2012 Arkansas National Picture Thread

[mxvet57]

Yeah they are ugly sombitches. I love mine. Wish it was more in the handling performance department and a little more snot wouldn't hurt, but they are damn
reliable-ass bikes without a doubt and they absolutely rock on the slab. Highway is where these shine, and packing lots of shit for a tour is NO PROBLEM.

This is mine half-ragged out and muddied up from daily early spring riding.

As long as you don't strip the threads on the oil drain plug the day defore your to leave on a trip.

[Sport-Touring]

[ConPilot1]

As long as you don't strip the threads on the oil drain plug the day defore your to leave on a trip.

  That sucked.  

At least I made it and got to meet you, Ed.  

[mxvet57]

  That sucked.  

At least I made it and got to meet you, Ed.  

Same to you bud.  

[Acadian Rider]

That would be my "Pearl Luster Beige" (Goldammit) example of 1986 technology.
It was for sure a pack mule among thoroughbreds but as I like to say,you can spend more money but you can't have any more fun!

Stan

Stan, I was impressed with the way you handled that bike in the twisties on Rte 123.  

I have a friend who had one of those 1986 technology Concours and there is no way that he could have stayed close to you on that Rte.


 

[Acadian Rider]

I’m finally getting around to posting some pictures.  I was in Ottawa last week for work.  

The Canadians (Dave, Paul and I) did 9,300 kms (5,800 miles) in 16 days. There were no issues with the bikes and we kept the rubber on the pavement at all times.  One sheriff in WV (Rte 20) didn’t think we should be allowed to overtake on a double solid yellow but he just gave us some advice and let us go.  No performance award.  

On day two we climbed Mount Washington in NH.  


On the way up Mount Washington

In addition to the road (Mt Washington Auto Road) there is a railroad which is said to be the steepest railroad tracks in North America, thus the reason that it is a cog railway.  



A view of the train on top of Mt Washington


A view from the top which is over the tree line


Can you spot the sport-touring bike among the cruisers?

When we started this trip we were actually four.  Rick who is from the Province of Prince Edward Island could only follow us for two day.  He rides the FJR.  


Four Canadians on top of Mt Washington

I wanted to try some of the roads in southeast Ohio and they did not disappoint.  We did routes 145 & 26 which are around Marietta.  

 
We saw a number of these barns and advertisements.  This one was in excellent shape.  

From south east Ohio we went down Rte 16 in WV, 421 in TN (The Snake) and the southern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  

 
Somewhere on the BRP


BRP



After that we did the Smokey Mountains through the National Park, around and down to the Dragon (Deal’s Gap) and the Sherohala Skyway.  


Smokey Mountains


Cherohala Skyway


Cherohala Skyway

Next stop was the Barber MC Museum.  


Barber MC Museum


Paul and Dave trying to figure it out


The next three were taken in Graceland.  

[Acadian Rider]

We got up Rte 7 in Arkansas.  


Rte 7 AK

I had planned to eat in the Cliff House at the Arkansas Grand Canyon but the Gold Wing riders had other plans.  


Cliff house on Rte 7 AK

Plan “B” was to stop at the Ozark Café up the road.  


Ozark Café

Arrived in ES on Monday night.  
Our group plus Oddball and Stan did a modified version of the Crazy 8 route that Tracy of Butler Maps had done for us.  



Oddball, Acadian Rider, Dave, Paul, Stan

Tuesday night was a group supper at the Local Flavor Restaurant.  


Local Flavor Restaurant


Local Flavor Restaurant

After supper Paul, Dave and I went for a walk in town.  Even though I had been to ES in 2008 for the ST.N National I had not seen the town.  


ES


ES


ES

Our Wed ride took us to Push Mountain.  The route was the “Sylamore Shuffle” on the Butler Map.  


I don’t recall ever seeing a one lane suspension bridge before


The three amigos getting ready to do Push Mountain

Wed night at the hotel.





Wed night at the group supper.  

 












A big thanks to Jason and Co for organizing this

[mxvet57]

 
We saw a number of these barns and advertisements.  This one was in excellent shape.  

Leon,
From what i understand someone has been repainting the barns over the past 5 years.

[stromgal]

It was a pleasure seeing you again, Leon; thanks for the photos!

[bikerider]

It was great meeting you Leon. Great photos!

I need to get in gear and get my little ride report done. Work has been getting in the way again. I did buy a used wheel for the ST1300 and swapped it out for the bent one last weekend and dropped off the bike at the dealer to have them rebuild the water pump again.

[Jetpilot5]

It was nice to see you again Leon.  Great pics too.

[jay547]

After supper Paul, Dave and I went for a walk in town.  Even though I had been to ES in 2008 for the ST.N National I had not seen the town.  

i hollered at you guys as we rode by.  

[Acadian Rider]

Leon,
From what i understand someone has been repainting the barns over the past 5 years.

Makes sense.  The one whose picture I posted looked pretty good.  

It was a pleasure seeing you again, Leon;

Same here.  Colorado next time maybe at the next ST.N National.  Shhhh!  Don't tell Susan.    Maybe she can fly there and join me there.  

It was great meeting you Leon. Great photos!

I need to get in gear and get my little ride report done. Work has been getting in the way again. I did buy a used wheel for the ST1300 and swapped it out for the bent one last weekend and dropped off the bike at the dealer to have them rebuild the water pump again.

I was debating as to whether or not to do a full ride report or a short one but in the end I just did a short one.  Work gets in the way for me also these days.  I got home from the trip on Sunday afternoon and Monday I had to catch a flight to Ottawa.  When I left for AK (June 9) I had just got back home from another Ottawa trip the day before.  Hopefully I'm back home for a little while now.  

Hope everything works out with your bike.  The ST1300 is a great bike.  

It was nice to see you again Leon.

Me too.  Wave next time you fly over my head.  

i hollered at you guys as we rode by.  

I never heard you.  

[Orson]

 

One thing I noticed on my pilgrimage to Graceland...Pricilla Presley has guarded over Elvis' legacy with a sharp eye, and it shows in the quality of items in the giftshop.

No coffee mugs with images applied with adhesive that wear out after 6 months, but high quality mugs