Weekend in Arkansas

aviationfred · June 07, 2020, 10:13:11 PM

I rode to Arkansas for a weekend of riding. The main reason I n was to attend an organized ride for a fallen Motorcyclist. I had never met him, but the Arkansas FJ connection Country Joe (Joseph Berk) was very good friends with him. There was a fee required to attend, but 100% went to the immediate family. There were other riders in attendance from surrounding states. At least 2 from Kansas, a bunch from Missouri and at least 1 from Texas. There had to be over 100 motorcycles there. A very mixed bag of bikes. The oddest was probably the Bergman with outriggers and 8" tires, and the FJ-09 with knobby tires

As always, it was a pleasure to see Joe and ride with him. We made it a trio, when one of my longest friends joined us. We have known each other since High School. He rode his Harley Street Glide up from Texarkana.

I stayed in Marble Falls, right at 100 miles from the event. I had a great ride getting to Drasco, light traffic and plenty of curves.

On the way home, I decided to hit the shortest stretch of Historic Route 66 through any State. 11.27 miles across the very Southeastern corner of Kansas. I have also been wanting to visit Big Brutus, the World's largest Electric Shovel. Used to surface mine coal. https://www.bigbrutus.org/about.html

Sadly they were closed and I could only get photos from the parking lot.

This may sound stupid, but I have been wanting to get a photo of my FJ with a ready for harvest field of Wheat.

Dinner Friday night was the Excaliber Burger. A hamburger with all the fixings between 2 grilled cheese sandwiches.

Dinner Saturday night was at the Cliff House Inn. This is where we had the 2018 Central FJ Rally.

Fred

aviationfred · June 07, 2020, 10:16:23 PM

A couple of videos from the weekend. The 1st one is a solo ride and the second is riding with Country Joe and my friend Jeff on his Harley.

https://youtu.be/9WoVslyCn0g

https://youtu.be/_J2rD518YQI

Video of Big Brutus

https://youtu.be/m-kUrljcgV4

Fred

aviationfred · June 07, 2020, 11:10:14 PM

Photos while riding

aviationfred · June 07, 2020, 11:17:57 PM

Afterwards the 3 of us rode to Clinton.

aviationfred · June 07, 2020, 11:31:14 PM

The 3 of us parted ways, Jeff headed out for Texarkana, Joe a few miles to home and I headed out on Hwy16 West back to Marble Falls. I almost made a huge mistake.

When I left Clinton I had about a half of a tank of fuel. I didn't realize that there was no gas stations on the route I chose until Jasper. After about an hour and a half of riding, I put the FJ in fuel conservation mode. 5th gear only, no powering out of corners and pulling the clutch lever in while going down hill.

I made it to the Cliff House Inn with the fuel needle on E, but not on reserve yet.

stopped for dinner and then headed into Jasper. A few miles from town, I did ha e to flick the reserve switch. Gassed up with 5.3 gallons required for the stop

Millietant · June 08, 2020, 04:52:39 AM

Not sure what that plate of "food" is in the last photo Fred, but it sure doesn't look apetzing

Looks like a great little excursion though.....jealousy doesn't come close to how I'm feeling right now !!!

aviationfred · June 08, 2020, 08:09:41 AM

Quote from: Millietant on June 08, 2020, 04:52:39 AM
Not sure what that plate of "food" is in the last photo Fred, but it sure doesn't look apetzing

My dinner at the Cliff House Inn is a common dish here in the US. Chicken Fried Steak, (cubed beef steak, breaded and deep fried) mashed potatoes, country gravy, green beans with bacon and a dinner roll. It all was very good.

Fred

aviationfred · June 08, 2020, 08:17:24 AM

Photos of the ride home. I already mentioned Big Brutus and Route 66. Living in Kansas, Wheat is a huge part of life and I finally got some photos.

Total miles for the trip was 989 miles the 1st map is the ride to Arkansas and the last map is the slightly different route home

Fred

Millietant · June 08, 2020, 03:54:15 PM

Quote from: aviationfred on June 08, 2020, 08:09:41 AM
Quote from: Millietant on June 08, 2020, 04:52:39 AM
Not sure what that plate of "food" is in the last photo Fred, but it sure doesn't look apetzing

My dinner at the Cliff House Inn is a common dish here in the US. Chicken Fried Steak, (cubed beef steak, breaded and deep fried) mashed potatoes, country gravy, green beans with bacon and a dinner roll. It all was very good.

Fred

Mashed potatoes with a roll ......and you actually eat green beans

..........

and gravy that isn't dark brown !!!!!! I've obviously lived too sheltered a life food-wise

Mind you, I totally get the Excalibur Burger

andyoutandabout · June 09, 2020, 09:54:38 AM

Biscuits and gravy, with gravy that isn't brown and biscuits that aren't biscuits, does confuse.
With time it actually can become even more confusing. If I'm talking about football, people who know me know I mean soccer and they accommodate this by also referring to football as football. In a mixed group however, this can produce divergent thought trains.
I've given up saying garage and now pronounce it as in garage, otherwise I'd never find any petrol or gas.

Millietant · June 09, 2020, 10:03:34 AM

Quote from: andyoutandabout on June 09, 2020, 09:54:38 AM
Biscuits and gravy, with gravy that isn't brown and biscuits that aren't biscuits, does confuse.
With time it actually can become even more confusing. If I'm talking about football, people who know me know I mean soccer and they accommodate this by also referring to football as football. In a mixed group however, this can produce divergent thought trains.
I've given up saying garage and now pronounce it as in garage, otherwise I'd never find any petrol or gas.

At bit like fish and chips .............in Manchester CT, there's a very popular bar/restaurant we frequent that's locally renowned for its "fish and chips"..... the first time I went there and ordered fish and chips, they brought me a plate of fried battered fish (very nice) with a bowl of crisps and a little tub of tartare sauce !!!!!!

Now, whenever I go there, I have to steady myself and order "fish and fries", together with a side order of malt vinegar

My American family have all of the same issues when they visit us here...... especially when we've all had a drink...then the fun starts with all the variations on meanings. The funniest was my father-in-law when they first moved to the USA in the early 1970's. His secretary was useless and after the first week, he dismissed her. Telling his management team that he'd already "sacked" his secretaary after only one week brought about gasps and laughter at his mis-use of the language

.

Millietant · June 09, 2020, 10:09:58 AM

There look to have been some fabulous sights on that trip Fred.......might have to find a way to get to Arkansas some time

andyoutandabout · June 09, 2020, 10:46:51 PM

Sacked his secretary; brilliant.
My best was the moment I was teaching my first 8 th grade math class and asked the class had anyone seen the board rubber.
It made their day

giantkiller · June 10, 2020, 12:15:35 AM

Fred your always doing the coolest shit. Thanks for sharing.

Country Joe · June 10, 2020, 09:44:22 AM

Fred,
It was great having you in Arkansas once again. I appreciate you supporting Jeff Davis's memorial ride. Last thing I had heard from the ride organizer, they had raised over $5,000 for Michelle and her family. Jeff's death left a massive hole in the Let's Ride Arkansas community as a whole and individually in our hearts as his friends. You knew that every time you saw Jeff you were going to get a bear hug and a goofy grin and a hilarious story. He was always ready to go on a ride and have the best time doing it. He rode a 2017 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, he had nearly 40,000 miles on it, almost entirely ridden in Arkansas and Southern Missouri, all of those miles were ridden for fun. He would set off for a 500 mile day in weather that made me just shake my head and make some lame ass excuse for not heading out with him.

Jeff truly was one of those larger than life people that made your life richer by knowing him. All I'm going to say about his wreck is for everyone to please be extremely vigilant whenever you see a side by side or ATV anywhere near the roadway. Assume nothing.

Anyway, I truly enjoyed getting to meet your buddy Jeff Davis and look forward to riding with both of you again soon. He definitely can hustle that Street Glide, can't he??? It was pretty crazy for him to find out only the previous day that his wife is Michelle Davis's cousin. Small world and all that. Thanks for all those photos that displayed the huge variety of machines that showed up for the ride. I really appreciated the good vibes from all the people that attended that ride.

I wanted to thank you for letting me take your FJ for a spin before you headed up Highway 16 back to Marble Falls. The USD forks definitely makes a real difference in your FJ. Side to side transitions are significantly quicker, the spring rate seems to be very appropriate to the weight of the FJ and those brakes are monstrously strong. You were quite right to warn me several times about how much bite they have with just 1 finger. I got really bad brake envy right now.........

And to anyone else that wants to come burn down a set of tires in a short week of riding some great twisty roads, come on out to Arkansas. I'll be there to show you around if at all possible. And I'll get you hooked on food covered in white gravy......

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Weekend in Arkansas