This years annual Motorcycle Touring Forum's - Founders Feast Meeting was held in Paris, Texas. I decided it was a great opportunity to take a few days to explore the mountain back roads of Arkansas on my way down.
Bright blue skies and crisp cool air foretold the coming Fall Season. This years drought has impacted the coming fall colors.
Lake Norwood - A great place for a picnic or a quick break!
Bull Shoals Dam on the White River
The White River
(between Harrison and Russellville)
The Cliff House Inn - Hwy 7 - Arkansas Grand Canyon
After a beautiful day of exploring north-central Arkansas, I spent the night in Russelville. The next morning, after a brief stop at Mount Nebo, I continued south on The Scenic 7 Byway through The picturesque Quachita Mountains.
Parked atop Blakely Dam - Quachita Lake
This earthen dam formed Quachita Lake and is open to ride over.
This earthen dam formed Quachita Lake and is open to ride over.
Quachita Lake
The view down-stream from atop Blakely Dam.
After doubling back through the Quachita Mountains, I turned west toward Mena, Arkansas and the scenic Talimena Trail.
I rode The Talimena Trail west from Mena, Arkansas into southeastern Oklahoma.
From Mena, the Talimena Scenic Drive / Ark. 88 Scenic Byway travels northwest and quickly enters the Ouachita National Forest, climbing Rich Mountain, Arkansas's second highest peak at 2,681 feet, and passing through Queen Wilhelmina State Park on its way to the Oklahoma border 18 miles to the west. The drive then continues into Oklahoma on Rich and Winding Stair mountains. The route offers mountain vistas unsurpassed in mid-America of forested peaks and valleys, lakes and streams. The drive is especially picturesque when the surrounding mountains are clad in spring and autumn foliage and when it sits above clouds and fog in the lower valleys. (Arkansas Scenic Drives)
After riding The Talimena Trail, I made a quick stop at Sardis Lake and then continued south to Antlers, OK on the way to Paris.
Unfortunately, as I was leaving Antler, I hit something in the road, seriously denting the front rim of my Wing. I returned to the spot but was unable to find either an object or a pot-hole in the road. I am guessing whatever I hit was knocked off the road. I cautiously continued on to Paris while watching to see if the tire lost air or if I felt a serious vibration. Neither happened.
The next day I took my Wing to the local Honda dealer in Paris for their opinion. They did not have a replacement wheel in stock and told me it would take a week to order one. They agreed with my riding buddies that the tire would be safe to ride home, provided I took it easy and stayed off the two lanes mountain roads I had come down on. Sadly, this would impact my plans to return home exploring other Arkansas mountain roads.
Taking their advice, I parked the Wing at the motel in Paris and did not ride the bike again until it was time to return home. I had no problems at all on the return trip and will now figure out the best way to correct the problem.
"The point of living is not to delay death; it is to celebrate life." ~Martin Eden ~
I don't want a bike that "CAN" be fixed ... I want a bike that doesn't have to be fixed.
~Unknown~
beautiful! But where are the photos of the FEAST? I want to see photos of the bikers livin' it up! :)
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