Ozark Mountain Ride: Tearing through the Twisties!
#13
05-01-2012, 08:55 PM
#15
05-02-2012, 10:37 AM
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brandon, Mississippi
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Day 3:
My birthday! Boy how I dread those now that I have surpassed forty. Anyway, I was getting to do something that I love to do, so I felt fortunate to have the opportunity.
The plan was to ride to Branson, MO and stay the night. The route I made took us east to Bull shoals with a side trip around Highway 103/311 So, we loaded up the bikes:
Leaving Eureka Springs:
The route I planned ended up dead ending into a gravel road. MJG was adamant that we not ride down gravel! So, we turned around, but made a wrong turn and ended up back in Eureka Springs. Finally we made our way in the correct direction away from Eureka. Little did we know we would be heading right back there soon:
After some pretty fun twisty stuff, we took a break at liquor store, that thankfully had plenty of bottled water so we weren't forced to drink anything hard! While sipping our H2O, MJG was looking at the rear rotor and talking about his brake pads when he noticed:
See, the trouble with tires is that they work better if there is rubber over the cords. So, we knew we had a trip to the Harley place to get a new tire. Only trouble was, MJG had installed an 18" wheel. Of course, it ended up being a problem finding a tire that size. Here MJG talking to the fourth or fifth person about a tire and not having any luck:
When it became evident that a tire was not to be had anywhere close, MJG decided to try and find a stock wheel that would fit up to a tire that just about anyone would have. Sure enough, Pig Trail Harley in Rogers, AR came through! We were only seventy or so miles from there, so we took off with me in the rear just to watch the show if the tire came apart! (just kidding) I really was just trying to hang loose behind him and keep any would be tailgaters off of his back.
Anyway, we make it to Pig Trail Harley:
What a huge show room! MJG has entertained thoughts of getting a new bike, so he got into some pretty serious discussions about those two yellow bikes! Sadly, even though I was egging him on, he elected to not roll home with one of those pretty new beasts saying something about his wife putting the choke down on him or something! Haven't most of us been there!
Finally, after some searching around their warehouse, the excellent staff, especially Matt, came up with the right wheel for his bike. They rushed his bike in and got it taken care of and by about six o'clock, we were on our way! I can't say enough about how friendly everyone in the building was: sales, service, parts, everyone. Turns out Matt was originally from MS, so he took care of the bike from start to finish! Great dealership!
We had about an eighty mile trip to get to Branson, so we took off and soon found ourselves in the rolling Missouri hills:
We make it to Branson about dark and are ready for some vittles and other libations. It was my birthday after all! Sadly, I didn't get any pictures, but we had a good time! MJG was kind enough to buy my steak dinner and it was fantastic! Thanks buddy!
That's the end of Day 3. Tomorrow, the beginning of the end and a ride on the ferry!
My birthday! Boy how I dread those now that I have surpassed forty. Anyway, I was getting to do something that I love to do, so I felt fortunate to have the opportunity.
The plan was to ride to Branson, MO and stay the night. The route I made took us east to Bull shoals with a side trip around Highway 103/311 So, we loaded up the bikes:
Leaving Eureka Springs:
The route I planned ended up dead ending into a gravel road. MJG was adamant that we not ride down gravel! So, we turned around, but made a wrong turn and ended up back in Eureka Springs. Finally we made our way in the correct direction away from Eureka. Little did we know we would be heading right back there soon:
After some pretty fun twisty stuff, we took a break at liquor store, that thankfully had plenty of bottled water so we weren't forced to drink anything hard! While sipping our H2O, MJG was looking at the rear rotor and talking about his brake pads when he noticed:
See, the trouble with tires is that they work better if there is rubber over the cords. So, we knew we had a trip to the Harley place to get a new tire. Only trouble was, MJG had installed an 18" wheel. Of course, it ended up being a problem finding a tire that size. Here MJG talking to the fourth or fifth person about a tire and not having any luck:
When it became evident that a tire was not to be had anywhere close, MJG decided to try and find a stock wheel that would fit up to a tire that just about anyone would have. Sure enough, Pig Trail Harley in Rogers, AR came through! We were only seventy or so miles from there, so we took off with me in the rear just to watch the show if the tire came apart! (just kidding) I really was just trying to hang loose behind him and keep any would be tailgaters off of his back.
Anyway, we make it to Pig Trail Harley:
What a huge show room! MJG has entertained thoughts of getting a new bike, so he got into some pretty serious discussions about those two yellow bikes! Sadly, even though I was egging him on, he elected to not roll home with one of those pretty new beasts saying something about his wife putting the choke down on him or something! Haven't most of us been there!
Finally, after some searching around their warehouse, the excellent staff, especially Matt, came up with the right wheel for his bike. They rushed his bike in and got it taken care of and by about six o'clock, we were on our way! I can't say enough about how friendly everyone in the building was: sales, service, parts, everyone. Turns out Matt was originally from MS, so he took care of the bike from start to finish! Great dealership!
We had about an eighty mile trip to get to Branson, so we took off and soon found ourselves in the rolling Missouri hills:
We make it to Branson about dark and are ready for some vittles and other libations. It was my birthday after all! Sadly, I didn't get any pictures, but we had a good time! MJG was kind enough to buy my steak dinner and it was fantastic! Thanks buddy!
That's the end of Day 3. Tomorrow, the beginning of the end and a ride on the ferry!
#16
05-02-2012, 10:55 AM
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brandon, Mississippi
Posts: 35
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Day 4:
Since we didn't get to do much riding the day before, I planned a long day of riding that would take us on much of the route we missed plus sort of back towards where we had been a day or two before.
Saw this heading out of town:
More bridges:
The sign says, "Beaver Creek" but I never saw any.
I took a wrong turn and we ended up on a county road. I'm sure MJG was thinking, "Man, this guy really wants to find some gravel!":
Finally, we make it to the ferry at Bull Shoals:
Met these nice folks from MO out for a Sunday ride. That KTM in the foreground is essentially the same as my KTM except it's stripped down and sold as a supermotard. Great bike!:
The ferry was fun. Quick trip too. We ride off the ferry behind our new friends:
I tried to keep up with them and for a couple of miles, they let me act like I was, but it wasn't long till they kicked in the afterburners and that was the last we saw of them. Damn, that Ultra is a big pig!
So we get down to Harrison and decide to look for something to eat. Since I was slow to roll that morning, it was getting late. MJG suggested that we might cut our route down and given my partly cloudy head, I agreed. So, we jumped on Highway 65 and headed to Little Rock. We ended up at the Capital Hotel in downtown Little Rock. A little pricey, but very nice. We ate at Bosco's and drank beer that they brew on the balcony next to the Arkansas River. After dinner, we stopped by the hotel bar and enjoyed a couple of night caps and headed off to bed.
Tomorrow we head home.
Since we didn't get to do much riding the day before, I planned a long day of riding that would take us on much of the route we missed plus sort of back towards where we had been a day or two before.
Saw this heading out of town:
More bridges:
The sign says, "Beaver Creek" but I never saw any.
I took a wrong turn and we ended up on a county road. I'm sure MJG was thinking, "Man, this guy really wants to find some gravel!":
Finally, we make it to the ferry at Bull Shoals:
Met these nice folks from MO out for a Sunday ride. That KTM in the foreground is essentially the same as my KTM except it's stripped down and sold as a supermotard. Great bike!:
The ferry was fun. Quick trip too. We ride off the ferry behind our new friends:
I tried to keep up with them and for a couple of miles, they let me act like I was, but it wasn't long till they kicked in the afterburners and that was the last we saw of them. Damn, that Ultra is a big pig!
So we get down to Harrison and decide to look for something to eat. Since I was slow to roll that morning, it was getting late. MJG suggested that we might cut our route down and given my partly cloudy head, I agreed. So, we jumped on Highway 65 and headed to Little Rock. We ended up at the Capital Hotel in downtown Little Rock. A little pricey, but very nice. We ate at Bosco's and drank beer that they brew on the balcony next to the Arkansas River. After dinner, we stopped by the hotel bar and enjoyed a couple of night caps and headed off to bed.
Tomorrow we head home.
#17
05-02-2012, 11:12 AM
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brandon, Mississippi
Posts: 35
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Day 5, the last day.
It's always such a ho-hum ride to me the "go home" day. I'm excited to see my family, but I really just want to ride and ride! Plus, we had the worst riding coming up back through the straight, hot, delta of AR and MS. Accordingly, I only took a couple of pictures:
Back across the really cool Mississippi River bridge:
And the smaller, Sunflower River bridge:
We passed several dried up catfish farms. Many of the catfish farmers have given up raising catfish due to rising production costs and the inability to recoup those costs through the selling price. Much of this land may be converted back to dirt farming:
We make one final stop close to home to say our goodbyes. MJG heading off solo:
I can't say enough how enjoyable this trip was. If you haven't ridden in northwest Arkansas, you should plan to. There are endless miles of fun, twisty roads, lots of biker friendly towns and plenty of attractions. The weather is still hot in the summer in the mountains, so early or late summer is a cooler time to ride.
I hope that you've enjoyed this ride report!
It's always such a ho-hum ride to me the "go home" day. I'm excited to see my family, but I really just want to ride and ride! Plus, we had the worst riding coming up back through the straight, hot, delta of AR and MS. Accordingly, I only took a couple of pictures:
Back across the really cool Mississippi River bridge:
And the smaller, Sunflower River bridge:
We passed several dried up catfish farms. Many of the catfish farmers have given up raising catfish due to rising production costs and the inability to recoup those costs through the selling price. Much of this land may be converted back to dirt farming:
We make one final stop close to home to say our goodbyes. MJG heading off solo:
I can't say enough how enjoyable this trip was. If you haven't ridden in northwest Arkansas, you should plan to. There are endless miles of fun, twisty roads, lots of biker friendly towns and plenty of attractions. The weather is still hot in the summer in the mountains, so early or late summer is a cooler time to ride.
I hope that you've enjoyed this ride report!
#18
05-02-2012, 12:47 PM
Cruiser
#20
05-02-2012, 01:30 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Illinois
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This was the first real trip my wife and I took. We are from just outside of St. Louis. I knew they had some great riding but I did not expect it to be so good. I know guys who have rode the dragon and they have said that some of the roads in Arkansas are just as good. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!