The 2018 Central Rally is in the books

[aviationfred]

This year's Central Rally was amazing. Here are a few photos as a tease....



Fred

[Country Joe]

A big thank you to all who attended the 2018 Central FJ rally. I only put 829 miles on my bike, but I only live an hour and a half from the Cliff House Inn. Spirited sport touring was the order of the rally, no performance awards were earned. Got to ride about 60 miles in lightning, hail and a torrential downpour.  The vividly brilliant double rainbow at the end of the ride to the inn was an awesome payoff. Had an wonderful time seeing Aviationfred, Cap'n Ron, The General, FJ Hooligan, FJdave1200 and his brother Camron. This was my first FJ Rally, but definitely not the last.

[Country Joe]

The riding was incredible, the people are even better.

[Country Joe]

We were honored to have an international traveler in our midst.

[aviationfred]

We got some awesome riding in.

Day one, Thursday. The ride route was to Push Mountain Road AR341. Starting just east of Big Flat running about 30 miles north to Norfolk. We rode it in both directions. Mileage was about 249.

[aviationfred]

Day 2, Friday. We rode up into Missouri to the Rainbow Trout & Game Ranch in Rockbridge, Missouri.

Mileage for the day was about 229

[aviationfred]

Day 3, Saturday. We rode west and south to the Oark General Store. The oldest operating business in Arkansas. After leaving Oark. Captn Ron and Country Joe departed the rally too continue their journeys. The General and I took a pleasant ride back to the Cliff House Inn. Mileage for the day, about 224

[aviationfred]

Thursday's riding with Country Joe, Cap'n Ron, FJhooligan and myself. We joined 4 friends of FJhooligan's for a destination ride to Push Mountain Road. This road is about the most perfect high speed public road that you can find outside of an actual racetrack circuit. 25 miles long with no cross streets, only a few homes, perfect pavement with no tar snakes. Dan McCoy (giantkiller) has claimed this to be "the ultimate road that was built for the FJ". The roads that We rode to get there and the roads back were also very good. Typically the ride there and back is done as a group at a very brisk pace. We stop at the south end of 341. From there.... It is go time... if you want to leave blackies exiting corners, have at it. Everyone rides their own ride without worrying about staying together. Everyone meets up at the 341 Market store. Due to an unfortunately placed rock, One of FJhooligan's friends ended up with a bent wheel and loss of air pressure. He did not go down, but the bike needed an alternate mode of transportation back to their home base. Three of us rode to Mountain View for a bite to eat and then back to the Cliff House.

[aviationfred]

Photos from the Push Mountain ride

[aviationfred]

Ride day 2, We added FJdave1200 and his brother Camron. A ride into Missouri to the Rainbow Trout & Game Resort. The food is great, (The Amaretto Trout Florentine was amazing) , and the ride there and back is spectacular. One of the highlights of the ride was crossing Bull Shoals lake on the last remaining ferry in Arkansas. On the way back to Arkansas, it got quite warm and everyone had thoughts that a few rain drops would be welcomed to help cool things a bit. We ended up with buckets of raindrops the size of dimes falling from the sky. Cap'n Ron and I had flashbacks to the 2015 Black Hills Rally and the flash flood in Hill City. The rain let up a bit and we headed out for the final 60 miles back to the Cliff House. Not far along, we got hit by another round of heavy rain. We were all already soaked, so we just kept going. Nothing like a bit of adversity during a ride.....

[aviationfred]

Photos of day 2.

[aviationfred]

Ride day 3. Joe started out the day wearing his Arkansas riding gear. We rode West and South to Oark, AR. Those that have been to a West Coast Rally will understand this reference. We rode AR74 out of Japer towards AR23. This stretch could easily be the sister road to HWY 20 from Willits, CA. to Fort Bragg, CA. We turned south on 23 which is known as The Pig Trail. This road is to the cruiser crowd, what Push Mountain road is to the sport bike crowd. Don't misunderstand, this is still a very fun twisty road  . We stopped at Turner Bend for gas and a few souvenirs before heading to Oark. The road to Oark is absolutely stunning. Sheer cliffs rise up from one side of the road and trees from the other side canopy the road. The Oark Café has some of the best burgers around and their famous Buttermilk Pie. The General had to sample that. As we were paying, I saw something that I have not seen in decades.... Candy Cigarettes....

[aviationfred]

After we ate, Joe and Ron departed to other destinations. The General and I returned back too the Cliff House after stopping at the Ozark Café in Jasper, for a late dinner and some live music.

[aviationfred]

Sadly rallys have to end....

The last sunrise over the canyon as I am ready to head home. A wonderful time was had. I had the pleasure of meeting and riding with a few members where this was their first rally. Riding with the General was a treat. Cap'n Ron as the ride leader, navigator and pace setter is second to none.

[Firehawk068]

Awesome stuff Fred.
Wish I could have been there.