I may run up to Tali-Mena drive this weekend

[NTexas_V-Star]

It's Saturday, at 8:45ish in the morning. Still haven't found out whether or not we're working Monday. But, if we aren't, I'm running up to the mountains. Taking the GoPro this time, maybe I'll see another bear!

[lowthreeohz]

Do it bro.. Fuck Scott for not telling you already that you're off. Me and trav are headed to the mountain right now

[NTexas_V-Star]

Do it bro.. Fuck Scott for not telling you already that you're off. Me and trav are headed to the mountain right now

I'm jelly!

Y'all have fun, shiny side up!

[NTexas_V-Star]

Mountain run is a go.

[Mach1]

wish i could head up there too, last time i was there the pavement sucked between 259 and the ok/ar border, they repaved it with some gravely nasty shit that wasn't confidence inspiring, similar to the surface of 157 between 287 and Venus after the repave, have fun and let us know how the surface is.

[lowthreeohz]

I went and rode the blue ridge parkway today, fucking glorious conditions all around

[dsrtuckteezy]

i did a ride around the lake whitney area. 56 between 174 and 22 is pretty good. some high speed sweepers and elevation changes. about as good as it gets this close to dfw

cant wait til it cools down.

[NTexas_V-Star]

wish i could head up there too, last time i was there the pavement sucked between 259 and the ok/ar border, they repaved it with some gravely nasty shit that wasn't confidence inspiring, similar to the surface of 157 between 287 and Venus after the repave, have fun and let us know how the surface is.

The area you're talking about is still pretty sketchy appearing.


The ride was good! Made my way up there, watching for deer on hwy43. I'm starting to see acorns fall off trees, so I'd assume the deer are moving more, but I didn't see even one. Stopped on the Lake Sardis dam on the way up, hung out for a bit. Saw a dude on a sweet brand new Ducati HyperMotard.

Rolled out from there, went on to Talihina, and fueled up, then continued to the mountains, and started across. Didn't see much worth mentioning on the way across, had some good times in the twisty sections, and stopped at a few of the scenic vistas.

In Mena, the Skyline Cafe had already closed for the day, dammit! So, I fueled up, turned around, and headed back across. Had a lot more traffic to contend with this time, but nothing really worth mentioning, at least in the first half. Toward the last twenty miles or so, I came across a big ass rattlesnake, about a 4 foot bastard. I'm going to go on a limb here, and say western diamondback.

I had my go pro on my helmet, so I got off the bike and walked around him a few times, pointing out details and narrating kind of loudly so the camera would pick it up. Pointed out the sub caudal scales, and how they can tell you the sex of the snake. Backed up and pitched a rock near it, and got him to buzz a bit. Later on, at the rest stop, I discovered that when I'd changed the memory card in the camera, I accidentally put it on stillshot mode, and didn't capture any of that.

Shortly after the snake, I came around a section that has a bitch of an S-curve, two much speed in that one can get you crashed.....as the dude on the red harley discovered. I came out of the first section and pitched over for the next and thought, "what are these dumbasses doing standing in the road?" As I went past them, I saw the bike. A pretty nice soft tail went off road. Tall skinny old dude riding it. I stopped, and chatted with the other guy that stopped to help him, while the rider was using the phone. Gave them both some water outta my backpack. We tried to get his bike outta the brush, but couldn't make it happen.

I asked him what happened, he said a raccoon ran out in front of him and he lost it. The look on his face when he said it, tells me he was probably going too fast and ate shit when he couldn't transition fast enough from one side to the other. I could be wrong, just my theory.

After that, I made it down, then at the rest stop I made the game time call to just come on home. Rode back to Talihina, fueled up, then made a blistering run down 43, trying to beat the sunset back to 75. Got to Atoka, just as the sun was going down, fueled up, and came on home.

All said and done, roughly 11-12 hours in saddle. I was a bit sore most of the day yesterday!

[shumpertdavid]

I've yet to make a trip up that way. I always had to miss it when Christie and her brother Mike went. I know I'd enjoy the turns on my Gsxr, but the added comfort of my R1100RS would be nice as well. Maybe one day I'll make the ride.

[NTexas_V-Star]

I've yet to make a trip up that way. I always had to miss it when Christie and her brother Mike went. I know I'd enjoy the turns on my Gsxr, but the added comfort of my R1100RS would be nice as well. Maybe one day I'll make the ride.

I'm walking proof it can be done in one day, if you just wanna see the mountains. Hit me up man, I go up there several times a year.

[Mach1]

Sounds like fun, thanks for the update!