Sep 28-30th Arkansas Ozarks Trail Ride

[safiri]

Just so ya'll know what a little folding saw can do ... this is what faced Troy, Kyle (KC), Daryl, and Mike in Colorado back in July:







Where we rode through:



Then it started to rain and hail and thunder:

[troy]

FANTASTIC!

The ride was a wonderful success! I got 3 great days of trails in, and loved every minute of it! I'll be adding more photos, perhaps some video, and a lot more details in the days to come, but for now, here is a tease. Others will be sharing their photos and stories soon, I hope.

Click for Photos!

[BeemerBill]

Great pictures Troy, can't wait to see others. Oh, and I know what you mean about your DR350. I have been back-roading my recently acquired DR350SE with friends, and love it. A truly under appreciated and fantastic bike.

[hawkeye]

The rides were Fantastic. The routes were great and the weather great(maybe a little warm, but I'm not complaining). It was great to meet the group, hang out and ride together. The weekend was exactly what I had in mind. Thanks to Troy for the routes, leading the rides and being the ride photographer!

Dennis

[troy]

The rides were Fantastic. The routes were great and the weather great(maybe a little warm, but I'm not complaining). It was great to meet the group, hang out and ride together. The weekend was exactly what I had in mind. Thanks to Troy for the routes, leading the rides and being the ride photographer!

Dennis

Thanks, Dennis! It was very nice having you along--and you got skills!

I do want to be clear that almost all credit for the routes goes to our member, MoRidin (Sean). Sean started this bi-annual ride and was chiefly responsible for organizing the previous rides. He is currently deployed overseas serving our country. He REALLY wanted to be along for the ride. Hopefully we'll see him in the spring.

Speaking of routes, all three days offered new-to-me trails that were real keepers! We made friends with Zen & Pam -- owners of Byrd's and now the Oark Cafe. Pam gave us permission to ride the amazing trails on their property--which we did. (Part of the FUNRUN route.) Zen was more than eager to share road and trail secrets in the area. That "road" out of Oark was wonderful. I'll be working over my track logs to generate nice route files for next time.

I think Mr. Hemphill was glad to finally find that North entrance to the "Bee Rock Trail". He knew about the South entrance (dumps onto White Rock Mountain Rd very close to Bee Rock). However, from the South, it starts with a nasty uphill rock climb. So starting North and riding it down is much easier. We figured it out and found an amazing natural rock structure along the way. Who's got pictures of that rock? (I killed my camera on day 2.)

Tracy's "new fave" trail that I'm calling the "rock wall trail" is a 4.2 mile treat.

And what can we say about Sunday's adventure? Wow that was a long trail with a lot of nasty downhills! We're all glad we happened to be going the right direction! I loved this trail! However, I don't think we should save it for the last day when we are tired!

[Hank Moody]

What can I say... Had a great time and a couple of times we broke the rule of don't go down anything you can't ride up. For my money it doesn't get much better than this for trail ridding. Sorry about the snoring guys, but I didn't hear a thing

Lets do this again in the spring! Maybe Sean will be back and we can show him some new routes. Sean if you can read this be safe and thank you for your service!

Daryl

[ajayhawkfan]

That look like you all had a ball. I know I missed a good time.

[troy]

That look like you all had a ball. I know I missed a good time.

You definitely missed a good time, but it looks like you had a good time, too. If you have not geocached the Ozark National Forest, there are some real gems there. Some of those forest roads are very rugged, but nothing you can't handle on your big GS.

[troy]

I just added 34 more photos to my ride gallery! I re-worked the photos I previously uploaded--cropped, enhanced lighting, color correction, etc.

Click to view photos!

OK..who has photos of Daryl in the mud hole? Please post them or email them to me. That is probably the worst mud hole I've ever seen on the trail. It almost swallowed Tracy on Thursday. See the photos in my gallery.

[MesaLC4]

Had a great time! What a beautiful place to ride. And it was good to meet everyone too. You're a great group of guys to ride with.

Here are the few pix I managed to get from Saturday before I went ditch diving:

http://gthonen.home.comcast.net/ARridepix/index.htm#13

Btw, the shoulder is feeling much better. Should be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks.

[david h]

Yep, that was a good ride!! Greg and Larry should get a nod of the cap for riding such big bikes. The dual sport side of this ride turned out quite well. we saw lots of new places, some great, some not so great, but all good. I liked to spot where we stopped to figure out where the missing road was and a land owner ducked inside to get his binoculars to view us better. We were all glad he wasn't using his gun sites to do this task.

I'm quite sore on the fore arms and butt, but ready to do it again next spring, David h

[MacWildcat]

Had a great time! Alot of good fellas to ride and learn from. Now I just need to find a lighter bike (where's the DR350 when I need it). Ditto on the forearms and butt, the aches and pains showed up after got home. Looking forward to another trip.
Here's the link to my photos.
http://picasaweb.google.com/MacWildcat/TurnersBend03

[gagnaou]

Amazing pictures!!! It sure seems like you guys all had a good time. I sure hope to be able to join you next times!

Keep the pictures coming, I am enjoying the heck out of them!

Luc

[troy]

I sure hope to be able to join you next times!

Are you sure you can keep up with our top skills?

Missed you, Luc.

[ajayhawkfan]

a good time, but it looks like you had a good time, too. If you have not geocached the Ozark National Forest, there are some real gems there. Some of those forest roads are very rugged, but nothing you can't handle on your big GS.

Your pics make me what to get a moped like you have. That look like fun!

[troy]

For those of you familiar with Hwy 215 between Cass and Oark, we discovered this year they are widening, building new bridges, and paving the short unpaved section. I found this article about the project. I was concerned about the project destroying the beauty of that road, but it seems they are doing everything they can to balance "progress" with the natural beauty of the area--the reason people visit.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... i_87425701

Oh, and the article calls it "Forest Hwy 65". I've never seen that designation on the maps or the road. Road names are one of the things that make navigation interesting down there...every road seems to have 3 or more names!

[iyeager]

Yeah, depending on where you are along that road Mapquest calls it either 215, County Road 32, NF1003, or County Road 83.

Ian

[KC]

It was a fantastic ride guys! I couldn't have hoped for more. It's kind of strange how, after a ride trip like that, I feel refreshed, relaxed and exhausted all at the same time! To those I hadn't met before: Great to meet you!...Dennis, Larry, Carl, Greg, Paul?? ...I think I am making names up now. I am woking on the video guys, don't expect anything even close to professional results, but what can you expect from Windows Movie Maker. I spent hours editing the footage down to about a two hour DVD, it's hard to pick and choose with so much good video. Still have to add some music, pictures, and titles. This is the third ride DVD I have made so far...the more I make the better I will get. I thought about the best way to distribute this to everyone without making individual copies for all. The problem isn't the expense at all, it's the hours it takes to produce them. I will burn a couple copies for here. I will burn a couple copies to send up to Kansas City and Topeka/Manhattan for you guys to pass around and burn at your pleasure. Hopefully at least somebody that knows somebody has a DVD burner? Just let me know what you think and who is interested in receiving a copy.
KC

[Jeff620RXC]

I'd like a DVD of what I missed.
I'd be glad to pay for shipping and materials.
Let me know if I can paypal you or whatever.
I can pm you my address.
thanks

[troy]

So I've been reading a lot of Forest Service info. In 2005, they revised the Ozark-St. Francis forest plan. Part of this plan affects Off-Road vehicle use. Basically, the plan states what I'd think was already law--that vehicles must stay on officially indicated roads and trails.

Phase 1 of this plan is the designation of trails. This plan involved analyzing the impact the trails have based on wildlife in the area, plant life in the area, soil and the affects of erosion in the area, enjoyment of the trail, and the historical use of the trail. The plan was to close some trails, turn some user-created trails into designated trails, and create connector trails where appropriate and helpful for user enjoyment, safety, and protection of the forest. A major part of this plan requires the forest service to create a new trail map each year showing the designated trails to keep up with new trails and recent closings.

That map can be found here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/recreat ... BC_001.pdf

A lot of the trails we rode including the Mill Creek system are in "Map A". What I notice when reviewing the trails on this map is that a lot of the trails we rode are indeed designated trails, but a lot are not. None of the trails in the area (except Mill Creek) have any forest service signs to designate what is legal or not---so I don't feel too bad about not knowing the difference. Another thing I notice are a lot of designated trails that, after 5 trips to the area, I don't think I know about. Some stuff to check out!

The forest service plan supposedly is designed to ensure off-road vehicle enjoyment for "the long run". I really do hope that in 10 years, I can still take my kid down there to ride the amazing trails.

When the forest service revises the plan, they hold a lot of public meetings so interest groups can voice their desires and concerns. This is why membership in riding organizations (such as the Blue Ribbon Coalition) is important. These groups represent us at these meetings to ensure the trails stay open.

Please don't be one of the a-holes that rides off the trail, litters, and otherwise tries to destroy this wonderful privilege we currently enjoy.