AM in Akansas

Yet another lone adventure commenced early this morning.

In town temp was 70F at about 2am, but outside city was a different story.

5.5 hours in 48 degrees air temp.
What's that riding chill at 80mph?

But so worth it!

Taking a break on Talimena Scenic Byway in Ouachita...the most amazing OK/AR road I've experienced. I definitely feel like I'me in the Batmobile kicking up leaves in my wake.

No worries, they aren't soggy.

Photos attaching speeds are too slow
Maybe some laters.
But definitely about the roads laters.

 

Ahhh, I'm jelly of your GoPro.
I officially decided I have to get one before next long ride. I wanted so many of these routes on video.

But I'd love to see the rev-bomb if you can get it.

I hope you get real riding in tho.
I'm only gone the weekend myself. Will be back home tomorrow evening.

Thank you...yes, the moto is pearly white. So classy. Here's my photo I just took after setting up camp.

I'll post more after dinner...not beefstick this time if anyone can believe that!

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I cannot believe that road...I was like a like at Christmas...not quite Canadian Rockies Christmas, but a Christmas alright!!

Absolutely empty because I went early enough. Mount Magazine was the same way when I went in April. Same with Canadian Rockies. Off season and early morning seems to be how to get the road to yourself.

The foliage in Ouachita is like Kansas...hardly anything with many tress just shriveling leaves and dropping them.

The foliage more North in Ozark is about half and half. Many yellows, some dark orange, rarely red. But a ton of green ferns on the side of the road are turning firery red.

I have a heated vest zoom-zoom and his family graced me with this summer, but I didn't think I'd be that cold. Goes to show I should keep packing more than I think I need.

But that's all I have available. No other heated clothing or moto accessories.

I'm wanting Rukka gloves. I'll need to do something serious for warmth to make it to the Arctic Circle.

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OMG, you are sooooo close to Gaspé!! Have you been? If not, hope you can go see it on a longer time break. Hope your weekend ride is going great!

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It will definitely happen...

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Thanks, it's great to see some fall colors start to show!

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Holy shizz, that majorly SUX.
I'm sorry!!

That was me last month...I was going to go then, but got totally sick.

Hope you get over it soon and get lucky with some great surprise weather!!

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No Ranger Rick I'm guessing?

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Riding Today

Weather:

48F on Highway, then 52F but sunny until 2:00. From 2-4 it was about 67F, but by 5:00 it was already down to 55F. I removed my pants liner and neck coduring the hot spell.

Animals:

Lots of dead deer on road, just laying there, some crossed I'm front...a given this time of year. Fox, a red one was hit in Ouachita on the Talimena. Coyote. Tons of vultures and hawks. But dogs...random dogs just roaming all over down here. At the gas stations, napping on the side of the road, at the grocery, all in yards and streets. Does AR have a homeless dog issue? Or no leash law?

Oh, and huge spiders like this on signs.





General Route:

Wichita, KS
Tulsa, OK
Talihina, OK
Mena, AR
Petit Jean Park, AR
Jasper, AR
*I'll post a map if anyone wants specifics.

Notable Roads:

Highway 412 in OK (always for pretty hills in flat OK...and sunrise that I left early for).



Talimena Scenic Byway in OK
(By far the best road in a neighbor state I've ridden...Ride it if you haven't, you will not be disappointed or you can punish me anyway you see fit. This route reminded me of Gaspé in that you crest a hill and see another hill in the distance and you see the road at the top you will soon be on)....but there were a few small areas of chit seal.





Skyline Drive in AR (Talimena turns into this...and OMG, the third to the last mile on this before Mena is like 80 million curves that get you rockin back and forth good. There needed to be more).







Some guy was taking photos with a super nice camera. Wish I knew him. On this road, he took a photo of me waving to two other riders...made for a magazine pic for sure.



AR Highways 8 (after Mena), 27, 314, and the 7....just such fun and enjoyable sweepers and roundie-roos up and down the passes.



Did I say the 7?

You have to do the entire 7 someday!





Non of these roads were overly technical. Many 40, 45, 50 curvies that I easily took some at 80. You experienced peepz could do it faster.

But there are hidden drives and homes with kids...and all those dogs. So better to stick close to suggested speeds, but I let it rip in the less inhabited areas.

Okay...one more thing on roads. I was so excited I planned to ride AR 123 twice. Up and back. But chit seal. Yep. The whole thing other riders said...after I experienced it. I turned moto around and snapped the photo. Next time I'll get to do it.



Oh, and downs on 154 west off/or up to Petit Jean...chit seal.



I wanted to get more photos of road examples and signs, but there just aren't many safe ways to pull over to shoot those photos. I took of moto in some safer pull outs.





And me...this was near end of riding tonight. I'm tired but happy!



Smells:

Lots of wood burning which I love, animals being skunky or gusty on the road...but my absolute favorite was this lumbar yard that was cutting fresh lumber...it was sooooo amazing!

Sights:

The sunrise over the hills and the sunset, views of rolling hills, the sky, the Talimena byway vistas, Arkansas River Valley, the Grand Canyon of Arkansas, a hooker trying to pick a trick...in front of kids... in Dardanelle, AR.









Other Riders:

No one started showing on roads until around 10:30. Mostly cruisers...I only remember seeing a few ADV and 2 sport.

I met two ADV local riders who gave suggestions for tomorrow. I felt good knowing their suggestions are on my list.

Other Stuffs:

I had a proper dinner tonight, which I rarely have on the road: a BLT and some tater skins. I have pecan pie in my tent right now. All because I stayed at the motorcycle friendly, The Hub, that was mentioned on the other AR thread. This place is amazing and the people great!



And really the star of the show....muh moto....behaved! Even with the brights switch that I used constantly for the first 5 hours of riding this morning. Hope moto keeps it up.



Okay, I'll put in a few pics.
Then pie and sleeping bag cocoon time...the shiverz are being stubborn.

Do any of you have suggestions for rides or any of your knowledge to add to this thread....so others hoping to ride AR can benefit?

Muh camp golden hour and fall foliage over been waiting on.









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