Seven days and four states

[zbillster_imp]

I haven't been a photo posting hog in a while ... busy with a big work project, and then it was time to take some time off and ... RIDE!

Was waiting for a clear weather report after much rain and storms down here in Texas ... finally saw an opening in September 14th, so loaded up my top case, put my work email on vacation autoreply, and hit the pavement.



Starting in McKinney, Texas ... my usual country route to Heavener, Oklahoma, going through Van Alstyne, Whitewright, Monkstown, Direct, Arthur City, and then across the Red River to Oklahoma ... Hugo, Antlers, Clayton and the Talimena Scenic Drive.



I made it to Heavener in time for the all-you-can-eat catfish night at the Southern Belle, a restaurant railcar. Highly recommended, along with the Green Country Inn right across the street.





Didn't sleep well, so road out early through the mist and fog on 128 east, a lovely road ...





... to hook up with 71 to 23 north to Eureka Springs, and the famous Pig Trail. My favorite motel with retro 70s waterbeds and jacuzzi tubs was closed (sad panda) but Priceline'd a deal at the Apple Blossom Inn, which had a lovely view out the window into the woods behind it.



Some locals came over for dinner behind the hotel ...



The Eureka Springs area, for those not familiar, is an automotive playground, with lots of twisty roads and beautiful scenery, along with a very European historic downtown area.



Many car and bike clubs hold meets there (including, at least once, this one). The infamous 23 tends to get a bit crowded, so I like to play around on 21, 16 and 123 instead. I did this one route in a day ...



With tags in Missouri and Arkansas borders ...





Apparently Eureka Springs is popular with Shaggy and Scooby Doo ...



Eureka Springs attracts some other celebrities. She wanted to ride on the back, but insisted on juggling her infant along the way, so I turned her down.



Continued on next post ...
This funky old motorcycle shop is apparently for sale. Lots of interesting parts inside, and great service reviews on social media.



My Bridgestone front tire was hitting the wear marks at 5000 miles, but unfortunately they didn't have anything that fit in stock. Some calling around lead me to this Honda dealer in Springfield, Missouri (they were open on a Monday unlike most shops) ... highly recommended ... they had a Dunlop in my size in stock, and did the installation in 45 minutes while I waited for a very reasonable price. Very friendly folks, very clean shop, nice waiting area.





I stopped by Branson, Missouri along the way (aka The Flyover Vegas) ... did the Toy Museum, and found yet another Shaggy van ...



It was getting hot and humid, so I took a break underground for a cheesy and overpriced cave tour ...



After my tire install, I took 125 just east of Missouri south back to Arkansas ... a very fun, twisty road with barely any traffic. Plus you get a free ferry ride across the border to Arkansas.



Apparently a private charter ... no other vehicles were going across at the time ...



I ended up following 14 southeast, then hooking up to 5, and made my way to a cheap Priceline motel in Jacksonville, so I could meet a client for a free lunch in Little Rock. With some stops for pictures ...









Unfortunately, the good weather wasn't going to last ... so I had two days to high-tail it home. The client let me stay in a very swank lakehouse owned by her family on the west side of Hot Springs, so I flopped there before the last leg home.

From Little Rock I took 5 at Benton to 7, to 70 through Hot Springs (kinda touristy and too hot to walk around much), then in the morning I found 227 and 270 (break in Crystal Springs) then 27 to 8 back through Talimena Scenic Drive which I blasted through (empty except for an old Model T going the other way) ... then I stopped at the Choctaw nation capital for a little museum tour (I was the lone visitor) ...



... and pretty much made it back home through Texas the way I came.



Had to stop for 30 minutes in a gas station while a thunderstorm passed, but made it home somewhat dry. About 1800 miles total. Wish it could have gone longer, but maybe someday ...

Oh, and I lost count of how many times I had to answer the question, "What year is that bike?" It received lots and lots of compliments.

[LongRanger_imp]

That's a great road trip and even better photos! Beautiful country. I hope to get out there some day. Thanks for sharing!

[peterbaron]

Interesting trip backed by pics !!

[Houtman_imp]

A BIG thanks !

[the Ferret]

I agree with Longranger, great trip and pics.

Lasy year ( or year before) we had the eastern CB rally in Hot Springs. SOme awesome ridingmaround there.

[dsan1964_imp]

Very nice thanks for sharing. On most my rides I never make time for the pictures to into riding. And I have a go pro I never use I’ll try hooking it up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[zbillster_imp]

Very nice thanks for sharing. On most my rides I never make time for the pictures to into riding. And I have a go pro I never use I’ll try hooking it up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks to all for the compliments!

Ironically, I wasn't focusing on taking pictures during this trip ... I left the GoPro knockoff behind (which I regret a bit now -- some very exciting winding roads that would have made for good video) and though I had my little Canon Powershot strapped to my belt, I barely used it.

Almost all these pics are off my Samsung phone, which I uploaded to Facebook along the way as "proof of life" and to entertain my friends. (I sort of became a "like" addict.)

And all were taken during my regular stops ... for dead bug removal, sunscreen reapplication, fuel, bathroom, food, cold drinks (it got up to 98 degrees on some days) and, it being allergy season for me, eye drops and eyelid wipes for my swelling and itchy tear ducts.

There were a lot of times I would see something and think "Ooooh, that would make a great pic!" but then I didn't want to risk losing the clear road ahead of me and end up stuck behind a slow Winnebago. Or to take the pic I'd have to stop on gravel or a slope not conducive to kickstands. So I just kept on the throttle.

Turns out the Canon got most of its use inside the Toy Museum in Branson. But low light made for not-great pics.

I am disappointed about the rain hitting Friday ... it was supposed to be a 10-day trip, but I kept seeing the impending storm forecasts, so had to cut it short.
Here are some B-roll pics:

Southern Belle dining car restaurant background articles. Click for legible size:





Cleared with the legal department, I guess? Marshall, Arkansas:



I do stop for antique stores ... like free museums. Occasionally they have things that catch a man's interest:







Some inventory pictures from that Eureka Springs motorcycle shop:





The porch view from my client's lakehouse in the morning:



Choctaw museum item: they believed if you wore certain parts of animals, you would get their strengths and speed:



The Springfield Honda shop had the new CB1000R in stock:


Some Branson toy museum pics:

Soviet G.I. Joe ... or Ivan?



I remember these ... my uncle worked for American Airlines back in the 1960s:



They had a large airgun history section. Which reminded me of the Daisy museum in Rogers, Arkansas, but including other manufacturers:



Toy motorcycles:



Board games:

[Cormanus]

Great photos, zbillster. Thanks for sharing.

[redbirds_imp]

Wonderful photos and report, thanks for sharing.

[flynrider]

Looks like a great trip! Excellent pics.

I must say, I'm amazed that you were able to find a front tire and get it mounted quickly while on the road. I've had to do this a couple of times and each time it cost me a whole day trying to find a shop with the right size tire that was willing to mount it while I waited.