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.

March 10th was a Good Day to Wander for Pie

Today was a good day.  I had breakfast with the group at our regular Saturday morning breakfast hangout, the Town House Cafe in South Sioux.  Loyd, Randy, Steve, Dan, Randy and Chuck were there.  The weather was so usually nice that four of us road to breakfast.

Saturday Breakfast at the Town House Cafe in South Sioux

Ronda, our quick waitress was in top form.  As Loyd tried to figure out how Ronda could disappear out the front door of the back room towards the lunch counter and then reappear almost instantly out of the kitchen door with his food, Ronda introduced herself as Ronda's identical twin sister Wanda.  We all had a good laugh until someone asked if we needed to tip the both of them.


After running errands, Randy and I met over at Loyd's.  It was about noon and we headed down into the Loess Hills to looking for a pie place on our GSs.  About 2:30, after some wandering about, we ended up at Dave's Old Home Cafe in Pisga, IA.  We had a sandwich there, but found out they only had 1 piece of pie left.  After ribbing some Harley riders for Council Bluffs for a few minutes, we took off in search of pie again.

Randy and Loyd in Pisga next to Old Home Cafe

About an hour later, after riding to a couple other remote cafes which were closed, we ended up at Penny's Diner in Missouri Valley.  Penny's is best known for milk shakes, blue plate specials, and fresh homemade pie. Randy scored the last slice of cherry pie and Loyd and I had slices of peach pie.  From Missouri Valley we wandered north until Randy took a shortcut past Small's Apple farm on F32.  F32 is a neat little road which runs up a ridge past several orchards, but then turns suddenly into gravel.  Loyd and I followed Randy and we ended up twisting and turning for several miles on gravel until we ended up back on the paved road just a few hundred feet down from Small's, hehe.  Sometimes its fun to sit back and follow someone who doesn't know these old back roads and see what they discover.  We took pavement back through Pisga and Moorehead, then west down the Old Danish Church road before turning north on Larenteur road along the Loess Hills bluffs through Turin, Rodney and Smithland.  From Smithland old 141 took us home.  It was a good day to wander for pie.

2012 GLMC Popcycle Derby

The photo below taken from outside Dempsey's Brewpub in Watertown before 2012 GLMC Popcycle Derby began this past Saturday.  There were 20 participants this year, which was a record.  The weather was a relatively balmy thirty some degrees.  As usual in GLMC events, all riders and volunteers were simply excellent.  That's my black Suzuki V-Strom in front of the trailer.

Dempsey's Brewpub before the Derby

This was the first year I was actually able participate by riding.  Last year the streets were too icy for my bikes (no studded tires) and I had to volunteer.  The time before that I tried to ride my GS to Watertown, got too cold near Brookings, and had to turn back home.


My organizational plan didn't work well for me.  I started with a perfect zero score at checkpoint #1, but quickly blew the next leg with 8 points at checkpoint #2 after failing to find a turn and then getting all twisted around.  That spilled over into being 12 minutes late for 12 more points at checkpoint #3 before lunch.  In hindsight, I should have just headed directly back to Dempsey's for lunch after checkpoint #2 when I read Dempsey's was the end point on card #3.

The afternoon went a little smoother with a total of 8 points for all three legs.  I only got slightly off track twice and got slowed down in Polar Bear Plunge traffic on South Shore Drive.


The top three riders amazingly had only three points total for all six legs, which resulted in using a tie breaker to determine the winner.

Final Score Card (click on it)

This type of rally was a lot tougher for me then I thought it would be.  Being my first of this type I learned a lot.  Next time, I'll make a few changes in how I do my calculations and mainly focusing harder on just following instructions and try to be more fluid in my decision making.

All and all, it was a pretty fun way to spend a Saturday in February.  

Buffalo Run

I am working out the initial organizational issues for the GLMC's 2012 Buffalo Run Rally.  I'm going to look at a facility later this week with better access and parking.  Hope to have the location details and a hotel block set a side before the Pop Cycle Derby.    We have some great rally ideas floating around and percolating as well.


Cliff Clavin's Buffalo Theory from the the TV show "Cheers" (unrelated to GLMC Buffalo Run event above except that both are about Buffalo):


"Well, you see, Norm, it's like this, a herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.


In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

Loyd's Friday Afternoon Thumbs Up

A photo of Loyd at his electric substation panel shop (Anderson Builders) which had to be posted somewhere on the web.  Maybe this photo will make him famous.  Loyd says he took this photo himself and emailed it to his friends Gary and Angel after they asked if he wanted to meet for a beverage after work on a Friday afternoon.  Obligatory motorcycle blog content - Loyd is a BMW GS rider whom I ride with sometimes.

Dakar 2012:

Also some great photo links for the 2012 Dakar which recently finished on January 15th.  Peter Lusk posted these Dakar photos (that guy is crazy good with a camera).   Click on Union Jack for English.  These photos make me wonder about all the cool stuff we could do to Al's Mini Cooper.

The ADV Rider 2012 Dakar thread (closed now). 

January?

January 5th 2012 the photo says it all.
Pig parked in my designated spot this morning at work.