flatgrind
Member
Just did a quick Tuesday-Friday trip from Dallas up to the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. Slabbed it to Little Rock, then went up and connected with the TAT. Did a small section of the TAT up there, then came home via the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
Weather was high 20's to about 50 with only a bit of rain, and the only snow was on the one side of one of the peaks near Bowles Mountain or Pilot Knob.
When I was on the bike it was mostly high 30's and 40's so very comfortable in my riding gear and no worries about ice.
Was planning to camp along the TAT sections, but didn't bring a tent, just tarp and sleeping bag. With rain forecast all night, I dropped down to Jamestown and got a hotel room. It was a pretty ride the next morning up 103 to reconnect with the TAT in the Ozark National Forest. I was shocked at how EMPTY all of the State and National Parks I visited along the way were. I really had them to myself.
Didn't stop to take many photos, but here are a few:
I've been using $5 walmart dry bags and a four Rok Straps to haul my stuff. Fine on the road, but not great on dirt. They end up shifting around. You can see in the photo above they had moved around so much I was down to just one functional strap. I end up having to stop and adjust along the way, and when standing on dirt, use my butt to keep them from sliding forward. New luggage is on the list. Santa, are you listening?!
Got stuck, stuck, stuck in the MUD on Warloop Road:
Tried all kinds of things, but ended up having to lay the bike on its side and drag it into the thorny brush to slightly more solid ground where I was finally able to ride it out.
Took about an hour of dragging and I was exhausted by the time I was able to get it out.
The Talimena Scenic Byway is 50 or 60 miles of nice windy road that runs along a the mountain tops between Mena, Arkansas and Talihina, Oklahoma. Beautiful ride, beautiful views and I only saw about a dozen cars the whole way, most of them parked at one of the many scenic views along the way.
Took just a few minutes to explore one of of the forest roads off the Talimena Byway, then it was back on the road home...
Not much of a ride report, but hey, that's all I've got right now. Gotta get busy planning my next escape!
Weather was high 20's to about 50 with only a bit of rain, and the only snow was on the one side of one of the peaks near Bowles Mountain or Pilot Knob.
When I was on the bike it was mostly high 30's and 40's so very comfortable in my riding gear and no worries about ice.
Was planning to camp along the TAT sections, but didn't bring a tent, just tarp and sleeping bag. With rain forecast all night, I dropped down to Jamestown and got a hotel room. It was a pretty ride the next morning up 103 to reconnect with the TAT in the Ozark National Forest. I was shocked at how EMPTY all of the State and National Parks I visited along the way were. I really had them to myself.
Didn't stop to take many photos, but here are a few:
I've been using $5 walmart dry bags and a four Rok Straps to haul my stuff. Fine on the road, but not great on dirt. They end up shifting around. You can see in the photo above they had moved around so much I was down to just one functional strap. I end up having to stop and adjust along the way, and when standing on dirt, use my butt to keep them from sliding forward. New luggage is on the list. Santa, are you listening?!
Got stuck, stuck, stuck in the MUD on Warloop Road:
Tried all kinds of things, but ended up having to lay the bike on its side and drag it into the thorny brush to slightly more solid ground where I was finally able to ride it out.
Took about an hour of dragging and I was exhausted by the time I was able to get it out.
The Talimena Scenic Byway is 50 or 60 miles of nice windy road that runs along a the mountain tops between Mena, Arkansas and Talihina, Oklahoma. Beautiful ride, beautiful views and I only saw about a dozen cars the whole way, most of them parked at one of the many scenic views along the way.
Took just a few minutes to explore one of of the forest roads off the Talimena Byway, then it was back on the road home...
Not much of a ride report, but hey, that's all I've got right now. Gotta get busy planning my next escape!
