AM Ozark Loop

Discussion in 'Trips & Events' started by A.M, Aug 31, 2017.

  1. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Took a 755 mile ride through OK, AR, and MO this past weekend. Lots of littles to see. Camped at Kettle in Eureka Springs. Super nice!

    This was a much needed ride and glad I took it before this tricky week back to school started.

    Some notable roads that were amazing on moto and easily 80 mph, most Google ETAs easily cut in half, and easily 2.5 x posted curve speed warnings:

    OK 59 S to Jay, OK
    AR 12 E, 127 E, to 23 N to Eureka Springs
    MO loop around the lakes 76, 86, 13
    AR 62 N to MO 90 all way to Southwest City

    I didn’t want to ride any interstates, but did have only several miles on I-49 in AR which is not surprisingly still under construction.

    Now for some photos:

    South into OK first. Thought it was neat to see the hurricane edge, until the next day when I learned of the devastation.


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    I stopped for some time at Grand Lake near Grove, OK. Beautiful area and some neat ole river boats!


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    Cherokee Queen


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    Found another boat that is symbolic of my spirit when I cannot get away on moto: grounded and trapped.


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    And some cute Dragon Flies that I tried to photo in my shadow. There is one in the bottom left of the pic that can be seen. The ones on the log blend in too well.


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    As I continued on into AR on the back roads, I saw some cool stuff. Huge black butterflies everywhere. This one looks like a period after the word Arkansas.


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    Also saw this really scary sign. I was so skeert of chickens in choppers gettin’ me so I skiddaddled super fast.

    (Cows With Guns…hilarial to me…chopper chickens at 4:25 )


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    Also, TC may be able to run, but he cannot hide. Found out where he is dishin’ out his goods.


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    Since I was planning to camp, but not hungry yet, I stopped for some yummy foods for dinner and breakfast and what ended up to be next day’s lunch. Couldn’t help to have a cucumber though and was bad with soda.


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    Rode through Eureka Springs after AMAZING twisties. Such cute shops in the area. This one reminded me of a shop Stuka and I stopped at near the Redwoods on 101.


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    I rode up to Christ of the Ozarks for sunset pics as the sky was just on fire, but there was a huge event so I just set up at camp which was just a minute down the road.


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    Next time I think I wanna try camping in this!


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    Had pretty fun camp neighbors too!


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    There was a VW convention in town. Antique beetle bugs and vans and these little go carts were everywhere. I didn’t get any photos as I saw them all over on the go. There were a few driving through the camp that night.

    The sunset was beautiful and the sleeping was grand. I was the happiest I had been since Alaska and recent CO ride. Not surprising. I’m in my element. Hands down this is my happy place: wherever moto takes me to tent


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    Woke the next morning to a super fun time of riding an amazing twisty loop around the area and into southern MO around Table Rock Lake. There were very thick patches of fog in which visibility was near zero, but the patches didn’t last too long.

    After a while, I came up on a road I thought looked very familiar. Then I hit the intersection. Talk about being taken aback!


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    This was the intersection, the empty lot, where I tented on my first night of my Gaspe Peninsula ride in 2012.

    I had ridden through the night way back then, from the opposite way, and woke the next morning to continue onto the road I was on this weekend. That’s why I recognized the road. So I stopped to take a photo. I wonder if the flags and signs were put up after the tenting. :/


    When I completed the loop, I went back up to Christ of the Ozarks for the obligatory Jesus photo.


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    Then started the trek back home...
     
  2. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Continued...


    Headed out of AR towards Gateway via 62, a ride I love and this area is so amazing to stop at for photos!


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    Lots of motos on these roads every time I’m down here.


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    Quickly I was back in Missouri.


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    I had never seen a mower getting gas. That was interesting.


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    Even if it’s little dorky things, looking at stuff I’ve never seen before always piques my interests. I think that’s why I’m rarely, if ever, really bored on the go.

    There was a huge storm system to the north near Kansas City that I got to see.


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    And the edge of the hurricane could still be seen hanging in the south.


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    I felt lucky to be between the systems. But sad for the people down south.

    As quickly as I entered MO, I was back in OK then back in KS. But not after an amazing stretch of twisties on MO 90 west all the way to Southwest City. LOVE that road!

    Just say NO to coming again!


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    But Kansas does have its interestings. Chetopa has never made me so proud to be a Kansas resident!


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    There was a beautiful barn here.


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    And some Kansas cows. They did not appreciate me approaching them and they ran off super quick. Maybe it was my helmet.


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    There was an interesting old creepy home that was empty and looked like an old morturary.


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    The town also had an old shop which was COOL!


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    I spied a man walking a python down the street of Chetopa, but I did not stop for a photo of that...

    So many different things to see when taking back roads through tiny towns!

    Found another interesting thing in Coffeyville. I was just minding my own business, riding through town, looking around, when I see a bunch of skulls. A few seconds passed before it really clicked: SKULLS!

    I turned around and found parking to take a closer look. I suspect this guy has been wronged by BP. Sad but strange at the same time.


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    Many little things like this along the way. Little abandoned places along a small stretch of Route 66 I was on, but also signs of the revitalization/restoration efforts being made at least on the stretch I was on.

    Close to home I finally found this:


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    A perfect ending and welcome to the home I have to come back to for now.


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    The tires are starting to show wear at guessing around 2,500 miles...but NO squaring off. I'm surprised!


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    I LOVE these tires for a fun tire set. I estimate they will last me about 5,000 to 6,000 miles.


    Well, That’s all Folks!



    Not sure when I’ll have the time to get away again and try some new roads.

    But when I do, I’ll share and post up.
     
    Gator, Samuel, Riding a 2000 and 3 others like this.
  3. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    AWESOME trip report. Thanks for sharing!
     
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  4. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

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    Looks like a great time girl! Thanks for the awesome trip report! How did that lawnmower guy handle it thru the twisties? He blow you in the grass (heehee)!

    PS....now I know why TOE has been AWOL at the meat rack! Sneaky bastage!
     
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  5. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

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    Nice pics. Now I must continue the fight for Bovine Freedom. :Rofl:
     
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  6. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Great report & your pics have moved up another level....
     
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  7. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Lawnmower guy gave it a valiant effort, but I ended up mowin' his azz.

    He was trying to be a sneaky one...

    BUSCHHHHHHH

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  8. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    I don't know why I love that song...it just always cracks me up!

    "No one suspected he was packin' an Uzi..."

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  9. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Thank you, I'm considering really learning how to photograph with real tools instead of just my phone.

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  10. PetePower

    PetePower New Member

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    Thanks for sharing though I'm a bit lost with the state abbreviations :rolleyes:
     
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  11. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Ahh, I'm not thinking of my out of the states friends! I'm sorry! Here they are:

    KS = Kansas (Doodah)
    OK = Oklahoma
    AR = Arkansas
    MO = Missouri

    Some amazing riding there in the areas for this plains rider.
     
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  12. Riding a 2000

    Riding a 2000 Member

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    Have been away too long....

    Had to come back and get a dose of AM's great riding adventure reports!

    :Amen:
     
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  13. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    I get that the man was walking, but the python??? Surely that would be being taken for a slither? How do you even keep a collar and leash on a python?
     
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  14. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Attach long lead to a goat, feed python = sorted....
    Also don't then have to worry about small children & dogs..
     
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  15. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    Genius, thanks DP!
     
  16. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    That would be a wonderful solution, but small children and dogs be scurred in Chetopa, KS.
    The python that was being taken for a slither was lazily draped over the shoulders of a guy.
    Surely there is a leash law in that town! Maybe the thing was about to leash up the owner?
     
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