Sun Aug 10 Maple Hill

[kendall_smith]

My wife and were brainstorming about where a nice, easy ride to try out her new-to-her CRF 230L would be and remembered how much we enjoyed the last time we rode around Pomme De Terre Lake.

See thread- http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1411

I guess the plan would be to follow the same idea as the ride in that thread since it seemed like a good deal the last time. I think we'll head down Friday night to camp and do the ride on Saturday.

Let me know if any of you are interested in joining us.

[troy]

Ooh...sounds very nice...especially if the weather stays cool. I probably can't make this one with other things in my schedule, but will keep this on my radar for sure.

Didn't you sell your camping trailer? So are you tenting it?

[kendall_smith]

We'll be going back to our tent camping roots for this one since we sold the camper this spring and there aren't any plans to replace it. Hopefully, we didn't get too spoiled by having a camper!

It should be a good time as long as we get some good weather. The long range forecast is looking good temperature-wise and the weatherman said we should expect a cooler than normal August. I just hope the rain lets up for that weekend especially. I'll keep an eye on it and adjust our plans accordingly.

[ozarksrider]

Hi Kendall, how about a maybe? I can commit for sure by say Monday.

I'm meeting some friends for a dinner in Springfield the evening of the 10th, and am thinking I could ride with you guys on Saturday. I'll probably ride asphalt to get down there, then connect up some gravel for the return trip.

[kendall_smith]

No problem, Chris! Alissa and I are planning to go even if it is only us, but I thought I'd put it out there to see if anyone else wanted to join.

We'll be leaving the campground Saturday morning, so anyone that wants to join us should plan on being there at a decent time. Last time we did this ride, we failed to ride all of Troy's loop, so I'd like to be able to hit all of it and allow for a lunch stop at Hillbilly Burgers like we did last time.

[ozarksrider]

I'm leaving after dinner on Friday night, riding to Pomme De Terre if anyone wants to ride with me. I'll probably stay at one of the fishing motels around the lake.

Kendall, do you know what time and where you want to meet? Early is good for me, I'll need to be in Springfield by 5 or 6pm.

[troy]

Update to let you know that I will not be able to join you guys this weekend. Should be a good time!

[kendall_smith]

Thanks for the head's up Troy. We won't delay our ride waiting for you to show up in the morning then.

I've been keeping an eye on the weather forecast and it appears that the area is getting a decent amount of rain this week with the chances tapering off into the 30-40% chance range for the weekend. The rain should be a good thing, though since this is a mostly gravel route. Hopefully, it will help with the dust if not make some of the low water crossings a little more interesting.

For Chris (and anyone else who might want to join us), let's plan on meeting at the entrance to Nemo's Landing Campground (37.86611, -93.27389) around 8:30-9:00.

I'll post here if anything changes.

[troy]

As I recall, the NE corner of that loop--gravel roads N of Hwy 54--have some low water bridges that could see some heavy flow. A friend and I actually cried uncle at one and retreated. It was relatively long, covered in green slime, and had a swift flow. I look forward to hearing the report!

[kendall_smith]

This weekend is starting to look questionable at this point. Pomme de Terre Lake appears to be in a flash flood watch and all the Missouri flooding on the news is only about 30-40 miles away from the campground we planned on staying in this weekend. To add to it, the weather forecast is calling for a pretty good chance of rain all the way into Friday.

This one is on standby status at this point.

[allkidd]

This weekend is starting to look questionable at this point. Pomme de Terre Lake appears to be in a flash flood watch and all the Missouri flooding on the news is only about 30-40 miles away from the campground we planned on staying in this weekend. To add to it, the weather forecast is calling for a pretty good chance of rain all the way into Friday.

This one is on standby status at this point.

They've got hit pretty hard. Hopefully, they are getting it out of the way so the fall rides won't be as wet as in the past.

How about on Sunday a day ride out in Kansas? Only a slight chance of rain Saturday and Sunday so would give it a chance to dry out. I would think the roads around Maple City would be good for Alissa to try out the new bike.

[kendall_smith]

We might be up for a ride out around Maple Hill. Now that our Pomme de Terre plans are officially cancelled, Alissa is wanting to go to her 15 year high school reunion that she was going to miss on Saturday night. I suppose we could haul the bikes to her reunion and then run up to Maple Hill on Sunday morning to meet up. I'm not sure how bad the minimum maintenance roads might be, but there should be work-arounds for all of them if need be.

Let me know if you are in and we might solidify our plans.

[ozarksrider]

Yeah, slogging it through the rain Friday night doesn't sound like much fun. Especially to get up and spend the next day doing the same. You guys have fun in Kansas, a little mud will be fun.

[troy]

"Maple City", "Maple Hill"...in KS? Where are you guys talking about? Maple City, KS is E of Arkansas City almost to the Oklahoma border.

[Bob Morgan]

We might be up for a ride out around Maple Hill.
Let me know if you are in and we might solidify our plans.

I think you are talking about my neck of the woods, and there will be plenty of passable roads to ride. To Reeeally have some fun we would need to sling a little mud in a few places though

I think I have Mac Wildcat's route for that area I can plug into the Zumo. We can contact him too, since he may not have been following this thread.

Thoughts?

[kendall_smith]

"Maple City", "Maple Hill"...in KS? Where are you guys talking about? Maple City, KS is E of Arkansas City almost to the Oklahoma border.

I'm assuming that Randy meant Maple Hill, but I guess it could be possible that he was talking about down south. I'd be more inclined to ride near Maple Hill, though.

I think you are talking about my neck of the woods, and there will be plenty of passable roads to ride. To Reeeally have some fun we would need to sling a little mud in a few places though

I think I have Mac Wildcat's route for that area I can plug into the Zumo. We can contact him too, since he may not have been following this thread.

Thoughts?

Sounds like a plan to me! Alissa and I will probably just throw the bikes in the back of the truck before we go to her high school reunion Saturday night and we might just camp somewhere or get a hotel that night and meet up at the truck stop in Maple Hill if that works for everyone else.

Who's all in?

Kendall and Alissa
Bob
Randy
Troy?
Larry?
Chris- are you still going to be heading to Springfield, regardless of weather?

[troy]

Taking family to Silver Dollar City this weekend.

[allkidd]

"Maple City", "Maple Hill"...in KS? Where are you guys talking about? Maple City, KS is E of Arkansas City almost to the Oklahoma border.

I'm assuming that Randy meant Maple Hill, but I guess it could be possible that he was talking about down south. I'd be more inclined to ride near Maple Hill, though.

I think you are talking about my neck of the woods, and there will be plenty of passable roads to ride. To Reeeally have some fun we would need to sling a little mud in a few places though

I think I have Mac Wildcat's route for that area I can plug into the Zumo. We can contact him too, since he may not have been following this thread.

Thoughts?

Sounds like a plan to me! Alissa and I will probably just throw the bikes in the back of the truck before we go to her high school reunion Saturday night and we might just camp somewhere or get a hotel that night and meet up at the truck stop in Maple Hill if that works for everyone else.

Who's all in?

Kendall and Alissa
Bob
Randy
Troy?
Larry?
Chris- are you still going to be heading to Springfield, regardless of weather?

Meeting at the Maple Hill truck stop Sunday morning works for me. What time are we thinking...9:00, 9:30, 10:00?

[kendall_smith]

9:30 should work for us. I guess we'll make it official. Let's meet at the Maple Hill truck stop on the south side of I-70 at 9:30.

See you guys there!

[allkidd]

9:30 should work for us. I guess we'll make it official. Let's meet at the Maple Hill truck stop on the south side of I-70 at 9:30.

See you guys there!

I will be at Maple Hill, at 9:30 Sunday. Kendall, are you taking the big bike or 350? I'm thinking my 450. Now that it is official, who else is coming?