I Am Living My Dreams...

[hppants]

My grandmother was correct - good things come to those who wait.  Our bike tour was delayed a month due to my bike crash, but it turned out to be well worth the delay.  Ailkel, Luckylindy, and I had quite a memorable weekend.  It ended up being about 1600 miles total for me, and I had a chance to really enjoy my “new to me” FJR1300.  I rode quite a bit conservatively over most of the weekend, picking my chances to lean the bike over a little when all conditions were best for it.  We all returned home safe, albeit it a little saddle sore.

In a word the weather was perfect.  20 miles north of Lafayette on Thursday, the sky cleared, and we never saw a cloud throughout the weekend.  Just dry high pressure under a beautiful cobalt sky.  Temperatures were in the low to mid 40’s in the morning, warming to the high 70’s in the afternoon.

The riding in the Arkansas Ozark Mountains may be one of the best kept secrets in the country.  Frankly, from a riding perspective, I think I like it better than the Smokey Mountains.  The roads are absolutely smooth with tons of grip and very little gravel sprays, debris, or tar snakes.  The tree line is set back about 50 - 75 feet from the shoulder, which offers much more visibility around the curves.  Nearly every curve has some banking on it.  The roads are challenging, very twisty, but also very predictable.  Every curve is well marked, and it doesn’t take long to set a pace that you are comfortable with.  The decreasing radius turns are all well marked – we had no surprises.  These conditions exist on EVERY single road.  You could throw a dart on the map and wherever it hits, you can’t go wrong.

This is for another discussion, but I’m going to push for a 2012 Rally in the Ozarks.  I hope you enjoy the pics.

I left Lafayette Thursday about 8:00 with all day to go about 350 miles.  Each saddle bag weighs about 20 pounds, and my tail bag was about 25 pounds.  Surprisingly, I had to stop to adjust my front suspension.



Lunch stop in Logansport, LA – Zannie is a nice lady.



Ribeye sandwitch and sweet potato fries - $6.99



A little further down the road, I stop at this map dot town for a treat.



Mid afternoon, on Lucky’s suggestion, I stopped at the town of Jefferson, TX.  Population – not much.  This place reminds me of Mayberry, NC.

[hppants]

I walked around the General Store



I ordered an old fashioned cherry limeade at this drug store.



Then, it’s further North to Luckylindy’s house in New Boston, TX.  His family was very welcoming, and his middle daughter even volunteered her bed for me to sleep on.

Friday morning, we ride over to Ailkel’s hotel to get ready for our adventure.  Ailkel’s nighthawk is a 2002 model and is in great shape.



Soon, we are riding the rolling hills of East Texas into Oklahoma.

[hppants]

We stop on Hwy259 at a place Lucky calls “The Curves”.  It’s a stretch of 10-12 sweepers that are just like a roller coaster.  Lucky’s looking pretty sharp on that black NH.



Above 20 mph, the FJR feels like a nimble ride.



1000 miles of this – what a weekend!!!!



We ride over the Talimena Highway into Arkansas.  The views up there are surburb.

[hppants]

Now, it’s lunch time, and we stop at the Queen Wilimena Lodge at the top of the Talimena Drive.  Ailkel chose an attractive ruben sandwich on Marble rye.



For Lucky and I, it was tilapia and fries.



After lunch, it’s back on the skyway for some more great riding.



At our next stop, Lucky and I decided to trade bikes for a 25 mile run.  As we pull into the town of Danville, like I often do, I stood up on the pegs of Lucky’s NH to stretch my legs.  In doing so, I broke off his left peg. 



We quickly found Gerald’s Paint and Body to get some help



We interrupted the start of his weekend, but he was more than willing to weld it back on – good as new, and get this – NO CHARGE.  Nice people in Arkansas.

[hppants]

So after a 30 minute delay, we pressed on to Mount Magazine.  Great riding up to the top.



Old and new friends.



Nice place.

[hppants]

Then, it’s on to Clarksville for the night.  We decide on Pizza Hut – 2 for $20.00 on special.



After a good night’s sleep, on Saturday morning, the temperature was in the low 40’s.  Lucky’s battery was having none of it.  Thankfully, there was an O’Reiley parts house about ½ mile down the road.



20 minutes later, with a new battery, we are ready to go.  We ride this wonderful twisty mountain road to the village of Oark.  There’s a general store there that serves a mean biscuit.



I met 4 Louisianans there and we chewed the fat a while.

[hppants]

Apparently, they live on the other side of the tracks.  Look at what they were riding.



This is a nice bike.



I like the paint on this one.



We then hit the road toward the famous Pig Trail (Hwy 23).  Although very nice, frankly, Lucky and I did not care for it as much as the other less traveled roads.



Shortly thereafter, Ailkel had to break away and head home.  We bid her a safe journey until next time.

Lucky and I continued to Eureka Springs, AR.



As luck would have it, we found a car show.

[hppants]

Nice shoebox Chevy




To quote Ms. Wilson…. Oooohhhhh  Baracuda!!


Nice



For $7,000.00, you can have this Yami-powered Cushman.  I’ll pass.

[hppants]

The Harley guys were having a belching contest or something next door, so we walked over there to look for a jacket patch for me.  I thought this G/W looked real sharp.



Then we took off Southeast toward the Buffalo River, stopping along the way.



Lucky – we are living our dreams, brother.



River’s kind of dry.

[hppants]

A picture is worth 1000 words.



Arriving in Mountain Home, AR fairly late, we quickly checked into our hotel and then headed for some vittles (That’s redneck for Dinner).



Pretty good burgers there.



We woke up Sunday morning well rested and left the hotel at a chilly 45 degrees.  We rode near the Bull Shoals area, but didn’t get a chance to see much water.  My route was not well thought there.

Picked up a local peach and nectarine for $0.50 – great snack.



We wound our way up and down the roller coaster to Mt. Judea, then turned South on Highway 123.  What a hoot that road was.  Lindy’s really leaning that NH over.

[hppants]

I love my bike.



After lunch, we detoured over to Petit Jean State Park.  The rock formations in the Ozarks are real pretty.






Looking good Lindy!!



The waterfall here is bone dry.

[hppants]

Then it’s back on Scenic Hwy 7 for more roller coaster heading south.  We stopped at the Nimrod Dam.  Nice photo-op for a couple of Nimrods!! ?



Lake looks inviting.



Not much happening at the dam today.



 


That was the last picture I took.  We stopped in Malvern, just South of Hot Springs, for the night.  We ate dinner at a wonderful Mexican place – real good and real cheap.  Watched a little football at the hotel and turned in early.

On Monday morning, Lucky and I said “So Long, but not Goodbye” and each headed our separate ways home.  For myself, I opted for the windy country way for the first 200 miles, then slabbed it for the final 150, arriving safely home around 3:00 pm.

How blessed I am to be able to live out my dreams.

[fishball]

What an incredible adventure.  I would love to ride the roads you described in the Ozarks.  Great shots, Pants glad all of you got to share the adventure together.  Tell Ailkel I like her helmet.

[Burgi]

Beautiful pictures hp and your description of AR roads make me want to go but don't mess with Colorado 2012. I got my husband on board, don't want to press my luck adding another 500 miles. 

[tomb raider]

Great write up, and Trip Guys..   I'm happy you found hills and trills, and you didn't go down on that peg mishap. Shoot, I always stand up to stretch, I had better look at mine ?    Thanks for sharing.....   

[hockeyhawk]

Awesome looking trip. Looks like you 3 had a great time. The scenery is beautiful. Love the 55 Chevy and It looks like you have gotten your confidence back on the fjr, you have a nice lean going on in the one picture. Nicely done, very jealous.

[fortyhourdays]

Wow, that looks like an epic ride.  Thanks for the awesome pictures

[ariwhiteboy]

Looks like a blast Pants....beautiful scenery and  food.

[Laminar]

This is for another discussion, but I’m going to push for a 2012 Rally in the Ozarks.

Count me in. That's less than 500 miles for me, half of the 1000 it takes to get to NC.

[cmyers]

what an incredible journey. glad everyone made it safe and had fun

[Bumblebee]

The Good Life!!!

I so have to go East again at some point and these type pictures bump that up on the list a bit every time I see them.

[JB1290]

Great report! 

[ailkel]

What an incredible adventure.  I would love to ride the roads you described in the Ozarks.  Great shots, Pants glad all of you got to share the adventure together.  Tell Ailkel I like her helmet.

What a coincidence, I like your helmet too.

[ailkel]

The whole trip was just incredible.  All I can say is let's do it again next year when I can ride another day or two (or three). 

[pw363]

Another fantastic reporrt! Keep up the good work.