The "Adventure" Begins...............

[twr1776]

It is FINALLY here. Leaving this AM, weather excellent, First leg of my trip is to the Ozark Mountians........

Pics (Definately)

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...78865774830529 Arkansas/Carlsbad/Grand Canyon/CA

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...33673184950321 Redwood/Vegas Baby

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...96646646302081 Utah / Colorado

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...56311751680993 Rocky Mountain

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...55936809801761 Yellowstone

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...65314857430833 Glacier/South Dakota

https://plus.google.com/photos/10562...35615639968401 Last Pictures

[Dogma]

I'm looking forward to hearing about it. OK, what I really want is pictures.

[dorkburger]

.........A safe and enjoyable trip to you.

[steve murdoch]

...and heading down your driveway your odometer reading is?
Have a fun and safe ride.

[dpep]

You're going to love it. Keep us posted.
...

[twr1776]

Here ya go Dale, I made it to Sullivan MO yesterday. Per the Butler maps I am at the top of the Ozarks. I got pretty beat up yesterday with the high winds on I-57, fully loaded bike, and a dehydration stop. I got some mineral water with vitamins in it and cooled off in the A/C for a bit. I felt much better after that and continued on. It seemed pretty warm yesterday and it was confirmed by the 88 degree bank sign I saw once I made it through St. Louis around 6 pm. I did manage to get in 393 mostly slab miles yesterday. Tomorrow the fun stuff begins.............

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f3qgurVRKBs/U47EsB0dgpI/AAAAAAAAACg/-f4brEfpEgg/w361-h271-no/DSCN0004.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ye3srVjLl1I/U47EsDeNkkI/AAAAAAAAACg/tRIklpuUdIg/w361-h271-no/DSCN0009.JPG

[Joe Nardy]

Tim,

If you're looking for a nice morning warm up, take 185 south, turn left on A, right on T, then right on 185 to take you back to 44. We just rode this bit over the weekend and it is very nice.

If you'd like to extend this a bit and still be heading west, turn left on 185 after riding A and T, take a right on P in Potosi, right on C, left on DD, and right on 32. You can then take 72 back to 44 in Rolla.

Joe

[Dogma]

Here ya go Dale, I made it to Sullivan MO yesterday. Per the Butler maps I am at the top of the Ozarks. I got pretty beat up yesterday with the high winds on I-57, fully loaded bike, and a dehydration stop. I got some mineral water with vitamins in it and cooled off in the A/C for a bit. I felt much better after that and continued on. It seemed pretty warm yesterday and it was confirmed by the 88 degree bank sign I saw once I made it through St. Louis around 6 pm. I did manage to get in 393 mostly slab miles yesterday. Tomorrow the fun stuff begins.............

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f3qgurVRKBs/U47EsB0dgpI/AAAAAAAAACg/-f4brEfpEgg/w361-h271-no/DSCN0004.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y...o/DSCN0009.JPG

Which bag is the kitchen sink in?

[GSX1000E]

Why the KLR? Wouldn't this one be much better suited for the trip?

[SCQTT]

AR, 123, Mount Juda, 7, Jasper (great café there) magazine Mountain, Mount Nebo
MO, Elephant Rocks, Big Springs, Johnson's Shut Ins, Taum Sauk,

KLR is perfect for the trip. I have lots & lots of KLR & BMW GS miles under my belt on those roads.

Have fun!

[twr1776]

Today 08:07 AM Joe Nardy If you'd like to extend this a bit and still be heading west, turn left on 185 after riding A and T, take a right on P in Potosi, right on C, left on DD, and right on 32. You can then take 72 back to 44 in Rolla.

Great minds must think alike. That was the plan but I missed P and ended up firing the navigator late morning. After finding my way back I caught 72 to A to the very tasty bit of 19 and ran it all the way south through Thayer, 9 over to Salem and 62 to my current location in Mountain Home. Tomorrows tentative plan is to run 201 to 341 work my way west and end up in Fort Smith.

I did bump up the pre-load on my newly rebuilt and re-sprung rear shock and it was I think pretty well dialed in for my current weight with bags and camping gear. I did stop in Butler for lunch at a small random place on the and the chicken fritter sammich was outstanding. Mileage today 292 with much more smiles.

GSX1000E, as Scott mentioned the KLR is very well suited for the trip. Mine has an extra tooth on the front so the highway revs are lower, it sits higher in traffic and is more visible, and the additional inches of suspension make it ride better than my other bikes.

[Larry D]

Sounds like a bunch of fun Tim...but, we need pictures.....

[salty_monk]

Give me a heads up when you're getting close...

[twr1776]

Spent the night in Roland OK. Pretty eventful day yesterday. Horizontal Rain and lightening in the AM delayed my departure until 11 am. When I finally left it was still raining but I tested my new Frogg Toggs and they worked very well and only went through maybe an hour of rain and then it cleared up. Lots more excellent roads and I passed by the Arkansas "Grand Canyon" which was very cool and worked my way through the Ozark National forest on AK16. Stumbled into the "Pig Trail" on AK21 and it was very technical and would have been a good finish to the day but I did not realize hosting this.....

http://www.wakarusa.com/

There were a ton of AK State Troopers and it was littered with cars, etc. I kind of figured out what it was as I passed by the main entry area but stopped for gas at the I-40 exit and asked one of the numerous "freaks" about it and he said it is a great place to do psydelic's and smoke weed. Guess I am about 30 years too late as usual.

Larry, I did get some pictures yesterday but having a hard time loading them in my new google account. Operator error. Will work on it tonight.
Dan, if all goes to plan I should be in LA next weekend............heading for Carlsbad Canyons today.

[twr1776]

Checking in, last few days have been HOT! Still having technical issues on pics but i will keep trying, they are "in there" From Roland I went south to Mena and took AK-88 across to OK-1 on the "Talimena Scenic Drive". It runs the high ridge across Ouachita National Forest and was a combo of the Cherola and Blue Ridge Parkway. Very nice. From there I paid the price and took US-75 south and went between Dallas/Ft Worth on the George W Bush turnpike to I-20. I did not get lost but it was poorly marked IMHO and not very pleasant. Since George Straight had a concert the hotels were all booked in Fort Worth and I ended up in a crappy place in Aledo TX. Yesterday I slabbed I-20 in the rain for an hour, stopped and took my rain gear off for a few hours and put it back again for approx 1 1/2 hours through some on and off heavy rain, got off in Big Springs and took TX-176 to US-62/180 and got to Carlsbad last night before it really came down for approx 1/2 hour. I did have my first surreal moment on 176 somewhere in Texas/New Mexico. To my left was clear with puffy clouds in and out sun and to my right were deep blue clouds that meant some business. I ran in between them for at least two hours turned south and checked in just as the big heavy drops started to fall. I went to the Canyon today and it was extremely nice. It has a natural entrance I went down and then took a tour through the "Kings Room". Loading up again tonight and headed for the Grand Canyon tomorrow. Mileage Roland to Aledo 456, Roland / Carlsbad 426. Got a box at the post office today, sending some "extra" items home.