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/105623992623272756193/albums/6029078865774830529 Arkansas/Carlsbad/Grand Canyon/CA

https://plus.google.com/photos/105623992623272756193/albums/6030533673184950321 Redwood/Vegas Baby

https://plus.google.com/photos/105623992623272756193/albums/6032996646646302081 Utah / Colorado

https://plus.google.com/photos/105623992623272756193/albums/6037956311751680993 Rocky Mountain

https://plus.google.com/photos/105623992623272756193/albums/6037955936809801761 Yellowstone

https://plus.google.com/photos/105623992623272756193/albums/6040365314857430833 Glacier/South Dakota

https://plus.google.com/photos/105623992623272756193/albums/6043135615639968401 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/-...AAAAACg/-f4brEfpEgg/w361-h271-no/DSCN0004.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAACg/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/-...AAAAACg/-f4brEfpEgg/w361-h271-no/DSCN0004.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAACg/tRIklpuUdIg/w361-h271-no/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 caf? 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.

 

[twr1776]

I am now at the Grand Canyon staying at the Yavapai Lodge in the park. After I left Carlsbad I took US-285 North through Roswell (and saw the flying saucer sign) and 70/380 west and tried to continue on US-380, 380 was very nice when it went through the Lincoln National Forest. High Alpine meadows with Pine Trees, lower temps, etc. Unfortunately when I was west of Carrizozo the road was closed due to a missle test at White Sands missle range. The road was due to open up once at 2:15 but I would have had to wait 2 hours and had no idea how far i could have gone before having to wait. I ended up taking NM-55 to Mountainair. That was one desolate road, I don't think I saw more than two cars for it seemed like two hours. I then headed back to my original US-60 plan and ended up in Holbrook AZ for the evening. I did set a new KLR record (for me) at 550 miles for the day. My plan was to have a short inbound day to the Canyon since I had not set up my tent before. I got to Mitchell via the very windy slab around mid-day and the folks at the KOA were nice enough to watch my tent/saddlebags so I could run up to the Canyon and check it out getting back with plenty of time to set the tent up before it got dark and also avoid the road vermin which include Elk and Mule Deer in this area. It took approx 45 minutes and a minimal amount of swearing to set up once I got back from checking out the Canyon. I even had time to run into Mitchell and has a very good Mexican dinner and got back with time to spare. I also saw they had a pool at the KOA with a whirlpool next to it. I ended up yesterday in the whirlpool with a full moon overhead. Mitchell says it is the last town bypassed by the interstate and has a busy central district with US-66 type stuff. When I went to the Canyon yesterday I saw there were rooms available and I went ahead and got one. They also let the animals roam the park and I got a look at a mule deer up close and personal just grazing by the side of the road. I thought about unleashing my new 132 DB Fiam Highway Blaster horn on it but figured it would be frowned upon by the Park Rangers. I did want to see the sunset over the Canyon which I did today and it was very nice and since the roads here at night are littered with vermin I thought it would be best to just stay in the park instead of elsewhere. I also took my first helicopter ride and we went over the Canyon for approx 35 minutes, all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW. Off to LA in the AM to see the "Salty Monk" who has been kind enough to offer this weary traveler oil change facilities, etc.

 

[steve murdoch]

Can't say i have ever been on a road that was closed for missile testing. haha.
The Grand Canyon by helicopter must have been awesome.

 

[salty_monk]

Everyone reports back that the Copter ride is good. The more traditional way is to go down by mule (about a 2yr wait list last time I looked!)

I've hiked down and camped at the bottom.

I think with your route you're going to miss "London Bridge"

See you tomorrow

 

[bwringer]

My wife and I did the airplane ride over Grand Canyon in February 2012. It was pretty much even more awesome than you might imagine.

Here's a crappy photo to tide you over until Tim gets his photos uploaded:




Our craft was Twin Otter (very cool airplane) and not a choppa, but I imagine Tim's view was similar.

 

[twr1776]

Made it to Wickenburg AZ today. I was on my way out of the Canyon Park and an Elk was crossing the road in front of me, I stopped to let him cross and it was maybe 35 feet away from me and probably all of 7 - 8 hundred pounds. One very large animal. I went south and caught US-180 to Flagstaff. Wind was approx 30 -40 mph cross and it seemed I was at a 15 degree angle slugging my way through it. I went over an approx 7000 foot peak on the way to Flagstaff and the temps were good at elevation and the wind died somewhat down so it was better. From there I was going to catch AZ-89A through Sedona but it was closed due to re-paving after the fire. I did manage to get back on 89A in Sedona and the peaks were a bright red which was excellent to check out briefly in between wind gusts. I went through Jerome and there were also some tasty bits there but they had 7 miles of fresh oil on new chip and seal at the top so I gingerly made my way through it. It was approx 5 - 6 thousand feet up in that area as well. I caught AZ-89 in Prescott and to the south of Prescott also some pretty nice roads. I have taken a ton of photos so far and hoping a real internet connection tomorrow will make them transferable. ray: