Busted out!!

[GIBBY]

Antlers is the 3,4,5 of October. I sometimes forget about you guys that have bikes without the heated features. I am flexible on the timing but I forecast a warmer than normal October for the midwest

[rayski271]

lets see what happens i might be able to swing a scouting mission gibby maybe we can take a different way to or from antlers this year either way we will work something out

[GIBBY]

Ray, if you have the weekend before Antlers off of work we could certainly spend a few days riding MO. That would be perfect timing weather-wise, plus we would already be heading south. Great idea Ray!

[glwilson]

I'll look up Antlers and see if I can give you guys some ideas of the areas in MO I am familiar with that you can try-out.

If you like it... then fine. If not, well then... plan "B".

EDIT: Oh yeah Gibby... that's nice of you to finally come to your senses that the rest of us are not riding in comfort!

[rayski271]

ok i hope everyone has a great weekend if your riding stay safe since i cant ride im going spend the weekend on the golf course and then next thursday 12 of us from work are going to tennessee for four days of golf going be in crossville so i wont be on till i get back i should be on first part of week while still at work but not sure talk to you all later ray

[GIBBY]

Enjoy the links Ray.

[glwilson]

Hey Ray!!!! Went riding again today... it was perfect temps to ride. A little overcast and the wind gusts at 40 made for a couple interesting moments... but all in all... a great day to ride!

Just busting your chops buddy... just busting your chops...

[GIBBY]

Finally some nice weather coming this weekend. I am about 900 miles from an oil change, am going to try knocking that out on Saturday and Sunday. Woop, woop

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Finally some nice weather coming this weekend. I am about 900 miles from an oil change, am going to try knocking that out on Saturday and Sunday. Woop, woop

Have fun and ride safe. Make sure you stop before you need your oil changed!

Getting some riding done down here. Today will be my longest ride... headed south further into Arkansas.

A local suggested the route to take. It will only be about 260 miles or so, but will take most of the day since the roads are pretty gnarly. We'll see... at least they look to be on the map.

[GIBBY]

Hope you are having a good time Greg. Be sure to keep and eye out for some awesome roads to run during our 2014 Regional Rally. Do you have a DeLorme atlas for MO and AR?

[jendesigner]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Have fun and ride safe. Make sure you stop before you need your oil changed!

Getting some riding done down here. Today will be my longest ride... headed south further into Arkansas.

A local suggested the route to take. It will only be about 260 miles or so, but will take most of the day since the roads are pretty gnarly. We'll see... at least they look to be on the map.

What part of Arkansas? I love the roads around Harrison area. I get down there at least twice a year (End of May this year for a Rally).

Of course at home they are forcasting great weather for the end of the week and next week and I'm leaving for a business trip to Austin :-(

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by jendesigner

Of course at home they are forcasting great weather for the end of the week and next week and I'm leaving for a business trip to Austin :-(

You are home; weather sucks.
You leave town; weather is great
Sometimes life sucks!

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by jendesigner

What part of Arkansas? I love the roads around Harrison area. I get down there at least twice a year (End of May this year for a Rally).

Of course at home they are forcasting great weather for the end of the week and next week and I'm leaving for a business trip to Austin :-(

Rt 7 out of Harrison if I go that far. Depends on the roads and time... Getting to Harrison from here is about an 1 1/2 hours (give or take)... then to start on Rt 7 through the forest preserve area down there.

The elevation variances are the greatest down around there; thus the roads are a constant twist and turn. If I go all that way I will be gone for about 9 hours today. Not sure I'll do all of that, but would like to. We'll see...

But certainly the better roads are in Arkansas -- compared to the area of Missouri I am in. I do believe the roads are better east of here also from what I can remember (just slightly north of Poplar Bluff, MO). In hind sight, I should have either based out of Arkansas or near Poplar Bluff, MO and said the heck with this rally. Toooooo many people around here.

[jendesigner]

If you decide to ride down there and spend the night check out The Hub, http://hubinfo.com, great place and people. Right on Route 7. Spending more time to ride in the area is worth it. Push Mountain is my favorite road to ride. Have fun, I'm jealous. :-)

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by jendesigner

If you decide to ride down there and spend the night check out The Hub, http://hubinfo.com, great place and people. Right on Route 7. Spending more time to ride in the area is worth it. Push Mountain is my favorite road to ride. Have fun, I'm jealous. :-)

Well you shamed me to go into Arkansas today, although I started out late. I cut my trip short because of it though.

I went straight down 65 to Harrison and then took 7 all the way to Dover. I turned around and rode it back. Same road but going two directions made it seem different. 6-hour ride total with stops only for fuel.

A local in Dover had me take a side route off 7 out of Jasper (43 then to something else to Harrison).

Didn't go to where the Hub is, but that looks really cool -- and didn't see Push Mountain. I will look to see where it is at and see if I can get down there to it.

Overall... Rt-7 out of Harrison a few miles is a Grade-A paved road, but twisted and gnarled... reminding me a bit of the Dragon (if not more in a few spots). Constant turns and twists for miles and miles.

The road then climbs to the mountain ridges and provides absolutely beautiful views (reminding much of NC).

About half way between Harrison and Dover, 7 starts to be less intense on its turns and twists; however it is anything but straight. Road condition is what I would call moderate. (No pot-holes, but some minor cracking and some minor bumps here and there.) But still a great road. I would say it is Arkansas's answer to NC's Blueridge Parkway from that point on to Dover. Really nice.

The additional alternate I took out of Jasper was a very tight/twisted road that climbed up then down into the mountain valleys for about 10-15 miles. I can see where someone could get hurt fast on that road if they were not experienced or paying attention. You really had to have your hands and feet going the entire time to keep the machine in the correct attitude. But after that it became what I call "tight sweepers". Real nice.

As mentioned, I did not do the long loop I had originally intended. I would still be out there in the mountains somewhere if I had.

None the less, I had a great ride today, and saw some fantastic scenery, and a whole lot of bikes of all kinds down here. (Not any single brand dominated -- but it was mostly Ultra's, GW's. BMW's, and sport-bikes of a variety.

Oh yeah... and I am sun and wind burned.

Where's the bourbon in this town!!!!