Fiddlesticks

[wallasan10]

I had my weekend all planed out and now it looks like rain may put a damper on it.
We just bought a house in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas where we plan to retire to next year. It will be setting empty until then but I thought I could use it as a sort of vacation home in the meantime. We just got the key last week and I just can’t wait to visit it now that we actually own it.
My plan was to leave Arlington, Texas about 5am Saturday morning with a sleeping bag and a folding chair tied to the back of the bike (no furniture in the new place). It’s about a 475-mile ride and will take over 8 hours (I take back roads and I tend to stop a lot).
It’s supposed to be a full weekend of riding but I get up at 3:30 and there is rain in spots along the route.

I don’t mind getting wet but the roads that I plan to ride are no fun in the rain so I guess I’ll wait a couple of hours and see what develops.

[Floyd Dolin]

Go for it. All part of the fun.

[wallasan10]

Yeah, I’m going. I almost HAVE to go now that I burned a vacation day yesterday just so I could be ready for such an early start. Waiting for daylight won’t kill me.
This is my destination.

[Aftrshck]

Looks like a blast!! I would have left anyway....just look at it this way...when you hit the rain spots....find a place to have a cup of coffee...or keep riding

[ibwaki]

Welcome to Arkansas. What area did you buy in?

[wallasan10]

Originally Posted by ibwaki

Welcome to Arkansas. What area did you buy in?

Not far from you, in fact we’re practically neighbors! Its on AR 101 in the Rea Valley, the mailing address is Flippin. Next time I come up we’ll have to get together.

This weekend it rained on me for about 200 miles of the 1,050-mile trip. Lucky for me it was some of the most boring parts in Texas and Oklahoma on Saturday. From about 3pm on Saturday the weather was great and roads were dry.

[ibwaki]

I know the area well. Some great views around there, and not to far from highway 14. You will really enjoy riding those roads as well. They are not push mountain but they are still a blast.

[wallasan10]

Funny you should mention 14 because I rode it for the first time just this morning (Sunday). I took 412 over to Yellville then 14 down to 27, which I took west to US 65. After that the fun was over because I had to take 65 to Little Rock then I-30 back to Texas.
There are just so many great roads in Arkansas! Missouri has some good ones too. I’m really looking forward to exploring the roads that are less traveled. Also looking for good BBQ. So far I’ve found Razorback Ribs in Yellville to be good. Also looking for good Mexican. There is a place in Flippin that ain’t half bad but I’ve come to the conclusion that living in Texas has spoiled me when it comes to Mexican.

[ibwaki]

If you want mexican try Lettys in Gassville. I have heard its the best around. There is a good ride up 14 north to Peel AR. From there you take a ferry to Protem MO and its a good hour and a half ride from there back to Rea Valley.