TWT Arkansas/Missouri Fall Rally 9/22 - 9/25

[Tourmeister]

TWT Fall Arkansas/ Missouri Trip

Who: Matt "STrider" is your go to person for this trip. It is his baby. Post here or PM him if you have questions.

Dates: September 22 through 25.
Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Lodging: Swiss Village Inn,
http://www.eureka-net.com/swissvillage/

800-447-6525
479-253-9541

A block of 12 rooms (all double queen, no smoking) is reserved at the hotel. Room rates are $59/ night for Friday and Saturday, and $39 for Sunday night. The rooms must be booked by August 22 or they will be released to the general pool. Make sure you tell them you are with the Two Wheel Texans group to get the group rate described above.

Travel: However you get there. I’m [Matt] looking to borrow a 2 to 4 place trailer. If one comes available, I [Matt] can tow & have room for bikes, riders & gear, & we can divide fuel costs.

Routes: To be determined, but will include MO160 & 125, and a ton of just incredible little twisty country roads.

Rides: The rides will consist of 300 – 400 miles a day through beautiful country on some great back roads of Arkansas and Missouri. The pace (and judging by the participant list, some of the riders) will range from mild to spirited. There is NO REASON for anybody to feel intimidated or worry about either falling behind or holding anybody up. As with any TWT ride, ride your own ride, at your own pace. Ride leaders will wait at intersections or change of plans to make sure the group stays together.

T-Shirts: http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=153559&postcount=102

Matt's Info Post: http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=117029&postcount=9

[rocketbunny]

I have access to a utility trailer that can probably hold at least 3, possibly 4 bikes. I'm undecided on whether I'd want in on the trailering or not, but if I go, you are welcome to use my (parents) trailer. I'll be able to make a committment as the date gets closer.

[Kidder]

Count me in as a maybe + 1 (friend on a 'busa)

If we go, I've got a great route from the DFW area to Eureka Springs. It's a long ride but well worth it.

[leeroy]

I am a D.

[Tourmeister]

Leeroy has to get his fix at the Bavarian Inn :lol2:

[Texian]

I am a M.

[Chatterbox]

Chris (The Big Spank Daddy - GPZ 1100) and I (Chatterbox) are a definite. We had so much fun last weekend with another group, we're ready to go again!!!! :rider:

[fz1nutt]

Count me as a definite. Kidder I wouldn't mind tagging along for the scenic ride up if that's ok.

[STrider]

Check back here for trip & participant updates.

STrider Update:
It looks like I'm out, no, in, no, out, no.... aww heck. I dunno. Check here (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=160197&postcount=208) for details.

ROOM UPDATE:
As of 9-21, there is or is not 1 or more rooms left in our block. PM me or other "D" list participants if you wanna know who is willing or wants to share a room. If folks on the "D" list are planning on sharing, let me know. If you are on the D list and have not reserved your room yet, please do so we can keep an accurate count of room availability. They will hold the room, but not charge your credit card until the event.

If/when our reservations at the hotel are filled, and if additional rooms at the hotel are not available, the trip is still open, but accomodations will be the responsibility of the late-comers. The starting point for the Saturday and Sunday rides is planned to be the Swiss Village Inn parking lot.


TRANSPORTATION UPDATE:
I will have access to a trailer. There is one trailer spot available. First come, first served. If you don't like the Grateful Dead, Rush, and The Who, it is gonna be a long ride up there.

THE RULES:
This is a TWT sponsored event. This means that we will conduct ourselves, and wear gear in accordance with The TWT Rules of the Road (http://twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1528). If you have questions about the interpretation or implementation of the rules, ask before rather than after.

THE OFFICIAL APPROVED ROUTES (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=160022&postcount=202)

THE MEALS
People are asking, so here's the meals plan. Eat. There is no plan for group breakfasts. (The hotel does say they have a continental breakfast.) Go eat. Or dont. Just be sure you're there for pre-ride meetings. En route lunch plans are in work. Right now the "lead group finds a place" plan is winning. Group dinners, either in our entirety or in smaller groups will depend on space, tastes, budgets,....

I've made 7:00 PM reservations for 20 ish folks Saturday night (9-23) at The Bavarian Inn (http://www.eurekaspringsinn.com/index.phtm) in Eureka Springs. German-Czech restaurant, dinners range around $15.00 (I'm gonna budget $25, maybe add a salad & a drink. or two.) I'll need a more solid head count a day or two before. I know 7 is a little late, but we have to allow time for showers, changing clothes, etc. for those that wanna.

THE PLAYERS:

Definite

scratch Paul Speed Triple
STrider Matt Beneficiary of another's generosity
Chatterbox Cindy Bandit1200
TheBigSpankDaddy Chris GPZ11

vfrhugh Hugh VFR

leeroy Kieth (bevo) VFR

Eulogite Alan DL1000K5
Eulowife Debbie Ninja 250
FJRMike Mike FJR

Texian Mark RC51
Redd Sarah SV650/Monster 620
Thermalser Stuart FZ1
V2Roger Roger FZ1
pacman1 Wes ZRX1100
Jon The Buddha ?? V-Strom 650

?? Larry CBR 929

FJRTX Donnie FJR
?? Peter GS1150

st1100 Mark FZ1
Tourmeister Scott KLR
rocketbunny Becca 1200ST NOT a trailer queen


Maybe

shaft drive six ?? GL1800 Silent Rider
hcope1 Buzz GS1150

[Texian]

SV650/Monster 620

smartypants:phead:

I've had to put a block on our PC for anything related to SV's or Monsters.
Parental control:twisted:

[busarider1]

I'm very interested in attending this but I won't know until August timeframe.

[1TallTXn]

sounds like fun, not sure if I can make it or not. I'll check back come closer to time

[edmart001]

Anyone planning to ride up from Houston area?

[STrider]

Anyone planning to ride up from Houston area?

That depends. Here's a conservative (erring to the expensive side) cost breakdown for a one way trip riding, trucking, & trailering up, assuming $5.00/ gallon for gas. Yeah, that may be high, but I'd rather plan on spending it & not than the other way 'round.

One way trip = about 650 miles

:tab :tab :tab :tab:tab:tab:tab:tab:tabTrailer
Bike:tab:tab Truck:tab :tab 2 bikes:tab:tab:tab 3 bikes
40 MPG:tab 15 MPG :tab 13 MPG:tab:tab :tab13 MPG
$81.25:tab $216.00:tab $125/ person:tab $83.33/person

4 bikes on a trailer & trucking up comes out to about $75/ person, one way. I'm tired of lining up the columns.

To answer your question, if I don't find a trailer to carry at least one other bike & rider, I'll ride up. I'd rather trailer up though.

[mnapuran]

Yea, I'll probably be trailering up myself if I go this time. I have room for at least 3 bikes.

[Red5]

If I'm going (and that's a big "if" since it's still over 4 months away), I'll probably put the bike in the truck bed and driving up. I'll have space for other riders' gear and whatnot if they need it.

[leeroy]

That depends. Here's a conservative (erring to the expensive side) cost breakdown for a one way tip riding, trucking, & trailering up, assuming $5.00/ gallon for gas. Yeah, that may be high, but I'd rather plan on spending it & not than the other way 'round.

One way trip = about 650 miles

:tab :tab :tab :tab:tab:tab:tab:tab:tabTrailer
Bike:tab:tab Truck:tab :tab 2 bikes:tab:tab:tab 3 bikes
40 MPG:tab 15 MPG :tab 13 MPG:tab:tab :tab13 MPG
$81.25:tab $216.00:tab $125/ person:tab $83.33/person

4 bikes on a trailer & trucking up comes out to about $75/ person, one way. I'm tired of lining up the columns.

To answer your question, if I don't find a trailer to carry at least one other bike & rider, I'll ride up. I'd rather trailer up though.Are you going to have your bike inspected and registered by then? No pressure.

[STrider]

Are you going to have your bike inspected and registered by then? No pressure.

Yes.

[vfrhugh]

Oh yea baby, I'm in!! I love Arkansas/MO. in the fall. Beth and I are in the house buy/sell mode right now but should be settled in by September. We have a contract on a place and and a contract on our present home. You never know till closing but things look good.
Hugh:rider:

[kocook]

Put me down for the trip. Undecided on trailering or riding. May do both.

[scratch]

Put me down for the trip. Undecided on trailering or riding. May do both.
Got this mental image of Kent sitting on his bike while it's being trailered... ;-)

Oh yea baby, I'm in!! I love Arkansas/MO. in the fall.
Excellent! Hope everything works out on the home swap. :thumb:

[hcope1]

I'm all IN. Hugh can give me some more riding tips>:trust:

[leeroy]

leeroy, D.

[scratch]

Keith, you are the master of the minimalist post! :bow: :lol2:

[Eulogite]

The little Ninja and I will aim at this trip, for sure. I rode the heck out of AR and some MO last weekend and can't wait to get back. I don't have much experience at group riding, but I was sorely tempted to reverse course when I watched a herd of sport and sport/tourers get off the ferry at Bull Shoals Lake. I was riding the ferry the other direction with a gaggle of cruisers.

We live just off I-30 at Cumby, TX. My ride to Eureka is simply sweet. One short stretch of straight road from the border to Idabel, then about 60 miles of reduced speed limit through Broken Bow. After that, let the games begin!

Then again, there is always the Paris-Hugo-Antlers route. Talimena, Pig Trail, and Eureka. As it gets closer, I will confirm and look for others to ride up with. We have accomodations for bikes and guests for those wanting to get a jump on the ride from the metromess.

PS- GO MAVS!

[Tourmeister]

:tab The are different kinds of group riding.

:tab For some groups, it is very regimented with Leaders, Sweeps, Captains, Communications people, etc,... This usually only works well with people that ride together on a regular basis or are used to riding with similar style groups. Expectations are high regarding knowing ALL the rules for that group. Some are very detailed, covering things like how to park when pulling into any area.

:tab Other groups are much less formal and rely on common but simple rules. This might include riding staggered in the straights, several seconds of spacing between bikes, no passing on the right side of another bike, and more. I tend to favor this format as it is more accepting of riders not familiar with the group. However, I usually try to go over the basics in a preride lecture that last about two minutes at most. The intent is to tell the people what is expected of them but to keep it simple enough that they will remember.

:tab Lastly, there are the groups that are made up of a bunch of individual riders. They will ride exactly the same as the would if alone. There will be little communication and they may be somewhat unorganized. The leader will often be the leader simply because he is the fast guy and not because he has any clue what he is doing (or she).

:tab A common problem on group rides is riders getting in over their heads and riding beyond their capabilities. This may be caused by a perceived pressure to keep up or to show everyone how good you can ride. It might be the result of a fear of being left behind. The key is that ALL of the riders should be aware of this dynamic and to watch for signs of it happening. Riders should ALWAYS ride a pace they are comfortable with, even if it means they are bringing up the rear. If the lead folks don't like waiting, I would strongly suggest you ride with a different group.

:tab On the rides that lead, I always watch to see how the group dynamic is working. I listen to other riders' comments about the people in front or behind them. Occasionally I have even pulled people aside discretely to talk with them. I may need to ask them to relax, not to goof off, or to point out a behavior that riders around them consider dangerous. I have never had any real problems though. Like I said, I lay out my expectations before the ride.

:tab Another thing I think is important for a group is that everyone in the group knows and BELIEVES they will not be left behind. This is a big fear for a lot of riders. Therefor, I will always stop the entire group at route changes so that we can all regroup. This provides a chance for people to speak up if something is bothering them, if they need to do something with their gear or bike, run off into the woods to take a break... But most importantly, it lets the slower riders relax because they know they won't get left behind.

:tab I used to do group rides geared towards newbies and they were well received. I wish I still had the free time to do this more often. They were different in that the preride meeting was longer and I really went over a lot of the fundamentals of handling the bike, proper throttle control, cornering, etc,... We checked everyone's bike over and got their suspension setup properly, chain slack set, and more. I also usually had some experienced riders that I trusted spread throughout the pack. This let the trailing newbies have someone experienced to watch. It also meant there was someone knowledgeable behind the newbies to observe and offer advice if wanted. Then the ride would be at a relaxed pace, speed limit or lower, frequent stops for discussion if needed, and shorter routes. We have some great roads up around Huntsville that are perfect for new riders.

:tab Part of riding in a group is thinking about the whole group while you are riding. You are responsible for keeping track of the rider behind you. If you go more than a few minutes without seeing the headlight behind you, slow down and see if they catch up. If they don't you might stop and wait a minute or two. If you still don't see them, you should seriously consider turning around as they could have had a problem. This also helps to keep the group from getting too spread out. Eventually, as more people stop seeing the headlight behind them, the entire group should backtrack in the event something has actually happened. This technique is very important and has really helped on some rides!

:tab There are a lot of other general ideas, but I don't have time to write one of my massive posts ;-) Here is the basic stuff I try to cover at my preride meetings.

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1528

[Cirus]

I might try to make this one since I haven't been on a trip since my '03 Black Hills run. I won't know until it gets closer.

[leeroy]

Keith, you are the master of the minimalist post! :bow: :lol2:
Doing my best to cancel some of Scott's maximum post out.

[Tourmeister]

We're like Yin and Yang :-P

I'm verbose, he's not.
I still have some hair on my head... :nana:
I'm thin (in a relative way)... :lol2:





:duck:

[leeroy]

Where's the love?

[Chatterbox]

Chris and I are definitely in for this trip. We are both looking forward to going back to Arkansas, this time with a different group of riders.

BTW - I REFUSE to ride on a mountain, in the rain, in a cloud bank - AGAIN!!!!

[Tourmeister]

BTW - I REFUSE to ride on a mountain, in the rain, in a cloud bank - AGAIN!!!!

Cindy, I hope you don't have plans to ever ride in Colorado or North Carolina :trust:

[rocketbunny]

BTW - I REFUSE to ride on a mountain, in the rain, in a cloud bank - AGAIN!!!!

Aww Cindy, you haven't lived until you've tried to negotiate a clean line in muddy car tracks while curving through a misty redwood forest with hail pinging off your helmet. :trust:

You can go ahead and change me to a definite on this trip, btw.

[STrider]

edits made for hcope1 and rocketbunny.

Becca, does this mean you (we) can use the trailer?

[VFRJohn]

Matt, I'm a Maybe. (about p=.60 at present).

Three yellow VFR's ??? Oh YEAH!
:rider: :rider: :rider:

[Eulogite]

Okay, we're reserved at the Swiss Village for 9/23 and 24. We won't leave until Saturday morning, so we will only make the Sunday group ride. We're gonna use this as a jump-off for a week's vacation riding in Missouri plus a couple of night's in St. Louis where we'll pay our respects to Albert Pujols and Anheiser Busch. :bow:

[STrider]

We're gonna use this as a jump-off for a week's vacation riding in Missouri plus a couple of night's in St. Louis where we'll pay our respects to Albert Pujols and Anheiser Busch. :bow:

Pujols fans are excluded. Your penchant for Anheiser Busch however, cancels that out, so I guess that means one of you can come.

Edit made, everybody remember to check the participant list on the first page for trip updates.

[wczimmerman]

Hmmm...I think I'm a solid maybe with a leaning to definite. If I go, I'll be riding up so anyone that would like to join me is more than welcome! I've got room for one here at the house if you're coming up from Houston on Thursday. Also: I presume that everyone is traveling to/from on Friday and Monday with the actual rides on Sat & Sun, right?

I would also be interested in sharing a room. I like long walks on the beach and dinner before the first kiss... :-)

[fz1nutt]

That sorta leads to a question I had about room sharing. When I book my room is that for double occpancy ? I would like to get my reservation done over the weekend. I think Kidder was talking about a good route to ride up on, I'm in for riding up. Arlington will be my starting point. Who's riding up ? As for the beach walks , grab you a local, with the theme to Deliverance playing in the background.

[STrider]

Also: I presume that everyone is traveling to/from on Friday and Monday with the actual rides on Sat & Sun, right?

That is what I had planned, but there are no hard & fast rules for having to be there on Saturday, or to prevent leaving early. See Eulogite's post above.

That sorta leads to a question I had about room sharing. When I book my room is that for double occpancy ?

All the rooms are double queen beds, no smoking, so yes, it is a double occupancy rate. I didn't think to ask if there was a cheaper rate for single occupancy, but I don't think there is, since all the rooms are the same, reserved at the same rate. I'll call and ask sometime soon.

[Eulogite]

Eulowife can now get off work that Friday at 1 pm. On the road by 2, it's about 360 miles from the house, I think. I don't want to ride in deer country after twilight, but don't want to do slab for 6 hours, either. We might take 271 to Ft Smith, then 540 on up. Anyhoo, we should be there for both days rides. :eat3:

[STrider]

That sorta leads to a question I had about room sharing. When I book my room is that for double occpancy ?

Just confirmed there is no difference in the room rate between single and double occupancy. The rates are described in the first post.

[content deleted so I don't have to change 3 posts for every change in room count]

Any rooms not reserved 30 days prior will be released to the general pool.

[euromedic]

Dang...decisions decisions.

http://www.f650.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=230342#230342

Pretty sure i can get the 22nd off. I probably will stay in Mena, but have plugged them to maybe somehow combine these 2 events. See what happens :sun: Either way, look forward to do a longer ride and will probably ride up there on the bike. :rider:

[FJRMike]

Kent - have you booked a room yet as I will most likely go.

Count me in at this point.
Mike

[fz1nutt]

OK, room booked for 22,23,24- took the guy a while. He kept crashing the system while trying to fill in the info:eek2: . Anyway, sign me up for the folks riding up list. Who's riding back on Monday?

[STrider]

OK, room booked for 22,23,24- took the guy a while. He kept crashing the system while trying to fill in the info:eek2: . Anyway, sign me up for the folks riding up list. Who's riding back on Monday?

Yeah, he called & told me he had a computer system problem. All is fixed now though.

As of yesterday afternoon, all rooms are booked.

[FJRMike]

I'm looking for someone who has a room and wants to share from Friday evening thru Sunday evening as I will be riding back on Monday.

Anyone?

[wczimmerman]

I'm looking for someone who has a room and wants to share from Friday evening thru Sunday evening as I will be riding back on Monday.

Anyone?

I'd be interested in splitting a room. Non-smoker here.

[Tourmeister]

You people going interested in having T-shirts done? There will be no voting. There will be one design and color. They will be shipped to you. Extras would not likely be made so it would be up front pay BEFORE the rally.

[Roodawg307]

are there going to be some dual sport bikes going on this trip...?

[Chatterbox]

Chris and I would be interested in a t-shirt marking the event - if enough people are interested.

I'm planning on making reservations for us today.

Chris and I are going to trailer up on Thursday evening/Friday morning and ride Friday afternoon, Saturday, and maybe part of Sunday. Be home in plenty of time on Monday to be rested to go back to work on Tuesday.


Getting excited about the trip! :rider:

[FJRMike]

Zimmerman - I just booked a non-smoking room for Frid-Sun evenings so if you want to split it post a note - you have PM.

Eight rooms left as of 6-21-06
Mike

[Tourmeister]

Matt, have you been updating the list of attendees in the first post? That would help me get an idea about how many shirt we need.

[STrider]

Matt, have you been updating the list of attendees in the first post? That would help me get an idea about how many shirt we need.

The list is updated as of 7-23-06. 20 people on the "d" list.

P.S. It's not the first post, it's the ninth post on the first page. I update it fairly regularly, but I am not exempt from errors. If you (or anybody) sees something incorrect, lemme know. And yeah, I'd be in for a shirt.

are there going to be some dual sport bikes going on this trip...?
There are a variety of bikes going. None that I am aware of are "dedicated" dual sporters, and there are not currently plans for dual sport routes.
BUT: Anybody is welcome on any bike and many (most) of the roads we will be on are not conducive to uber-high speeds. If you can comfortably cruise at 75 (probably just short stretches), you should be fine. My only concern with taking a DS bike is knobby tires will probably be done for by the end of the trip.

In addition, there is nothing to prevent one or more people from developing their own routes & plans. If you wanna do a dual sport trip, go for it!!

[Lifeofadvntr]

I am a DEFINITE....maybe with one more maybe (friend)! I may have to be in Seattle for work. If I can go, I would probably trailer up to Hugo, OK...then ride from there. Can leave the Cage and Trailer at the In Laws....

I could carry my bike +3 more bikes / people cramped. 2 More nice and comfy.

Option 2 - Cage & Trailer all the way...but we'd miss some sweet roads.

I can take anyone in the Metro Mess, just ask that you split fuel if we trailer in and back.

[wczimmerman]

Move me to definite as well!

[Texian]

Room booked...although I have no idea how I'm getting of work, or who's going even.

[Thermalser]

I have booked a room as well.:sun:

[Eulogite]

Hmm,this group is starting to look fast. :pilot:

[Cirus]

I'm a maybe. In my line of work if I'm busy I won't have the time and if I'm not I won't have the money.

[Jon The Buddha]

are there going to be some dual sport bikes going on this trip...?

I'm going to be hitting the wife up on the idea of letting me go. I just picked me up a new Strom 650. I'll reply back here within the next week or two.

[pacman]

I would love to do this trip. My calendar is clear, but I would like to hitch a ride on a trailer to get up there and back. The Rex is a little bulky, but it should fit on most trailers. Also, I'd like to split a room if there's someone who needs a roommate. Any takers?

[pacman]

I would love to do this trip. My calendar is clear, but I would like to hitch a ride on a trailer to get up there and back. The Rex is a little bulky, but it should fit on most trailers. Also, I'd like to split a room if there's someone who needs a roommate. Any takers?

:ponder:

Is there anyone going who has a spot left on thier trailer? I'm looking for a lift and someone to split room with.

[vfrhugh]

I’m officially in, finally reserved a room at the Swiss Village Inn. There are only three rooms left. All the down stairs rooms were booked. We’ve been real busy for the last three months moving to a new town. Things are settled down enough to think about other things. Beth is coming along as a non-rider if any significant others need someone to sight see and shop with.
Can’t wait to dust off the old VFR,
Hugh:rider:

[Jon The Buddha]

Alright... This is looking good. I got clearence from the wife, and I have no problem getting off from work. I will be bringing my brand-spanking-new VStrom 6-fiddy!:sun:

Since I am in Oklahoma City, it is but a mere 4-5 hour ride over to Eureka Springs (I think). If anybody is planning to ride there and you are coming through the OKC area, I would love to hook-up and ride with you. :rider:

I would also be more than willing to throw my VStrom on someone's trailer if anybody happend to be driving this way!! ;-) I would gladly pay 50%+ of the fuel costs.

I'm happy to share a room if anyone is still looking. If I don't hear back from any takers, I will book a room by Friday.

This sounds like a BLAST!!

[seaeagle]

Hey pacman...ya still wanna go...we'll work something out...this is seaeagle in alvarado...maybe we hook up and make the trip...oh! whaya think...i got access to a trailer if ya dont wanna ride up...we can talk about it...if i can get on the list...to participate in this event...

[pacman]

Hey pacman...ya still wanna go...we'll work something out...this is seaeagle in alvarado...maybe we hook up and make the trip...oh! whaya think...i got access to a trailer if ya dont wanna ride up...we can talk about it...if i can get on the list...to participate in this event...

Seaeagle, look for a PM from me. If you don't need/want to split a room, it looks like I might be able to hook up with The Buddha? Jon, you still looking for a roommate?

[Jon The Buddha]

Seaeagle, look for a PM from me. If you don't need/want to split a room, it looks like I might be able to hook up with The Buddha? Jon, you still looking for a roommate?

That depends... are you a hot chick?? :trust: :trust:

Yeah, I haven't had any takers yet, so we can split. I'll call and reserve the room sometime today. Are you planning on being there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night?

That's probably what I will do, but there is a possibility I might even come in Thursday night so I can get some solo time on the new bike so I don't embarrass myself! Either way, I will probably be riding with the 'slow' group!:-P

[Jon The Buddha]

Just booked a double queen, non-smoking for the 22nd - 24th. I am still willing to share my room (pacman1?).

The guy (Bob) told me that he still has plenty of extra rooms available (other than the block previously set aside; I got the last one of those). He asked me to pass on the word to call right away to reserve because..........

Apparently there is a HUGE Vulcan rally that is going to be in Eureka Springs that same weekend. He said from what he understood it was a world-wide event...possibly thousands of bikes (his words, not mine)! Anybody have confirmation on this??

I don't see why it would bother us very much, since those people will probably gather in a big field somewhere with beer tents.;-) It might clog up the local roads quite a bit but since we will actually be RIDING, we might be ok.

Just wanted to pass along that info. You may now put me on the D-list!:rider:

[Kidder]

I am officially out. I will be in Missouri the week prior on business and I just don't think my lovely wife would appreciate me being gone two weeks in a row. Have fun everyone!

[pacman]

Just booked a double queen, non-smoking for the 22nd - 24th. I am still willing to share my room (pacman1?).

The guy (Bob) told me that he still has plenty of extra rooms available (other than the block previously set aside; I got the last one of those). He asked me to pass on the word to call right away to reserve because..........

Apparently there is a HUGE Vulcan rally that is going to be in Eureka Springs that same weekend. He said from what he understood it was a world-wide event...possibly thousands of bikes (his words, not mine)! Anybody have confirmation on this??

I don't see why it would bother us very much, since those people will probably gather in a big field somewhere with beer tents.;-) It might clog up the local roads quite a bit but since we will actually be RIDING, we might be ok.

Just wanted to pass along that info. You may now put me on the D-list!:rider:

Jon, I'll take you up on the room. I have a trailer ride lined up to get up there, and now the room arrangments are set as well. Do you want to square away on the money when we get up there, or do we need to take care of it now?

[Jon The Buddha]

Jon, I'll take you up on the room. I have a trailer ride lined up to get up there, and now the room arrangments are set as well. Do you want to square away on the money when we get up there, or do we need to take care of it now?


Nah, man, just bring it with you....and plenty of your avatar. :eat:

[busarider1]

I'm still hoping to make this. Anybody got some floor space?

[Texian]

Intersting info about the vulcan group, thanks for the heads up Jon.

[budzrex]

The majority of the Vulcan riders stay at the Ironhorse campground just outside of town, I think there was 500 -600 of them up there last year
seemed like a nice group.

[STrider]

Thanks for keeping this going, folks. I've been out of town for the week, & didnt get to look at TWT all week. I'll get everything updated as soon as I get through 2000 and something unread posts.....

Hmm,this group is starting to look fast.
That had not escaped my notice. If there is tremendous disparity in comfort levels amongst the participants evident in the first half-day, we'll consider making two or more groups to facilitate everybody's rapidity tolerance and size of the group. (How's that for a grammatical challenge?)

FWIW, in my experience, the "fastest" spot to ride is last in the high tolerance group. Slowest spot is leading the low tolerance group. YMMV.

Kidder, sorry you cant make it. Did you unreserve your room already?

Updated participant list pending. If you are definitely IN, and are looking to share a room, PM me. There may be room sharing spots still available.

It looks like all of the blocked in rooms are spoken for. If there is significant interest, I'll see about reserving some more at our group rate.

Remember to check the first page in this thread for trip updates!!

[FJRMike]

hey - can we do a mind-meld with those Vulcan owners or what?

Would we want to mind-meld with them?

[pacman]

Nah, man, just bring it with you....and plenty of your avatar. :eat:

We'll do, my friend! Nothing like an ice cold Shiner or 5 to cool off with after a long days ride!:chug:

[Jon The Buddha]

We'll do, my friend! Nothing like an ice cold Shiner or 5 to cool off with after a long days ride!:chug:



Mmmmmmmmm......Shiner...:drool:

[STrider]

Mmmmmmmmm......Shiner...:drool:

I like the way you guys think.

There is still 1 or 2 trailer spots available from Houston or points en route. PM me if you're interested.

There may be room sharing spots available. PM me if you're interested.

[Jon The Buddha]

There is still 1 or 2 trailer spots available from Houston or points en route. PM me if you're interested.


Are you coming up I-35 through Oklahoma City?? I was thinking about riding the bike, but if you are passing this way anyway I might take you up on the offer.

[STrider]

Actually, I hadn't thought that much about the route there yet, but I-35 and OK City don't look to be part of it. Sorry.

[Jon The Buddha]

I kinda didn't figure you would come this way, but it was worth a shot!:trust:

[Texian]

Matt-
a buddy of mine who recently relocated to Baatoon Ruuuuuge will be joining us.
(Larry M. - he use to live in Hou, and has been to a few ButtBurners and a HillCountry trip with us/TWT)

He procured a room just last week, outside of the group..60$ So I guess there's a few rooms left?

[fz1nutt]

DFW guys anybody riding up?

[wczimmerman]

:miffed: :tears: :help: :angryfire

I'm out. I just found out yesterday that I have to replace my heat pump system for major $$ :eek2: and as I was out yesterday in the backyard, I discovered that I have a water leak of some sort seeping through the brick wall. I'm tapped out for money for a while. :giveup:

[seaeagle]

me too...just spent 2600 on my truck and my 3500 for my daughter's divorce...i just ride around the block for next year or so...

[STrider]

Dang, sorry to hear that fellas. Updates made.

Houston, Austin & in between folks - There is room for one more on the trailer. PM me if you're interested.

[Tourmeister]

:tab I'd like to do shirts. There will be one color/design because of the limited number. I need to know ASAP who wants one, not maybe, but for real and is willing to put up the cash. Grey or White shirt body, black graphic on the back, helmet logo on the front left breast pocket location. Cost will be same as the ones in the TWT shirt thread in the General Forum. I have about 2 weeks before I have to have the money in hand to place the order. Shirts will be mailed to you directly and hopefully in time for the rally. Here is what it will look like, different text though:

http://twtex.com/linkfiles/TWTlogoimgages/TWTArk06.jpg

Final color will be based on what makes the image look best. So either light body with black image, or dark body with lighter image. Suggestions?

[STrider]

Dark Body, light image.
1 please, XL.

[db]

Still a 'maybe' for the event/trip but I'll take some shirts in whatever the final color choice is. Make it one 'M' and one 'XL'.

[Thermalser]

XL Grey, thanks.

[Chatterbox]

1 XL and 1 XXL, please.

[Jon The Buddha]

1 XL..... just let me know when to pay.

And I would like mine to say '06, Please!! :lol2:

[Eulogite]

(1) Xl

[Tourmeister]

Well, I did say the text would be different :-P

Okay, let me get it squared away with the Shirt guy and I'll post here so you can actually place orders.

[kocook]

Large, light shirt, black text.

[FJRMike]

Kent - you have PM.

Medium, light shirt, black text.

[busarider1]

I'll take an XXL in black.

[FJRMike]

looks like I have an extra bed for Friday, Sat and Sunday at the motel - anyone need a place to sleep for shared cost?

[kocook]

FJRMike,
Shirt: oops...large [edit: doh! guess the shirt info wasn't meant for me, eh?]
Room: sorry, but guess you did not get my earlier PM...got a roomie. Thanks a bunch for the offer, would take you up on it otherwise.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

Here is what the shirts will look like:
http://tattooprod.com/proof_pages/twtexas-ark_rally.htm

I may change the color to dark blue body with white graphics. The graphics won't change though. If you don't care one way or the other and want to get your order in now, keep reading ;-)

:tab Okay, here is the deal. IF you want a shirt(s), you can Paypal me the money. It will be $21 per shirt. I will need you to include your shipping address, desired size(s), and also make sure to let me know it is for the Arkansas ride!!

Send Paypal payments to: Tourmeister@twtex.com

You can send checks if you like. The cost is $20 per shirt if you pay with a check/money order. Mail them to:

Arkansas Shirt
Scott Friday
1617 Woodland Lane
Huntsville, Tx. 77340

The checks need to be here ASAP! I will post a deadline when I know for sure, but it is not likely to be much beyond Labor Day, so don't delay if you want the shirt. NO ORDERS WILL BE TAKEN AFTER THE DEADLINE.

Shirts will be shipped to you directly, hopefully in time for you to take them with you on the ride.

[texasred]

This is still an open registration correct? I'm going to see if i can get a room and go.

I'm in! There are still two rooms left in that block. I will trailer to mena thurs. night and ride up friday.

mitch

[Jon The Buddha]

I'm still looking for room on a trailer if anyone is coming through (or near) Oklahoma City.

However, I will be riding there otherwise, so if anyone is riding through (or near) here, let me know and we can hook up and ride together. :rider:

-Jon-

[STrider]

texasred, I got you on the D list.

Everybody that's been puttin' off makin plans 'cuz its so far out, now's the time to get on the stick. Less than one month 'til were ridin the back roads of AR/MO.

We have a good group of fun folks goin, i'm looking forward to seein everybody!!

[fz1nutt]

JUst try'n to get an update on things. Anyone from the metromess riding up?
Anybody needs a bed, I've still got a room to share. Anybody in DFW still have trailer space? fuel costs to share? Possibly Texasred,Lifeofadnvtr,Mnupran? Come on cooler weather!!!

[Rsquared]

I was thinking about riding up to Arlington thursday and staying with my daughter, then head out to Arkansas early friday morning. I would like to hook up with a group from the DFW area for the ride up friday if anyones interested.

[busarider1]

Guys and gals, I have a trailer but it's in Lawton, OK. It's enclosed and will hold two bikes. I plan on riding so I'm not needing it. Just PM me if you want to use it for the event.

[Jon The Buddha]

Guys and gals, I have a trailer but it's in Lawton, OK. It's enclosed and will hold two bikes. I plan on riding so I'm not needing it. Just PM me if you want to use it for the event.

Which bike are you riding? Busa? Strom? You coming through OKC?

[pacman]

Which bike are you riding? Busa? Strom? You coming through OKC?

Jon,
Are we still good to split a room? It's been a while since we made the arrangement.

[Jon The Buddha]

Jon,
Are we still good to split a room? It's been a while since we made the arrangement.

Yeah, man. Still good with me.


However...after reading about your physical deminsions in another thread, I'm hoping like heck you didn't just get out of prision. :nono:

:-P :-P :-P

[Tourmeister]

So far, three shirts ordered. Need about 12 to do the deal. If we don't make that, refunds will be promptly issued. A link to the shirt info is in the first post of the thread on page one.

[pacman]

Yeah, man. Still good with me.


However...after reading about your physical deminsions in another thread, I'm hoping like heck you didn't just get out of prision. :nono:

:-P :-P :-P

Don't worry. I'm completely rehabilitated.:lol2::trust:

[Jon The Buddha]

Bwahaaaaa!

[Thermalser]

So far, three shirts ordered. Need about 12 to do the deal. If we don't make that, refunds will be promptly issued. A link to the shirt info is in the first post of the thread on page one.

Scott, can you list who has paid for a shirt so we know you have received payment.

Thanks!

[Tourmeister]

I'll get that done this evening when I get home.

[pacman]

Hey folks, looks like I lost my trailer spot to Ar. :doh: Is there anyone else in the Metromess, or passing through the Metromess, that I can hitch a ride with? I live just south of Ft Worth in Burleson, but I'm willing to meet you elsewhere in the area. TIA

[Tourmeister]

Eulogite - (1) XL
rp_hdao - (1) M and (1) XL
STRider - (1) XL
Thermalser - (1) L


Total of five shirts

[pacman]

OK, looks like I going to get to ride to Arkansas.:rider: Now I'm looking for anyone riding from the DFW area. FZ1Nutt?? Are you still riding up?

Now I'm gonna to have to figger out how to strap a case of Shiner to the RedRex!:chug:

[Eulogite]

You're welcome to come a little further east and ride with us, but we're not leaving Cumby until a little after 1PM that Friday.

[pacman]

You're welcome to come a little further east and ride with us, but we're not leaving Cumby until a little after 1PM that Friday.

That's definately doable. Of course, that route will take through Greenville, so I'll have to stop at Puddin' Hill for some chocolate.:eat:

What route are you folks taking up from Cumby?

[Eulogite]

I'm thinking Paris-Antlers, then 271 to Poteau, 59 to 412 and then cross the OK-AR border. I would rather take 2 from Antlers, but the tradeoff is how much night riding and ETA.

An option would be Hwy 2 at Antlers, then take 40 over to 59 (or 82 and 10 to 412).

My general strategy will be to stay twisty and scenic as long as possible, with the option of jumping on slab at twilight.

[DFW_Warrior]

Well, I just stumbled onto this thread tonight and just by chance the Wife and I are planning a Eureka trip over the same weekend. So I guess you can mark us down for a spot as well. We will be riding up and camping at the KOA just outside of town. Anyone from the DFW area is more than welcome to ride up with us, but we aren't riding on Friday. We were going to ride up on Thursday morning and then ride home on Sunday. We both have to be back at work on Monday so we will only be able to do a group ride with you all on Saturday. Now I can't wait.

OK, looks like I going to get to ride to Arkansas.:rider: Now I'm looking for anyone riding from the DFW area. FZ1Nutt?? Are you still riding up?

Feel free to come with us, but we're leaving out on Thrusday in the AM.

[DFW_Warrior]

Scott, I just sent you money via paypal for 2 shirts.

[Eulogite]

One more shirt paid for. Come on, one dozen.

[Tourmeister]

DFW_Warrior - (1) Sm and (1) XL
Eulogite - (1) XL
rp_hdao - (1) M and (1) XL
STRider - (1) XL
Thermalser - (1) L


Total of seven shirts, need about five more minimum.

[fz1nutt]

Just sent a paypal for 1 XL please.

[Jon The Buddha]

PayPal sent for 1 XL.

[Tourmeister]

DFW_Warrior - (1) Sm and (1) XL
Eulogite - (1) XL
fz1nutt - (1) XL
Jon the Buddha - (1) XL
rp_hdao - (1) M and (1) XL
STRider - (1) XL
Thermalser - (1) L


Total of nine shirts, need about three more minimum.

[kocook]

1 Large. You should receive $$ on Tues according to BofA.

[Chatterbox]

Chris and I want a shirt each, but will not be able to pay until this Thursday. Please contact me via e-mail.

Thanks.

[Tourmeister]

Cindy, just need to know the sizes.

[Chatterbox]

XL and XXL, please. Thanks.

[STrider]

DFW Warrior and Warrior Wife are added to the "D" list. There is a strong likelihood that a person with a Sprint ST would be willing to switch up for a ride on the Warrior.

There is no more "M" list. Except for Kurt. Because that's just funny.

Get your shirt money in.

I'll be working out the route lists in the coming weeks. There will be route sheets available for everybody that makes it to the first parking lot meet.

There will be a pre-ride meeting everyday. More updates to follow.

[DFW_Warrior]

Matt, I wouldn't mind at all switching up for a little while. After a 500 mile ride up there my butt would welcome the different seat for a few miles.

[FJRMike]

Scott - I was gone all weekend and just checked this thread.

I had asked for a medium shirt did I miss the deadline? I can PayPal today.
Mike

[st1100]

count me in its been a while since i have been on a ride ,am checking on a room tonight,it looks like a good turn out,i guess the route will be determined soon ?thanks mark

[busarider1]

Which bike are you riding? Busa? Strom? You coming through OKC?

Strom!!!:rider:

Yeah, I'll be coming thru OKC. Wanna hook up and ride?

[Jon The Buddha]

Strom!!!:rider:

Yeah, I'll be coming thru OKC. Wanna hook up and ride?


Heck yeah...That'd be cool. I'm on a Wee, though, so you will have to go easy on me! ;-)

As it gets closer, let me know what time you expect to come through. I'll PM you my phone number that week as well.

[Tourmeister]

Chatterbox (1) XL and (1) XXL
DFW_Warrior - (1) Sm and (1) XL
Eulogite - (1) XL
FJRMike - (1) M
fz1nutt - (1) XL
Jon the Buddha - (1) XL
Kocook - (1) unknown size
rp_hdao - (1) M and (1) XL
STRider - (1) XL
Thermalser - (1) L


Total of 13 shirts, I will place the order tomorrow.
Mike, paypal ASAP please if you have not already done so.

[FJRMike]

Scott, Paypal sent at 1059 hours on Wed. the 6th..
thanks,
Mike

[Tourmeister]

Okay, the order is going in today. There will be no extra shirts ordered. Don't bother asking if it is too late to order any shirts after today, the answer will be yes, it is too late ;-)

Here is the final design:
http://www.tattooprod.com/proof_pages/twtexas-ark_rally.htm

[Tourmeister]

One last thing, my harddrive tanked this weekend and I lost ALL of my recent emails. What this means is that I need all of you that have ordered shirts to PM me your shipping addresses ASAP!!

[STrider]

great googly moogly - I've created a monster.

At the most recent count there are 30 players on this ride. Of course, all are welcome, but there are a few subtleties that escaped my notice regarding a group this big.

1. The ride - There is NO WAY a single group of 30 people can hope to stay together, except in a parade. Consider only stoplights - Now add in stop signs, pace, fuel stops, meal stops,.... So we're gonna hafta make at least a couple different groups.

So what I need is:

:tab3-4 brave souls, willing to take the abuse and ridicule of the rest, to volunteer to be ride leaders.

:tabAn equal number of perhaps less brave but equally capable people to ride sweep.

If you are interested in either (or both) positions, PM me.

2. Meals - This will be alleviated somewhat by having multiple groups, but that doesn't help for dinner. It's not like we can just saunter 30 people into the closest place and expect to be seated. It would also be nice, however, if we had at least one opportunity to have the whole group together for a little while to bench race, socialize, whatever.

So what I need here is:

:tab1 (or several) people to be Social Coordinators. Scope out (or know of already) a place or places that we could congregate on a (or all 3) nights. I'm thinking any kind of restaurant, bar & grill, bar, dance hall, old barn - anything with the kind of space that we can all get comfortable to socialize. If they have pie, all the better.

Once again, if you're interested, PM me.

3. I'd like to know who is trucking/ trailering up, AND would be able to provide pickup service, in the event of bike or rider malfunction. It would be nice if we could split up possible pickup vehicles amongst the groups. PM me.

I've got tentative routes for both days. about 350 miles each. I'll post both days' routes for review/ acceptance/ criticism/ ridicule when I have them. Feel free to PM me routes. (in text please - I'm GPSionally challenged.)

When we are there, NOBODY had better ask "Hey! Why didn't I get a shirt!!"

I don't wanna organize all the fun out of this, but I don't want it to be total guesswork from start to finish either.

[Thermalser]

I'll double check with Kent, but we could likely volunteer to be a ride/sweep team.:rider:

I can't remember the name of the place that we ate that was in walking distance from the Comfort Inn ( Scott would know) , but I think it could accommodate a large group with some advance notice.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Sparky's diner. It does not handle large groups real well as the only place for them is the deck out back. It only really has room for maybe one large group. You might check with the hotel to see if they have a banquet room. The last time I did a ride up there, the Comfort Inn was going to let me use their room at no charge. I had thought about having the dinner catered. However, getting people to commit for a definite head count was impossible so those plans pooped.

[Texian]

I'll double check with Kent, but we could likely volunteer to be a ride/sweep team.:rider:

So we can easily recognize you and Kent as a "team", I suggest you get power-ranger leathers to match his....preferably not blue cause you would look like "twins" then, rather than a "team"

http://static.flickr.com/67/236276106_8475728d60.jpg

[Thermalser]

So we can easily recognize you and Kent as a "team", I suggest you get power-ranger leathers to match his....preferably not blue cause you would look like "twins" then, rather than a "team"

http://static.flickr.com/67/236276106_8475728d60.jpg

I do believe I see you and Sarah in the picture as well.:rofl:

[Texian]

I do believe I see you and Sarah in the picture as well.:rofl:

eerrrrr...*must edit photo*

[Squeaky]

Social coordinator? I nominate Chatterbox!
(then again, I'm one of the poor souls that cannot attend this ride so my vote means nothing)

[leeroy]

markus,
Are you the one in pink?Sarah is in red to match her new bike.

[DFW_Warrior]

I know there are too many great roads in Ark. But one that I must mention is Hwy 123 from Western Grove to Hagerville. It really is an awesome little road.

[STrider]

Missouri Route:

From: Eureka Springs, AR US
To: Eagle Rock, MO US
To: Jenkins, MO US (MO 160 :thumb: )
To: Gainesville, MO US
To: Almartha, MO US
To: Gentryville, MO US
To: Sparta, MO US (MO 125 :thumb::thumb::thumb:)
To: Peel, AR US
To: Carr Lane, MO US
To: Eureka Springs, AR US

361 Miles


http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4117/moroutebiggerwg8.gif


Arkansas Route:

From: Eureka Springs, AR US
To: Western Grove, AR US
To: Mount Judea, AR US
To: Hagerville Mountain, AR US
To: Fallsville, AR US
To: Deer, AR US
To: Jasper, AR US
To: Yellville, AR US
To: Sycamore, AR US
To: Eureka Springs, AR US

330 miles

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4559/arroutebiggerbx2.gif

[Tourmeister]

Chatterbox (1) XL and (1) XXL -- Need Money & Address
DFW_Warrior - (1) Sm and (1) XL
Eulogite - (1) XL
FJRMike - (1) M
fz1nutt - (1) XL
Jon the Buddha - (1) XL
Kocook - (1) L -- Need Address
db - (1) M and (1) XL
STRider - (1) XL
Thermalser - (1) L

[Jon The Buddha]

Wow... I am really starting to wonder if I am ready for this!

My riding experience is strictly commuting. I bet I have never gone more than 30 miles without reaching my destination. This will also be my first group-type ride. :oops:

I bought my current bike so I could start doing some touring, but I have yet to do one. I have no qualms about my ride up to Eureka Springs, but now that I see the distances that will be covered each day we are there, I wonder if this is a little much for my level. I also envisioned this to be a much smaller gathering, giving me a better chance to get good advice and mentoring from those I would be riding with.

Someone tell me it will be OK! I was/am REALLY looking forward to this trip to gain some valuable experience, but the number of people and distances involved are making me question if this is a good idea at the moment. Some advice from experienced riders would be appreciated! PM if you would rather.

P.S....
Don't worry Pacman...I'm not trying to abandon you just yet! ;-)

[Eric2Tex]

Sorry I'll miss this, but not by much. I'll be with the IBMWR group and will be there this same weekend, at the Holiday Swiss. So if there's some overflow from the OTHER swiss motel, I just made reservations at the holiday swiss for $59/night so some are still available there, 888 582-2220, you need to mention IBMWR for those rates.

If anyones doing some dualsport, in the area I may be up for that.
Make sure you wave as you drive by!

Best,

[pacman]

Wow... I am really starting to wonder if I am ready for this!

My riding experience is strictly commuting. I bet I have never gone more than 30 miles without reaching my destination. This will also be my first group-type ride. :oops:

I bought my current bike so I could start doing some touring, but I have yet to do one. I have no qualms about my ride up to Eureka Springs, but now that I see the distances that will be covered each day we are there, I wonder if this is a little much for my level. I also envisioned this to be a much smaller gathering, giving me a better chance to get good advice and mentoring from those I would be riding with.

Someone tell me it will be OK! I was/am REALLY looking forward to this trip to gain some valuable experience, but the number of people and distances involved are making me question if this is a good idea at the moment. Some advice from experienced riders would be appreciated! PM if you would rather.

P.S....
Don't worry Pacman...I'm not trying to abandon you just yet! ;-)

My guess is that the ride leaders will split the group into several smaller groups based on experience/skill level, with an experienced leader for each group. Each group will also have a sweep rider to make sure no one gets separated. Read Scotts posts regarding ride rules and protocols and it should make feel a little more comfortable.
Above all, don't feel like you have to ride a certain pace just because the group is. Ride YOUR pace and enjoy the ride. The sweeper will always be behind you to keep the group together. Also, the leaders will always wait at course changes to make sure everyone knows where to turn.
Now whether your butt can handle the seat time is a question only you can answer. I highly recommend biker (bicycle) shorts with gel padding in the crotch and butt, and/or a gel pad for your seat. Some folks swear by the wooden bead seat covers. I'm not sure how those could possibly be comfortable, but supossedly they are. Lotsa folks replace the seats with Corbin seats or some other aftermarket brand. I personally hate Corbin. They hurt me worse than stock seats, and their customer service sucks. I have yet to try a Seargent, but I hear they are VERY comfortable. Wish I could afford one before this ride.
Hopefully this makes you feel a little better.

[Tourmeister]

Jon, you will be fine.

:tab Remember, don't worry about keeping up. The group should wait for you at every turn! If they don't, firmly remind them that they should ;-)

:tab Slow in, fast out!! That will save your bacon. If you are unsure about corner speed, ALWAYS err on the side of too slow. Once you can see through the corners, THEN accelerate out. Doing this one thing will make a tremendous difference in your comfort level. Do some googling on Delayed Apexing. That is another invaluable technique, one I use ALL the time.

:tab The curves there are much better than what we have here. Remember that where you are looking is crucial. ALWAYS keep your head and eyes up, looking ahead through the corners.

:tab If you are in a corner and feel like you are going to fast, DO NOT STAND UP THE BIKE! DO NOT CHOP THE THROTTLE! Just start chanting, out loud if you like, "Look, lean believe!" Stay ON the gas, at least holding it constant, and lean into the corner. 99% of the time, the bike WILL be able to make the corner.

:tab If you feel tense, flap your elbows like you are doing the Funky Chicken and take some long deep breaths. This will really help you relax. You want to have a light grip on the bars, not a death grip.

:tab On past rides, I had someone else lead the fast guys and I stayed back to lead the slower and less experienced riders. Over the course of a 400 mile day, we arrived back at the hotel about an hour after they did, and that only because we jusssst missed the ferry on Hwy 125 and had to wait about 40 minutes for it to come back for us.

:tab Riding in Arkansas is all about rythm. Don't slam on the brakes going into corners and then blast out like a missle. Smooth is the name of the game. Get yourself a comfortable pace and go with it. If you find your heart beat creeping up or your adrenaline pumping, SLOW DOWN! If you have any "scare" moments, SLOW DOWN! I cannot stress this enough.

:tab As for the distance thing, you will be sore. If you are not used to riding 300-400 miles a day, by the end of the day your concentration will begin to drop off. Your muscles will be tired. It really helps to do some stretching. Whenever the group stops, spend just a minute or two stretching and walking around. Be sure to stay hydrated as well, not just with water, but something like Gatorade. This makes a BIG difference towards the end of the day. It does not matter if it is not hot out either. A camel-bak is good because it lets you drink small amounts frequently as opposed to large amounts all at once. Chugging large amounts at a stop does not good because your body cannot absorb it all. I think the average person can take in about 8 oz every 15-20 minutes. Drink more than that and it just passes through the system and makes you have to whiz a lot. Lastly, I would take 800mg of Ibuprofen with dinner the night BEFORE the first day of riding, and again at breakfast the day of the ride. Then at lunch and dinner, and the remaining days of riding, I would take a normal dose (400mg). This really helps with the sore joints and stiffness.

:tab For you guys that are the ride leaders. As the day wears on, people will be getting tired and their concentration will fall off. I see this on every ride. People will start making stupid mistakes. You need to drop the pace down accordingly. Even a drop of about 5mph can make a big difference. Watch for this!

[Squeaky]

I rode in Arkansas when I had only 6 months of riding under my belt. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. Scott was VERY patient with me and it was basically a 3-day riding lesson with him.

The roads up there helped me become more relaxed on my bike and I started to feel like I was "in the groove". Just go into it as a learning experience and you'll be fine. The group that's going is a great one.

I need to get back up there with my Strom. I know it would be advantageous for me, it's just tough to work out the logistics.

[Jon The Buddha]

As for the distance thing, you will be sore. If you are not used to riding 300-400 miles a day, by the end of the day your concentration will begin to drop off. Your muscles will be tired. It really helps to do some stretching. Whenever the group stops, spend just a minute or two stretching and walking around. Be sure to stay hydrated as well, not just with water, but something like Gatorade. This makes a BIG difference towards the end of the day. It does not matter if it is not hot out either. A camel-bak is good because it lets you drink small amounts frequently as opposed to large amounts all at once. Chugging large amounts at a stop does not good because your body cannot absorb it all. I think the average person can take in about 8 oz every 15-20 minutes. Drink more than that and it just passes through the system and makes you have to whiz a lot. Lastly, I would take 800mg of Ibuprofen with dinner the night BEFORE the first day of riding, and again at breakfast the day of the ride. Then at lunch and dinner, and the remaining days of riding, I would take a normal dose (400mg). This really helps with the sore joints and stiffness.



Thanks TM...that's the stuff I was talking about.

I wasn't really worried about my riding ablity, just my endurance and my inexperience with group riding. This ain't my first bike, but it is a new bike and my first "dual-sport". I don't want to get in over my head and do something stupid due to being saddle-worn.

Thanks for all the encourgement...I'll be there! Besides, I got about $800 worth of Givi goodies due off the UPS truck tomorrow (FARKLE!!). Doesn't that stuff automatically make you a better rider?? :trust: :trust:

Thanks also to Pac and Squeaky!

[Eulogite]

I can't wait to see your stuff, Jon. I've definitely overfarkled the budget for this trip.

[Squeaky]

I also brought some Icy Hot patches with me - needed them on my calves after the first day to keep from cramping up.

[pacman]

Thanks TM...that's the stuff I was talking about.

I wasn't really worried about my riding ablity, just my endurance and my inexperience with group riding. This ain't my first bike, but it is a new bike and my first "dual-sport". I don't want to get in over my head and do something stupid due to being saddle-worn.

Thanks for all the encourgement...I'll be there! Besides, I got about $800 worth of Givi goodies due off the UPS truck tomorrow (FARKLE!!). Doesn't that stuff automatically make you a better rider?? :trust: :trust:

Thanks also to Pac and Squeaky!

No problem, dude. Sorry if it sounded like I was talking down to you. I think I misunderstood main gist of you post. Looking forward to the journey!:rider::rider:

Now who can tell me how to safetly strap a case of Shiner Bock to the back of ZRX? I have a promise to Jon to keep.:lol2:

[Jon The Buddha]

No problem, dude. Sorry if it sounded like I was talking down to you. I think I misunderstood main gist of you post. Looking forward to the journey!:rider::rider:

Now who can tell me how to safetly strap a case of Shiner Bock to the back of ZRX? I have a promise to Jon to keep.:lol2:


Nah man, I in no way thought you were talking down to me!

You are right, though in that I do need to remember to ride my own ride. I don't think I would push the limits on purpose, but I imagine in the excitement of the ride and watching everybody else it could probably happen without realizing it.

Just remember...as my roomie, YOU are responsible for my actions! :thumb: (speaking of which... I better get busy coming up with an answer to your second question :party: )

[STrider]

Everybody -

There's not a lot more to be said that TM didn't cover but:

The ride leaders (who have yet to positively identify themselves - which I'm thinking is gonna make me one) WILL keep their group together.

If it's just kocook (hey kent - did you notice thermalser volunteered you?) and myself as leaders (we both have sweepers), Kent will take the High Tolerance group, I will take the Reasonable - Medium Tolerance group.

One may notice that this situation still leaves two large groups. Or one medium large, and one medium small, or, well you get the picture. The point is, smaller groups more readily lend themselves to greater tolerance disparity, as there is less separation between the leader and the sweeper. So if you have 5 or 6 people you definitely want to ride with, there's your group. Thanks for being a ride leader.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are no "fast" and "slow" groups. Everybody's ability is equal. It is only risk tolerance that differs. Therefore, there is NO SHAME in assigning oneself to the Reasonable Tolerance group. If a person is being held up, or "pushing", or passing the leader in the Reasonable Tolerance group, they will be immediately demoted to the High Tolerance group. BUT: DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF to be "pushed" by the person behind you. It is THEIR responsibility to pass when it is safe, or sit back there and like it. It is YOUR responsibility to ride within your abilities, and the double yellow line. If you go over the double yellow - YOU ARE OVER YOUR HEAD! Back it off. To nick it is one thing. To blow it, repeatedly, is another. (okay, got a little preachy there. sorry.)

There are always portions/ persons within groups that have higher or lower tolerances. Groups tend to filter out/ organize according to tolerance level. Tolerance levels can shift too - day to day, road to road, mile to mile. If you feel your tolerance decreasing, let folks pass till you're feeling brave again.

As for the mileage - It can be a long day, particularly if you're not used to it. You can, of course, cut the ride short, but be absolutely sure that the ride leader knows you are doing so. A lot of the time though, the most direct route back is the one we'll be on.

A Word Of Caution:

- Like TM said - the roads we will be on are NOT like TX. They will make you a better rider, and instill confidence in your abilities and machine. A great first day can make you feel like a hero. BUT: That confidence can be disastrous when starting all over on the second day - your rhythm isnt all together yet, you're still sleepy... but feeling great. Cold Tires + out of rhythm + overconfidence = OUCH. If you don't believe me, I'll tell you about the Matt shaped hole in the California desert.

- In slow, out fast. In fast, out backwards.

Better route descriptions are in work. PS - anybody is welcome to run their own routes with the group of their choice at any pace. The group I lead, if I have to, will be as described, most likely on the routes shown herein.

[punk_emo_tx]

Just a little FYI, hope ya'll don't mind.:patriot:

I was in AR and MO two weeks ago and road MO 86 between MO 13 and US 65....IMO 311 from Blue Eye to Denver Road is a better route. When you get to Denver road take it over to 65. There are some VERY nice paved county roads in that area. They even have center strips on the county roads I road. 311 is nice.:sun:

A must road for the spirited type is 341 (Arkansas Gap ) between Big Flat and Salesville. There are very few driveways/cars on the southern part and it even has about a two foot shoulder on it. :dude:

123 is also a fav but there tends to be a bit of gravel in some turns. Be careful.:flip: Oh and that one lane bridge is cool too.:thumb:

Don't miss 74. :hail:

[Tourmeister]

Thanks for all the encourgement...I'll be there! Besides, I got about $800 worth of Givi goodies due off the UPS truck tomorrow (FARKLE!!). Doesn't that stuff automatically make you a better rider?? :trust: :trust:!

If not, I can attest that it makes for a good frame slider :-P :wary:

[texasred]

The 123 bridge is fixed, as of a month and a half ago.
Oh by the way Scott I now like that road on the FZ1.
It was the upright bar position that made the difference.

[Tourmeister]

I found the upright position on my GS made for easier riding in the twisty stuff. The wider bars helped as well because it made steering effort almost nothing.

Matt, we need to chat about your routes :trust:

[scratch]

The ride leaders (who have yet to positively identify themselves - which I'm thinking is gonna make me one) WILL keep their group together.

If it's just kocook (hey kent - did you notice thermalser volunteered you?) and myself as leaders (we both have sweepers), Kent will take the High Tolerance group, I will take the Reasonable - Medium Tolerance group.

Matt, I'll volunteer to lead the "Reasonable" group for you. That should force me to pay attention, ride sanely and avoid a repeat of last year's little mishap. :doh: ;-)

<hi-jack warning>

I'm posting from a funky little pizzaria in Escalante, Utah right now. mhutch and I are waiting for a thunderstorm to pass so we can continue on to Cedar City. Tomorrow we hit Vegas where we'll swing by the local Triumph dealer to pick up some rear brake pads for my bike. Honest! That's ALL we're gonna do there! :trust: After that, we're turning east to take in some of the sights and roads in Arizona, New Mexico, etc.

Pictures and a report to come after we return next weekend...

<hi-jack off>

[DFW_Warrior]

Let me see if I can get this to work right.... Here is a more detailed map of Matt's Ark route. I've got it plugged into Mapsource right now. As soon as I get the other route loaded then it will be easy to share the file with anyone that would like it.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9769/twtarkrouters6.th.jpg (http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=twtarkrouters6.jpg)

Alright, here is the MO route that he planned out.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5078/twtmoroutetl0.th.jpg (http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=twtmoroutetl0.jpg)

[kocook]

If it's just kocook (hey kent - did you notice thermalser volunteered you?) and myself as leaders (we both have sweepers), Kent will take the High Tolerance group, I will take the Reasonable - Medium Tolerance group.I think Therm volunteered hisself, too. How did it just become me? :eek2:

Looks like you just picked up Scratch for the other group, assuming he ever gets back. As fine as that area of the country is, he may just stay out there--especially if he meets some of the local ladies. :trust:

If he decides to go for the northern coast, that's it; we will never see him again. :zen: :rider:

[Tourmeister]

So who is going to be on a DS style bike?

Also, everyone should make sure their tires are not about done. 500-600 miles of Arkansas and Missouri will use a LOT of your tire. If you are riding there and back, this is even more true. If they are even remotely questionable, I HIGHLY recommend you spoon on a new set. On the last trip out there, we had several people whose tires were completely shot midway through the second day of riding!!

[STrider]

And remember to check & repair if necessary your tire pressure before the first day's ride meeting. Trailering, temperature, and altitude changes do weird things to tire pressure.

[pacman]

Alrighty DFW folks, lets get this together. I was going to ride up with Eulogite, but he's not leaving till 1:45 or so. I want to get up there before dark, and I'd rather not ride alone. So let's get a group together, or at least a pair! Who's with me?:rider:

[DFW_Warrior]

We are riding out on Thrusday morning. Come along and ride with us. It will give you an extra day of riding.

[pacman]

We are riding out on Thrusday morning. Come along and ride with us. It will give you an extra day of riding.

When and where? Just let me know and I'll be there.

[pacman]

When and where? Just let me know and I'll be there.

Duh:doh: I just noticed you said THURSDAY morning. No can do.:-| Oh well, who else is headed up on Friday morning??

[STrider]

I have the routes in .gdb and .mps files (Thanks DFW_Warrior!!). What I lack is a program to open them. Somebody that has the technology to post/ host these files send me a PM with your e-mail address.

I'm working on a plan to have the different groups meet 1/2 way through the each days rides. Does anybody that's scoped out the routes know of a good place along the way?

[DFW_Warrior]

Matt, are you planning on having the groups ride different rides each day? For example Group A will ride the AR route on Saturday and Group B will ride the MO route, then switch the following day? Or will we all be riding the same route on the same day (my favorite choice:trust: )? Knowing that info, we might be able to pick a better meeting spot.

[STrider]

Matt, are you planning on having the groups ride different rides each day? For example Group A will ride the AR route on Saturday and Group B will ride the MO route, then switch the following day? Or will we all be riding the same route on the same day (my favorite choice:trust: )? Knowing that info, we might be able to pick a better meeting spot.

I'd considered both, but I'm thinking I like the same roads, same day plan better. We could pick a spot, or a time, say wherever the first group finds at close to noon, park somewhere the following groups will see you from the road, and that's the spot. -

FWIW - nobody is locked into riding any prescribed route any day. Anybody can run shorter, longer, or entirely different routes if they want. I'm working on incorporating some suggestions into the existing routes (and/or new routes) without coming up with 500 mile or more days, but if there is something anybody is dying to do that is not on the routes, go for it.

[Squeaky]

Have you folks already figured out lunch stops? We were up there and our pre-determined lunch restaurant was closed that day. Might want to call ahead and verify hours.

[Tourmeister]

Keep it simple...

[texasred]

Your going to take the fun out it Scott. 30 different lunch spots would be a hoot.

[STill Fiddlin]

Just got back from there - Shoneys in Harrison has a great breakfust buffet. We just loaded up there and skipped lunch. Pack a powerbar if needed.

Other than the Shoneys, 62 is a road to avoid. Not much interesting, and a lot of traffic. On the AR route I saw posted, I'll just say that AR123 south off of 65 is more challenging (IMO) than the same route in the opposite direction. I thought it would be the opposite (did north the first day), but found the uphill switchbacks harder to look ahead into, since you have to really look *up*. I'll post some maps of the routes we took a bit later, after cleaning the tent (woke up to exciting thunderstorms yesterday about 4:30 AM).

(Can't seem to come up with a map format in PDF, PNG, or JPG that fits this board's size restrictions, and still have a legible map. PM if you want me to send it, or read the ride report on st-owners.com.)

[FJRMike]

I am still in need of someone to share a room at the Inn on Friday, Sat, Sun nights if someone is looking. Let me know.
Mike

[Eulogite]

I checked the Vulcan Rider's site. They have over 100 coming, but I doubt they will be in our way outside the city limits. They have a poker run 9-12 Saturday in and around ES and another ride leaving at noon. We'll be long gone.

[Tourmeister]

I'm in... :trust:

[STrider]

:thumb:

You got a place to stay, or you lookin to share?

[FJRMike]

Matt, I have a room booked already - looking for someone to share but I could give up mine if someone else has room. Just trying to keep costs down.
Mike

[FJRMike]

I have started a couple of "sister" threads in the Upcoming Rides section about "Riding up to Arkansas from Houston" and also "Must Ride Roads near Eureka Springs" so please post up there.
Mike

[STrider]

Dinner at the Bavarian Inn on Saturday Night. (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=117029&postcount=9)

I've made reservations for 20 ish folks at 7:00 PM for Saturday night, 9-23. Its a German-Czech restaurant, dinners range around $15. I'll need a more solid head count by the 21st of this month.

[Texian]

reservations for 20 ish folks at 7:00 PM for Saturday night

...so are they going to be P.O.'d when 30 of us show up?;-)

[Thermalser]

Dinner at the Bavarian Inn on Saturday Night. (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=117029&postcount=9)

I've made reservations for 20 ish folks at 7:00 PM for Saturday night, 9-23. Its a German-Czech restaurant, dinners range around $15. I'll need a more solid head count by the 21st of this month.

We had terrible service last time we were up there as a group. Maybe we'll have better luck this time.:shrug:

[pacman]

Hey DFW guys, looks like I will be leaving Burleson around 7 or 8am Friday morning with shaft drive six. We may try to meet up with st1100 in Dallas. Where's a good place to meet you, st1100? Anyone else in the area want to join in?

[STrider]

Possible Revised MO Route (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=144974&postcount=4)

Tourmeister even found a lunch spot for us. Can somebody plug this into their mapping/ routing program? If its a real long day, we'll make this the Sunday ride, with Saturday shorter, to make sure we're back in time for dinner.

My head is swimming with the logistics of this trip. Thanks all for your continued patience.

[DFW_Warrior]

Matt, I'll try to plug it in tonight if I have time. I'll post of a large map of it and the estimated distance of the route as well. I hope.....

[Thermalser]

Long Range forecast for Eureka.....:sun:

Fri Sep 22

Sunny 73°/56° 0%

[Tourmeister]

IF you manage to get people at the Bavarian by 7:00pm, you will be doing better than I ever have ;-) We do good to make it back to the hotel by 7:00pm. Part of the reason for the not so great service last time was that we got there real close to closing time with a large party ;-)

[Tourmeister]

:tab Shirts should be shipping in the next day or so. Hopefully, this means they will arrive in time for you to have them for the trip.

:tab Regarding all the route suggestions, I would endeavor to keep the total route distance right around 350 miles. I know that to some people, this seems ridiculously short, and were I riding with a handful of other people, I would agree :trust: However, my experience from running tours, rallies, and other group rides is that once you start getting up around 8-10 riders in a pack, it is hard to do much more than that in a day and still get back to the hotel in time for dinner. For example, on the Colorado rides I do, each day's route is around 300-350 miles, and much of that is fairly high speed stuff. We would leave at 9:00am and be back at the hotel by 6-7:00pm. My experience in twisty stuff like Northern Arkansas, you can expect a total average speed for the day, including stops, to be right around 40-45mph. So figure 350 miles and you are looking at 7+ hours minimum. If lunch takes very long, which it usually does with a bigger group, and with gas stops taking longer, you can add another hour or so to that. If you try to plan for much more than 350 miles, you will really have to push to get the group through it. Towards the end of the day, fatigue will really become an issue as most of the riders will not be used to long distance and high concentration riding. Also, it just does not leave much time for the unexpected should that need arise :wary:

:tab Of course, that is all for routes with a big group. If there are folks that want to get up at the freaking crack of dawn and ride till dark, no doubt they could crank out 450+ miles ;-) As this is a rally, that is always an option for anyone willing to do it.

:tab For myself, I make no promises to stay on paved surfaces... :mrgreen: Of course, hopefully I won't be leaving said surfaces unintentionally :wary:

[FJRMike]

Scott - good points about the 300-350 miles per day stuff.

Most people get tired and dehydrated when on the bike and concentration goes down and accidents happen.

Why push it to get an extra 50-75 miles and make an ordeal out of a good day?

Arkansas roads require full attention and concentration when riding.

[STrider]

North Route (Missouri)- 333 miles
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/misc/NorthRouteArkMo.gif

-Northwest out of Eureka Springs on US 62 to Gateway.
-North on AR 37 to MO 37 up to Washburn.
-West on MO 90 to Noel, first stop. Have to go through town to MO 59 and hang a right, go a few hundred yards and hang another right to stay on MO 59, there will be a decent gas station up on the right. The only other places are small with one or two pumps with no pay at the pump... SLOW.
-Backtrack MO 90 to Washburn and head South on 37 to Seligman
-MO 112 over to MO CR F, then East to MO 86
-North on MO 86 up to MO 76, 76 doglegs on MO 39 and keeps going East to Cape Fair, stop for lunch on left at stop sign. If they are not open, hang a right at the stop and follow 76 aroudn the corner and there is another cafe on the left that is good.
-Stay East on 76 to Reed Springs and start looking for gas, I think when you get on US 160 and reach US 65 there is a nice station on the Southbound feeder with lots of pay at the pumps.
-Stay 160 East to MO CR H and head North to MO 125
-Run MO 125 South to the ferry and continue AR 125 to AR 14
-West on AR 14 to Omaha at Old 65, hang a right and head to US 65 North - start looking for gas, I can't remember a specific one, but there should be something ;-) I think there is a Conoco just North of the state line?
-Continue West on MO 86 to MO CR P at Emerald Beach
-South on CR p to AR 23 back into Eureka Springs

:tab Pretty much every bit of that route is fantastic riding. There will be a bit of traffic around Branson, but that is about it. When people get back to the hotel after this route, they will be satisfied and tired ;-)

South Route - 334 miles
http://twtex.com/linkfiles/misc/SouthRouteArk.gif

Okay follow me here...
-East on US 62 to Berryville and hit AR 21 South
-AR 21 South all the way to Clarksville, watch for descreasing radius curves. This is the road where {person} totalled {his bike};-)
-Gas in Clarksville. You need to hang a right on US 64 (21 dead ends here), follow this a few blocks to AR 103 South and then follow that a bit further to the freeway (I-40), there are several big name gas stations with pay at the pump.
-Backtrack up to 21 and head North out of town to AR 292 and go East, this hits AR 123.
-Run AR 23 Northeast to Hwy 7. Stop at Hanks General Store at Hwy 7/123 intersection.
-North on AR 7 a few miles and then right onto AR 123, right again shortly after that or you wind up back on AR 7 around the corner.
-Again, watch for decreasing radius corners! There are two 25mph corners back to back. The first slopes down and to the right after a fairly long straight, then goes down into a decreasing left hander. This is where {person} chucked {her bike} ;-) After that, it is pure heaven, and then some 5 mph switchbacks. This is a great road for getting action shots. People might want to make a run back and up before stopping for lunch ;-) Round trip from Mt Judea to AR 7 is about 30 miles so count on another 45 minutes to an hour for that.
-Hang a left at the stop sign where 123 and 74 meet and run into Mt Judea.
-Follow 123 North to AR 374 and go West to AR 7
-Left at AR 7 a few miles until you see the Cliff House Restaurant on the left. Biker friendly, good food. You should reach here around 1-2pm, they close at 3:00pm.
-After lunch, North on AR 7 into Jasper for gas at the Conoco on the North side of town
-AR 74 West out of town (awesome as you get closer to AR 43)
-AR 43 West (left) to Boxley and get back on AR 21 South to Hwy 16
-Run AR 16 West to AR 23, people can bug out here and head straight up 23 to Eureka if they are getting tired or it is getting late in the day, otherwise, head South on 23 to Ozark through the Pig Trail
-At Ozark, hop on I-40 and go East one exit to find gas stations with pay at the pump
-Get back on 23 and run North to Eureka Springs
-Total miles is 334 without anyone backtracking on 123 South of Mt Judea. So that should give you time to play there.
-Again, pretty much the entire route is great so folks should be whooped by the time they get back to the hotel ;-)

(THANKS TOURMEISTER!!)

These are the official final routes. If I lead, these are the routes I'm gonna use. If I don't, I'm going with whatever group is using these routes.

While the mileages look reasonable, we are still talking about pretty long days, as TM and FJRMike described. I would urge all groups to have a plan for kickstands up no later than 8:30 in order to make it home in time for dinner.

Thanks to everyone for helping with the routes. I know there are a couple favorites that are missed, but with so many great roads, we hafta miss some. 8 Days to go!! Bikes ready, I'm ready, gonna get some riding pants today (hey, its only been 12 years....) WOO HOO!!!!

[pdef]

I am jealous. Maybe next time I can make it.

[FJRMike]

those routes look good Matt - are you riding up and if so when are you leaving?

[STrider]

those routes look good Matt - are you riding up and if so when are you leaving?

Those routes are entirely courtesy of Tourmeister. I would've made it a quote - but it screws up the route text.

My plan is to trailer up with scratch - with the current "low" in gas prices, I really like the idea of saving my backside (and rear tire) for the riding days. There is room on the trailer if you're interested. I still have not seen the trailer, and I have to find a hitch with appropriate size ball to borrow. Better get on that, thanks for the reminder.

If scratch is interested in riding up, we can do that.

Either way, I wanna leave early - on the road at 5:30 am or so. Leave ourselves plenty of time for breaks, food, and fuel stops, and plenty of time when we get there to relax, socialize, and plan the rides. In the truck, probably only need a couple stops. If we go on bikes, I gotta 200 mile range in the tank, but I only got a 100 mile bum.

[punk_emo_tx]

Has anyone rode 311 and 396 from Blue Eye to 65?

The Arkansas "Atlas and Gazetteer" has a good map of those roads.

[Red5]

Wow, those look to be some great routes. I want to see pics when you guys get back.

Matt, what size hitch ball are you looking for?

[STrider]

Matt, what size hitch ball are you looking for?

None now, the trailer went away.

Here is a new, and significantly bigger problem -

Either my regulator/rectifier or stator is not working. The parts are 7-10 days out. So barring a miracle, I am OUT of this trip.

If you think I'm displeased with this development, you are correct. It is taking every molecule of restraint in my being to not break every playground rule Scott's made here, in great big red text.

[Texian]

None now, the trailer went away.

Here is a new, and significantly bigger problem -

Either my regulator/rectifier or stator is not working. The parts are 7-10 days out. So barring a miracle, I am OUT of this trip.

If you think I'm displeased with this development, you are correct. It is taking every molecule of restraint in my being to not break every playground rule Scott's made here, in great big red text.

Bring the Dualsport!

[STrider]

Bring the Dualsport!

I thought of it, but it is in fact only a single sport, even if I slap the Sprint plate on it, it still has knobbies of limited life span, and too limited fuel range.

[Jon The Buddha]

Dang, Man! Sorry to hear that!

If you still had the trailer, I would let you borrow my '05 SV650S...but you would have to come through OKC to pick it (and me) up! :-P

[Squeaky]

Borrow a bike. Always works for me...

Oh, but you have to use the "tilt head to the side, batt eyelashes" trick. Think you can handle that?

[vfrhugh]

Howdy all, I haven’t been keeping up with TWTEX or any motorcycling this summer. Moving to a new house took a lot more time and effort than I anticipated. I have committed to the trip though. From browsing the thread, I gather there will be a larger group than last years trip to Mountain Home. The recent cool weather has really gotten me fired up. The VFR’s ready to go and this time it has plenty of tire left. My non-riding better half will be coming along for a little R&R in Eureka Springs. Hope to see some old friends and new faces.
Here’s hoping Matt gets the triple running,
Hugh:rider:

[Tourmeister]

Hey Hugh! Got the knee patched on those pants from the last trip? :-P

The Mountain Home trip was a tour, and thus prelimited to 10 riders. Rallys don't have a limit on the number of participants.

Matt, beg, borrow, steal... whatever it takes! Maybe pester Bagwell ;-) Maybe a trip to Lone Star is in order this weekend :trust: Maybe you can ride as someone's honey :kiss: :lol2:

[vfrhugh]

I found this photo tonight while looking at last years pics.
Some of you probably didn't know Matt was a stunt'a.

http://mysite.verizon.net/hhhowell/stunt-matt.jpg

[STrider]

How did leeroy fit into my jacket??/\


you have to use the "tilt head to the side, batt eyelashes" trick. Think you can handle that?

No result of that could turn out well for me.

[Tourmeister]

I found this photo tonight while looking at last years pics.
Some of you probably didn't know Matt was a stunt'a.

http://mysite.verizon.net/hhhowell/stunt-matt.jpg

:rofl: :rofl:

I forgot about that...

Now where is my vid of you wearing through the knee on your pants... :scratch:

[Tourmeister]

Kent has had to cancel. I have room in the truck and on the trailer for another person/bike. You have to be in Huntsville by Thursday evening so we can load the bikes. We'll be leaving here 7:00amish Friday morning.

Texian, are you guys riding up or trailering? The truck can handle 5 adults very comfortably and I cen get five bikes on the trailer. So we could handle you and Sarah.

[vfrhugh]

How many DS bikes are comming along? I might bring my KTM also.

[Thermalser]

Kent has had to cancel. I have room in the truck and on the trailer for another person/bike. You have to be in Huntsville by Thursday evening so we can load the bikes. We'll be leaving here 7:00amish Friday morning.

Texian, are you guys riding up or trailering? The truck can handle 5 adults very comfortably and I cen get five bikes on the trailer. So we could handle you and Sarah.

With Kent's cancellation, I'm in need of a roommate if any one is interested.

Scott, I'll see you up there in Huntsville sometime Thursday evening.

[scratch]

None now, the trailer went away...
My Rocky Mountain ride pardner, mhutch, has kindly agreed to loan us his trailer, so we're back in business on that point. Now let's keep our fingers crossed that British USA gets your parts PDQ. :zen:

[DFW_Warrior]

Matt, I'm crossing my fingers for you buddy. I hope you can make it up there.

[Tourmeister]

Hugh, not sure about DS riders other than myself :shrug: Even if I do any DS riding, it will be the mild stuff, not the crazy stuff we did back in May...

[pacman]

Anybody else watching the Eureka Springs weather forecast? (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=eureka+springs+ar)

[Tourmeister]

I have a rain suit ;-)

[Jon The Buddha]

Anybody else watching the Eureka Springs weather forecast? (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=eureka+springs+ar)



YES!!!!:thumbd: I checked that out last night. I'm not sure what I will do if it is raining on friday morning.

I don't know if I am comfortable riding in the rain all the way to ES. There is only a 40% chance, so maybe if I leave early enough I might miss it. The other thing I am considering is leaving on thursday instead. I'm going to try and have a definate plan by wednesday morning.

I'm not so much worried about the rain through the weekend, just the ride up. Once in ES I can take my time while on the group rides. I need some exposure to wet riding anyway! :trust:

[Thermalser]

Anybody else watching the Eureka Springs weather forecast? (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=eureka+springs+ar)

Saturday and Sunday weather looks perfect!:mrgreen:

[STrider]

Thanks to an exceedingly generous (or horribly foolish) offer, I've got a backup. I'm in.

[Jon The Buddha]

Excellent, Matt! Congrats!! :clap:

[DFW_Warrior]

Well, as of about 2 hours ago Melanie and I will not be attending the Fall Rally. She got into a car accident by our house in Arlington a little while ago. She's okay and nothing is injured, but now with the cost of a Mini to repair I just don't think I'll have the funds to get us up there for the weekend.

It was fun while it lasted though.

[STrider]

Dang. Sorry to hear that, but glad to hear she's OK. Best of luck to you guys.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that something will work out for you guys to make it.

[Eulogite]

Good for Matt, bad for DFW Warrior team.

Debbie and I will not arrive until about 9:30 pm Friday, later if it's raining. I have Mark's phone number and will call to see where/when to be Sat morning.

fyi, we'll be communicating on bike-to-bike, if case somebody else has GMRS we can arrange a frequency.

My list is getting shorter.

[Jon The Buddha]

Got my shirt in the mail today. Looks good!

And I'm pretty sure I am going to go ahead and leave Thursday morning. Not because of rain, but just so I can have a day to do some light riding around the area and recover before the weekend riding.

Anybody else going on Thursday? Maybe we can meet up for diner (thur) or breakfast/lunch (fri).

[pacman]

I wish I could head up Thursdsay morning, but my boss wont set me free that early.:doh: Assuming a 10 hour ride, I'll be there between 5 and 6pm Friday. Oy, my tookus is gonna hurt.:giveup:

[texasred]

I'm going to Mena Thursday night, if the rain does not get in the way. If it does I'll ride the whole way friday.

[Thermalser]

Thanks Scott, received my shirt today as well, looks great!:clap:

Anyone still looking to split a room?

[Tourmeister]

Be here each morning if you plan to run the "official" routes with Matt.

Dates: September 22 through 25.
Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Lodging: Swiss Village Inn,
http://www.eureka-net.com/swissvillage/

800-447-6525
479-253-9541

Otherwise, folks are free to do as they please.

Matt, have you set a meet time for each morning? I would suggest 8:30am in the parking lot, stands up at 9:00am at the latest. This gives people time to eat a relaxed breakfast and get gas. Then time for a short pre ride chit chat about the route.

[STrider]

I did say in the routes post that I'd urge all groups to have kickstands up no later than 8:30, particularly on Saturday, to try to get back in time for 7:00 PM dinner reservations.

I know for some people, 8:30 is the crack of dawn, but there ya go. The Saturday pre-ride meeting will start at 7:56 (according to my cell phone) in the Swiss Village Inn parking lot. Everybody should be fueled/aired up, biologically and bikalogically, before that. I'll hand out route sheets then, or Friday evening to folks that come by & want 'em then.

Got my t-shirt today, looks great, but isn't there a "k" in Arkansas?

scratch and I should get to the hotel at 4-5 pmish on Friday. I'm supposed to have the "central" room in our block. Swing by, introduce yourself, hang out for awhile. If you happen to show up with an extra Shiner or Guinness, you'll likely receive a hearty welcome.

Anything else?

My cell is 832-334-ninetwoonethree - I'd like to have the ride leaders exchange #s before kickstands up on Saturday.

[Tourmeister]

8:00 will work ;-)

I recommend people carry some cash. Not all the gas stations will take credit cards!

Also, there will be many places where cell coverage can be spotty at best. Still good to have them though.

We should arrive about the same time Matt. Any idea if the hotel has a place to park trailers?

[scratch]

My cell is 832-334-ninetwoonethree - I'd like to have the ride leaders exchange #s before kickstands up on Saturday.
Good idea. Mine is 713-four-one-two-7615.

[DFW_Warrior]

This sucks......... I wanna go!!!!!

[Eulogite]

My cell is 903-twofourthree-fourseveneighteight.

[Texian]

eh....
Ifyouwouldliketokeepintouchwithme mynumberis

713-fivefiveoohh-sixtwofivethreeeee

[FJRMike]

I am leaving Thursday evening and will be there sometime mid-to-late afternoon on Friday.

my cell is 832-248-6502. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Is anyone actually riding up there from Houston or will I be meeting up with a bunch of "trailer queens"?

[Texian]

...Queens.

[Eulogite]

Two for dinner at the Bavarian Saturday night, Matt.

[scratch]

Is anyone actually riding up there from Houston or will I be meeting up with a bunch of "trailer queens"?
Got the tiara fitted to my bike already. ;-)

[STrider]

Got the tiara fitted to my bike already. ;-)

It should look good with the seat cover.

Queen here too, with scratch.

I just got off the phone with the hotel. There is now no room at the inn. With the unfortunate cancellations, there are (were?) some newly single occupant rooms. If you're looking to share, PM me, I'll try to put the singles in contact if they're interested. We'll need to get this handled quick, I don't remember if it was 24 or 48 hrs notice to cancel.

Just (ok, the hotel was first) got off the phone with the shop too. They believe that the regulator/rectifier on the ST is broke - getting it overnighted. (Apparently some problems getting adequate instruction from Triumph on how to test the system. They're (the shop) saying there's juice from the stator to the r/r, but nothing from the r/r to the battery.) I may end up having my bike there, won't know for sure till Wed. afternoon or Thursday morning. One way or another, I'll be there on some bike.

It's getting close.

<edit> The shop missed the cutoff time to have it overnighted to get here on Thursday. I'll be on the borrowed bike.

<re-edit> The shop had their dates wrong - they thought it was a day later than it is. So it looks like the r/r will be here in time, & I'll be on my bike. At this point - I'm not gonna say for certain what I'm gonna be on. I'll know for certain on Thursday afternoon.

[pacman]

It should look good with the seat cover.

Queen here too, with scratch.

I just got off the phone with the hotel. There is now no room at the inn. With the unfortunate cancellations, there are (were?) some newly single occupant rooms. If you're looking to share, PM me, I'll try to put the singles in contact if they're interested. We'll need to get this handled quick, I don't remember if it was 24 or 48 hrs notice to cancel.

Just (ok, the hotel was first) got off the phone with the shop too. They believe that the regulator/rectifier on the ST is broke - getting it overnighted. (Apparently some problems getting adequate instruction from Triumph on how to test the system. They're (the shop) saying there's juice from the stator to the r/r, but nothing from the r/r to the battery.) I may end up having my bike there, won't know for sure till Wed. afternoon or Thursday morning. One way or another, I'll be there on some bike.

It's getting close.

<edit> The shop missed the cutoff time to have it overnighted to get here on Thursday. I'll be on the borrowed bike.

<re-edit> The shop had their dates wrong - they thought it was a day later than it is. So it looks like the r/r will be here in time, & I'll be on my bike. At this point - I'm not gonna say for certain what I'm gonna be on. I'll know for certain on Thursday afternoon.
:twitch::twitch::twitch: My head hurts.;-)

[STrider]

:twitch::twitch::twitch: My head hurts.;-)

You're tellin me!!

Did your silent friend (http://www.twtex.com/forums/member.php?u=2514) on the GL1800 find a room?