Well here is my lenghty literic on the events of the weekend, I had a blast and I hope everyone enjoyes the report...

Ah Saturday !, lovely sunny clear, windless morning.. 930am Brian arrives at the farm, he had a late start, no matter, we are only covering half the distance to meet luke, nate and ed in Mena, Ar. Mandatory smiling faces before departure on our ride..lol



First Stop of the day. Idabel, Oklahoma, Lunchtime! sonic will do on the run, scarf a #5 with a softdrink, called the wife's to tell we were still alive, and not to not call the missing People 800 quite yet.... 156 Miles under belt and full bellies, we hit the road. quick pics at the sonic below;




60 miles down route 59 heading north, about 50 miles from mena, small half deserted town, I take a proof picture the town still exists, will be catalogue on 16th 2008, Grannis R-Kansas firestation still existed. picture proof below;




30 minutes later, we cruise into Mena, Ar, "We made it", I forgot the hotel information, (senior moment # 1) staring at the train station, Brian, re-assures his wife, she does not need to call the cops, we got here without anything extraordinairy happening (grin). I call My wife, "Yeah honey I am Lost.." she chuckles, but shes out bying books "like she needs more... damn books..." she be home in 30 mins and re-assures me, my memory will comback and I will have it figured out and found my hotel before she got home, now y'all married folks reading this, will have already understood, that was truly my problem to figure out.. damn!

After a few words with a gas attendant, she points out that I am looking at my google maps the wrong way (senior moment # 2), She corrects me by pointing on the map the corner I have identified on the map is not the corner street I am standing on, and send me on my way....

we get there, my memories recall a brown brick motel (as per web page) we head in the pointed direction, we go check 1 place, wasn't it at all, double back, to another one we saw a light back and as we approached it I recalled the logo (aint that old yet, I guess..) we pull in, and got my keys, chatted up a pretty that walked in before me, (we was ridding a harley, but she had a cute butt...), I loaned her my cel (story goes she lost her wallet in clarksville, and needed a phone to get some money wired to her from a friend, so I loanded her my phone for a few and we went to our very clean, rooms... changes clothing and we shopped at walmart next door (it is the 16th of may 2008 - 2.30pm)

I got socks, Brian got Gold Bond..(old fart moment #1), proof of documented moment below;



Finally after relaxing and chilling in the motel room, luke, nate and Ed arrived, took a break and suggested we started carving some road before sundown,The triumph was thirsty, and was filled, and we took to the road once again, planned route 80 Miles..



it was a nice ride , good prelude to tomorow's ride nice curves, lovely sights the valleys just look wonderful at failling light, we broke off and headed back thru 88 to mena, .. old fart moment # 2, ed's Back was hurtin', brian's butt was itching, and my knee was sore.

As we got back the light the sun coming across the horizon made some turn, interesting to say the least loosing sight in a blindly light in you eyes of the rider your following into a turn at 50 mph, gets your brain thinking and eyes looking for the lines on the road.. was fun though, we got back in at 7.30 and light was fading fast...

Ed's decided to wait and lay down on his bed to relax his back,  Brian and I went across the road and ate supper at pizza hut, window side, on street, waiting for  the headlights to roll in. After supper we came out, a little worried as it was depe darkkness, and had not seen a pair of headlights, but quickly happy to see the guys a few steps from the doors of the pizza hut..... all is good in Arkansas tonite.


The 17th of May 2008

The sun rose, and so did we, looked outside... well don't need to call the inssurance, the bikes are still outside of the room. We make coffee, Take showers, change clothes, and start packing. Drank coffee and walked out to see luke, nate and ed roaring to go and cut some hillside with their finely oil and tunes machines, I check the oil on my air cooled bike, and notice what I had heard the previous day, chain slap... no matter, get tools, and 5 mins later, belt nice and snug, wash hand and we are off, Mt. Magazine here we come !






Now for you reading, to understand what you read, I just got back in the saddle after not riding in 20 years, I am a safe rider and I love wolfecity, but carving hills, is a complete different type of riding, specially with and extra 50 pounds tied to the rear of the bike.

Mt. Magazine was just SUPERB!!, the ride to dannville was.. in my view awesome, even though I slowed the group at times, sorry it was the first timer on a hillside on a bike... But I had fun!.



came down the hill was easier than I expected, though I could not reason to not have the engine to slow myself down, I challenged myself to Nate "go downhill only using your brakes.. but I kept the engine in neutral just in case. Foot on the gear, hand on the clutch I did do it until the cops pull us over to let cycling come up, followed by a character on a harley at the end following the last dude on a bicycle, moaning his hog was overheating because it was an aircooled. I smirk , I ride an aircooled, he continued to moan about tghe amount of money permits blah blah blah he should have right of way over stupid cicylist challenging the human body and machine against the mountain... humm I don't get his point of view, but its america , so lets move on.... I actually did get to 42 MPH, and truth to be told Nate, thanks for "hey try this trick I did.... you'll have fun...." thanks man.!

Heading towards hotsprings, My knee burts into sheer pain as someone had stuck a hot poker into my kneecap, and I pull over.... Nate find me clutching my knee and hopping on one leg (old fart moment # 3) He says "Ill go get the others" we send him off, for the rest of them to finish the ride, we had planned to pull over night in hot springsd anyways... 22 miles away ..picture of me in pain below;




After the pain subsided, Brian and I headed down the road to Hotspring, I personally lwas ooking very much forward to "The works" at the Arlington Hotel Mineral Spring Water bathouse (Senior Moment # 4).

After a bath, a sauna, a wrap, a shower, and shiatzu massage, Brian chilled in the arlington hotel..

Hotsprings was loaded with harleys, sportbikes, young and old, bars open, lighted street, the fun summer sound of people enjoying the strip, we walked the magnolia covered street and headed to a nice little italian restaurant, wasnt bad, the beer was chilled.... came out of it at 930pm.

The Hotel had a band, people dancing in the hall, the hotel bar was literred with partygoers, and ladies giggling around a table.. we headed to bed.

Woke up on the 18th of may 2008, 730am, opened the blinds open, and looked upon a quiet morning in hotsprings, we had breakfast and headed out, the north wind picked up, my knee slowed us down twice again, brian took and finally made it to my place at 230pm, brian stayed 30 mins, and headed for still another 60 miles home in arlington.




More picture, on this link a complete gallery:

http://longcoeur.com/Motorcycle/trips/Arkansas-Gallery/index.htm

Patrick -  nice recap thanks, love the comments.  Photos came out great too.  Looks like you had good weather, yes I am jealous 

Pete

looks like great fun. off topic but i have a question. where did you get those stomp grip pads for the tank? i have been wanting some, but can't find any model specific ones & yours look like they fit to a T. i have the exact same tank on my 90

Man, that looks like so much fun. I'm jealous too.

Great report; thanks for sharing! 

Quote from: mikedrees on May 19, 2008, 08:57:33 AM
looks like great fun. off topic but i have a question. where did you get those stomp grip pads for the tank? i have been wanting some, but can't find any model specific ones & yours look like they fit to a T. i have the exact same tank on my 90

Sv650 have the same shape what I use.


Reports, if you like them, vote on my message [request] for a travelk/trip report section:) I have others... I go out every other week on a 800+ miles trips like these...lol

a buddy of mine with us, took this video (watch it I am the last dude in the line of 4 bikes on my gs)
we sat ourselves in a "u" shaped turn in AR near Mena.
this is unedited 2.30 mins and there is 2 passes...

Yes I am slow...lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9he73bIg5U&feature=related

Cool trip.  I have to get over that way soon.  Too many great roads, too little time off.   

Looks like you had a blast.

Quote from: trumpetguy on May 20, 2008, 03:37:04 PM
Cool trip.  I have to get over that way soon.  Too many great roads, too little time off.   

Looks like you had a blast.

were you located ?

Quote from: trumpetguy on May 20, 2008, 03:37:04 PM
Cool trip.  I have to get over that way soon.  Too many great roads, too little time off.   

Looks like you had a blast.

Hey Trump... I have ridden to Erueka Springs from OKC for a weekend of twistie riding before and am anxious to do it again.  Maybe we can plan something sometime.  September is a great time to be out there.