I had the week off, leading up to the North Texas Norton Owner's Association's 26th? Annual Lake O' The Pines Rallye, out of Jefferson, Tx (far North East Texas, just south of Texarkana).
After getting caught up around the house I left Tuesday about noon, and rode every crooked road I could find between here and Natchitoches, La., where my youngest son attends Northwestern State University. I went east to Dayton, Tx, then up through Tarkington, to Rye, then over to Dallardsville, then up and around the Indian Reservation to Camden, then Chester, the over to Colmeniel, then east on 255 to the Lake Sam Rayburn Dam, then up Hwy. 87 to Hemphill, then up to Milam over to Many, La., then into Natchitoches. Not the shortest, quickest, or most-direct route.
I spent the night there, then Wednesday morning, I got up, made a room rer serration at an EconoLodge in Mountain Home, Ar., and I took every crooked road between Winfield, La., and Mountain Home. Perfect weather, just me and my SM. I could not believe how nice Arkansas is, from the Louisianna state line all the way up into Buffalo River Territory. Without a Garmin, I did miss a turn or two along the way, but even the detours to get back on track I would gladly re-ride again! I got to Mountain Home before dark, ready for a shower and a good meal.
Thursday morning, I woke up to a changing weather forecast, hit the road, an headed up into Missouri, turning west again just south of Branson, cutting across Table Rock Lake on Hwy. 86, following that across Missouri to State Hwy. P, then back south into Arkansas, to the Pea Ridge Civil War Battlefield, where I stopped for a couple of hours to take it all in, then, things got a little screwy, and I really do think now I want a Garmin.
The plan was to cut due West across the Oklahoma state line, hit Hwy. 59, then South down 59 to Hwy. 259, which would take me back to Texas, and right to the Rally. I missed a turn after Pea Ridge, and wound up scooting down I-540 to Springdale, then I cut west on 412 to pickup 59 finally at Siloam Springs, Ok., and everything was great until I got into Van Buren. Van Buren, Ar.? (my intent was to stay in Oklahoma...). Next thing I know, I've wasted a couple of hours trying to find my way out of Van Buren/Ft. Smith, Ar., I lost track of 59, finally just headed west on Hwy. 64, and when it intersected I-40 again, I through my hands up and called it a day. I was in Sallisaw, Ok., and in the parking lot of the Sallisaw Inn, when I pulled my phone out and realized I was still just west of Ft. Smith....and it was about 7:00, getting dark....time for another shower and something to eat.
Friday morning the thunderstorms rolled through about 6:00, and the radar looked to be clear behind them, and I had figured out hat Hwy. 59 runs right through Sallisaw...so after a good breakfast, I headed south, into the Ouachitas....and soon, it looked like I was headed straight into a heavy thunderstorm. But it was only the clouds, sitting right down on the mountains.
All I had on, was all I had - a leather short over a cotton shirt worn over a wool base layer, and my Triumph Kevlar Jeans...it looked like I was about to get wet!
I pulled over at the pull-out for the scenic Talimena Drive cut-off. It was such a heavy fog, you could see the mist falling. Just shy of being actual rain, but the roads were sloggy wet, and visibility was very, very limited. I had been listening to a great new playlist I titled "Heading to California"( Led Zepelin), which had Joe Walsh, Stones, a good smattering of Lynard Skynard and Allman Brothers, Traffic, Blind Faith, Niel Young.....I was so stoked I just had to stop in the rain and walk around a bit....of course taking my helmet off did allow my head to get wet.....then down the wet mountain again....one of the best stretches of road I had been on yet. My leather shirt was soaked for the first time even getting wet, but, it never soaked through to my shirt worn underneath. Jeans wet from boots down, and I knew I would soon be in Texas, warmer weather, and with enough miles to cover yet to blow-dry getting there.
And I did.
And the rally was great, though a little cooler than most of us had prepared for, but campfires aplenty, along with good company, and some very fine old motorcycles.
Saturday, I never started my bike, just hanging out at the rally all day.
Today, I cut back down through the woods to Livingston, Tx., fora short visit with Mom & Dad, then back down though the woods to Huston, again.
1717 miles
A man can not pinch himself any more than I have the last 6 days. Just too good to be true. I can't believe I just did all that, solo, and I'm ready to do it all over again, too!
