Rome was not ridden in a day

 

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Pig Trail Harley Davidson, Bentonville, Arkansas

Im learning when it comes to videos :). For instance, I have learned that when using a regular digital camera for making videos, don't move side to side and for sure don't walk when using it. You can see my mistakes on this video, mistakes that I'll try not to make in the future. I've learned that rough roads are not good for videoing from my bike and now I know to not move the camera around...point in one direction and video whats happening, get all the little videos you want then later at home, compile them into a bigger video. That way maybe people wont be getting motion sickness watching my videos.

Of course using my Sony DV camcorder I can move around all I want as long as I keep the moves smooth. As I have said though, I cant seem to find a way to put my Sony videos onto my computer. Maybe someday I'll figure it out.

Pig Trail Harley Davidson

Guess what? Another BBBQ Video

This is a compilation of my pentax camera videos taken during the day, all having to do with BBBQ.

Friday, October 12, 2007

On to Eureka Springs, Ar.

After we looked around the PTHD for awhile Charles and I headed on towards Eureka Springs to meet up with the Colonel and friends. The Colonel called and said he had us chairs saved at Luigis. Heres a video compilation of seven pentax camera videos of our trip up to the Vista Hotel. We made a wrong turn at the stop sign, should have turned right instead of left. Oh well, theres always another day for the Vista.


If I havent already said this I'll say it now....Hwy 62 between Bentonville and Harrison is one of the BEST in Arkansas. I like it as well as I do Hwy 7, maybe even better.
Times are changing though, this won't be hard to believe... they're straightening the road in places. Yep, thats right, as we speak some of the beautiful curves and picturesque views of Hwy 62 are disappearing, being replaced by cutting thru mountains, piling dirt and using viaducts.
The only reasons I can think of is either people are in a hurry or they're trying to make a safer road. So what they end up doing is making a faster road because it was too unsafe to drive the old road at high speed. Makes sense to me, I think.
If you've never driven or ridden Hwy 62 you better drive it while you can because parts of it wont be the same much longer.

Just off the top of my head I'll quickly name some of my favorite roads in Northern Arkansas.
Highways, 7,62,23,71,14,27,123 between Lurten and Mt.Judea, the Mt.Magazine ride and the Mt.Nebo ride. Theres more, I just thought of those quick like, so I guess they're my favorites.
There are alot more roads out there for me to ride, I'll get to them. I've had my eyes on a trailer for next year. Right now I have to ride for two hours to get to new roads. My plans are to trailer up, get a room, unload the bike and hit the roads around the area. I'll just do that until I cover all the roads in Arkansas which is my ultimate goal. I'll get there, with a little time and patience anything is possible.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Some more Pig Trail HD

This is the original Buffalo Bike.

Nice paint job.

This is my dream bike, if I got it, I would take off that bobbed rear fender and put on a regular wrap around.

Pig Trail Harley Davidson, Bentonville, Arkansas

Outside the dealership.

The Food Tent





Even though I went to bed at 4 am Saturday morning, I was up at 8 am, running on a BBBQ high I suppose. Zack and the Mikes were'nt far behind me. We went to have the Continental Breakfast, I never could turn down free food. I had waffles, toast, cereal, bananas and coffee. No sooner had I finished my last waffle when my phone rang. It was Charles who had spent the night at his Army buddies house. They were at the Pig Trail Harley Davidson in Bentonville and wanted to know if I wanted to ride to Eureka Springs with them. I really wasnt ready, but Charles waited on me at the HD dealer.

When I arrived and turned off my bike. I looked at the food line and there Charles was standing in line. We had us some BBQ pork, beans, slaw and a drink, good stuff. Then we went in to check out the dealership. I have seen a Motorcycle dealer of anyking this size. Its got a huge maintenance area, and showroom floor and has an upstairs area with computers, pool table and picture windows so you can watch the mechanics work on bikes. I was amazed by it, I could of spent hours there just looking at bikes. They had some good deals. One of these days, I'll win that lottery and just go pick out the one I want.

Its well worth the trip to Bentonville just to visit the Pig Trail HD.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Another day of BBBQ

My kind of Sportster.


I would'nt want to stop to fast riding this bike.

Confederate Motorcycle

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

More BBBQ

Dickson Street Saturday Night

Just some more pics from Dickson Street. Looking at these pics it doesnt look all that crowded, but believe me it was. Especially later in the day and at night. At night you had to squeeze thru people for several blocks around the Walton Arts Center. I made 30 videos with my digital camera, I'll get as many as I can onto Youtube. I wont be posting them all here but I have a link to my Youtube site in my links section.


This guy has quite a contraption.

Nice customs.

Monday, October 8, 2007

BBBQ 2007 was fantastic

The trip to the rally, a ride to Eureka Springs and the ride home Sunday were great. The Rally itself was absolutely awesome.

Leaving the Flying J at 9 am Saturday, HD Zack, Yamaha Mike and myself headed out West on I-40. Suzuki Mike and Victory Mike had left Thursday for a trip into Oklahoma on an intelligence gathering trip. They both had interesting reports from Oklahoma.

Zack, Mike and myself continued on I-40 to Clarksville then detoured for the scenic ride on Hwy 352 W which we rode all the way to Hwy 23, we took 23 South to Mulberry. At Mulberry, we did a pit stop then took Hwy 64 West to the next I-40 exit. We took the overpass onto a paved back road, a very nice ride, good scenary. The road was paved but in places was'nt in great condition. Fine for us though.

Because we took this backroad, we were able to completely bypass Alma, Ar. We were soon going to see all the conjestion we ever dreamed of having (Zacks aircooled HD probably had nightmares of it). We traveled the backroad for a number of miles, I didnt take note of the exact number, probably around twenty or so. Eventually we came to Hwy 71 and continued North towwards Fayetteville.

I really like Hwy 71, its good for a fast ride if thats what you like. The curves are long and usually easy. There are some tight ones though. There are some good rest stops along the way. One is called Artists Point, its well worth a stop for its panoramic views. Another is the old Fire Tower, I didnt go up into the tower but I believe for a small fee you can climb the tower for what would be an awesome view.

A couple of views from Artist Point on Hwy 71.



We arrived in Fayetteville on Hwy 71 (also called College Street in town), we passed Dickson Street and went a little further North to Days Inn where we had a suite reserved. We dumped off our excess luggage and headed on back to Dickson Street. As I turned onto Dickon St. the CMA was there in abundance handing out free water and popsicles, you dont meet better people.
In the past they have closed Dickson Street to automobile traffic but they did'nt do that this year. Early in the day it was clogged with cars (and motorcycles). Later on there were still a few cars but most dicided not to wait in the traffic.

Early in the day there were alot of cars mixing with bikes on Dickson St.

Later on in the day it was mostly bikes.

There were some interesting bikes on Dickson Street.

Beautiful Victory is'nt it? He dropped it in front of our room on Friday night. Luckily it only had a scratch or two.




In my opinion, there were even more people this year than last year, it should be a record number. In Fayetteville people gathered at Dickson Street, the Tyson Track Center, the Arkansas Mall, the Motels and the streets were filled with bikes. There were other areas away from Fayetteville where bikes gathered.

No colors allowed at any BBBQ venues :).



I made a day trip to Eureka Springs Saturday with my old friend Charles P. On the way we stopped at the Pig Trail Harley Davidson and the huge parking lot was overflowing with bikes. There was free food and even a tattoo contest at the largest HD dealer I've ever been in. I understand the construction cost was 12 million dollars. They even had computers for public use.

Pig Trail Harley Davidson, Bentonville, Ar.



We met up with Col. David B. and his wife, and a few other friends at Eureka Springs. We stopped in at Luigi's for some food and refreshments. They are all good people. The Colonel is an interesting person with alot of stories. Charles and the Colonel were in the same Army Unit at one time. The Colonels friend Lee was the life of the party, no dull moments with him around.
Eureka had hundreds of bikes in town and to top it off, a Corvette Convention. An absolutely awesome place to visit. They've done alot to the town since I was there last. Its like no other town in Arkansas, a little bit of Italy, maybe a little Germany, its a great place to spend a weekend.

Eureka Springs, Corvette Rally Weekend During BBBQ. Everyone was having a good time. Can you see Cindy?


There was also a Rally at Mulberry Mountain on Hwy 23 just North of Cass, Ar. Its called "The Pig Trail Motorcycle Rally" http://www.pigtrailrally.com/. There is a $10.00 charge good for all four days. Whats ten bucks? I paid 12 bucks for a gyro and a lemonade at BBBQ (I was hungry and they were good, but $12.00?). They have cabins, lots of camping and a band stage, that I know for sure. From what I was told, the turnout there was really good. I think the idea is to get some of the business from crowded Fayetteville. It may be working but you could'nt tell by driving thru Fayetteville. I'll check it out next year. You dont have to worry about a noise rule, a pet ban or being told to go into your room late at night because your disturbing residents in the area.

I heard there was also a rally in Rolland, Oklahoma, just across the border. All in all, Northwestern Arkansas was teaming with bikes this October. I even traveled some back roads and they were there also. I've never seen this many bikes in the area and this was my sixth trip to BBBQ.

Cindy, Victory Mike, Suzuki Mike, HD Zack, Yamaha Mike and Honda Unknown female standing beside her VTR 1300. We were getting ready to leave the Motel.


Zack has already reserved the room for next years BBBQ 2008. Hopefully they wont enforce the noise law or the pet ban next year. They did a poor job of enforcing it this year :). So make reservations for next year now folks, cause I promise you, it wont be easy to find a room if you wait very long and it will be impossible to find one in Fayetteville.

I hear people comment that there's nothing to do in Arkansas, well obviously they havent been to Fayetteville or Eureka Springs during the BBBQ. Bring some ear plugs, sit on the old rock wall along the upper stretch of Dickson St. and enjoy the show or go for a ride thru the scenic Ozarks, you wont regret it.