Introduction

Ride Report: October 15-16, 2011 - My parents own shares in a vacation time-share (Wyndham Resorts) that they are no longer healthy enough to travel and enjoy. They were about to run out of a sizable number of annual points in December if they are not used.

A Wyndham Resorts location on the eastern edge of the Arkansas Ozarks (Fairfield Bay, Arkansas) is a personal favorite that I have intended to use as a destination for a motorcycle trip because from Trenton one must cross over 300 miles of twisty Ozark back roads to get there. Fairfield Bay is on Greers Ferry Lake and near no large towns. The community caters to primarily retirees that play golf. In other words, very, very quiet. Due to low occupancy associated with the post summer vacation period I got a free upgrade to a "two bedroom deluxe). This will actually the second trip planned for Fairfield Bay resort. The first one didn't quite go as planned (Family Arkansas Trip 2008).

I planned to ride the Talimena Scenic Drive and have breakfast at the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge on top of the drive. After completing the Talimena Scenic Drive I planned on riding about 200 miles of Ozark back roads to Fairfield Bay. Once at the resort I intended seek out a good local restaurant for dinner.

What could be better than looking forward to over 800 miles of mountainous tarmac destined to be gobbled up by a little black sport bike. If this route works out well with a bit of planning it may be a fun trip for a small group.

The morning dawned chilly. I was wearing the leather gear as the temperature range should have been about right, but quickly discovered I should have grabbed a turtleneck for the mornings. Saturday afternoon with temperature in the upper 80s while crossing the Oklahoma plains was a little warm when stopped.

Bonham, Texas was the first fuel stop after which I headed North for Oklahoma. The ride through southeastern Oklahoma was particularly enjoyable as the sun gradually warmed the landscape.

Breakfast at the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge was good as usual with a wonderful view. The air is very clear this time out with just a little fog in the valleys. The view was striking for the morning's ride. All one could really do was praise God for his goodness. Other than being immersed in God's creation one of the reasons I enjoy the Talimena Drive is the motorcycle to cage ratio of 10 to 1.

Continuing past Mena, Arkansas, a traditional fuel stop, I took US 270 to Arkansas 27. On this route I stumbled a cross a little hamlet aptly named Needmore, Arkansas. The only thing memorable was the name. Unquestionably the most urban area of the route was Dardanelle, Arkansas, a port town on the Arkansas River just north of Little Rock combined with the larger Russellville, Arkansas.

As I passed through Gum Log, Arkansas it became abundantly clear that while there is great natural beauty the area has been hit hard by the drought. The extremely dry conditions were causing most of the tress in the area to turn directly to brown. The typical Ozarkian color was lacking this year.

Smooth twisty roads in the area refreshingly devoid of surface damage. The rocky Arkansas soil helps houses and roads stay put unlike our expanding/contracting north Texas soil during a drought. Most of the roads are very smooth.

Clinton, Arkansas turned out to be a good fuel stop. I meet a couple on a Harley Davidson that are also headed to Fairfield Bay. They intend to spend a week exploring the roads in the area.

After arriving safely and checking into the Hamilton Cove section of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, I rode out to dine on the patio at Janssen's Lakefront for a taste of local cuisine. I highly recommend dining at Janssen's Lakefront. The fare is expensive, but the helpings are generous; the preparation and seasoning notable; and the service friendly and attentive.

I arose early Sunday to a wonderful, clear morning. I decided to skip breakfast and take a return route back consisting of AR 16 toward Heavner, Oklahoma and then telling the GPS to take me home. Headed out with miles of crisp air, twisty roads, and a lot of prayer/praise/think time. Sport biker church!

At the intersection of Arkansas 16 and Arkansas 377 in Witts Springs I noted two motorcycles and three riders (helmets off) in the parking lot of a long since failed local business intently examining something. I slowed down to be sure I got the "all is well" thumbs up sign. as it turns out they were examining a map. I made the assumption that they were a family unit. About 10 minutes later they were coming up on me fast. With the parents leading on the big sport tourer and daughter close behind. As they passed their control was very fluid and the lean angles greater than my unfamiliarity of the pavement and confidence level would allow. Clearly they had greater faith in their skill level, confidence in the predictability of pavement condition, and tire sidewalls than I could muster. I had just been "schooled" by a teenage girl on a GSX 500R and her parents on a a Honda ST1300. Sigh.

Ben Hur, Arkansas was one of the more amusing place names I ran across on the return trip.

Arkansas 123 is an absolute blast to ride down! All too quickly I had gone as far south and east as I could on the secondary Ozark roads. I had to hit Interstate 40 and head toward US 271 and Heavner, Oklahoma. I had to hit Interstate 40 and head toward US 271 and Heavner, Oklahoma. I began to accelerate to merge on to IH 40. Under all previous riding conditions the aerodynamic bubble created by the wind screen protected the Palm Pixi. Apparently the combination of 70 MPH Interstate Highway merging speed, strong south wind, and passing semi trucks caused the "bubble" to collapse enough that the wind blast off the fairing lifted the Pixi out of its cradle. Fortunately the Otter Box and a lot of luck (or the Lord's favor) helped the Palm Pixi survive a 70 MPH fall off motorcycle!

In under an hour I had enough of the "Super Slab" Just over fifty miles of trying not to get run over on IH 40 while averaging 85+ MPH and I packed it in. I stopped at a Shell in Pocola, Oklahoma for a fuel stop and headed south on Oklahoma 112 toward Heavner, Oklahoma. I continued on Oklahoma 271 until reaching Talihina where I found the two best diners in town are closed Sunday evenings.

After several locked diner doors I stumbled upon the Burger Barn in Antlers, Oklahoma. I was a bit hungry as it had been 24 hours since I had anything other than coffee.

The remaining route took me through Bennington, Oklahoma; Yuba, Oklahoma; and Bonham, Texas.

Photos

 

God Bless America