Ft. Smith

I rode to Ft. Smith last Friday. I didn't take my camera because I couldn't find it (I found it when I got back home). Wouldn't you know it, seems like everytime I forget my camera or lose it I find lots of photo ops.
I was going West through Paris and saw police lights in the distance, behind the police were probably 100 bikes. I don't think they were going to a funeral because most of them had smiles on their faces. There I sat, on the side of the road with no camera. Thats not all, going back home the afternoon sun was hitting some old barns and house just right. Oh well, maybe there will be another perfect day this year and I'll ride that road again, this time with the camera in my pocket.

BBBQ 2011

Friday October 1, 2011, Zach and I rode to BBBQ 2011. We took Interstate 40 to Alma then Hwy 71 to Dickson Street. The weather was absolutely fantastic, it could not have been any better. That's the way it usually is during the BBQ. There were quite a few riders on 71. I like 71, it has plenty of straight stretches along with curves and some of them are really tight.
We only stopped once, in Alma for gas so I didn't take any pics on the way up. Actually when we arrived there I didn't take many. We were there during the day and it just wasn't getting wild yet. Here are the few I did take.

We rode back on Hwy 71 to Alma then Hwy 64 back to Russellville. We didn't spend much time at BBBQ but we did see a lot of motorcycles and enjoyed the weather and the mini vacation.

Five of us went for a ride to the second annual Bikes, Babes and Bling Saturday, We were expecting crowds and motorcycles on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Ar. There were few bikes, few babes and no bling that I could see. For one thing, it was being held at the Washington Co. Fairgrounds. I guess they like fencing the bikers in. When we arrived the gate guard said there were maybe 50 bikes inside. We didn't add to the number. Maybe someday we'll be back if it gets better.



On our way out of Fayetteville we stopped and had lunch at the Golden Corral. You just can't go wrong with Golden Corral, most of the time. Don't ever stop at the one in Muskogee, Ok., it is not good.

The bunch getting ready to leave after a good meal.
In the pic are Zach, Chris, Mike (Cooner) and Mike (Ham). I'm always the one behind the camera.

Old Toyota.

On our way up to Fayetteville, we went via I-40, the Pig Trail and Hwy 16. Leaving we took Hwy 412, 74, 21, 16 and 7.

This is at a roadside park on Hwy 74 between Huntsville and Kingston.

There were a few bikes going by.

At a gas stop in Kingston, Zach decided he was going to make his shirt sleeveless. With Chris yanking on the shirt and a local guy cutting with his pocket knife, this is end result. Definitely cooler, Zach decided he wasn't going to ride with his tit hanging out so he put on his spare tank top.

This is at Rotary Ann on Hwy 7. Everyone tried to get some shade. The morning ride was nice and cool all the way North, the afternoon ride was not.

My self portrait showing my hillbilly air conditioning (notice the water poured onto my shirt).

There was a really big group of bikers that came by, probably at least 50 to 75 bikes. I didn't catch the groups name.

This is my famous helmet camera shot. Notice the new pavement on part Highway 7, very smooth.

Last leg of the ride, going South from Dover. It was a great ride.

Oklahoma visit

Saturday, the wife and I went to visit my Daughter and Son in Law in Muskogee, Ok. No motorcycling on this trip but I need some content on my blog so I'll use what I can.
Saturday morning we went to Paul's Diner in Muskogee. Now I can't tell you how to get there, it's kind of in a out of the way place but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to get directions. At Paul's Diner I spent $9.46 for two meals, bigggggg meals. They are known for their huge biscuits. I didn't eat again until around 9 pm. The food was excellent, a great choice for anyone traveling to the area. They also have lunch and dinner but breakfast can be ordered at anytime. The place isn't much to look at but the food is fantastic.

The huge biscuit minus one big bite. My Daughter and her Husband look like they're praying, I think they were just thinking how they were going to eat all the food.

I found this nice looking and friendly lady at the Three Rivers Museum.

I just don't understand Shriners.

There was some type of Parade downtown Saturday. We thought it was a Memorial Day parade but there were no military to be seen anywhere. There were a lot of Shriners though and about 50 to 100 people in attendence.

One reason there were not many people attending could be the Muskogee Renaissance Fair that was going on every weekend in the month of May. If your interested, heres the link www.okcastle.com/ .

There is an organ in the trailer being played as they roll along.

Indians.

More Indians.

This three wheeler must belong to his wife or else he's just a colorful Shriner.

The Joe Dirt clown.

The Shriners M/C ?

Cool ride in late May

Today, Zach, Chris and myself went for a ride North and South of I-40. We were going to ride up Hwy 27 to Clinton then back down 65. By the time we arrived at Hector, we had decided it was too cool for a ride in the mountains. We went back West then over Buck Mountain road to 124 and over Crow Mountain. From there it was 247 to Dardanelle and 7 to Ola. We gassed up at Ola then took Hwy 10 to Perry. After all the country road riding it was nice to get on Hwy 10 and twist the grip a little more, Hwy 10 is great for that, being wide and smooth, making it possible to watch for deer, dogs and other hazards.

At Perryville we took another nice road, Hwy 60 East, to Conway. This road does have one left turn going East with a guard railing but the curve is quite a bit more of a curve than you would think, so be ready for that one. I went through there a few years ago and had to help with an injured Motorcyclist on the curve.

When we got to Conway we were hungry. We should have followed the rule that if there are not a lot of vehicles in the parking lot, don't stop.
We stopped because it was New China and I've been to two and they were good so I thought this one would be the same. NOT the same. This place sucked bad. I won't go into detail, just don't stop there, it is bad.
Zach had a Doctors' appointment, so he went on his way and Chris and I rode on back to Russellville via Hwy 64, 113 and over Crow Mtn from Atkins.
We stopped at Morrilton and I took a few pictures of the building that had fallen there not long ago and of the new Caboose at the Train Station Museum.


The building that fell killing a two year old child.


A rare picture of yours Cindy and I.

Pyatt, Everton and more in North Arkansas

This is the way it looked this morning at Rotary Ann, the roadside park just South of Pelsor. The morning was Chrisp and clean with no hint of incoming rain.

We had started North on Hwy 7, Rotary Ann was right at the 38 mile mark.
After a short break to take in the view, we continued North and took Hwy 123 at Lurton. Arkansas's Dragon Tail is a ride no one should miss.

Chris's Wide Glide looking good in the morning Sun, at a pull over on 123. There wasn't a lot of sand and gravel on the road but there was one really bad gravel spot on one of the tightest curves.

A view from the pull over. After a break, we continued on 123, going through Mt. Judea and crossing the Buffalo National River at Hasty landing.

After making a left on Hwy 65 then a right onto Hwy 206, we arrived at Everton, Ark.

I had never been there, it was a really interesting little town.

The old store.

This may have been the old Post Office. The flag pole was old, as was the Confederate flag blowing in the morning wind.

The door of the building had a more modern flag draped across it.

The old Everton Hotel, a huge old building. Next time I'm in the area, if I have time, I'll gonna ask about a tour.

Hwy 206 was a good ride, narrow with shoulders needing mowed. We finally reached the Junction with 125. In front of us was the old Eros, Ar. school house, the new one was next door.

We made a left on Hwy 125, passing the old Eros store and a newer boat. The buildings were all built with small rocks in this town.
We eventually reached Hwy 62 and made a right turn where we would again turn onto 125 N in a few miles.

Making a turn off of 62 onto 62B we crossed a one lane bridge and some railroad tracks and checked out the town of Pyatt. Not much in Pyatt anymore. Some old buildings and houses, which is what I like to photograph. I'll be back again for some more pictures.

Chris on Pyatt's main street.

Heading out the way we went in, on the one lane bridge.

We went back out to Hwy 62, found 125 N again and followed it to Hwy 14.
We made a left to go West on 14 all the way to Hwy 65, where we turned South towards Harrison, Ark.

We stopped at this Chinese place in Harrison. The buffet was very small, I didn't think the food was all that good, but we were hungry and it was good enough.

After eating, we continued on South on Hwy 7.

Which brings me to the "some people are stupid or something category".
We were going around a tight right hand curve just North of Jasper and there were two motorcycles stopped in the road, one was probably 2 or 3 feet out into it. That's all I have to say about that.

Nice view from the pull over South of the Cliff House.

Same pull over, our bikes.

Quite a few riders out today.

Looks likes they're having a good time.

We put over 250 miles on the bikes and if I didn't mention it earlier, most of it was curves.

After one more stop at Rotary Ann, we made it to our homes, it was a good day.