tour reports » Trip to SW Arkansas Oct 2023

Debbie and I rode to NW Arkansas and returned a few days ago. We were gone 12 days. This is a yearly trip for us and the length depends on the weather.
This year the first couple days were cold with dark clouds but the rest of the days were sunny and warm. Even had two days in the mid 80s which is unusual for mid Oct.
Four of the days we met with riding friends in Yellville Arkansas.

Saw this bank the first day north of Warsaw Missouri. I'm guessing most of the customers are BMW riders :)
20231012_154739.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

123 in Missouri and Arkansas is a fun road.
20231013_125623.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

There a small ferry at the Arkansas line.
20231013_133024.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231013_134809.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Our home for the next 7 nights was the Carlton Marion in Yellville. It's a good place to stay and has a friendly owner who likes to come around and visit. It's one of the few places that didn't jack up the rates after covid.Our room was $69 plus tax and the 7th night was free.
20231016_083707.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Fire ring on the back lawn
20231016_084902.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The town had a festival that weekend so we checked out the parade and music. One of the weekend days we didn't ride because of the cold.
20231014_101316.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231014_102304.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Horses are always last in a parade.
20231014_103742.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231014_201459.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231014_211105.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

By Monday the other riders started showing up and the weather improved.
One ride we stopped at the Blanchard Springs area.
This is a old dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corp.
20231016_134029.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231016_134325.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Blanchard Spring.
20231016_140954.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231016_141848.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

To be continued

Part 2
Old bridge north of Mountain View
20231016_150056.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231016_150110.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231016_150200.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231016_150239.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

One of the guys likes to cook so if hes heading to the track or returning from a track he loads his cooking tools in the trailer.
We had a fish fry one night, chili and pulled pork another night.
20231016_083207.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231017_180531.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231017_180614.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Ponca Low Water Bridge on the Buffalo River.
Canoers and cayakers put in here when the water is up.
20231019_131550.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We saw two Elk near the bridge back in the trees. Early morning or late afternoon you can sometimes see them in open fields near hear.
Elk Crop.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

After our friends left we spent a night at Clarksville and two nights at Eureka Springs.
Leaving Clarksville we went up 21 into Missouri, then back down to Eureka by going over the Beaver Bridge and Beaver Dam.
At the tiny town of Carr Lane we saw a car show and stopped.
20231021_131853.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231021_131910.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231021_132825.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231021_132338.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Beaver Bridge
20231021_142034.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Another good motel is the Edelweiss Inn Eureka Springs. The owner has a motorcycle.
20231022_090757.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The last day in Arkansas we rode down to Oark, Turner Band and back to the Edelweiss.
Oark Cafe is a good place for a burger or pie. It's a popular hangout for bikes and off road vehicles.

20231022_124816.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231022_125249.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231022_124849.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231022_131826.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

20231022_142604.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The Guzzi riders were part of a tour group. I think there were 12 bikes.
https://www.motoguzzi.com/us_EN/experience/arkansas/

The end :)

Nice write up, thanks!

Arkansas is on my short list !

Nice photos Lee . I went through a few weeks ago .

I think this was the best weather we've had for the October Arkansas trip.
Even the trip home was warm.

Here's a article about the elk in Boxley Valley.
https://www.nps.gov/buff/learn/nature/elk.htm

One morning in 2012 we were out early enough to see the herds out in the open.
P1000416.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

P1000417.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Great photos.
Tell Debbie, we're rooting for her.

Instead of spending two weeks riding the bicycle in 90 deg F heat in NW Arkansas at the beginning of the month, I took a last minute trip to visit a son in Pendleton, OR.

While picking up some new rubber at Engles on the way west, found this beauty looking for it's 3rd owner. (You might know, the second owner, Jesse, worked at Gateway in St. Louis for a while before Detroit and now KC. Good rider.)
Note the Dunlop Mutants.

20230927_101615.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
20230927_102536.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Zitat von Ray B im Beitrag #7

---

While picking up some new rubber at Engles on the way west, found this beauty looking for it's 3rd owner. (You might know, the second owner, Jesse, worked at Gateway in St. Louis for a while before Detroit and now KC. Good rider.)
Note the Dunlop Mutants.

---

I just took of Pilot Road 5 GT's that came on my 2023 RS @3918 miles . Installed the Dunlop Mutants , and the ride is so much better @ the same air pressure .