Memorial Day Talimena Ride

Last Monday, Memorial Day, I left home at 0800, my destination was the Talimena Drive that starts in Arkansas and goes on into Oklahoma. I didn't make the entire ride but I got a good portion of it.  I took Hwy 27 towards Danville and then Hwy 8 at Norman to Mena until I reached the Talimena Drive.

Before reaching Danville, I couldn't resist a side trip on Hwy 307 towards Spring Lake. I didn't go all the way to the lake because the road is dirt after a few miles.

I found this old building which I'm guessing was a storm cellar or root cellar just a few feet off the road.

After gassing up at Danville, I got into the curves on Danville Mountain on my way to Rover. The picture above is from the Fourche LaFave River bridge South of Rover.

I liked the looks of the fields, hills and of course there is a creek in the distance. It would be nice to have a house where I was standing if there wasn't a highway there.

I found this mine South of Mt. Ida about two miles off of Hwy 27. I thinking I'll go back with the car later.

The entrance to the mine.

I stopped in the shade at the Mt. Ida courthouse for a drink and to cool off.

An old Church along the way.

I realize this pictures are a little bit backward, anyway a few of them are. This is Lake Quachita which is just after Washita (I'm sure some teens have had fun with this name).

Washita is actually before Mt. Ida.

Another break at the Caney Creek WMA on Hwy 8.

I thought this was a cool name for a town.

These were seen just before entering Mena.

The Mena Train Station.

A nice addition to the Museum.

This is an old National Guard Armory in Mena built in 1929 and recently renovated.

This is Janssen Park in Mena. If I'm not mistaken it was opened around 1887.

Cabin at the park,- built in 1851.

Thats the old Armory in the distance. Along the hill top you can see some of the destruction caused by the 2009 tornado.

Polk County Courthouse.

A monument to those killed and injured in the 2009 Tornado.

To those who served.

To a Hero.

The start of the Talimena Drive in Arkansas.

Self portrait before getting into the twisties.

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Mountains, curves and more mountains.

A nice old land mark.

Locomotive near the lodge or at least where the lodge  was. Its undergoing major renovation and is scheduled to reopen in 2013..

Starting the Oklahoma part of the ride.

Can you believe it. They graveled a road that is used extensively by motorcycles, I guess it doesn't take brains to be a road engineer, anyway not in Oklahoma.

Another mountain view. Their were plenty of them on this ride, its absolutely a must do ride, beautiful.

After making a right and coming back to Mena via hwy 259 I made a left on hwy 71 North. This is the old Hwy 71 bridge.

The new bridge is in the distance.

After reaching the Hwy 10 turnoff I took it to Hwy 96 across Ft. Chaffee (my birth place) to Hwy 22, where I made a right to head on home. The Budweiser was at the junction of 22 and 96.

This is the Courthouse at Charleston.

Monument to Confederate Veterans.

A monument to all veterans.

You don't always need to go far from home for the best pictures.  This is a few miles from my house and the last picture of the trip and what a ride it was.  Almost twelve hours in the saddle with several small break and a couple that last a half hour each, where I had two cans of tuna for the days nourishment.  I got plenty hot during the day, I stopped for gas on Hwy 71 at one point, bought a 42 ounce coke and didn't stopped drinking till it was gone. I think I was getting a little dehydrated.  Great day of riding, can't wait till the next one.

Searching for an Android

Finally the weather and a day off coincided and I was able to go for a ride. I had plans on going for a day ride to Mena but there was something else I wanted to do. I recently bought a small touch screen cell phone and the keyboard was way to small . I became obsessed with replacing it, so I returned the small phone and went on an Android hunt. As luck would have it, the nearest Walmart with a Straight Talk LG Optimus Q was in Little Rock, so that's the direction I went in my quest for a better cell phone.
Last Thursday I loaded up and set out for Little Rock. I don't care for the Interstate, if I can bypass it. Luckily this trip was on  roads I've ridden many times and I always enjoy the ride. I started on Hwy 64 East to Morrilton, there I took Hwy 9 South. After crossing the Arkansas River and passing through the flat agricultural area I pulled through Oppelo.
The two pictures above and below are opposite sides of the road after coming uphill from the agricultural fields and arriving at Oppelo.

Continuing South on hwy 9, I crossed the Fourche Lafave River bridge and the Railroad tracks which at one time were the life of Perry, Ar. Hwy 10 goes West here, I kept on Hwy 9/10 South. After gaining some elevation and having fun on some curves I pulled into Perryville, the Seat of Perry County. I changed my routine here, I usually just breeze right on through but today I went exploring. I had never wondered where the County court house was but today I did and I found it and more.

Big old brick Court House.

Quite a history this spot has had.

The guy that takes care of the lawn, taking a break in the abundant shade from all the old Oak trees.

Strange, this Courthouse is just two blocks off the highway and I never knew it was here.
Across from the Court House is the Perry County Museum in an old rock house. I didn't have the time today but I'll return to check it out and then update this post. Amazing, another small town with a museum and Russellville still doesn't have one. Russellville and Pope County are rich in history and historical spots, but who knows and who really cares. The Art Center of Russellville is the old rock swimming pool building, I guess thats something, even though it's proabably 1200 square feet total and once again, who cares right?

The Heifer Ranch just South of Perryville. They give tours which I've been on and they're really interesting. Here's a link talking about the place.
http://arkansasroadstories.com/heifer.html
They also have a bunk building for school overnight outings.

Everytime I stopped, this Camel would come walking up to me. I don't know what he was wanting, but having experiance with them during the Persian Gulf War and not wanting to get spit on that day, I kept my distance.

Handsome guy, nice profile but not what a Saudi Arabian would call beautiful. They like them with really big droopy lips and big round eyes. Camel beauty contests are a big deal there.

A couple of old Water Buffalo. I ate a lot of Water Buffalo in South East Asia during the Vietnam War, good stuff, tastes like Beef.

I came in Peace I leave in Peace.

Something I've never seen before.

A Volkswagon made into a flower pot.

After getting back on the highway, I flew through Thornburg. South of Thornburg there is a beautiful view of the Quachita Forest and the Wonona Wildlife Management Area to the South. I arrived at Williams Junction, a store where Hwy 9 continues on South to Perot and Benton and 10 goes East towards Little Rock. Soon the Forest gave way to paper company lands and a lot of barren landscapes.

Lake Maulmelle was next and a pretty lake it is.

The Boat Dock with an abundance of Sail Boats.
I arrived at Chenal Parkway Walmart, where I was told I could find the Android I was looking for and lo and behold there it was. I purchased it then went out and sit under a shade tree for a break and put the phone together. You know how it is when you get a knew toy, I couldn't wait to play with it.

When I left Little Rock I retraced my route except that on the West end of Maulmelle Lake I made a right on Hwy 113 and went on the ride to Bigelow. This ride is really curvy with a few long straight spots. The curves are worth the trip and so are the straights. I call them roller coaster straights because of the hills in them. On the way I made a detour to Little Italy by taking a right on Hwy 300. You can go all the way to Little Rock on 300 passing Pennacle Mountain State Park but I just turned around and went back to 113 and on to Bigelow.

This is the reason I took the detour to Little Italy... its only six miles there and back but your under a canopy of tree limbs riding through the tunnel most of the way. An awesome ride.

Back on the road to Bigelow. This is one of the straight way roller coasters. I went on and passed through Houston, then making a right onto Hwy 9, I crossed the Arkansas River bridge. Zach lives in Morrilton, so I stopped for a cold drink and to show off my Android. Zach wanted to go on the ride that day but had a dental appointment. I kind of like telling about my rides when he can't make it, a little rubbing it in never hurt anyone :).