Eureka Springs Fall Bash

[ride2red]

Though there were only a handful of us, weather and riding conditions could not have been more ideal. Big thanks to Dan for making the arrangements and it was great to see everyone again (or meet for the first time!) Arkansas is full of great riding and all 10 of us had a great time. Look forward to seeing everyone again next year, if not before. Take care and keep riding !!

[boxermania]

Sorry, I couldn't be there, but I'm glad the weather, roads and company made for a great outing. Now, show us some pics.....

[Boxer]

Al, the pics are coming soon. After our conversation, and your revelation concerning your newest mystery surprise, I slept much better. The next day we rode up to BMW Bentonville where the head mechanic immediately looked at my bike, did a thorough electrical check and diagnostic, then after discovering your prognosis correct, he installed a new coil in my bike. An hour and a half and $207 later I was on my way riding again. He didn't have plug wires but suggested I get some new ones ASAP. I'll do that this week. So my coil and plug wires lasted 76,000 miles. Not as good as my rear shock for longevity...nor my old combat boots for that matter, but I'd say I got a good life from that coil.

[Boxer]

I needed to get back to Atlanta before dark yesterday so Duckdave told me it would be quicker to ride over to Bentonville and take the interstate down to I-40 and then I-40 clear over to Nashville, then I-24 down to Chattanooga connecting with I-75 there to north Georgia. I listened to that advice and hit the road about 7:30 AM local time (8:30 Atlanta time). I didn't zero my trip stats on my GPS until I reached Bentonville 'cause it kept wanting to take me south on US 23. I should have heeded Garmin's advice! Take the total miles on my final screen below and add 35 miles.
I rode like a madman the whole way, taking breaks only when I needed gas at about 200 mile intervals. I lived off Gatorades and peanut butter crackers for 13 hours and 15 minutes.


Keep in mind that I rode up to Eureka Springs on Friday in about the same amount of time, taking a different route and moving casually across the upper part of the state on Hwy 62, eating a nice sit down lunch at a Kum-n Go during the trip and even stopping to take a few pictures and wait for local school busses to unload at several locations. The difference was my distance traveled on Friday was about 682 miles.
From now on I take local US highways especially when the distance to travel seems obviously a lot closer!

[OU812]

Yes I am lame as I forgot my camera...AGAIN! But Dano is sending me some after he gets home and I will forward them to Boxer so he can do his music thing.

[mad1150]

Well, that's OK Steve. I had a camera, but it remained in my tank bag the entire time except when SteveST and I went on our short Sight Seeing tour in E. S.

Those roads are just too much fun to be worrying about pictures

Phil, I'll get my pics up on photobucket and send you the link today.

Vickie and I left at 8:00am and arrived home at 7:30pm. 565 miles in 11.5 hours with a stop for Breakfast, a stop for Dinner, and assorted gas stops.

[maduko]

Wish I could have joined you (I'm only about 2 1/2 hours away from Eureka). I'm still putting my bike back together after a little incident near Spavinaw....


Fortunately nothing major but quite an experience. Here's more than you probably care to know...
blog.maduko.com

[OU812]

Glad you survived. Maybe next year?

[duckdave]

Duckdave told me it would be quicker to ride over to Bentonville and take the interstate down to I-40 …

I remember saying the slab between Fayetteville and I-40 was nice. Long sweepers and no guard rails. If you go off the road you'll not be found for a couple of months. The rest, (i.e., Bentonville, Nashville, Chattanooga, etc.) I simply don't remember commenting on. Heck, I've never even been to Bentonville!

Are you sure I hadn't been drinking? Are you sure you hadn't been drinking? Heck, I am truly sorry for leading you astray.

Guess I'm going to have to pled like johnnyjs1, "See..I told you guys, half the time I dont know what I'm talking about."

[MikeCam]

Duck,

Good job planning and executing a challenging group get together. No after effects need be considered! Next year, bigger and bigger!

We gathered at Willville Bike Camp Saturday night. Four wishful Eureka Bashers -- you guys were in our thoughts and dreams.

[Boxer]

Here's my best shot of the trip.


Ain't he precious?

No Dave, I don't blame anyone but myself for following such a silly route home. My GPS was even smarter than me, but I didn't listen to it!

[jb44]

I enjoyed meeting everyone. I did lots of riding Sunday. Did the Pig
Trail and numerous side roads, before heading west.

Thanks to Dave for organizing the get-together... still can't figure out why he's DuckDave.... didn't look like a duck to me.

jb

[Biff's R]

Phil,
US 64 cuts a bunch of time and miles off between Memphis, and Chatanooga. Plus, no where near the # on trucks as I-40.

Sorry, I could not make it, but I was able to spend some quality time with my grandparents in FL.

[duckdave]

I started out about 8:30 am from Little Rock on Thursday (Oct .

Whoa, where's my helmet?

Stopped along the way at Mt. Magazine, here looking out over Petit Jean Valley


Met up with Steve (OU812) and Steve2 who traveled down from near Chicago, and Vicki and Mark (mad1150) who also came in from IL. We ate dinner at the Pied Piper in Eureka Springs Sorry, forgot to take pictures of the food; in fact, if it hadn't been for OU812 constant reminders, I probably wouldn't have any pictures at all!


Friday morning we ate breakfast together, then went down the Pig Trail (AR-23). OU812 took an early detour to chase some Honda riders off to Fayetteville. The rest of us went through Ozark (site of last years Gypsy Bash). We all agreed the Ozark Motel had lost its charm with the new owners, both on the phone, and in person. Shortly after Ozark we made our destination: Paris, AR for Hannigans Fairing Factory Tour.


Here we met up with Jerry Heil, Manager of the place who gave us a tour of the manufacturing process and the historic building. OU812 eventually rejoined us here.



Jerry (et al.) had a huge collection of collectable bikes with Hannigan's Fairing that I forgot to take pictures of. But this pic gives you an idea. Multiply this classic times about 20.


We were all very absorbed by Jerry's tour and we spent about 3 hours in the Factory.

Steve2

Meanwhile, Vicki, who had declined the tour, waited for us in the parking lot. We were in there so long she saw gas prices go down twice before we emerged.


We also met Mario Caruso, author of "Arkansas Rider's Guide" a motorcycling guide to the best riding in the state. He was riding a MotoGuzzi, and heading up another group of riders, the HSTA (Honda Sport Touring Assoc.) who were headquartered in Paris.


Saturday morning we also got up early

duckdave and Boxer's beaksters in the morning dew.

Thanks to OU812, this time we remember to make the obligatory food shots:
Yum!


We split off into small groups and headed every which way. I followed OU812 and Dano (from WI, friend of Ves) back down the Pig Trail, then across AR-215 to Oark, were we rested briefly at the Oark Cafe, longest continually operating Cafe in AR.


Steve made friends with one of the locals.


duckdave inside the Cafe.


We all eventually made it back up to Carolyn's Ozark Swiss Inn (headquarters motel) and started arguing about where to hold the annual business meeting, raffle and dinner party. Finally, Vicki settled it for us by suggesting we have pizza delivered and eat dinner and drink beer in the parking lot. This seemed to suit everyone pretty well, being such a picky group and all. Other's photos will have to do this part justice, but here's just a couple.

Phil (Boxer) from GA


Mark (mad1150)

Cindy at the motel, and her family were most accommodating. Every evening they brought us cobbler, which was a highlight! Need a refrigerator for your room…No Problem! Wonderful hosts. Hopefully Boxer or Dano have some photos that do the motel justice.

Sunday morning, everyone packed up and left. First off was Boxer. He had to leave early cause he was taking the long way home. I left last at 8:30. I went home by way of AR-21, returning to Kingston, location of our encounter with the rat bike riding-deer bashing-physician who warned us earlier about the hazards of evening travel in the neighborhood. He entertained us with tales of (not once, but) twice doing battle with the mighty deer from the seat of his rat bike. He won both times, but just barely. Wish we had a picture of this guy. We loved him, and sent him ahead to clear the highway for us.


In all I put almost 900 miles on my bike. Not a record by any means, as I was the closest attendee.

Home Again.

Looking forward to the skilled photo journals of Phil and Dan, but this taste should keep the rest of you at bay for a day or so.
Respectfully submitted,
-dd

[priapismic]

Dang, sure sorry I had to miss this year's bash, but the Karma just wasn't happening for me. I would've enjoyed seeing everybody I met last year again. Looks like Duckdave did well on the planning, so hopefully another Gypsy Mini-Bash will happen next year. Maybe we'll even get Gypsy to that one!

[OU812]

Dave, what happened to your photo chop? My gut looks HUGE!

[NoRRmad]

As Photoshop gets older, the guts get bigger.

[OU812]

One of many I can't seem to find, but I found this one.

Steve 2, Boxer and JB44.
Dave found a new girlfriend. I wish he would have been a bit quicker with her after they ran off together behind the shed.

Dan wanted some but alas, Dave just plumb wore her out!

The ride to Oark was really slow as they allow 4 wheelers on the roads. All 30 of them.

[Biff's R]

Dave, what happened to your photo chop? My gut looks HUGE!

Not enough hockey makes the gut grow.

[Boxer]

Okay, the long awaited slideshow is ready for viewing. I had to wait for pictures from everybody to arrive and then I got involved in creating this humorous version. Hope you enjoy it.

Click here!