bikes over the past year. After paying for motorcycle tires and having them mounted just one time, I knew
that I would prefer to use up the rubber on roads I enjoyed, rather than on the roads getting there. A trailer made sense.
Then, when I added another bike ('04 Suzuki DR650) last November, it made more sense, but with an additional
problem; mainly, the decision, "which bike should I take"? I'm partial to my RR and although the DR650 has
pretty good all round use, it just can't handle twists and turns the way I want to ride them. So the RR will always
be with me as long as I have it. But the RR is heavy on trails and dirt roads. It's carried me across many of them,
but traveling alone incurs the additional worry of dropping a heavily loaded bike and not being able to raise it up
again. Enter the DR. It flies down dirt roads, over stumps bumps and humps and is just a blast to ride.
So a trailer made more sense – I could carry both. So, I ended up with a 12' tandem trailer with a tailgate that
doubles as a ramp. On the advice of some on this board, I also purchased good chocks and equally good straps
to make loading and securing my bikes easier for one person to handle. Then I planned and plotted exactly where
I wanted the chocks and recessed tie down points secured, and then a couple of friends installed them for me. And
finally on May 13, my trailer was ready to roll.
So I'm taking some time this summer for some extended traveling and camping in Arkansas, Texas, Colorado,
Wyoming, and Montana. I should be done by the third week in August. So far, so good ……….sort of.
I have encountered two continuing obstacles:
First: Getting the RR out of the chock. I'm not strong enough to do so by myself. I can do the DR just fine,
but the RR is heavy and the chock is snug. So far, I've managed to get help each time. I've thought of parking
on a steeper slope, but I fear a greater degree of incline will impede my ability to back the bike down safely.
I have to ride it down backwards, and there is a point when the back wheel is on the pavement and the front
wheel is still on the ramp, that my feet do not touch, making me have to lean quite or slide off the seat a bit
to keep a foot planted.
Secondly, backing up the trailer is still a problem. I need more practice, but I keep avoiding the practice as well
as situations where I might have to back up. In fact, I go to great lengths to NOT back up. For example – at a
river south of Clinton, AR. As I crossed over the bridge, the scene look wonderful, so I decided a side trip down
to the banks was in order regardless of the two mudslides I had just seen along Hwy 65.
Well, once I started down the road, there was no turning back and the sign that said "4 Wheel Drive Vehicles Only"
told me I probably should have turned back. Sure, the truck is a F350 4x4 Diesel, but my experience driving it is
pretty much limited to 1 week!!!! The steep road was soaked from recent flooding and more rain this day. I had no
choice but to go forward and downward. Once down to the banks, the place was covered a foot deep of large
smooth river rocks.
As I looked ahead, I saw no easy turn around spot either. There were vehicles, tents, people, uprooted trees, etc
casually placed, so finding a spot wide enough for this rig to turn was going to be tricky. And then upon getting
to the bottom – well *&(%^, it wasn't even WORTH the effort. The best view was from the bridge I had just left.
Perspective is often best from your own vantage point rather than another's.
I managed to do a sharp (for this rig) turn around between a tent and an uprooted tree and then took a guess
on the proper way to put it in 4 wheel drive (found out later, I did it right – woo hoo!) and got out of there!
So that's the outfit I'm traveling in this summer. It takes me across the boring roads and carries both bikes for
my travels once I land where I'm going. Once I'm camped, I can take my RR or DR out on further adventures.
Roaming Arkansas has been sort of 'shakedown' trip for me to work out all the kinks in this type of travel,
i.e. – trailer/travel/bikes/camping/photography/fishing/work. I'm happy to say all has been working out very well.
I'm learning some things as I proceed, and that's always a positive thing. I'll share some of those as I go along.
I left May 19 after the 'family reunion' that spoiled my chances of getting to the Beakster Bash in PA this year.
Not knowing for certain if my trailer and truck were properly hitched together since I've never done it before,
I stopped by the local U-Haul and had them check out my work before taking off. A bit disconcerting answer
from the young man, "the ball doesn't seem to fit in the hitch right, but as long as you have that lock on it,
I'd say you are probably okay," left me puzzled. Huh? So decision time – turn around or trust the lock.
On the windscreen of my 1150 there is a tiny token that my daughter gave me. She asked me to put it on my
bike for my travels. It is sort of a talisman, I guess. It says – "Take A Chance". She gave it to me because she
said she wanted to be just like me one day because I'm not afraid to take a chance. Little does she know!!!
I AM afraid – but the solo riding, traveling, trailering, camping makes me face those fears and it forces me to
see them for what they truly are.
So, I thanked the young man and told him I would take my chances, and I decided to keep going. I stopped
and checked the trailer often for the first 100 miles and I promised myself that if I had ANY doubt, I would stop
again at another U Haul to get their opinion. The ball looked fine to me, and besides, the lock was keeping the
hitch from coming loose at all. My confidence swelled with each mile.
I headed toward Arkansas, and as it got later and I got closer, I started checking my map for a camping spot.
I found Daisy State Park in the southern part of Arkansas, and headed that way. I knew it would be a great
place when I was told it was just beyond Delight. Delight, Arkansas, that is. Small, small, small town – and
proud home of Glen Campbell. Here is how they announce that:
Fancy, eh? I'm not really into cemeteries, but this is the third time I've seen a "treestone" over the past 2.5 years
of riding along country roads. I finally looked it up on the internet and found that these "treestones" mark the
burial site of a Woodman of the World – a member of the fraternal organization of the same name which was
started in the late 1800's. Frankly, I have no idea if it is still a functioning organization. I had never even heard of it before.
I thought you might enjoy this photo.
By the time I was "beyond Delight" and to Daisy State Park, dusk was fading, and no one was manning the check
in point. I pulled in anyway and looked for a place near the lake, near the showers/bathroom, and possibly
near 'safe' looking people. Haha, as if I could ever be sure, right? But I did find a spot that met the criteria as
best as I could tell, and I pitched my tent.
I tried to position the tent the best way to catch the evening breeze. It was still in the upper 70's and I kept
hoping for some cooler air to blow through. Not long after the sun was completely down, the cooler air moved
in and I was as comfortable as could be with my new sleeping bag. The bikes stayed on the trailer for the night
because I was too tired to unload them and not sure if I would be allowed to stay when dawn broke. The RR was
covered since I was parked under trees. The DR only has a beach towel.
Honestly, I can't remember if I ate on the road or cooked at my campsite that night. It's been a long time since then!!
I do remember running into this thing hanging on the wall outside the bathroom. Ugh.
And I do know fear did not hinder nor stifle me in any way that day, and consequently I slept well and
without regrets. The next morning, I woke to the best alarm clock of all – sun peeking through my tent and
birds singing in the trees. I lay in my tent and thought how lucky I was. I had just had one of the best days,
evenings and nights of my life and it felt great to be waking with that knowledge and comfort.
So far, of all the photos I have taken on this trip, this photo evokes the most emotion in me. It's not stellar,
but laying on my back, looking up at the early 'wake me up' sky and smiling, it was the first thing I saw that
initial morning and I will never forget the feelings of strength and courage, as well as comfort that it symbolizes for me.
I'll quit for now with this shot from along the northern part of 23, "the Pig Trail" – south of Eureka Springs. More later. I'm tired.
more to come............
Breakfast consisted of coffee and oatmeal. 
