This is the first report I have done for this forum, I hope you like what you are about to read. Now I am going to bore you to death with it. So, just sit back and read. At least I am including pictures to breakup the boredom.

This trip is in the Rivervalley area of Arkansas. It happen on April 28, 07. There was a
benefit bike rally I wanted to go too!. 

I started this morning around 7:44. My wife kissed me goodbye and left for her
day out. So, I decided to go to the Mount Magazine Bike Rally at Shirley's
Outback. I went through Greenwood and turned north onto Hwy 96. I went
until I had to stop at the stoplight and turned east onto Hwy 22. The traffic
was light and I never even seen another bike until I reach Charleston.
There were several cruisers at the local gas station. They waved and
I waved back.

After leaving Charleston, I keep going to Paris. One note first, the
National Guard armory I was last signed too is empty now. The military
resigned them somewhere else. I was a little sad seeing this, but it happens. I
keep riding into Paris. The grass was real green and some trees still have the
dead leaves on them. That is still strange for me. I know the cold snap took out
the leaves. But it still looked weird.

When I reached Paris, I passed the turn off and went straight. There was a gas
station I saw and I wanted to make sure I had a full tank. I picked up a coke, candy bar,
and some gas. I pulled over to the side of the building and sat down to rest and dine on
what I bought. Several bikes pulled up and we talked awhile. You know the usual
questions like " aren't you to old to ride that thing", "what gas mileage you get? ", and
etc. We said our good-byes for then and they headed out. I got myself together and
headed out as well.

I turned left onto hwy 309 south and headed out of town. After a mile out of town
the road construction started. That was the roughest 5 miles of road I ever drove on. The
southbound lane was just bad period! After I got out of the construction and started up
the mountain I stop to take a picture of the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway sign.




After this photo, I got back onto the bike and drove to this overlook that looks at the
north side of Cove Lake. The photos now are of the earth dam and spillway. The second
is of is looking to east on the lake.







After talking to a family that was playing in the water at this overlook, I headed out
again.

I finally reached Shirley's Outback, and there were probably about 70 bikes all
together. I walked around for a few minutes and talked to a few people. Here are some of
the photos from that experience. 1st is the poker run and guided tour sign in. The 2nd and
3rd are a few of the bikes there.








Yes, I did feel like a fish out of water! I was the pun of every bike joke. You
know the battle I am talking about. I stripped the liner out of my Tourmaster jacket
because it was getting warm. I finally got feed up and left. While everyone was heading
north up HWY 309 and I turned south to the mountain. I had a guy wave me down to tell
me I was going the wrong way. I informed him I was heading over the mountain, not on
the guided tour.

Before I reached the State Park, I stopped and took these shots at an overlook.











So I headed up the mountain and stop at the state park entrance sign to get this
picture.




After this I stopped at the Visitor center and talked to the Rangers of awhile. The
two female rangers I talked too where very pretty young ladies, what ever happen to the
guppy old rangers? I looked at the nature history museum that is in the visitor center.
After looking for awhile, I gave them my good-byes and headed to the camp ground and
lodge areas. I had not seen the new area scene they had been completed.
While I was heading to the campgrounds, I turned onto the overlook road. The next few
pictures are from that over look.


 







I could hear motorcycle rumblings from this lookout. I guess a large group of HD made it
to Shirley's. From there I headed to the campgrounds and lodge. Man, that lodge is big
and nice! I could not believe it was full as well. After that loop I made it back to the
visitor center area. I stopped at the restrooms for one more rest stop before I get home.
Put my mp3 player on and headed south towards home. Well at least that what I thought
at the time.

I headed out of the park to start the whined trip home. I then remembered the
switchbacks going down the mountain. Yes, I was having fun going down them, plus the
view was great as well. About half way down I past a waterfall, so I stopped to take
some more photos. 1st is of the waterfall 2nd is of the waterfall when I walked to it. 3rd is
looking north on the Hwy309 and 4th is looking south.













I finally made it off the mountain and rolled into Havana. I noticed a bunch of
sport bikes there and I stopped. I talked to the crew that was there and they where
heading over the mountain to the rally. They asked if I would be interested in going back
now. SO, I went back with them. I started noticing the limits of my bike going up the
steep incline. I did not want to push the 489cc engine to hard. So, I fail back a little. Next
thing you know a busa and gixxer came screaming past myself and the group that I was
following. The two was passing on the inside and around blind corners as well. You
guest right , the busa rider did not have a helmet on and was wearing a sweat shirt. The
gixxer at least had a helmet, but at-shirt and shorts with teenie shoes. I could not believe
it!

We finally stop at the visitor center and went in. I told them, I was sorry I could
not keep up all the way, but they just told me not to worry about it. After that we
went around the lodge and campground loop. Yes, again for me. The group
headed down to the rally with me in tow.

When we got there, bikes where everywhere. Plus, brain dead people was
standing and talking in the middle of the road. Yes, the highway was not shutdown, but
they acted like it was. While we waited for some people to move, so we could pass, I told
one of the group I was going on. He shook his head yes. I slowly crawled my bike
through the crowd and noticed on the other side that the group had followed. I told them
it was not what I wanted to be part of and I was leaving. They asked I would like to ride
somewhere else with them. They where all in agreement that they where not staying
either. I told them I better head back to Hackett, but thanks. So, we all drove into Paris. I
headed back west on Hwy22. They stopped to get something to eat. I wished I got that
groups names and etc. I was impressed at the way they treated each other and strangers.
I drove west on 22 until I came to Hwy23 intersection. I turned south onto 23 and went to Booneville.

At Booneville, I had to get something to eat. I been most of the morning with
nothing to eat and my blood sugar was getting low. I stopped at the golden arches
and got a cheeseburger. I went and sat outside by my bike to eat it. I was in the
shade. Two Victory's dove up, A husband and wife where out for a cruise. They
went and got something and came sat down with me. We talked awhile and they
asked about the rally. I told them that was up to them, but it was not for me any
more. They decided to just keep going on Hwy10 until Little Rock and then come
back. We said you partings and I headed home. It was around 2:15 pm when I got home.

The total mileage was 232 mles.

I hope all of you enjoy this and not too bored. The morals of this story are:

Sport bikes are good and some HD are evil! 

Never go to a bike rally again! 

PLEASE leave me comments to let me know if I should keep writing my trips up !

Thanks for taking the time to read this trip report.

Look at those quality AR roads....

It was crap like that that really made me not want to take my bike to AR anymore when I visited my mom.  You can't enjoy the ride because you're too worried about gravel and tar snakes.  Hwy 9 out of Mountain View would be an awesome road to ride except for the poor maintenance. 

awesome pics!  wish I had roads like that around here... I know exactly what you mean about "being out of place" - a while back I rode my KLR650 to a harley rally in beaumont texas... WOW... and you think sport bikes are out of place  The funniest thing was hearing people call it "jap-crap" I just shrugged and said if its good enough for the military:



Its good enough for me! 

sounds like you had a great ride 

i need to learn to stop occasionally and take some pics. i always have my camera but never end up taking pictures 

Thanks, whitewolf. Very interesting. I enjoyed reading it.
Next time I go on my trip, I definitely want to write some report and upload on this forum.

looks like the roads here in the mountains of nc...they are terrible. keep the posts/pics coming.

whitewolf, that was cool! 

i ride about 2-300 miles a week, but rarely think to take pictures anymore. your trip was a nice change from my usual car dodging commute. the pictures were great, and your narration of the events made it a nice read. 'whitewolfs leanings' ?

i can completely understand the HD resentment. every HD fest I've been to is the same way. they can't ride, park, walk, drink or do anything quietly and politely. i've taken my wife and she asked about the segregated parking. when i explained she was completely turned off.

now she and i refer to HD conventions as rolling traffic jams. can't any of them think for themselves on two wheels ? can't any of them turn into and out of an event without blocking both sides of the hiway ?

and a big STUPID button for the busa rider.


Thanks for the time and effort to share your ride. Looking forward to your next submission. 

Hey Whitewolf,
I enjoyed the ride report.
I met you at the gas station at the casino in Pocola a couple of months back.
We should get together for a ride sometime. We would just have to be sure and not mix our bikes up Though. 
BeSafe

Quote from: Egaeus on May 04, 2007, 08:09:24 AM
Look at those quality AR roads....

It was crap like that that really made me not want to take my bike to AR anymore when I visited my mom.  You can't enjoy the ride because you're too worried about gravel and tar snakes.  Hwy 9 out of Mountain View would be an awesome road to ride except for the poor maintenance. 

You just have to know where to look around AR for good roads.  They really are everywhere.  I used to get excited every time about going to see my sister when she lived there.  She even knew it was because of the roads too.

I enjoyed it whitewolf!

Thanks for taking us along!

Hey, don't I know you??? LOL!

hnh