New Year's Arkansas - Missouri Ride . . . .pic heavy

[Ken Phenix]

I just got back form a little stroll through Arkansas & Missouri! Here's the report:

Day One, December 28, 2008:

I'm off! I was advised to wait day for bad weather in southern AR to clear.

It was a balmy 52f when I pulled out but dropped to 46. I stopped to put on another layer. As I crossed into Louisiana I ran into some rain, just a bit. I made it to Allen & Cindy's ranch in Bismarck in time for dinner. Allen grilled some steaks that had belonged to his prize winning calf. mmmmmmmmm

Day Two, December 29, 2008:

A light freeze left a little frost on the ground at the ranch.

Cindy made breakfast: eggs, yes, from their own chickens and bacon from one of their pigs. I'm thinkin' I could get used to this! Sorry, no pics of the pig or the bacon.

I met Gravy, a rider on another forum from Little Rock at the corner store in Bismarck. He's ready to ride.

Gravy introduced me to our first great road, AR27 in route to Mt. Magazine. The sky is clear and sunny. the temp is around 50f. Perfect!

We had a quick lunch in Paris and then on to The Pig Trail, AR23. Sweet!

We made it to Eureka Springs in time to get checked in before dark and set out in search of food. We found some absolutely luscious south of the border fare.

Day Three, December 30, 2008:

After hitting the continental breakfast pretty hard, hey it was free, we packed the bikes and goofed off in historic downtown Eureka Springs.

Our next destination: the ferry at Bull Shoals.

The view from the Lady Marion was spectacular!

We moved northward into Missouri and crossed Bull Shoals again on MO160.

Yeah, I guess I have a thing for bridges.

Gravy and I had a great ride. Thanks again buddy! Here he is at Calico Rock on AR5.

We parted ways at Chocktaw and I rode on to Petit Jean State Park to meet my daughter and her boyfriend and camp a night or two.

Day Four, December 31, 2008:

The new camping gear performed beautifully. I stayed toasty and comfortable all night. Thanks again to eyeryone here whose brain I picked. You guys gave a motorcycle camping noob some good advice.

The cafe in the lodge has great food. We met there for breakfast and dinner.
While the kids were out hiking around the park, I took a little ride up AR27. What a sweet road!

THIS is the pic I was turning around to get when I dropped the bike.

Day Five, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year! It's 23f and I'm toasty!

Another delicious breakfast at the lodge. While I was breaking camp, I saw a rider on a yellow GS go by and I rode back to the lodge to look him up. It turned out to be "Arkzookey" from advrider. Great to meet you Leo!

Fantastic roads lay in store for me that afternoon: 7, 16 & 27! Boy do I love Arkansas back roads!

. . . . . . . . . decisions, decisions . . . . . . . . . .

I got a cheap room in Marshall for the night. I mean, so cheap I had to upgrade to one with a working light cheap.

Day Six, January 2, 2009

I hit the road at dawn, north on 27.

AR341 is a must ride! It has a fantastic view on both sides.

I just had to head back to Norfork to get a shot of the railroad bridge there.

Then it was on to Rolla, MO for dinner with friends at AirForce's.

Day Seven, January 3, 2009

I met Sam “AirForce” and Paul at the Sawmill for their world famous breakfast buffet.

Sam picked out some awesome twisty Missouri back roads and gave me quite a workout.

We stopped along the way to visit some nice sights too.

Then there was the pizza! Fabulous!

Day Eight, January 4, 2009

Oh yeah, it IS winter, isn't it. Overcast and 34f. I packed the bike and headed out.

As I rode west on I-44 as the temperature dropped to 27f. As I past Branson the sun shown through the clouds enough to raise the mercury to around 40. Here's more bridge porn on Hwy 86 at Table Rock Lake.

I hit 23 (the top of the Pig Trail) and rode south to Eureka Springs but found most of the town closed on Sunday. I made it to Huntsville by dark and ordered myself . . . . . . . . . MORE MEXICAN FOOD!! HA HA HA

Day Nine, January 5, 2009

Due to the freezing rain advisories in effect I decided to forgo the Pig Trail in favor of I-540 south in hopes of beating the weather. I noted ice and sleet along the side or the road and on rooftops. The bridges were alright though. It started raining at Fort Smith and quickly started freezing on the front of the bike.

After a few hours the temp dropped to 32f. I intended to ride the Talimena but settled for a pic of the sign.

I got a room in DeQueen to thaw out.

Day Ten, January 6, 2009

The weather man says 38f, chance of rain 100%. I rode all the way home in a light but constant - incessant rain. My left glove developed a leak but I pressed on and made it home safely. What a ride! 2,453 miles! I had a blast!

Here’s more pics!
Enjoy!

 

[bmcdonau]

Beautiful country, nice write up. We rode NW Arkansas after Thanksgiving and the weather was about the same, mid 30s and rain and drizzle when it wasn't raining.

 

[Bear on a bicycle]

Looks like an interesting trip. Too cold for me, though! Great looking roads!

 

[humanrace]

Nice post! Beautiful pics!

Hope you had electrics.

 

[Hotboot]

Hardcore man. Freezing precip on my bike usually keeps me home but glad you enjoyed the area. Great pictures. ES is a hoot and all the roads around there are awesome.

 

[klb1122]

I have no words for that picture.


Great ride report and pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

[treybrad]

Great report! I love the hard tank box, that's on my short list of farkles. Nicely done.

trey

 

[Manfred]

Excellent report! I'll have to check my plans for a trip later this year to make sure I haven't missed any the roads you mentioned.

 

[lucky lindy]

Great report and pics. I know Mon. and Tue. had to be long days in the saddle. You'll probably remember that ride for many years.

 

[voyagerrider]

Great report with some great pics. I especially like this one.

Marty

 

[achesley]

Glad yu had a good trip. You did very good on your choice of roads. Congrats. Seems like every time I go there I find another fine road to add to my list. Ha ha ha just what motel did you stay in at Marshal. Was not the one right next to the Cafe at the 27/65 Junction on the South side of 65? I base there lots on my excursions to that area. But have not stayed in Marshal for the last couple of years as was playing about Mt. View, Jasper and Mena.

 

[Ken Phenix]

Glad yu had a good trip. You did very good on your choice of roads. Congrats. Seems like every time I go there I find another fine road to add to my list. Ha ha ha just what motel did you stay in at Marshal. Was not the one right next to the Cafe at the 27/65 Junction on the South side of 65? I base there lots on my excursions to that area. But have not stayed in Marshal for the last couple of years as was playing about Mt. View, Jasper and Mena.

Yeah, 16, 27 & 341 are an absolute blast!

No, I couldn't raise anybody at the Sunset Motel but I did find the grub pretty good at the cafe next door. The waitress assured me they were under different ownership. ha ha

The flea trap I had the pleasure of patronizing was the Rose Motel across the street.

 

[Eltee]

Ken, you certainly rode some really good roads on your trip. Thanks for the ride report.........it'll likely be a couple more months before I can get back there again.
So.......Ice covered rider, did you previously live in the Arctic Circle somewhere?
Neal

 

[Ken Phenix]

So.......Ice covered rider, did you previously live in the Arctic Circle somewhere?
Neal

No but I sure love my electrics!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . what riding season???

 

[achesley]

No but I sure love my electrics!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . what riding season???

Yes! Is there a Riding Season?

 

[Hemibee]

I have no words for that picture.


Great ride report and pics. Thanks for sharing.

The ICEMAN cometh.

 

[Ken Phenix]

Great report! I love the hard tank box, that's on my short list of farkles. Nicely done.

trey

Thanks Trey, you just have get past how unattractive the Pelican cases are and honestly say "I don't care how they look". After riding with them a while I think they're beautiful. The one on the tank is a 1300, the largest one that could fit there safely. I had to mount it sideways so the lid opens to the right. I'm happy to report it did not get in the way or cause clearance any problems at all. The top case is a 1500. I absolutely love them both.
CLICK HERE to see how I mounted the top case. I'll have pics on the tank box mount up asap.

 

[PrairieParson]

I've been to Arkansas five times in three years. Its my favorite. However, I promise you, it is far more beautiful and a lot more fun when its warm.

PrairieParson
Lubbock, texas

 

[Ken Phenix]

I've been to Arkansas five times in three years. Its my favorite. However, I promise you, it is far more beautiful and a lot more fun when its warm.

PrairieParson
Lubbock, texas

Yes, I'm sure it is. I've driven myself crazy looking at pics of fall color rides too. The only time my shop is closed longer than a weekend is between Christmas and New Year's so that's the best time for me to get away. I would prefer the greener scenery but I don't mind the cold (with electrics) and I like to see a little snow once in a while too . . . . . just a little.

Hey you're actually closer to Colorado, do you ride there much? That's where I really want to go.

 

[achesley]

The thing about riding Arkansas in the winter is no traffic hardly. You pretty much have all the fun roads to yourself.

 

[Ken Phenix]

The thing about riding Arkansas in the winter is no traffic hardly. You pretty much have all the fun roads to yourself.

Yep, I saw very light or no traffic - except for when we got stuck behind a couple of tank trucks going south of hwy 5 out of Mountain View. We had the sun in our eyes and had to smell their smoking squealing brakes for miles. But even then it was a blast! Most of the time if I wanted to I could stop in the middle of the road to take pictures. It was great.