Fall TARkansas ride

[allkidd]

Updated Oct 04, 2013

TARKC Fall 2013 Adventure Ride
October 11 - 13, Fri - Sun
NW Arkansas
NOT big bike friendly, but you are welcome to try!

DOWNLOAD 3 day route plan in GPX format

WHEN & WHERE TO MEET
KICKSTANDS UP at 9:30 AM
The ride will start at the Fort Rock Family Camp which is about 35 minutes past Fayetteville. Click here to see a GMap. The entrance to the Fort will be on your right (W side). I suggest you use GMap Street View to see what the entrance looks like so you recognize it when you get there.

If you've never seen the fort, it's pretty amazing. Mr. Terry Forsythe and his family built it themselves as a Christian family camp ministry. They offer a shooting range, archery, horseback riding, dining, and lodging. You can read about them and watch videos on the Fort Rock website.

Terry has graciously agreed to let us park our trucks & trailers at the fort during our 3 day adventure. In return, we will make a donation to the family camp. I suggest $10/head for the 3 day parking privilege. So have an extra $10 to $20 cash in your pocket Fri morning. Terry has a strict NO ALCOHOL policy on his property. If you have it, please just keep it closed in your cooler until after you leave the fort.

ZIPLINE!
Terry advertises the longest zipline in Arkansas! (I think there is a longer one now.) It is a blast! Terry is willing to give us zipline rides Fri morning before kickstands up. If you want to ride the zipline, YOU MUST let me know and be ready to ride the line by 9:00 AM. Cost is $15 per person and additional rides are only $5. What better way to kick off a 3 day dirt bike dualsport than screaming 60 MPH down a zipline?!


THE RIDE
You might ask, why not start in Fayetteville? Let me tell you why! From the Fort, we'll not touch more than about 1/2 mile of road for about 30 miles! That's right! Terry has an old ATV trail out the back of his property that runs right into the Mill Creek ATV system. We'll cut through that system then hit a lot of old ATV trails through the forest as we make our way S towards Clarksville. The entire day has about 17 miles of pavement with most of that the last 13 miles into Clarksville.

SAT route takes us South to play in the great Huckleberry Horse/ATV trail system around Mt Magazine.

SUN route takes us back to the Fort and starts out with a 20 mile highway run up 103---FANTASTIC twisties! From Oark, we hit the trails and old roads as we make our way back NW.


MOTEL
Both FRI & SAT night are at the Best Western in Clarksville. Using the same hotel both nights allows us to not carry all our stuff on the bike during Saturday's ride. There is a good restaurant next door to the motel.

The Best Western's double rooms were almost booked so Randy went ahead and reserved 6 double rooms for Oct. 11 and 12 under TAR. They will hold them until Oct 7 so you need to call and have them switch a room into your name. After some tough negotiations, we got the rate down to $58.65. ($10 cheaper than the Harley rate) If you desire a single room, you can still call and get the TAR rate.

Best Western of Clarksville 1-479-754-7900


MISC
Start firming up the carpooling plans! Let's coordinate tools, tubes, air compressors, etc. so not everyone needs to carry 50 lbs of crap!

As for lunch on the trail....there are never any guarantees. The FRI route takes us to Turners Bend store where we can fuel up and get sandwiches. However, my guess is that we will be getting there for a really late lunch...so pack snacks to get you by. The SAT route is not fleshed out yet, but it can take us to a nice gas/food stop near Mt. Magazine. The SUN route takes us right to Oark, and I was thinking to run up the 20 miles first thing in the morning to eat breakfast there. Sunday's route is relatively short so we could eat a later breakfast/brunch then run trails back to the fort. If we get back too early and you want more trails, the great news is that you can go play in the Mill Creek system as long as you want and be relatively close to the fort the whole time.

As of right now, weather forecast looks perfect!

The "IN" list
I know there are others who have indicated a potential interest so add your name to the list....open to everybody. We've had a great time on the two previous TAR rides with many stories and experiences to share!

• Randy (allkidd)
• James (jasbaum)
• Mike (HanesAnizer)
• Ryan (rycomm)
• Steve (bonanzasteve)
• Steve (Bronco)
• Bo (bohawk on AdvRider)
• Troy (troy)
• Sean (MoRidin)
• Robert (motomann)
• Todd (Rusty Jug) (Fri only)

[stimmer6253472]

plated bike ride or un plated? If plated... big bike or small? I need to make one of these rides some day. Besides the ride at Birdman's I don't think I have been on a rideforum.net ride.

Take that back. Went on the ride where Troy and I traded bikes and he got a flat on my 990. So 2 rideforum.net rides.
Let me know.
Jim

[Foster]

Not the 11th! I can not go if it is that weekend (5 year anniversary) and I would really love to join you guys. I vote 18th-20th.

[allkidd]

plated bike ride or un plated? If plated... big bike or small? I need to make one of these rides some day. Besides the ride at Birdman's I don't think I have been on a rideforum.net ride.

Take that back. Went on the ride where Troy and I traded bikes and he got a flat on my 990. So 2 rideforum.net rides.
Let me know.
Jim

For our ride last fall we packed our gear and stayed in a different town each night. This pretty much required plates as we were driving in town. Our bikes were all mid-range dual sport. Most of the roads/trails would be okay for a big bike but it is those few more difficult areas that would cause problems. Although, most of these areas could be bypassed by the bigger bikes.

This spring we stayed at Mack Pines, which is close to Brock Creek, and rode almost exclusively on forest roads where a non plated bike would not have been a problem. Matter of fact, thinking we might make it to BC, I had contemplated bringing my 300XC rather than my plated 450exc.

For this Fall I'm open to either type ride. Having a base to leave gear and go back to each night probably results in better riding and more options for mechanical problems, but, packing gear and staying in a different place each night makes for more of an adventure.

I'm interested in everybody's thoughts.

Either way Jim, I hope you can make it.

[allkidd]

Not the 11th! I can not go if it is that weekend (5 year anniversary) and I would really love to join you guys. I vote 18th-20th.

Nick, what do you mean....spending the day in a cold rain, repairing flats on the rocks, riding bikes through 5 foot deep water, staying in 1 star motels, eating salty salmon in a dry county, being with dirty, wet middle aged men...what more could a wife want on her anniversary??

I'm good with eliminating the weekend of the 11th. What does everybody else think?

[bonanzasteve]

I am flexible on the dates in October at this time. As far as the type of ride, I would vote on the adventure travel type again. Those have always been fun having a destination to get to , especially if we have some nice weather for a change!

[Foster]

I agree with the adventure type moto trip. Although I only have the drz and packing is always a bit rough, it is a much greater challenge and always a good time.

[stimmer6253472]

I would try and make an adventure type of ride or a non plated small bike type of ride (wish I had a plated 450\530). However, don't make any plans because of me. I am in IT so my weekend plans can change in the time it takes a server to go tits up.
Jim

[jasbaum]

I'm on pager 18-20 and 25-27, so 11-13 would work best for me.

HOWEVER...

I should be able to swap pager weeks with my co-worker, especially with advanced notice, so I'll make ANY of the weekends work.

Also, it doesn't look like my brother will make this trip, so if anyone has room for me on their transport, that'd be great.

And I vote for the "adventure-style" ride like last October, especially now that my DR-Z is equipped to haul my gear. But having a base camp had it's advantages.

[Foster]

IF we choose to do a "base camp" type ride, I would love to check out Mill Creek and that place a ways south. I don't remember the name for certain. Brock Creek maybe?

I would vote NO on Chadwick. You guys make it sound like more fun than I care to pay for (bike repairs). At least for those of us less weathered riders. Although, I do love to see Randy's never ending stream of optimism! lol!

In the end, I am up for anything and will do my best to make it. Even it means being in a bit of trouble for skipping out on an anniversary. Although, I would prefer not to live like a monk for the indefinite future.

[troy]

So:

Foster prefers NOT to do Oct 11-13
James prefers NOT to do Oct 18-20 or 25-27
Troy prefers NOT to do Oct 18-20

My 21st wedding anniversary is the 17th. Like James, I am OK with any of the 3 weekends with enough advanced notice and planning. Jodi & I could celebrate our anniversary the weekend before or after.

The "Adventure Travel" style was definitely fun. Although it added a lot of risk of breaking down a really long ways from spare parts, tools, tow/recovery vehicle. I was almost a victim of this except for the heroics of Ozark, AR locals.

The "Basecamp" style trip you all did at Mack's Pines was spoiled a bit by crappy weather and perhaps the subpar lodging, so don't let that play too much into your consideration. If we do a ride over in the White Rock Mtn area (Hwy 23, Oark, Cass, Combs), several of us have extensive knowledge of the area. Lodging at the Mulberry Mtn Lodge (and elsewhere) is excellent--better than most hotels. More miles of rugged roads and trails (including 45+ miles inside the Mill Creek ATV system) than we can possibly enjoy in 2.5 days of riding.

It's definitely more work to plan the ride without a basecamp. You have to be a lot more concerned with the route and the timing of everything. You have to worry about where you'll get gas. We could start in Jasper, AR and make a 2.5 day loop to the S--I know a ton of stuff we could hit, but not a lot of lodging options. I'd be open to camping along the way IF we could have a vehicle that meets us each night at camp. The vehicle would also provide a recovery option and tools for repairs.

Hmmmm....having a vision here...My brother's big diesel pickup and his 20' enclosed trailer meets us at the starting point where riders throw their camping gear, spare parts, etc into the trailer. The trailer would also have a large grill and coolers with meal supplies, beer, etc. While the riders are on the adventure trail, the rig travels and sets up at the night's camp and preps the meal. Camps would feature either a good swimming hole and/or shower. (Can bring our own portable shower.) This wouldn't necessarily be a money-saving option. By the time we split diesel and food costs, it's probably close to motel/restaurant costs. Depends on # of riders.

I might actually be willing to be the rig driver. I could bring my daughter along with me to enjoy camping--giving my wife a 3 day break.

...a lot can go wrong with a plan like this! Without a doubt, the easiest thing is the basecamp plan at Mulberry Mtn Lodge.

[troy]

To those of us on the TARKC fall adventure: Remember how cold, wet, and muddy we were rolling into our motel in Ozark. I don't know about you guys, but if I faced setting up a tent and no facilities at the end of that day, I'd have been slightly miserable. It's easy to have this peaceful, relaxing vision of camping but if the weather sucks, camping can be less than ideal.

[stimmer6253472]

So:

Foster prefers NOT to do Oct 11-13
James prefers NOT to do Oct 18-20 or 25-27
Troy prefers NOT to do Oct 18-20

FYI on Mulberry Mt and the Oct 17-19 weekend. They are having their country music festival there that weekend so Mulberry wouldn't be an option. That being said Mulberry is a good option. Good dual sporting and dirt biking close.
Jim

[kendall_smith]

I've already got a Chadwick trip planned for the 25-27, so that is the only weekend that will for sure not work for me. My preference would be either an adventure ride (big-bike friendly, either point-to-point or base camp either one) or a base camp mostly dirt type of ride. The reason for this is because those are the two types of rides that I have bikes to take on.

If someone wants to loan me a dual sport that is more road and distance friendly than my 350 EXC-F, I'd be glad to do a gnarly road/trail/highway/etc. adventure ride!

I like Troy's idea of having a chase vehicle if we end up doing the point-to-point type of ride, since I haven't gotten around to buying any type of luggage for my 990 yet.

[allkidd]

So:

Foster prefers NOT to do Oct 11-13
James prefers NOT to do Oct 18-20 or 25-27
Troy prefers NOT to do Oct 18-20

FYI on Mulberry Mt and the Oct 17-19 weekend. They are having their country music festival there that weekend so Mulberry wouldn't be an option. That being said Mulberry is a good option. Good dual sporting and dirt biking close.
Jim

Jim, thanks for the reminder about the Mulberry music festival. Lets eliminate the weekend of Oct. 18-20. Even if we don't use Mulberry the motels in both Ozark and Clarksville tend to fill up with the music festival.

[allkidd]

Based on feedback it appears the October 11-13 weekend works for most of us so lets plan on October 11-13 as the Fall, semi-annual TARkansas ride. The group pretty much unanimously agreed on packing our stuff and staying at a different location each night. So plan on packing your toothbrush, extra pair of undies and a spare tube.

Regarding route, we've all agreed to narrow it down to Arkansas...lot of good places to ride and we can't cover it all in one weekend. As something different I'm thinking maybe meet in Harrison, AR, (interstate all the way) then work our way down the East side of Ozark forest and stay in Russellville the first evening. From there we could work our way South towards Mt. Magazine and ride the Huckleberry trail then back North to Clarksville. Day 3 we could work our way back North but more in the central part of the forest and on up to Harrison.

Ideally, to spend more riding time in the forest and less time riding to the cities for lodging, I would prefer to stay at mack pine for the first night and Mulberry the second night. Unfortunately, both of their websites indicate minimum two night stays in the Fall. We could call and see if they could make exceptions for a bunch of high rollers like us but I'm afraid the mack pine owner may remember that I pissed her off by drying my wet boots on their luxury space heater.

The other option is to meet in Fayetteville and ride some different,(and some of the same), trails as last year. Either way, I'm thinking of doing a pre-ride sometime mid to late September if anybody wants to join me. I think if we are anywhere near Bo in Dover that he would probably join us and share his local trail knowledge. Let me know your thoughts.

Nick, I think that you were the only one with issues on the October 11-13 weekend...something about wedding anniversary?? Take it from someone who has been happily married for 32 years...you can still make the ride happen. The key is to celebrate the anniversary the weekend before the ride. This communicates that you are so anxious to spend time with your lovely bride that you can't wait for the real weekend. It has worked for me a number of times and I can say this knowing that my wife knows nothing about this forum and will never read what I just said. Regardless, we hope you can make the ride!

I wonder if we could change the basis of this forum to recipe sharing and marriage counseling?

[Drz Charlie]

Can an Arkansan join in the fun?

[allkidd]

Can an Arkansan join in the fun?

For sure you can join us. We would love to gleam some of your, "local", knowledge of the trails. Do you know Bo from Dover? He joined us for our Spring ride and showed us trails we never would have found on our own.

[stimmer6253472]

Either way, I'm thinking of doing a pre-ride sometime mid to late September if anybody wants to join me.

Big bike or little for the pre ride?
Jim

[allkidd]

Either way, I'm thinking of doing a pre-ride sometime mid to late September if anybody wants to join me.

Big bike or little for the pre ride?
Jim

Depending on the starting point, I would probably take either my 300xcw or 450 exc. Most of the trails could be ridden on a bigger bike but I just have more fun on the smaller bikes.