Branson Blitz - Sunday, Day 6.5 - Homeward Bound Wrap Up

It was kind of a rough day with cold forty something temps and an awful lot of bobble-head shaking wind, but I'm a cup half full rider so I'm happy it didn't rain.   It was much warmer north of KC.  Pig got some of the worst R1200GS gas mileage ever on Hwy 71 south of KC with 27 mpg for about a 100 mile stretch.  After we left Eric at Nebraska City, Loyd and I got back to Sioux City about 6:30 PM.  Highlights of the day was ride through Roaring River State Park, Highway 112 to Seligman, and about 30 miles of Highway 90 from Seligman to Jane, the rest was pretty straight and dull.  It was a 540 mile day.


It was nice to be home, but I was pretty tired.  

Map URL: http://g.co/maps/rrvfh 

GPS after I pulled into the garage.  1758 miles, plus 20 or so where I forgot to turn the GPS on.  Regarding max speed - Please don't believe my R12GS is even capable of 144 mph... that is a GPS error which occurs when you get in rocky hills.

Back to work Monday morning.  What the heck, is that frost on my windshield?

Branson Blitz - Saturday Day 5.5

We road the Bull Shoals ferry today near Peal and then found some great roads in Southern Missouri.  Stopped by the Branson Blitz and said hi to Voni, Paul and some of the other folks.  Was surprised not to see Tom there, heard that he might be sick.  Got back to Eagle Rock at about 5:30 and had dinner at a Japanese Steak House in Holiday Island, that restaurant was a fail.

Had breakfast again Saturday morning at our favorite local spot, The Office Pub in Eagle Rock with my parents.  Always a good breakfast there. 

Loyd waiting for the ferry on Hwy 125 on Bull Shoals

Loyd and Eric getting ready on the ferry.

Had a salad at Granny's in Branson about 2 PM, made quick stop at the rally to sign in, say hi to Voni, Paul and the gang, and then rode back to Eagle Rock.  It seemed like a long day.  We found a really great road and did a loop around it.  Might be the best road of the trip:  http://tinyurl.com/7n8jgf2

Branson Blitz - Friday Day 4.5

After a side-route to the Golden Gate Bridge of Arkansas (the Beaver Bridge again),  Loyd, Eric and I road down to Ozark through the Pig Trail on Highway 23.  On the way back we took some of the other roads in the area.  Nearly ran out of gas near because some idiot (who will remain nameless) told Eric and Loyd they had plenty of fuel, luckily we found a tiny little store near Nail, AR which sold gas.

Map URL: http://g.co/maps/m7g9y

Loyd and Eric at the Beaver Bridge

Taking a break at the start of the Pig Trail... waiting for some slow traffic.

Branson Blitz - Thursday, Day 3.5

Thursday I road down to Granny's Kitchen in Huntsville, AR to try to catch the group of guys staying down in Jasper.  I got there just in time to say hi and take a few photos of the Sioux City guys before they left.

There are not a lot of BMW riders in this world, so generally even when two stranger BMW riders meet they greet each other.  Dave C and the Ohio guys didn't even say hello or give a nod,.which is strangely normal for them.  Not sure what to think of that.

After Sioux City guys left I waited for Dan and Dick who where heading over from Dick's place where they where staying about 50 miles away.  I had some breakfast and Dan and Dick had coffee.  Dan also had a good looking slice of Granny's strawberry pie.  We rode back up through Eureka Springs to my parents place.  Mom made us sandwiches for lunch and then I showed Dick and Dan the back way over to Highway 90.  Dick agreed with me that Hwy 90 was a pretty good road.  After leaving Dan and Dick, I took Hwy N down to Pea Ridge was also pretty nice and very smooth.

Loyd and Eric arrived about 6 PM Thursday evening and we took them out for dinner in Eureka Springs, and then enjoyed some beverages on the deck back at the folk's house on Table Rock.  There as some kind of wood carving thing going on in Eureka Springs and it was pretty busy.

Ryan, Steve, Al, Jim and Stan

Branson Blitz - Photo from Day 4.5 - Back in Beaver AR

Two nice rides today.  Posted from my phone.

Branson Blitz - Wednesday, Day 2.5

I'm at my parents house in Eagle Rock today.  No motorcycling just hanging out with my parents.   This morning after breakfast we had cigar on the deck.  My Dad's friend John really liked his.  In the afternoon we took the boat up Table Rock lake past the bridge I wrote about yesterday in Beaver.  It was a lot of fun and I got a lot of photos and some photo tips from my dad..

Blooming wisteria vines growing up from near water level.

We saw a pair of Osprey near the water.  Could not see a nest.

The old one-laned bridge near Beaver AR with the Castle House in the background.

Castle house, hard to see the spires behind it from water level this time of year... they tell me anyways.

Yes, they have Canadian geese even this far south in the summer.  We even saw a couple of them nested.  This fella didn't seem to be very shy about the boat.

Turkey Buzzard taking a tree break.

A blue heron in a tree just above the water.  They normally don't let you get this close, but we must not have been threatening.  We probably floated by her 5 times from about 50 or 60 meters away.  I took this with my 300mm lens in Aperture Priority mode.  I'll post some of the rest of the photos in Picasa later.

Loyd and Eric should arrive Thursday evening.  Hoping to get a chance to get away from here and see if I can find the rest of the Sioux City crew sometime Thursday, but not sure how that is going to work.  I had promised the folks to spend a couple days with just them.

Branson Blitz - Tuesday Day 1.5 - Summary

Pineville, MO.   Looking for road which we try to go down every year.  Found it but got off track and lost it. I think water might be low enough to do last ford this year too, its on my GS bucket list.  Hopefully I can get Loyd and Eric to go back later. 


Hit a lot of alphabet and no names roads, paved and some not paved.  Wondering if I went down on one stretch if any one would find me this week.  Ended up down in Gateway, AR before working my way back to Eagle Rock.  Better roads and even the old Beaver one-lane wood bridges.  Everyone knows how much I love rickety old bridges.


It was a nice day to be out wandering without a map.  Feeling guilty about having such a nice day while not being home to help with our sick pet.

Branson Blitz - Day 1.5 - Pineville Beer Store Photo

Beer store in Pineville, MO.  A pretty popular place since its just across the border from a dry county.

Branson Blitz - Day 1.5 - Old Hwy 71 Sign Photo

One of the old Highway 71 signs.  I was pretty excited when I saw one.  Back thirty years ago they had these everywhere.  Now with the new 4 lanes of straightened out, boring 71 they don't need the signs anymore.  On a motorcycle you have to take the old highway which runs near the new one in a lot of places.


A few miles after this I was nearly side swiped by a white sedan that came about two feet into my lane on a pretty easy curve on Hwy 90.   Back home we would call that curve a sweeper.   I managed to get out of the way on the right.  Later I followed a flatbed semi tractor-trailer on Hwy 90 which was driving down the center for several miles.  He would move a couple feet to the right as he got near the crest of each hill.  I waited until he turned left and I went right.  You really have to stay to the right on these roads, particular the left-hand curves.

Branson Blitz - Monday, Day 0.5

Finished my chores at home and got packed.  Left for Eagle Rock late in the day, wanted to make it past KC to avoid morning traffic.  It got dark about St. Jo, I was tired and there were a lot of trucks on I-29 which was wearing me out (had a short night of sleep the night before).   So, I decided if I could get a decent room at St. Jo on Priceline using my Droid I would stop for the night.  I really wanted to stop.


I got a room at the Super 8, which I thought was near the main exit... first mistake.  Super 8 had moved south of town near a giant truck stop.  GPS was wrong and first listing on my Droid said no longer open.  So after spending 45 minutes traversing the highway it was on, north to south, I found what I thought was the Super 8 south of town next to a giant truck stop.  


Priceline had grievously given this hotel 2 stars, but it was the absolutely worst hotel I have ever stayed at.  I initially even thought of leaving and just washing my hands of my $59.95 plus tax, and everyone knows how "thrifty" I can be with my money regarding hotels.   The staff refused to give me a better room, saying something about how I booked the room over the Internet.


The room absolutely reeked of cigarette tar and the screen was missing on the window.  I didn't want someone climbing in through the window, so I had to close the window while I slept.  Even with the windows closed, I had to have the TV turned up pretty darned loud to cover of the noise of a truck pulling in or out of the truck stop next door every 4 to 10 seconds.   There is dirt and grease on the light switches, burns all over the tub and sink, bulbs missing, etc.  The drain on the sink doesn't work, unless your reach underneath the counter and throttle it near the U pipe.


All and all, I wished I had just walked into the Motel 6 and got the $35 room there, I'm sure it could not have been worse then this.  Going to have to check Yelp or something next time before booking a buy-it-now room on Priceline.  

I hope the disgusting marks on the tub are cigarette burns...I really hope.

Super 8 in St. Jo sucks, dirty switches, stinky rooms and  broken locks.

I did get to have supper at the Waffle House last night.  That was cool.  No longer a Waffle House virgin.  I get it too, its an old fashioned, no-frills hash house which puts out OK food at pretty reasonable prices, cool!

Frump's Blitz Links

Monday and I still haven't left yet, but hoping to get going this afternoon.  Lots of things keeping me behind schedule.  May not make it the whole distance to Eagle Rock yet today.  Weather does not look great either.

My tracking links:

http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=45374f8c50ffdfff8

My Blog/Photos:

http://deadpacket.blogspot.com/ 

Getting Ready for Branson Blitz

I'm getting ready for Voni Glave's IBMWR Branson Blitz.  The BMW MOA mileage contest also starts tomorrow and the GLMC Grand Tour started April 1st.  This is going to be a fun and productive ride to Branson and Arkansas.  My new rear tire came today, just in time.  So everything is clicking along well except one thing...

My friend Randy is still in the hospital in Sioux Falls recovering from heart surgery a little over 3 weeks ago.  Randy has had some good days and some bad days since his surgery.  The last few days have not been good ones for him - he is in a lot of pain, getting anxious about getting better, and he wants to go home.

Randy and I started our annual trek to Arkansas each April a few years ago.  We have both gone every year and it has always been an adventure.  We stay with my parents near Eureka Springs and the visit has kind of become become special to them as well.  They ask me over and over during the weeks leading up to the trip if Randy is coming, who else is coming, and when are we going to get there.  My Dad then sends me maps and brochures of places to go and see.  Arkansas is one of the prettiest and most motorcycle friendly places in this country in April. 

While visiting, we have breakfast with my folks every morning.  After breakfast we spend the day riding our bikes while the folks keep up their busy regular schedules, they are constantly busy with something.  At the end of the day, we rush back to their house hopefully in time to take everyone to a nice dinner.  The whole trip is a lot of fun for everyone.

We are all going to miss Randy this year.  He is a character, a entertaining rider who rides seriously, one of my closest riding friends, and simply a lot of fun to hang out with.  I'm try to post more trip photos real-time this year with my phone so hopefully Randy and others can follow along.  I also have some draft blog entries about adventures with Randy and Dave which I haven't published yet, I'll try to get those done soon too.


Get better Randy - I'm really going to miss having you along!!


PS - Loyd and Eric have committed to coming down Thursday.