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.