April 3-6, 2008: April Fool's Ride in Arkansas!

[troy]

Oh, and there is an event clash. The River Valley Dirt Riders sponsored Arkansas Hare Scrambles Race is that weekend.

There is nothing on their website calendar about it. If you know, where and when are they riding at? We'll want to make sure to stay out of their way.

It will be a treat to have you and disco (Barclay) along--I'd like to know more about the local history and I'm sure you guys can show us a gem of a trail or two.

[jeb]

It was unfortunate that I missed last year as well, but then I did promise the wife that ....

Jeb takes new motorcycles apart? I'll bet he doesn't do it in his living room the way I do. What about that, Jeb?

Stu

No, not in the living room. Although I think my wife would be okay with it in the downstairs living room. She's a good sport. But we have two attached garages on our house. The downstairs one is mine and that's where the magic happens.

[jeb]

Hey, I'd like to go!
Jim Devereux here from London, Arkansas (1hr 10 minutes from Byrd's).
I was just days ago introduced to this forum by Troy who I "met" on the AOCA web page.
I've been recreating in the Cass area for maybe 30 years. I don't know too much about any of the country west of Cass but I know it pretty well to the east.
I'd like to go and ride and meet all you guys and gals.
I can also guide a group if guides are needed. I like "tougher" stuff when it comes to trails and like to make miles. I also know a bit of the history of the area (I know more of the history in the Piney Creeks area to the east but enough in the Cass area to make a ride interesting).
It sounds to me like you guys know the Cass area pretty well and I'd like to tag along on a ride or two because I know there are trails out there I don't know of.

So, count me in. I'll probably camp, if there's no room at Mulberry Mountain then up on Morgan Mnt near the old Spanish mine. Probably show up on Friday (white F150 yellow DRZ)

devro

Folks, Jim is a HUGE resource for the trails in that area. From White Rock all the way to Brock Creek. He could put together some epic rides for you. I've done a couple of his long distance rides and they're awesome. And he's a walking history book about the area, too. Great guy, to boot. Just buy him some Moose Drool beer and he'll help you out.

[tom reiner]

Ohio Boys,
With Sean overseas, I took the reigns on getting the lodging arranged. I did not take into account people wanting to stay Wed night. I worked out a deal for 3 nights. It's early enough to tweak this, so why don't one of you guys, when you feel confident on your plans, email me to discuss. troy at troywolf dot com. If you want, you could just--on your own--book the Sears house or something. Or, I can call the lodge back and work to get more of their properties and perhaps work it out so that people staying 4 nights pay more than people staying 2 or 3. I just don't want to make it too complicated, but I think I can handle the math.

Troy,,
If this trip come off as planned we would be coming down Wednesday night, but not getting there until Thursday morning (15 +,- hour drive). No Wednesday night arrangements are necessary, We'd arrive early Thursday morn, stay Thur-Sat night, driving home Sunday afternoon (this is what we did 2 years ago)

Hope that clears it up,

[MoRidin]

Sounds like we need to make this a week-long ride!

I would love someone that knows the single track at Whiterock. I can find some of it...but sometimes you will ride right by a singletrack crossing and not even notice it.

[troy]

I'd be in an RV anyway. How many pads do they have and how late can I slide along if I'm just RVing it?

Info about the RV camping at Mulberry Mountain Lodge:
http://www.mulberrymountainlodge.com/campground.htm

Jeb, I have not added your name to the rider list yet because you sounded a bit iffy. If you are RVing, but do want to partake in our Fri & Sat catering, let me know for the meal headcount. We are probably talking $25 for 2 nights of great BBQ catering.

Excuse me if I'm way off here, but is "Jeb" the guy at last year's Chadwick spring ride where a guy had a flat tire, you said "we can fix that in about 10 minutes". I said, half smart-ass like "I'd like to see you change it in 10 minutes". You did not reply. You simply got off and changed the tire in 8 minutes -- without looking like you were trying hard. Kind of put me in my place.

[MoRidin]

Excuse me if I'm way off here, but is "Jeb" the guy at last year's Chadwick spring ride where a guy had a flat tire, you said "we can fix that in about 10 minutes". I said, half smart-ass like "I'd like to see you change it in 10 minutes". You did not reply. You simply got off and changed the tire in 8 minutes -- without looking like you were trying hard. Kind of put me in my place.

Yep...that is the one.

[Barclay]

devro,

My plan is to put in work at the Old Crow the weeks before the race, yes I will miss the race but it is hard to pass on these dual sport rides. I will ride Thurs - Sunday if there is a guide. Below is a copy of devro's ride report from our last trip--what a blast. Read this and tell me your not ready to ride!!!!!!



devros ride report copied from RVDRS.com
We unloaded the bikes on top of Fly Gap on Hwy 23 and took off to ride the whole trail from Fly Gap to Haw Creek Falls. Both of us had ridden pieces of this route but this was the first time to string all the pieces together. It turned out to be longer then we anticipated. We never made it to Haw Creek, it was getting late so we "roaded" it back to the truck at the 96 mile point! I know it's only maybe 6-8 miles to Haw Creek from where we headed back. So, figure this leg of the White Rock to Brock Creek route to be about 100 miles.

We had just two mess-ups. I slid off the side of the mountain on the trail to Spanish Mine. Just took a lot of GRUNT from both of us to get the bike up the hill and back on the trail. Then while headed down into Harrods Creek Disco took a nasty off-trail excursion and chest-butted an oak tree - BIG OUCH! Didn't break anything but a front fender but his sore ribs had us looking for smoother lines the rest of the day

All total we rode 143 miles. Averaged 24.6 MPH
We unloaded at 8:05.
We rode Mountain Creek, Spy Rock, Harrods Creek, the ridge above Friley Creek, climbed the mountain from Friley and dropped into Oark, roaded it to Catalpa, then to Rosetta, dropped down the mountain to the headwaters of Little Piney Creek and visited Spurgen Warren's Cabin, rode up Ozone Mountain to Ozone, dropped down the back side of Ozone Mnt to the old Union Community and visited the old school house - and then it was time to head back to the truck.
Creek crossings, rocks, waterfalls, rocks, deer, turkey, hawks, squirrels, rocks, unbelievable high ridge views, PERFECT 70 degree weather and a great riding partner.

Got to Catalpa at 12:05 for lunch. (Oark store is at the 50 mile point)
Headed back to the truck at 3:15
Got to the truck at 5:05
We were on the trail for 9 hours and the bike computer said we were in motion for 6hr 15min.

This was an A W E S O M E ride (did I already say that?) We are ready to go again. But next time we need to get our camping gear to Haw Creek Falls Campground so we can sit around a campfire and talk about the A W E S O M E day. Then ride back to Fly Gap the next day (or on the Brock Creek).

We missed all of you who would have liked to been out on this trail today.

devro

[troy]

...dropped down the mountain to the headwaters of Little Piney Creek and visited Spurgen Warren's Cabin

Is this a restored cabin East of Hwy 21 and North of Ozone that has period furnishings in it along with photos of the history of the cabin and the people who owned it? The door is unlocked and has a sign to come in, sign the guestbook, and look around. The road to get to it starts out as a forest road off Hwy 21 then turns into a narrow 4x4 road?

IF SO, then FINALLY somebody who can tell me how to return to this spot! A riding buddy led me there back in Oct 2005, but I did not do GPS then, so I don't have tracks, and he lost his information about where it is. We only got maybe 1/2 mile past that cabin before his hydraulic fluid leaking clutch forced us to limp back to Clarksville.

Devro & Barclay, I bet you also know about what trail Mulberry Mountain Lodge is talking about when the say there is an ATV trail you can access directly across Hwy 23 from their property. It is popular with ATVers that stay at their place because they don't have to trailer to access it. However, I don't think I'm aware of a trailhead off 23 at that point. I'm interested in what connections can be made from that trail to create longer loops.

You guys may be my new best buddies.

[Barclay]

Troy,

This is the old cabin you have been looking for since 2005. devro can take you right to it. He is a walking history book.

Barclay

[Nobiman]

Sounds like we need to make this a week-long ride!

I would love someone that knows the single track at Whiterock. I can find some of it...but sometimes you will ride right by a singletrack crossing and not even notice it.

Hail yea, a week long ride! Ha! If we did that, my Motards would never make it off of the trailer!

Randy.

[chadman]

I'd be in an RV anyway. How many pads do they have and how late can I slide along if I'm just RVing it?

Info about the RV camping at Mulberry Mountain Lodge:
http://www.mulberrymountainlodge.com/campground.htm

Jeb, I have not added your name to the rider list yet because you sounded a bit iffy. If you are RVing, but do want to partake in our Fri & Sat catering, let me know for the meal headcount. We are probably talking $25 for 2 nights of great BBQ catering.

Excuse me if I'm way off here, but is "Jeb" the guy at last year's Chadwick spring ride where a guy had a flat tire, you said "we can fix that in about 10 minutes". I said, half smart-ass like "I'd like to see you change it in 10 minutes". You did not reply. You simply got off and changed the tire in 8 minutes -- without looking like you were trying hard. Kind of put me in my place.

I am lucky to get a tire changed in about 20-25 min! That is if I do not pop the tube and have to start over again.....

MoRidin, Did you want to try to carpool with us? I know we are going to have to take 2 trucks now that we have 6 riders. 2 of our riders live in/close to Edwardsville. The other 4 are in the St Charles area.
Chad

[MoRidin]

MoRidin, Did you want to try to carpool with us? I know we are going to have to take 2 trucks now that we have 6 riders. 2 of our riders live in/close to Edwardsville. The other 4 are in the St Charles area.
Chad

Yeah that probably makes sense as I am on the IL side in Columbia.

We can hammer that out when we get close...I just realized we have 10 weeks to go still...

Chad:

Were you all planning on leaving ealry Thursday, midday or after work? I have a flexible job so I can bolt whenever. I originally planned on leaving Thursday morning and getting a decent ride Thursday afternoon. Ride all weekend then pack it up around lunch on Sunday and head home to make it home by the kids' bathtime.

Sean

[devro]

Troy,
Yea, that's the cabin. The owner calls it Spurgen Warren's because he was the last family member to live there. The rest is campfire fodder. When visiting you are still obliged not to steal anything, don't camp on the property, watch for bears and sign the guest book.
The history of the place is hanging on the walls to read.
The owner, I forget his name, I'd have to ask my wife, he's from Strawberry, near Hagarville, has done some restorative work sense 2005 that is good to see.

The ATV crowd calls this cabin the "movie house", you have to read the walls by the back stairway to know what they are talking about.

For those wondering; Spurgen Warren's Cabin is a privately owned historical museum on the headwaters of Little Piney Creek. The owner keeps the property in pristine condition for all visitors to sit on the porch, climb the narrow staircase to the dormer, examine the hand cut beams, walk in the barn, daze and ponder what life was like between 1840 and 1930 for families trying to survive in the rugged Ozarks raising hogs and growing cotton.
--Well so much for campfire fodder, that's the story, now you gotta go see the place. There are easy ways and interesting ways to get there.

Again, I do not know much about the country west of Fly Gap (hwy 23). My back yard is the Piney Creeks area. I've only in the last 10 years or so ventured into the Mulberry and White River areas.
I do know that almost any trail west out of Fly Gap will take you to the White Rock Range. So, if there is a trail west of hwy 23 from Mulberry Mountain it will be possable to route it to the White Rock trails. Just gotta go explore, that's all.

devro

[devro]

Excuse me if I'm way off here, but is "Jeb" the guy at last year's Chadwick spring ride where a guy had a flat tire, you said "we can fix that in about 10 minutes". I said, half smart-ass like "I'd like to see you change it in 10 minutes". You did not reply. You simply got off and changed the tire in 8 minutes -- without looking like you were trying hard. Kind of put me in my place.

I timed jeb a couple of weeks ago changing jeffro's front tire at 0900 in 25 degree weather - 9 minutes 10 seconds!
The guy is GOOD - he got my old DR unwatered after a creek dunk in record time too.

And jeb, thanks for the "hit" about the Moose Drool!

devro

[jeb]

I'd be in an RV anyway. How many pads do they have and how late can I slide along if I'm just RVing it?

Info about the RV camping at Mulberry Mountain Lodge:
http://www.mulberrymountainlodge.com/campground.htm

Jeb, I have not added your name to the rider list yet because you sounded a bit iffy. If you are RVing, but do want to partake in our Fri & Sat catering, let me know for the meal headcount. We are probably talking $25 for 2 nights of great BBQ catering.

Excuse me if I'm way off here, but is "Jeb" the guy at last year's Chadwick spring ride where a guy had a flat tire, you said "we can fix that in about 10 minutes". I said, half smart-ass like "I'd like to see you change it in 10 minutes". You did not reply. You simply got off and changed the tire in 8 minutes -- without looking like you were trying hard. Kind of put me in my place.

Thanks for the link Troy. Sounds good as I am tentative at this point. I want to make at least the weekend part of it, though. It's less than 2 hours from my house so I'd guess I'll be there for some of it.

Yeah, I'm a decent tire changer. I like fresh rubber on my bikes so I've had a lot of practice.

[devro]

Last November a few of us rode from Brock Creek to Haw Creek. Terry Thompson [terryth] from Nebraska! was one of "us". He took a lot of pictures and ran his helmet cam. Terry put together this little picture show of the ride: http://www.jennyandterrythompson.com:80/BCtoHC.htm

The route from Brock Creek to Fly Gap is about 180 miles with Haw Creek about the 1/2 way mark by time. The BC to HC ride is the more difficult half. We did this ride in 9 hours, beginning shortly after daylight and finishing just as it was getting dark, but of course it was in the fall when daylight is at it's least. The pace is fairly quick for a long ride and the "road" sections are traveled at a "spirited" pace to make up lost time. We do of course stop for lunch, "wanker hanging", sights, history, laughs, scenery, etc.

I just thought I'd post Terry's work to sort of wet-da-crotch of those planning on going on the April Fools Ride. Hope you enjoy Terry's show.

Thanks Terry for the show,
devro

[hawkeye]

Hi Guys,

Count me in. This is Dennis. I'm the "old guy" that did the fall ride with you on a 450 exc. Sounds great. Looking forward to it already. I'll watch this thread to see what I need to do.

Thanks,

Hawkeye

[troy]

Count me in. This is Dennis. I'm the "old guy" that did the fall ride with you on a 450 exc.

The "old guy" who rode me under the table? The guy who every morning was the first one suited up, helmet on, sitting on bike, pointed towards the trail? Glad to have you back, Dennis! I added your name to the list in the first post. We are up to 29 riders.

Dennis, the "old guy", in action

[KC]

Count me in. This is Dennis. I'm the "old guy" that did the fall ride with you on a 450 exc.

Hey Dennis!...look forward to riding with you again.

Let me put it this way about this "Old Guy" : When he's all suited up, helmet on and riding his 450, he is 19 again and I could only dream about keeping up with him.