Arkansas/Missouri Fall Trip

[STrider]

I'd like to see who & how much interest in a Fall trip to Northern Arkansas/ Southern Missouri- Perhaps similar to the Fall Colors Tour of '05 (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5818&highlight=fall+colors+tour).

I'm thinking of Friday through Monday trip, September 22 through 25. If it happens, I'll be trucking the bike up. I can tow a trailer & split fuel w/ towees, if somebody will loan the trailer.

Post up your interest, what days/ dates work good for you, travel arrangements/ ideas, anything else pertinent.

Note: I am NOT volunteering to be a ride organizer, route, ride, or trip planner/leader, or scapegoat.

Participants:
Definite

scratch Paul Speed Triple
STrider Matt Sprint ST
letsride TBD ZX10R

Maybe
hcope1 Buzz VFR/ Concourse
Dyna Sport John FZ1/ KTM (?)
Big Bandit Rod Bandit 1200
rgatling Roy ST1300
Bushwhacker Bill Tiger(?)
mnapuran Mike CBR600
rocketbunny Becca R1200ST
db + wife DL1000
Chatterbox Cindy Bandit1200
TheBigSpankDaddy Chris ??

[scratch]

Yes, very interested. Best riding I've ever experienced was up there in those hills. No particular weekend in mind, but late September/early October is probably best weather-wise.

Transportation: if this is planned as a 3-day weekend, I would want to truck the bike. If 4 days, then I would be willing to ride up and back. Still, it's always good to have at least one truck or trailer along so that you have the ability to transport a disabled bike and/or rider. Ahem. :oops: ;-)

Lodging: I'm not real particular, so long as it's reasonably clean and relatively inexpensive. Would not want to camp out for this one.

[hcope1]

A Fall trip would be great!:thumb:
I'm leaving Friday AM with a small group for Mtn Home, over to Eureka Springs for Saturday nite, down to Hot Springs Sunday nite and home on Monday.:rider:

[Tx Rider]

Next time I hit the ozarks I think I'll have to be hitting the trails up there. There are a few roads I would go with the street riders for though.

[Tourmeister]

I would love to help on this one... However, I will be knee deep in Daddy Doody :wary:

[STrider]

Okay, somewhere between 2 and 11 riders is enough to make a go of it. See opening post for participant list.

Here's my version of a plan, such as it is:

Dates: Depart September 22, 23-24, home on the 25th
Location: Base out of Euraka Springs, Arkansas
Lodging: Clean enough & inexpensive hotel
Rides: 300-400 miles per day.
Routes: MO 125 north of Bull Shoals Lake. (among others)
Costs: Hotel, food, fuel. Tires & pants for Buzz & Hugh.

Haves: Vague plan, bike
Needs: Routes, ride leaders, suggestions, clever group/ trip name...

Tourmeister: Bring the family. Problem solved.;-)

[letsride]

Im in. Pretty familiar with the territory can lead if needed.

[scratch]

So far as routes go, my only request is to be sure and include MO 125 north of Bull Shoals Lake. :rider:

[letsride]

Thats a must road. With a 4 day trip you can have a good time going up on day1, ride a 400 mile Ar loop next day, ride a ~400 mile Ar/Mo loop the next and return the 4th :sun: Mountain Home is a little out of the way for day1 but doable, Eureka Springs or Ozark might be perfect as base. There is good 480 mile back road (no freeway) route to Eureka Springs and 400 to Ozark from N Dallas.

EDIT: Oops I spoke 2 soon, 9/24 is the Lone Star Enduro :(

[Big Bandit]

This falls on a weekend when I do not have my girls and I am very interested. Does anyone know of a campground in the area? However, I just found out Tuesday that the funding for my school was reduced and they laid off three elective teachers, including me. This job will pay me through Aug and I have until then, to find another teaching job, so I will be fine. I may have to commute to Austin, or possibly San Antonio, maybe only to New Braunfels, we will see. Hey, more time on the bike! However, I need to get my new job and get a feel for my new boss, before I take a four day weekend to go play. It may be cool, or it may not be. Most principals would be fine with it. So I am a strong maybe. I will probably not be able to let you know until early September.

Rod

[rgatling]

Put me down for "maybe". I'll have a better idea on my schedule when we get closer to September, but I'm definitely interested.

[Grrl]

Let me know if you guys have any interest in staying in Southern MO - my aunt and uncle run a resort on Table Rock Lake (north end of Bull Shoals) in Shell Knob, and they can probably work a deal for any stays after labor day weekend ... they have different sized cabins.. cabins can sleep up to 8 I think ...

[bushwhacker]

I am a maybe.

I am also considering this a couple of months earlier -

http://www.triumph.co.uk/media/2006_Branson_Raid_Flyer.pdf

-

[STrider]

Well, now they've gone & done it. The Texas Two Step rally is scheduled for the same weekend.

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5796&highlight=texas+step

http://www.texastwostep.org/

I've been thinking about & looking forward to this one for awhile. Anybody gonna get hurt feelings if I switch? Anybody interested in doing a "team" 2-step? My goal (if I do it) will be to finish last without DNF-ing.

[scratch]

So you're saying that you want to do the Texas Two Step rally instead of the Arkansas trip? Or that you want to switch dates so that you don't have a conflict with doing both?

[STrider]

So you're saying that you want to do the Texas Two Step rally instead of the Arkansas trip?
That's what I'm considering. Haven't made a solid decision yet. If one or two people are fairly sure on the dates, and are married to an Arkansas trip, I could do that. If not, I'd like to do the 2-step. Potentially stratospheric gas prices may help make the decision, too.

Or that you want to switch dates so that you don't have a conflict with doing both?
There WILL BE a conflict with doing both, regardless of the dates. See TM's "Women & words thread (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89&highlight=women+words)".

[scratch]

There WILL BE a conflict with doing both, regardless of the dates. See TM's "Women & words thread (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89&highlight=women+words)".
Well, there's another type of "date" switching you could consider. Oops, did I just say that? ;-)

[Slider]

I just found this thread. I would love to do a Arkansas trip but the dates are kind of bad for me. Wife is due on Sept 17th. If I leave September 22 through 25 she might not like me any more:-P

[mnapuran]

I'm probably in, depending on dates and timing.

[rocketbunny]

I'm a maybe. It's so far out at this point that I don't really care too much about the dates, but I'm generally a sucker for rides like this.

[db]

Put me down as a 'maybe' for this trip, it depends on the final dates y'all come up with though.

I'm thinking about taking the DL-1000 and riding 'two-up', any chance I'll be able to keep up with the group thru 'hill and dale'? ;-) :twitch:

[STrider]

Awright, I'm in. Gonna pass on the 2-step.

I NEED somebody with a trailer to split gas on the way up. I can tow, but need the trailer.


I'm thinking about taking the DL-1000 and riding 'two-up', any chance I'll be able to keep up with the group thru 'hill and dale'? ;-) :twitch:

I don't see why not. My plan would be the same as "regular" TWT rides. Group leaders will wait at any turn or change of plans to make sure everybody is together. And if you ride anything like diggers1300 two-up, we'll have trouble keeping up with you.

The initial plan was to base out of Mountain Home, Arkansas. The experts say Eureka Springs may be a better choice. I'm inclined to agree if it means a shorter, less fuel intensive trip up & back. Thoughts? Can we make it to 125 in Missouri if we stay in Eureka Springs?

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8415/mo1601258kd.jpg

[scratch]

MO 125 is easily accessed from either town, so that won't be an issue.

If you can get a trailer, I would be happy to join you and split the cost of fuel. The more bikes and riders (up to 4 anyway) that you can tow, the better it works out for everyone.

[Chatterbox]

Chris and I just got back from Arkansas. It was a good trip. We stayed in Mena this year; stayed in Ozark last year; and stayed in Eureka Springs the year before.

I think I can probably talk Chris into going. :rider: I have that Friday off, so I'd only have to take a vacation day for that Monday.

As far as a 2up and being able to keep up, that won't be a problem keeping up with me. I did ok, but the tight, twisty mountain roads (especially going downhill) scare me into riding slower. ;-)

[db]

Thanks for the input, folks. If I make the trip I would go the hotel/motel route and haul the `strom up there in the back of my little truck....need to save my old bones for the 'fun stuff'.:trust: :rider:

[VFRRider]

Already have a trip to Eureka Springs planned for the first weekend in Oct for B&B and a Corvette show.

Would welcome an entourage. See the FM roads and live well. PM me or?

Group op.:rider:

Larry
VFRrider

[Tourmeister]

If only I still had a good street bike :trust: Bah! Who am I kidding... with a new rug rat due Aug. 14th I will still be delerious and sleep deprived and in no condition to be riding.

Matt, if you want any input on route recommendations, let me know.

[mhutch]

Matt,
Put me in for a maybe. It all depends on the project schedule for the rest of the year. Hope you guys are getting some good riding in cuz I ain't...

Mike

[STrider]

The trip is on, the poll is (unofficially) closed. Go here for the official trip thread

TWT Arkansas/ Missouri Fall Rally (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?p=117029#post117029)