3:00pm :roll: This time we are here in plenty of time and pile into the small dining area. The owner takes all of our gear and puts it behind his counter out of the way.

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I was all set up for this great shot... Then the kitchen door swung open...
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Which would by why everyone is laughing at me :roll:
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Here's the sweet and organized lady that took care of us. She doesn't like having her picture taken, hehe.
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Here's the view from the back deck off the dining area (http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/CliffHouseHwy7.jpg)

And the deck...
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:tab After a great lunch, we get back on the bikes and head North on Hwy 7 back into Jasper for gas. After gassing up, we head right back South on Hwy 7. I'm sure everyone is wondering if I am lost, but I always have a plan :mrgreen: Rebecca did not really enjoy the run on Hwy 123, so instead of bactracking on it, we are just parallelling it, very roughly, to get down to the South end of that same stretch of road. We're going to run the rest of 123 on the West side of Hwy 7. there are no switchbacks, just great curves and beautiful scenery. We stop to regroup at the intersection of Hwy 16 and 7. While waiting we goof off and get some pics. Randy has one of us kneeling in front of the road sign warning of steep and crooked roads ahead :lol: Regrouped we run the rest of the way down to Sand Gap at the intersection of Hwy 123, 16 and 7. The old general store is closed but there are other riders hanging out in front taking a break.

Don't see many VFR 800's like this one... :-?
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:tab After everyone arrives, I take off on 123 heading Southwest, leading the pack. I've not had too much chance to really enjoy a brisk pace so far this weekend and decide to open up the GS a little and stretch it's legs. This road is perfect for the task! It runs down in little valleys along winding creeks and climbs up the side of the valleys and follows the sides of the many little mountains. There are a few patches in the pavement that are a bit rough, but the suspension on th GS just soaks it up without so much as a hiccup. I find myself running a pace where I am very relaxed, not fighting the bike, small surprises in the road don't even cause a minor flinch... motorcycling nerdvana :dude: Any faster and things could get unexpectedly ugly, any slower and the 1150RT behind me will be running me over :-P

:tab Like many of the great moments on the bike, it ends all too soon as well reach Hagarville on Hwy 164. I pull over under a large oak tree next to a church and we wait for the rest of the group. A perfect chance to get some pics of the group with the bikes.

Cramming under the shade like cows in a pasture :lol:
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Then it occurs to me that I might have time to run back up to the last corner to get some shots of the last few bikes coming along.

Here's Debbie "Snoopster" McMullen on her GS 500, no she's not waving. That is a fence post behind her, hehe.
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:tab You can see she's no longer afraid to lean the bike!

Here's Rebecca "Squeaky" Nelson showing fine form!
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Last, but not least, Chris "Mrr1150GS" Blaschke
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:tab After a nice break, we decide to just run right back up 123 to 7 instead of heading East on 164 to 7 and then heading North. It will save us a good bit of time and we get to do an awesome road again! While we are waiting, a few other riders pull up, one on some kind of Aprilia and the othe on a Duc 750SS. The Duc seems to have a serious leak in the right fork and oil is everywhere! They decide to ride with the group. As people are streaming back out on to the road, I notice Bill "Wasabi" Joye's engine bash plate flopping around under his bike. Before I can get his attention, he is zooming away after the others. Debbie and Rebecca come out last then I bring up the rear.

:tab Rebecca had told me that she really enjoyed the run down 123 and she felt more relaxed than she previously has. So I settle in behind her to watch for a while. Indded, she does look much more relaxed going into the corners, holding her line through the corner, and rolling out of the corners. It would seem that sometime after lunch, something clicked for her and everything seems to be coming together for her. We continue running a nice relaxed pace. We stop for some pictures at a neat old bridge along the way.

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I think this is where Will "Dower" Howard was seen swimming in other pics
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It's only a one lane bridge, and a narrow lane at that!
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:tab While stopped at the bridge, we decide to check the oil in Deb's GS. It hasbeen consuming more than usual this weekend. We send Rebecca on her way telling her we will catch up to the group at the next intersection. The oil filler cap on Deb's bike is so hot she can hardly get it off so we can check the oil. It doesn't even register on the dipstick :shock: Fortunately, she is carrying extra oil so we can top it off. I put the filler cap back on and even with my leather gloves, it is hot to the touch. I have a bad feeling about this motor... :-|

:tab Deb and I get back on the road with her leading the way. Since our trip to Colorado in June, I really have not had much opportunity to ride behind her and watch her riding. All weekend people have been commenting to me that they are impressed with how smoothly she rides. I have to say, that makes me proud *sniffle*. Sure enough, as she hits the corners, she is very smooth in and out of them, hitting the delayed apexes and holding her lines, rolling on the gas coming out of the corners. She looks very relaxed and confident. What a dramatic change from just four or five months ago!

:tab We reach the old general store on Hwy 7 to find the rest of the group waiting. When I go to tell Bill about his engine guard, I see that he already has it off the bike and strapped to his back seat. I guess someone else saw it as well. Oil is dripping from the crankcase in front of the front sprocket :-| This could be bad...We decide to head for home. Most of the group is getting a little tired and wants a fairly direct route back to the hotel. Earlier in Jasper, Johnathon and Danny headed back to the hotel, now we are going to be losing Kevin and Kevin and a few others. After making sure everyone knows how to get back, we head North on Hwy 7 to pick up Hwy 16 West.

:tab While we are certainly still having fun, most folks have made the mental shift into "get home" mode. Stops become less frequent and people just wanna knock down the miles. I hang to the back of the pack and follow Larry for a while, Rebecca being just ahead of him. Fatigue is setting in and I can see that everyone's lines are starting to wander through the corners. We run Hwy 16 all the way West to Hwy 23. We had originally planned to make a run down the Pig Trail on 23, but instead decide to just head North back to the hotel and call it a day. A few miles before 23, I stop for a few last roadside pictures.

Imagine doing this all day long... It was brutal!
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:tab We hit 23 and head North. Gas is becoming in issue for a few people. Will's R1 is hard pressed to go 150 miles on a tank. He is leading the pack right now and running a VERY tame pace. I slide up behind him and several times I think he has run out of gas but he continues going. We finally reach Huntsville and stop at the Shell station in the middle of town. This turns into a fairly long rest stop. When we finally head out, Will is on my GS and I am on his R1. We never even make it out of the parking lot...

:tab While I am backing up the R1, people start yelling at me :-? When I stop and look up, I see Will standing next to the GS, which is rubber side up on the concrete parking lot :shock: The parking lot has a nasty slope to one side and apparently, with the full tank of gas, the bike tipped over and Will just could not stop it. After making sure he is okay, it takes three of us to lift the bike uphill. Then smoke starts coming off the right side!! When the handle bar hit the ground, the handguard rotated and hit the banjo bolt on the brake master cyclinder, popping it loose and letting brake fluid get all over everything! We wiped everything down with wet paper towels, tightened up the loose bits, and did a quick inspection. Other than some scratches on the engine guard, hand guards, and mirror, everything is fine. While Will and I get everything in order, the rest of the gang goes ahead and takes off for the hotel. This leaves me, Will and Rebecca to do the last few miles together. I cannot believe no one got any pics of this!?

:tab We head North out of town on Hwy 23. It is only about 30 miles to Eureka Springs from here, and it is a very nice ride. Just outside of town 23 starts getting nice and twisty. The road is very smooth and the curves are all perfect. The R1 is a scary fast bike. Scary because it goes so fast without even trying! It leans into a corner effortlessly and when I gently roll on the throttle coming out of the corners, it is hard to keep the bike under 80mph! Putting along in sixth gear at 3000 RPM (out of 14K available), I can whack the throttle open and the bike accelerates like a missle. I could never own this bike. I would have a hard time staying out of trouble with it. The acceleration is simply addictive. The only real down side is the heat from the underseat pipes and the buzziness of the inline four. Otherwise it is remarkably comfortable and the handling is spectacular.

:tab Rebecca has been wanting to stop and get a picture of her bike with the sunset. As we continue up 23, I am looking for a good place to pull over that has some decent scenery and we won't get run over.

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Anyone up for a swim... :-?
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Post parking lot drop, bet you can't tell where the scrapes are :-P
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:tab We arrive at the hotel to find everyone getting ready for dinner and wanting to know what the plan is for dinner. Our mileage for the day is:

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:tab Even though we did not do the entire route, we still did about the same miles, just on better roads with a bit of backtracking on the good stuff. We decide to have everyone make their way over to Sparky's Grill for dinner. It is a short walk up the road from the hotel and has good food. They're not ready for a huge group and we have to split up among several tables.

:tab Matt's parents have come up from Texarkana to have dinner with him. Like most twenty year olds, he is embarassed by his parents, hehe. They are nice folks though. They just want to spend a little time with him before he takes off for boot camp and comes back a totally different person.

:tab After dinner we waddle back to the hotel where we hang out for the evening before heading to bed. It has been a great few days of riding. Everyone that showed up got along great with the group and we had a blast. Tomorrow we all go our separate ways and back to the grind. Well... some of them anyway, the rest of us still have to ride home.

:tab After much haggling last night, it was finally decided that our group would attempt to leave the hotel parking lot by 7:00am. Some wanted to leaver earlier to make better time, but I convinced them that in the long run they would lose time waiting in the emergency room for me after I go off some cliff because I am sound asleep on the bike :-P Well, we don't quite get away at 7:00, actually more like 7:30am, but it is not my fault! I have been ready to roll since bright and early, hehe. It is very cool and slightly damp. Already I can tell it is going to be another incredibly beautiful day. How did we get so lucky with the weather this weekend :scratch

Most but not all of the bikes in attendance this weekend
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Snoopster and Mrr1150GS getting set to leave
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:tab When everyone is finally ready to roll, we head South on Hwy 23: Matt, John, Randy, Chris, Will, Debbie, Rebecca and myself. No sooner than we are doing about 40 mph I realize that it is COLD! I cannot even tell my heated grips are set on high! Occasionally, we crest a hill and break out of the trees into the faintly warm light of the slowly rising morning sun. Surely I can set my mind to ignore the cold long enough for the sun to heat things up a wee bit... a few more miles, dropping down into little valleys and feeling like I'm in a deep freeze... surely not!

:tab I pull over to the side of the road at a Shell station where Hwy 127 peels off to the West. I wave everyone on by as I dig out my rainsuit jacket. It makes an excellent wind breaker which is really all I need. The bulk of the group goes by and then as I am about to finish suiting up, Rebecca comes buzzing by, patiently doing her thing at the back of the pack. I wonder if the main group will have the patience to wait for her all day? Hmm...? Well, I get back on the road and set off to catch up to everyone.

:tab When I reach Huntsville a few miles down the road, I find just about everyone pulled over getting out warmer clothing :lol: It seems I am not the only one cold, just the biggest wuss for not being able to make it this far before stopping :oops: With the group reformed and everybody cozy, We set out again, continuing down Hwy 23. It's quiet except for the rumble of the bike, no traffic and very still. The road is hypnotic. None of the curves are real technical or challenging, but there are few if any straights which means I still have to pay attention, just not the razor sharp attention required for the fast tight stuff. It's very relaxing. Somehow I wind up at the back of the pack again, which is cool.

Looking South on Hwy 23 near Hwy 127
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I love the long shadows and soft lighting, almost makes it worth getting up so freaking early :-P
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And the Panorama shot... Here (http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/Hwy23.jpg)

:tab I'm cruising along, lost in my thoughts and admiring the colors of the countryside in the morning glow when I come over a hill and see Debbie stopped in the road ahead?? This cannot be good. Her bike has been cause for concern all weekend and this may be the final straw. There is a short paved pull out on the far side of the road so I park the GS and go to help her get the bike out of the road. Will has turned around to find out what happened to her. Rebecca is here with us as well. No sign of the rest of the group.

:tab Debbie starts telling us that she was just cruising along and the engine quit as if someone just hit the kill switch, no noises or clunks, no sputtering, nothing, just dead. She coasted to a stop and tried to restart the bike, no dice. When we thumb the starter, we can hear it spinning, but the motor is definitely not turning over. We decide to attempt a bump start. Will gets on the bike, pops into second gear, Deb and I start pushing. He dumps the clutch and nothing... not even a whimper. We back it up and this time I get on the bike and put it in third gear for another attempt. When I get up to a good 10mph or so, I dump the clutch and the rear wheel starts skidding... :brainsnap It would seem that Debbie's bike has carved its' last corner for a while, the engine must be seized.

:tab So we are sitting out in the middle of nowhere wondering what we are going to do. I can't recall who thought of it, but someone suggested we call the hotel and see if Stuart "Thermalser" Robles has left yet. He has a trailer than can hold two bikes and is only carrying his FZ1. A few calls and we strike gold! He's still there and agrees to come to our rescue. Now we sit and wait...

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Deb is being a trooper considering her bike just self destructed
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I wonder where this trail leads... *sigh* If only I had some knobbies on the GS :twisted:
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I entertain myself looking for things to take pictures of while waiting. Rebbeca entertains herself by taking a joy ride on the GS. Will heads off to see if he can find the front of the group waiting somewhere up ahead. Deb hangs out patiently, brooding because she had planned to sell this bike soon so she could get a new SV650S. Now those plans have been temporarily dashed, frustrating for sure!

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Morning dew still glistens on the leaves
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:tab Before Rebecca left, I made sure to tell her to find a good flat spot to turn the bike around before coming back. If she were to drop it, she would be alone trying to get it back up again. Will returns after a while with drinks, very cool. Rebecca is no where to be found. I'm starting to think she has run off with the GS. She has been commenting abot how much she enjoys riding the bike lately... After about fortyfive minutes we hear a distant throbbing eachoing up the valley, slowly but surely getting louder. Then Rebecca pops over the hill, the GS revving like a top, and she pulls up with a big grin on her face, "You said don't stop until I could find a flat spot to turn around..." Ohh... making me eat my own words :roll:

:tab It is not long after Rebecca's return that Stuart arrives. He finds a spot just up the road where he can get his jeep and trailer off the road and we'll still have room to load the bike. It's about 100 yards from where we are, so...

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He's right where the road vanishes
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I hang back to take pics and flag down traffic so they don't get run over
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With Rebecca supervising, Stuart relocates the wheel chocks to accomodate two bikes
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While I take care of getting more of the all important pictures
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Yeah... more purple flowers...
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And now for something totally different
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Where's Waldo the Bug?
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Hmm... we are probably going to be here a good 30-40 minutes... I could just run up a bit to see what's there...? I'll be right back, honest! :mrgreen:
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Here's proof that Rebecaa can be handy ;-)
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While looking for a restroom, Will finds this dry creek bed a few yards off into the woods from the side of the road
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:tab No we did not go to the bathroom together :roll: He told me about it after he came out of the woods.

Found these cool looking plants on the far side of the creek
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:tab Deep in the heart of chiggerland (which I found out later that evening :shock: )

Not grapes but I wonder if they are edible? Anyone...? Anyone...?
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:tab While we are finishing up loading Deb's bike, Rebecca hears my cell phone ringing in my tankbag. That's odd because I seldom, if ever, leave my cell phone turned on. I miss the call but check for messages. It's Randy and the rest of the group. They are in Booneville, about an hour and a half from here, and they are wondering where we are!? I tell them what happened and suggest they just keep going. No point in them trying to wait for us now. Also, Matt has to be back before 4:00pm so he can ship off to Marine Boot Camp... I can't wait until the next time we hear from him, hehe.

Strapped down and ready to roll...
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:tab Rebbeca convinces Debbie that she is not feeling up to the long ride back home and would prefer to ride back with Stuart and his daughter if Debbie would not mind riding the SV650S back for her. It is a mighty struggle, but Debbie finally caves in and agrees to ride back on a bike she loves... I wonder if Debbie realizes how lucky she is? Had her rear tire locked up when the engine gave out, it could have been really ugly!! After Stuart and Rebecca leave, we head down the road just a few miles and find this:

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:tab Not a good place to have an engine let go on you! But a great place to flog a borrowed Sv650S :twisted:



:tab We take off into the infamous Pig Trail Scenic Byway, the section of Hwy 23 North of Ozark. Think lots of tight 10-20 mph corners and switchbacks, up and down through dense woods, with zero run off if you blow a corner and you will have a good idea of this road. Deb's gone. I come through a steep 15mph and spot a black/grey bike with undertail exhaust sitting outside the apex of the corner on the shoulder and think to myself that Will must be off peeing in the woods... again... A few corners later I realize that I am at the perfect spot to stop a get a video of Will coming through this corner in "catch up mode".

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Same pic, different exposure settings, can't help myself ;-)
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:tab So I get all setup to shoot some video and I wait... and I wait... and I wait... Could he possibly have packed toilet paper? What is taking him so long? After a bunch of traffic comes through heading the other way, I give up and decide to go find out why he has not come through yet. I zoom back through the corners and pull over next to the parked bike. Uh oh... It is a really nice new CBR1000!! :suicide: I wonder how far they have gone and if they are starting to wonder what has happened to me...

:tab Let me just say that the run through the Pig Trail by myself was loads of fun. Near the end, I come around a corner on the gas and see a State Trooper coming at me with his lights ablaze :shock: Waitaminnit!!?? Those lights were going before he even saw me and I'm not going fast enough to get in trouble... Sure enough, he zooms by me and around the corner out of sight. Hopefully, there isn't a wreck back up the road :-| As the road starts to straighten out as I near I-40, I see the SVS coming at me from the other direction. Will has come looking for me, hehe. I find Deb parked on the side of the road with his R1 waiting. I explain my confusion and they get a kick out of it, hehe.

:tab We cruise through Ozark and head for Booneville where we plan to stop for gas. The ride is relatively flat and unremarkable. When we get to Booneville, we fill up and then start thinking about food. It is already 1:00pm and we're only about 90 miles into a 500+ mile day :help: It's gonna be late when we get home. I ask the cashier if there are any good local places to grab lunch and she points us down the road to a nearby cafe.

:tab The cafe does not look like much, but from the number of vehicles in the parking lot, it is either really good or the locals have no sense of taste. After sitting down, we ask for a pitcher of water. When the waitress comes back a few minutes later, we ask for another, then another. Now she is starting to look at us kind of funny. What she missed was us topping off our Camel Baks, hehe. The place is crowded with the after church crowd hitting the big greasy buffet. It looks good but if I eat that stuff I will go comatose on the bike shortly after we pull out of the parking lot. So I go for my standby meal, a grilled cheese :mrgreen: Still high from the great weekend, I decide to live on the edge and get a Grilled Ham & Cheese :dude: It is actually pretty good! The walls of the restaurant are covered iwth big framed pictures containing all the highschool senior pictures all the way back to sometime in the mid 30's! The most recent class is barely over 100 people though, hehe. Small town.

:tab Gassed and full, we mentally make the switch to get home mode. Forget fun, forget pleasure, forget pain. We have some major miles to crank out and despite our best efforts, it just doesn't seem like we have been making much progress. Back on to Hwy 23 we go until we reach US 71 where we head South for Mena. Traffic sucks. We're not making good time. It is nearly 4:00pm by the time we get to Mena and stop for gas.

:tab We are stopped right were Hwy 88 and 71 cross. While we are taking a break, a couple pulls in on their vintage bikes. His is some kind of mid eighties turbo Kawasaki and hers is come kind of mid eighties Honda CB something. We chat with them and find out they are locals. I ask if they are headed to the Talimena Scenic byway and they say no. While we are hanging out, for some crazy reason I convince Deb and Will that we are already so far behind schedule, we might as well go all the way and ride the byway. We're here after all and who know's when we'll be back and get a chance to ride it again :shrug: Oddly enough, they agree!

:tab We head out of town to the start of the byway. There is quite a bit of loose gravel in the corners. It looks like they have recently done their version of the tar/gravel chipseal treatment and neglected to give the road a good sweeping afterwards. Annoying but no biggie. Outside the edge of town we reach the start of the byway.

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Deb enjoying Rebecca's SV650S
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:tab Click back and forth through those three shots and she looks like she is really moving out! :lol:

:tab I ride behind Deb for a while and notice that she looks very relaxed and comfortable on the SV. This is the bike she lusted after for her first bike before I convinced her to buy the GS instead. Hmm... Hopefully she does not regret that now :-? I'd like to think she is doing so well on the SV now because she spent so much time getting things right on the smaller bike first. All weekend people have been commenting about how smoothly she rides, not how fast, just smooth. Riding behind her now, I can see it. Cool.

:tab We stop at the Queen Wilhimena Lodge and check out the old steam engine. I've no idea what the story on this thing is, but who cares?! It's a big huge ground pounding monster machine! What else do I need to know??

Birds of a feather... hehe
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He kind of looks like an astronaut, no?
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:tab After our quick stop, we get moving again. No time to waste and all that jazz. We pass a Ranger on the side of the road. He has a little truck pulled over and there are little platic baggies full of stuff piled up on the side of the road. Doesn't look like illicit stuff but who knows? We cruise on by and keep moving. I get a good ways ahead of Deb and Will and decide to pull over for another photo op.

Typical view from any of the numerous pull outs
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[I have some good videos of Deb and Will but have not uploaded them yet, will soon though.]

:tab A van I had passed earlier pulls into the same lookout as me. Right behind her is the guy we saw earlier at the gas station with his wife. I guess they changed their minds about riding the byway today. He zooms on by and she goes to pull back out. When she sees me about to pull out as well, she waits so I can get ahead of her. Very nice and I give her a friendly wave. As I leave, the road starts a long winding descent, then back up and then back down. On the second down, I get a surprise at the bottom.

:tab At the end of a long series of slow sweepers that wind their way down the mountain is a fairly fast left hander. So I'm just crusing along, not hotdogging or anything, just taking in the scenery and pretty weather. When I round the corner, I see the Ranger with someone pulled over up ahead. Fixated on the ranger, I fail to notice the local Sheriff hiding to the inside of the corner back up in the woods until the lights on the grill start flashing. DOH!! I look down and realize that I am speeding. It's all 55 through here and I wasn't paying attention as I picked up speed comind down the hillside. As I get closer to the Ranger I realize it is Will that has been busted so I pull up next to him. The Ranger kind of looks at me funny for a few seconds until he notices the Sheriff pulling up behind me.

:tab The Ranger is a nice fellow, gives us the friendly lecture, "Just doing my job, gotta keep you guys safe, just want you to slow down a little, etc,..." :sleep: They have a good thing going with this little location and even brag about it, telling us they busted a group of riders earlier today. Hmm... Randy, Chris and John were going to be coming this way... that would be to funny, hehe. The nice lady in the van goes cruising by and we give her another friendly wave. She just smiles and waves back. While we are standing around, the wife of the couple we saw earlier comes riding up. The Sheriff steps right into the road in front of her and holds his hands up for her to stop! She does and gets a lecture for no reason other than she is on a bike even though she clearly was not speeding and is not with us. Oh well. Off she goes and we get back to business:

I wonder if Randy, Chris and John recognize this guy? :lol:
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:tab While we are standing around, I ask the Ranger about the fellow in the truck he had pulled over a while back. Aparently all of those little baggies were full of Ginseng that the guy had dug up along the road. It seems it grows all over the place around here and people harvest it illegally to sell on the black market. Since the whole area is a protected nature reserve, this is a big no-no. But I guess it is not to big of a no-no because they guy was not arrested, just got a fine, smaller than ours, and was let go. Presumably he didn't get to take the goods with him...?

:tab 65 in a 55 for me and a $80 fine. 70 in a 55 for Will and a $100 fine. Whaddaya gonna do? :shrug: As we are finishing up, Deb comes rolling back up the road and pulls over with us :shame: I guess we forgot to tell her to always wait somewhere down the road. She had seen Will get busted but not me. LEO seldom like to have other people start joining the party on the side of the road unannounced and I don't like to stress them any more than is necessary. They are stressed enough as it is. As we pull out to leave, the Sheriff hurry's to get in front of us so he can go a mind numbing 40mph in a 55 :roll: We follow him for a few miles, absorbing the belching fumes from his dilapidated old cruiser, until he finds another little spot on the left side of the road just behind some trees at the bottom of another long hill... Good to see the tax dollars working so hard. :lol:

:tab Spanked for the day, we run a nice docile pace all the way to the end of the road where it drops out onto US 271 a few miles North of the sprawling metropolis of Talihina, Oklahoma. It has been getting hot and we are starting to get tired. It is almost 6:00pm and we are still a LONG way from being home. We spend a short while at the local grocery store stocking up on cold water and using the restroom. The local gas station had everything but water for sale. Go figure. Will calls his wife, Lauren, to find out that she has passed her MSF course this weekend. Cool :dude: Also, he wants to let her know our status, "YOU ARE WHERE!? WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE!?" Well, wer're on our way home, hehe. She'll understand after she has some more experience riding ;-)

:tab Looking at the sun getting low in the sky, I realize as we pull back onto the road that the next few hundred miles are going to be an exercise in mind over discomfort. Most of the remaining route is just flat, straight, boring highways and we have to really make up for al our goofing off all day. We pass through Noel, cross the Red River, go through Paris and keep heading South on Hwy 19 to Sulphur Springs. Somewhere along there we pass a gas station with a few other bikes: an ST 1300, some kind of new Guzzi and an old airhead Beemer. We wave and keep going. Just North of Sulphur Springs, I pull over so we can get our last sunset picture of the trip. Moments later those same bikes pull over to join us and we spend a while chatting on the side of the road. They've been in Arkansas all weekend as well and are headed home. Lucky for them, they live in Sulphur Springs... We still have 3-4 hours left even at a break neck pace.

Got so busy visiting, this was all I managed :oops:
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And this of course :mrgreen:
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/091604TWTArkRally/DSC02580.JPG

:tab We decide to stop for dinner in Sulphur Springs. It is around 8:00pm and dark. Now that the sun is fading, it is starting to cool off again. The place our new friends recommended is obviously a local favorite. It's packed, seriously packed. So we head back up the road a block or two following the incredible smell of BBQ being smoked to find a nice little mom & pop place. They have only been open about a month or so according to the nice waitress. The food and service is great and the prices are exceptionally reasonable! 9:00pm and we are done with dinner and heading back out into the night. I call Beth and let her know where we are and what's going on. I give her Rebecca's phone number because her and Stuart are likely to reach the house long before we get there. Then off we go...

:tab With no moon, there is nothing to see. Actually, along Hwy 19 through this area, even with a noonday sun there is nothing to see. Curves are a figment of our memories of this weekend. Now the road just runs straight across the countryside. At one point, I spot a DPS cruiser sitting off in the high weeds on the shoulder, all lights off. He watches us ride by and stays put. We're not speeding. It's too dark, we're getting fatigued, and the risk of deer strike is pretty high. A glance at the GPS, still over 180 miles to go as the crow flies... It's cold enough now that we stop to layer up to stay warm. I guess Will is enjoying the heat off his underseat exhausts pipes now, hehe. 150 miles to go...

:tab We stop in Palestine. The look on Deb's face says it all. We are still about 120 miles out and have already done close to 500 miles. We started this morning, nearly 15 hours ago. All of us are getting stiff. Walking around we look like little old people, hunched over and moving slowly. I grab a Fudge Bomb to rejuvenate myself, oh yeah! After a little pow wow, we opt for a change in route. We're going to just head down US 79 and pick up I-45 in Buffalo. It is a tad longer mileage wise, but it is straight and we can make better time. Also, once on the freeway, the chances of a deer strike drop off tremendously. So we go back into the zone, make the run to I45 and head South. The traffic is surprisingly heavy at this time of night on a Sunday.

:tab 90 miles... 60 miles... We pass Leona... 45 miles... Madisonville... 20, 10, and we finally see the exit for Hwy 30 in Huntsville. It is shortly after midnight. We roll into the open garage doors. Home has never looked so good. Out the door pops Rebecca, camera in hand flashing away. There sits Deb's poor worn out little GS. I can hardly get off the bike. 606 miles and 17 hours. When's the next trip?

Adios,

[r1150gsrider]

Nice pictures Scott and a nice trip report. This was an awesome trip! I wish I could have joined the tour on the first day.

Regarding the Day-Glo suits, they are just ugly enough :puke: that someone might see me and not pull out in front of me.

I can't wait for the part about going through the Talamena Trail. ;-) Did you send in your National Park entertainment fee yet? :angryfir:

[Squeaky]

Ok, I finally uploaded my pics from the trip:

Linky (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=3522580093)

[Tourmeister]

Geez, can the images be sorted by name instead of the current random order? :scratch I did not see any option where I could change that.

[Tx Rider]

Looks like they display in the order uploaded, so they should sort by that numerical filename the camera makes before uploading. :)

Nice pics of the SV with the low sun behind. Those are always some my favorite shots.

[Squeaky]

I uploaded them in numerical order, but can't figure out how to fix the sorting on the site. I'll keep looking...

[dower]

:-D :-D GREAT PICTURES!! :-D :-D :dude:

It looks like Deb and I fell asleep on our bikes when we pulled in the garage. :sleep:

[Squeaky]

It looks like Deb and I fell asleep on our bikes when we pulled in the garage. :sleep:

Yeah, to me it's the "I can't hold my head up any longer" shot. I wanted to get both of your exhausted faces but it just happened to turn out that way...

[Tourmeister]

As straight as Hwy 19 was, you were probably sleeping on the bike :-| Man that was boring!

Adios,

[Tx Rider]

Well I finally got around to a few pics of the trip... I didn't take too many but here they are...fairly large pics.

First of all the Dyna at the Waffle house in Texarkana just before I took a nap waiting on the gang.
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0758.JPG

A couple of shots of the gang in the morning before heading out...

http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0759.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0760.JPG

A few shots of the group from the saddle going into a couple of sweepers...

http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0761.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0762.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0763.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0764.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0765.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0766.JPG

Time for gas...
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0767.JPG

The group on a break
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0768.JPG

Nice view...
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0769.JPG

Even nicer view at our lunch stop
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0770.JPG

Waiting for the tail end to catch up before going past the "beware of twisties sign...
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0771.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0772.JPG

The talamina? skyway in Ok on the way home, nice road till that last curve...
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0773.JPG
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0774.JPG

Boy what a purty bike :)
http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04/KIF_0775.JPG

And that was the extent of my camera use. :) Nice trip, I'll definately be back.

[Dirtrideroader]

Nice Pictures, especially those on the one scenic overlook we stopped at on the Talimena Speed Trap.

Ok, I think everyone has posted their pictures but me, I guess it is time. Now where did the kids put that camera?

[Dirtrideroader]

This trip to Arkansas was made possible by the fine folks at ConocoPhillips. By allowing me to travel by bike on my business trips to Northern Oklahoma, that put me practically in the neighborhood for the invasion of Arkansas. I attacted from the western flank, a day late and a dollar short.

Here is a picture of me pulling my rig into the parking lot at Eureka Springs.

Tilted Tornado (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9548919-L.jpg)

Ok, maybe this wasn't from the Arkansas trip, but thought I would show people my other side.

My own personal pickup protected parking area. Which I sometime shared with the priviledged few. My bike with it's high center of gravity resulting from a lift kit likes to park on the flat and level.

Hotel Parking (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540871-L-1.jpg)

Another Balcony view.

Parking lot part deaux (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540872-L.jpg)

First Gas Stop on Saturday Morning.

Quick Trip (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540873-L.jpg)
Different view (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540874-L-1.jpg)
Enough already (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540875-L.jpg)
Will is Ready (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540876-L-1.jpg)

One of many regrouping stops. Poor people who rode slower didn't get much rest. Of course, look where I am in the line.

Enjoying the view (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540877-L.jpg)

Debbie letting her mighty steed take a breather.

Resting (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540878-L-1.jpg)

How peaceful.

Restroom (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540879-L-1.jpg)

One of the dynamic duo looking for relief.

In search of a (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540880-L.jpg)

Waiting in line.

Is it my turn (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540881-L.jpg)

The Women of speed saying; "Where is everyone and why do we keep having to wait on them?"

The femine side of the Ride (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540882-L.jpg)

There they all are. What is it with these guys, they seem to be following us.

Bike Gang (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540883-L.jpg)

Just another of thousands of scenic overlooks.

Beauty Abounds (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540884-L.jpg)

Lunch on the Cliff.

More Bikes parked (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540885-L.jpg.jpg)
Taking in the Scenery (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540886-L.jpg)
Does this suit make my hips look big? (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540887-L.jpg)
Same spot, no bikes (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540888-L.jpg)

Scenic one lane bridge.

Bridge over the River Kwai (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540889-L-1.jpg)

Here they come Miss Americas (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540890-L.jpg)

What is that Squeaky noise. (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540891-L.jpg)


Ok, the Talimena Scenic Byway is a beautiful road. Lots of informative signs and the many scenic overlooks. If we would have only stopped at the last one, maybe the friendly ranger would have got tired of waiting on us.

Talimena Toll Road Scenic Overlook 1 (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540892-L.jpg)
Talimena Toll Road Scenic Overlook 2 (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540870-L-1.jpg)
If someone would move these bikes we could see the scenery (http://mrr1150gs.smugmug.com/photos/9540893-L.jpg)

The trip was great. This report of mine is lame. But, it has all been said already...

[Tourmeister]

Here they come Miss Americas

What is that Squeaky noise.


I think these two links are messed up?

Same for the last two at the end of the page, they link to little thumbnails.

Adios,

[Dirtrideroader]

Ok, it was late. I hope that I can be forgiven. I won't do it again. Take pictures that is...

Hopefully that looks better.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Well, we have the "new" motor in the bike and it fired right up once we got the gas turned on :oops: We had to jump start it off the GS because the battery was a little low. A big thanks to Squeaky for making an old crappy motor look new! When we went to mount the exhaust and saw it next to the pretty motor, we could not stand it. We sanded it down and gave it a fresh coat of high temp paint. It looks fantastic! All we have left to do is put the body work back on the bike.

:tab We pulled the valve cover off the dead motor because it is in much better cosmetic condition than the one on the "new" motor. Guess what we found...? A broken cam chain :angryfir: Barely two months out of warranty and the cam chain breaks!!?? Not sure what happened but the chain is all wadded up in the front of the case. We will still have to tear down the top end to see if there is piston or valve damage. However, if everything looks good, then we may just stick a new chain in it and sell it, or sell it as is.

:tab I still don't know what to make of the oil consumption issues though. The cam chain was nice and wet still. Is is possible that a loose chain might have allowed oil into the cylinders through the valve seats?

:tab Anyway, the bike should be ready for riding tomorrow. Deb is in torment about it though... She has been enjoying riding Jim Huber's borrowed SV650S so much that she hates to give it up :lol:

Adios,

[Thermalser]

It is ALIVE!! :clap

[scratch]

:tab A big thanks to Squeaky for making an old crappy motor look new!


Actually, the replacement motor is mechanically sound and comes with a warranty, it just looked a little rough in the as-delivered condition. Since Debbie wants to sell this bike, let’s not be too harsh about the description of it ;-)
Congrats to everybody involved in the resurrection of the little GS! :chug:

[Tourmeister]

:tab Hehe, I guess I should have said "old crappy looking motor", which it was. It was several different shades of flaking faded black. The valve cover finish was cracked and peeling as well. With all the cosmetic issues taken care of, it seems to run fine. Deb was quite excited last night when it finally came to life around 1:30am!! Once we replace the engine mounting bolt that we snapped, it never made it to the specified torque value, the bike is ready for a test ride :dude:

:tab The new motor did come with a starter which we were not expecting. We had to swap the wiring and coils from the dead motor to the new motor because they changed the way the wires plugged into the bike. Otherwise, there were no issues I recall concerning the old motor being from a '93 model bike and hers being an '01. I think the black finish on the motor looks better than the original silver motor.

Adios,

[dower]

Here it is. Thanks to Deb "Snoopster" for helping put this together.

Wednesday, Sept 15th 2:40 AM.
:tab I wake up thinking it is time to go. I excited and ready to get started. Wait… I’m not supposed to be up until 3:30. Back to sleep I go.
Wednesday, Sept 15th 3:34 AM. Odometer Reading: 9133
:tab I hear “Snoopster� snooping through the house. Yeppi, it’s time to get started. We are on the road by 4:09AM. This being south East Texas it was hot and humid even this early in the morning. I’m keeping the pace nice and slow, the fog, plus an occasional fuzzy animal in the road keeps me alert.
:tab While entering Nacogdoches I have a problem reading the poor man’s GPS (the map) and we end up cutting through on business 59. Hey, there is breakfast. We stop for breakfast at IHOP. Back on the road by 7:09AM and headed up toward Texarkana.
:tab With another gas stop in Marshall Deb and I switch bikes. It is really fun riding the little GS500 and the different riding position helps break up the miles. Deb is off in no time on the Trinity.
http://users.ev1.net/~dower/photogallery/Arkansas2004/Arkansas_091504%20005.jpg
:tab We cruise along at moderate pace with Deb leading the way when Bambi runs out. Deb, being the calm and collected rider she is, braked, let the deer cross, looked for its relatives, and then took off. We come upon a long straight and I wave her by and she is gone like a missile. Wow, that bike is fast. :shock: Especially, with less than 100 pounds to carry. Shortly after that we stopped in a small town and switched back to our rides. To me the R1 is much more comfortable. � Deb comments that I look funny on the GS b/c it's so little.
:tab It feels like we hit the morning rush hour in Texarkana, but besides the occasional annoying cager :shooter, we make it onto 59/71 north without any delays. “Arkansas� here we come.
:tab We cross into Arkansas at 10:15AM. A quick stop at the visitor station, I grab a couple maps from the really nice lady and we are on our way. After a small break in Ashdown and some banana taffy we are on the road again.
:tab We follow 71 up through Waldron and “Y� city. I notice the roads are getting a little more “interesting�. In an attempting to quit the voice in my head I keep the pace slow. Soon I see the exit for 23. :evil: After a quick stop for fuel and lunch we head north on 23 toward Booneville, then to Caulksville. It is just a matter of seconds and we are in Ozark. Then, we come to the intersection of 23 and 40. Is this the beginning of the Pig Trail? :-D
The clouds are looking a little ominous. Deb, “Snoopster� suggests we stop to put on the rain gear; my response is, “Stop being a little wimp�. We stop to put on rain gear about a mile later & yes we do get rained on.
:tab The little voice in my head is getting louder, and won’t stop yelling. I manage to calm him by sliding around a small wet curve. By the time we get to Huntsville, Arkansas the rain has cleared. It is 4:15 and we have 31 more miles to Eureka Springs.
:tab We check into our rooms at the Comfort Inn, clean up and we are off to the Historic district for some sight seeing and beer. Well beer for me, water for the tiny one. :chug: By midnight I’m exhausted and crash.

13hrs 530 miles on an R1 and GS500

Thursday Sept 16th 09:00AM.
:tab After a slow start we decide to hit the local pancake house for some breakfast.
We hit the road by 10:15AM and head south on 23 towards Huntsville?? Then, east on 16 then 7south towards Cowell. The weather is great, and the roads are clear. We come to the intersection of 123S/16East, and I realize I have to make a choice!! :scratch 123 is an awesome road. I miss it so….. � After a quick run south on 123. I stop park my bike on the little one lane bridge to take pictures. 10minutes later Deb comes screaming down the hill. She immediately is concerned what will we do if a car comes.
http://users.ev1.net/~dower/photogallery/Arkansas2004/Arkansas_091504%20041.jpg
I’ll probably move, because jumping off the bridge seems a little drastic. After a quick swim in the river (the name of I don’t know) & Deb just getting her feet wet, we hit the road again. We keep heading south on 123 until we come to Hagarville. We break for water and Snickers. But, first Deb needs a potty. The lady behind the counter is nice enough to actually take Deb out back to her home, seeing that the gas station didn’t have a restroom. So while I’m wondering if Deb has been abducted I snap a few pictures. :lol:
http://users.ev1.net/~dower/photogallery/Arkansas2004/Arkansas_091504%20052.jpg
A local warns us about construction ahead, so we take a detour & put on our rain gear just in time for the flood gates to open, again.
:tab Skipping lunch and deciding to head back to town via 21north. We arrive back at the hotel around 5ish, clean up and head to town for a bite and sight seeing. When leaving the little Irish restaurant at the entrance of town we bump into Kevin, Kevin, Jonathan, and Danny. They have made the trek from the Dallas area to join us for the weekend. � Here you go Rebecca, some new faces.

FRIDAY Sept 17th 07:30AM.
:tab I get up slowly and meet the gang for breakfast at the local pancake house. We are all back at the hotel by 8:30. After some socializing and deciding which groups we are riding in, I lead the long group and we make our way east on 62. Immediately I am lost and must pull the group over while I look at the map. Turns out I’m not lost, just impatient. :oops:
:tab We make our way across a long one lane wooden bridge and soon after we are in Missouri. Lucky for us Missouri has some great roads also. We make our way up to 90east and then to Noel where we catch up with Scott, Danny, and Rebecca. How did they get here first? :shrug: The benefit of knowing your way around is that you also know short cuts.
:tab Scott, Rebecca, and Danny pull out before us, in an attempt to stay ahead. Shortly after we mount and backtrack on 90. Before we get to highway E, I’m leaned over in a curve watching the appearing line when, a local sheriff comes around the curve. Being already leaned over and not willing to change or interrupt my bike I just keep going. In a slight glimpse in my mirror I see his brake lights. I slow and he never comes up behind me.
:tab I wait at the intersection of E and 90 when Bill “Wasabi� pulls up with a smile ear to ear. He knew he had just escaped an autograph session with the local Sheriff. We carry on to Cape Fair where we were to meet up with the rest of the gang for lunch. What!! It’s closed!! :shock:
http://users.ev1.net/~dower/photogallery/Arkansas2004/Arkansas_091504%20078.jpg
We are all hungry seeing that it is 2:00 so we head up the road and find Scott, Danny and Rebecca. We socialize, eat, and generally annoy the local patrons.
:tab We leave out via 76ïƒ*13ïƒ* 248ïƒ* and 160 where we come to the intersection at 65 and my GPS malfunctions, again. I have to turn the group around. A quick stop for fuel, then south on 65 to highway ‘H’. This road is familiar to me because last time I was here it was nothing but pea gravel. ï�Œ This time it is white pavement with gravel near the edges. We stick to the car tracks and we are off.
:tab We soon arrive at the first section of 125. 125 is just an absolute fantastic road that has to be experience to really be appreciated. The curves are one after another, with great pavement and banking on everyone. We take off and I’m just not feeling 100% so I attempt to take it easy. We stop in Bradleyville to regroup. While waiting for the group I walk over to Bill ‘Wasabi’ and tell him I’m just not feeling it. His response of, “I can tell� woke me up. Immediately I started thinking what is not getting done, what am I not doing. Then it hit me. I’m not breathing properly. I relax, breath and everything is good. This road is just a total blast. If I wasn’t worried about our time and fuel, I would have loved to do that section of 125, 3 or 4 more times.
:tab We regroup before heading back toward Arkansas and across the ferry. I wait for the group to board when I board I signal to crewman that I’m the last one and we depart. While on board Jonathon informs us that the other group was back in Bradleyville at the gas station. Woops, should we of waited for them to get on the ferry? :lol: When exiting the ferry we notice the other group pulling up on the other side of the lake. We decide to head on out to the nearest water and fuel station. Some folks don’t have camel packs others have small gas tanks.
:tab I manage to loose a couple riders while determining the best route to get to 62 back to Eureka Springs. (Another poor man’s GPS malfunction). We decide they know the way home and head on out.
:tab We make it back to Eureka Spring in decent time, clean up, and grab a ‘couple’ beers. While we are waiting Chris (MS1150GS) shows up. We gather everyone together and head out to dinner at The Bavarian Inn. Chris' brother Randy joins us at the restaurant. Good food, Great conversation and cold beer!!
SATURDAY Sept 18th 07:00AM.
:tab I awake slowly with a slight headache. I pop a couple Advil & I’m good to go. I get ready and head downstairs. As I walk to the stairs I see Dyno Sport lying next to his bike. Did he pass out there, or is he taking a nap with his bike? Where is my camera?
:tab The weather is perfect with a slight chill in the air. Today we are doing the southern route, backwards. Doing the route backwards will help insure everyone is alert for the good stuff. We make our way out of town on 62. This morning we are making our way to 123.
:tab We arrive at the intersection of 74/123. Deb & I switch bikes but then I remember that this road has some gravel hazards so we switch back. We head up the mountain; after the 10mph switch backs with randomly placed gravel the road becomes absolutely perfect. In my short time riding I haven’t had the opportunity to do a lot of roads, but I imagine this as being one of the best. I get to the top of the mountain and the group is stopped, relaxing, and everyone just looks like they have found motorcycle nirvana. Rebecca arrives and informs us that Scott is setting up for some video footage.
:tab Stuart & Deb come across a couple of fellows who are loading wood into the back of their truck & they aren't very accurate as pieces go into the road making a mess. They both stop & quickly help move the debris before Rebecca comes upon it. Bill's chain comes loose & Deb is having a problem w/ her bike stalling while holding in the clutch. :-? We get our pictures taken, regrouped and headed out for lunch.
:tab Today we are headed to the Cliff House Restaurant. All I want to say is … :eek: What a view!!!
http://users.ev1.net/~dower/photogallery/Arkansas2004/Arkansas_091504%20113.jpg
:tab After lunch we are on our way to run the other south end of 123. This road also ROCKS!!
The surface is a little rough in places but you just have to drive around those spots. Unless you’re on a GS Dualsport in which case you just tractor over it, and everything else in your way. We stop to regroup in Hagarville and decide our next course of action.
:tab We decide to run back up 123. Needless to say, I’m game for that. Leadwolf takes off and I follow. Larry really enjoys the sound of his peg feelers grinding. I make an extra conscious effort not to watch him through the corners. I don’t want to run up on him while he is busy grinding. We get back to the top of the hill and examine his pegs. He has been busy, really busy; he has managed to also grind his exhaust pipe on his VFR. :shame:
:tab Bill pulls up behind us and notices that his engine guard is loose. While he is removing it, he also notices he has an oil leak. :-? Scott and Deb arrive and we socialize a bit before heading back. It seems the little GS is running low on oil, again. Everyone is getting tired by now so we decide to make our way back home.
:tab The group is getting a bit worried b/c there has not been a gas station in site. I pull over in a small town w/ no such luck. Deb & Larry pull in behind me. As I pull away, Larry gets in the road to wait for Deb to leave. She is waving at Larry to get out of the road b/c the truck we just past is coming up fast. Larry not able to read sign language just sits there as the truck blows his horn & he scurries out of the way. He knocks himself in the head (doh!!!) We stop in Huntsville to fuel up, which was a perfectly timed stop because I only had .2 of a gallon left.
:tab Scott and I decide to switch bikes. I’m excited because the GS is a blast. Forget shifting just pick a gear and go. Well I was a little too excited. I stopped on the slopped gas station parking lot and ended up dropping it. It is a little heavier than I thought and I am a little shorter than I thought too. :-( No real damage, just cosmetic. How embarrassing!! Oh well, live and learn. How did no one get out the camera: Rebecca, Deb what’s up?
:tab We make our way back to the hotel, stopping along the way to get some pictures of the sunset. Later that night we make our way over to Sparky’s for dinner and beer. Scott and I get to meet Matt’s parents. He seems a little embarrassed.

SUNDAY Sept 19th 07:20AM. Odometer Reading: 10242
Here’s all I remember:
• Deb’s bike died, may it R.I.P.
• Stuart rescues the GS500 & takes Squeaky back in his truck while Deb gets a 600 mile test ride on Ally
• One oh sh*t moment on the pig trail. I was watching Scott through the trees after he had completed a 10mph switchback. Just thinking, wow that would be a great video. Then I remembered that I need to make the same 10mph switchback. LOOK and LEAN is all I remember thinking. How I made that turn I have no idea.
• Stop for lunch, grilled cheese with bacon
• Scott’s GS does scream give me a ticket.
• Stop for dinner, roasted chicken
• Highway 19 SUCKS
• Highway 45 SUCKS even worse.
• 606 miles

[buck000]

Dyna Sport: Here are your pics as a slide show: clicky (http://bitsof.info/cgi-bin/pb.php?url=http://killer.playnet.com/pics/ark09-04&base=KIF_&start=0758&end=0775&nlen=4)

dower: nice write-up and pics.

Snoopster: how'd you like the R1? ;-)

Excuse me, I have to go kick myself again for not coming along...

:chug:

[scratch]

...125 is just an absolute fantastic road that has to be experience to really be appreciated. The curves are one after another, with great pavement and banking on everyone...This road is just a total blast. If I wasn’t worried about our time and fuel, I would have loved to do that section of 125, 3 or 4 more times.

We did that during the October Arkansas trip. 8-) Doc and I switched bikes for a couple of the runs, which made it just that much more fun. MO 125 is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite road anywhere! :bow:

Nice write-up, Will (and Deb).