Independence Day Weekend Ride

[carlrf]

Well, this certanly exciting!

[allkidd]

Oh, and Randy if you are watching---did you see the tornado above your house at Raintree Lake?!

Yes, until the storm that sat above Raintree Lake, I was still holding out the possibility of riding with you guys. With no power and the lake into my backyard, the ride isn't going to happen for me.

Troy, thanks for organizing and posting the ride. Hopefully, I can participate in future rides.

[Black.Hawk]

I'm out unfortunately.

While giving my nephew a ride this last weekend I managed to tip the bike over and put 2nd / 3rd degree burns on my ankle (I was stoopid and was wearing tennis shoes instead of boots since we were just riding around the pasture (he was all suited up and thought it was hilarious). I was hoping I'd feel better by this morning, but nope still swollen and gnarly lookin'.

I'm really bummed because I love Roaring River Park. My family has camped there every year for the past ~20 years, only this year we didn't due to schedules. I went riding down there last summer during our vacation and absolutely loved it. Oh well, maybe I won't be an idiot right before the next overnight adventure.

Take lots of video and have fun ya'll!

[troy]

Sorry to hear it, Black.Hawk. Heal up so you can ride!

I don't think I'd be too jealous of this ride as we are most likely going to be soaked. And I use the term "we" loosely as it might just be me, although at this point it does look as if carlf is going to join me. Kendall plans to join us for Friday, but if it's pouring rain at his house that morning (as it probably will be), I would not blame him for dumping that plan.

I don't actually have a good ride camera anymore, and I'll not be likely to get my $600 Android phone (yikes!) out in the rain much. I need to remedy this problem.

[carlrf]

I am going! At hospital now.

[Scott_B]

I am going! At hospital now.

I looked back through all the posts, but still can't make sense of this. Did you get hurt at some point too?

[kendall_smith]

Kendall plans to join us for Friday, but if it's pouring rain at his house that morning (as it probably will be), I would not blame him for dumping that plan.

Come on down- we're in the middle of a tornado warning right now!

I may be dumping the plan for tomorrow if it is looking dangerous and/or relentlessly wet. I don't mind getting wet while I'm out riding already, but I don't possess the motivation (or proper rain gear ) to leave a dry house to head out in a downpour. I'll let you know tomorrow morning one way or the other.

[troy]

Carl and I had a great ride down to Joplin today. We took about five hours and a lot of travel to get here. Believe it or not we did not get rained on once but a sprinkle when we first took off. Almost no wind and cool temperatures. The ground was damp enough to keep the dust down for the most part. Near perfect conditions. Hope tomorrow serves us well.

Check out this video of a creek crossing we did today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbPC-HAdBw

[kendall_smith]

A real man would have gone through that deep part to the camera man's right.

[kendall_smith]

On a serious note, I just got done planning out a little route on ridewithgps.com to get me from my house to the coffee shop in Neosho. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get out tomorrow without the rain stopping me before I get started.

Watching your little stream crossing video made me want to ride! It's been almost 5 days since I rode a dual sport, so I'm due!

[carlrf]

I am going! At hospital now.

I looked back through all the posts, but still can't make sense of this. Did you get hurt at some point too?

No, sorry. My daughter went to emergency room this morning and I was replying to Troys post as he knew what was going on. I should have clarified or not mentioned that detail.

[Black.Hawk]

....
Check out this video of a creek crossing we did today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbPC-HAdBw

Now I'm not sure if asking for videos was a good idea. My jealousy gauge is pegged!

[troy]

And believe it or not we are enjoying perfect weather today as well. Fantastic ride. Just finished fixing my front flat tire just north of Roaring River State Park. Good times.

[troy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edIUuCVyZvk

The video link above is James on his f800gs working his way under a tree that had blocked the road. We were able to use James saw to cut the smaller branches to create an opening.

Perfect day of riding. 6 riders did a 170 mile loop down to Jasper then back up to Eureka Springs.

I got another flat front on the way. With the help from the guys we had it fixed in short time.

We start the long ride back to the Kansas City metro in the morning. Now showered and heading off to eat some fajitas.

[Savage]

Creative cutting!

[troy]

Home safe after 700 wonderful miles! Other than 2 or 3 minutes of sprinkles, we did not get rained on ONCE the entire time! The clouds kept the temperatures lower than normal. We got really lucky!

Scott & James came down to Eureka Springs to make kickstands up Saturday morning. Kendall & Alissa, the "locals", joined us as well. With Carl & I, we had 6 riders for Saturday's adventure. It was a great ride!

Between the group, we should have some good pics to share. So stay tuned!

[carlrf]

[Scott_B]

Thanks for putting this together Troy. Saturday was fantastic. I learned a lot about the capabilities, or lack thereof, of the 650 Vstrom when travelling on gravel. The highway sections, on the other hand, were a blast. Lunch and dinner were fantastic as well.

Sunday didn't go quite as well. I ended up colliding with a deer just west of Jerico Springs while going around a sharp right turn on MO 97. I'd like to say I did all the right things, but besides slowing down going into the turn (I was maybe doing 35), and wearing full protective gear, the rest of the event were a blur. The Vstrom went down on the left side, and I flipped over the bike, landing hard on my lower back.

I ended up making the rest of the three-hour trip minus both driver footpegs and a bent left side handlebar. Amazingly, the front forks survived the collision without damage, and the bike ran perfectly. Danielle took me to the ER once she saw the bruising on my back, but I came out with a clean bill of health (no fractures or concussion). I probably shouldn't have continued home, but I was in the middle of nowhere, and took it very slowly for the first several miles to make sure the bike was safe to ride.

I'm very relieved and lucky to by typing this update from home rather than from a hospital bed. I'm going to be very sore for a week or so, but I'll take that outcome over the alternatives.

Be safe out there. See you guys at the next TARKC meeting.

[carlrf]

[carlrf]