[Author Index]
[Date Index]
[Thread Index]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[ST] Ride report: Day 1, part 1
- Subject: [ST] Ride report: Day 1, part 1
- From: Jack Hays <rude@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:50:14 -0500
Friday, April 20.
Bird Dawg and I are to meet at the intersection of Highway 423 and
720 at Albertsonâs Express gas stop at 8:15 AM this morning.
I got there about 8:00 and fueled Merlin who was looking splendid
after the cleaning and polishing she had yesterday.
I was at the pumps and had just completed fueling when I heard
âRude Dog, Rude Dog, Man thatâs classicâ and laughing behind me. I
turned around and it was a middle aged black man who worked there and he
was chattering about Rude Dog and Merlin. He was excited and asked me
all kinds of questions and thought the bike looked really fast and cool.
I talked to him for about ten minutes and then pulled Merlin to
the exit to wait for Bird Dawg.
It felt really good to finally be setting out on another adventure
with Bird Dawg. We usually do these trips three or four times a year but
last year the Corvette restoration lead to no trips after April, none in
the fall, and none so far this year. Bird Dawg and I hadnât even been
able to ride together for months as one thing after another got in the
way.
I saw a single light headed north on 423 and fired Merlin up as I
was sure it was the Dawg.
I was correct and I waited to pull out when he got there. The
light changed to red and I eased Merlin along side Kermit and came to a
stop.
Man, this just felt right and way too long without it happening.
Bird Dawg reached his hand out smiling as we shook hands and welcomed
each other to another adventure into the Ozarks.
As soon as the light changed we made our way north to Highway 380
and headed east toward McKinney.
Highway 380 is usually really heavy with traffic and overloaded
with trucks but for some reason today it was light. Maybe we just hit a
hole in the flow?
Even stranger was the fact that we caught all of the lights green
except one on Highway 380 and rode the speed limit all the way to
Highway 75 and our meeting point. I was shocked as the last red light is
usually backed up for close to a half mile in the morning and takes
three to four lights to clear!
As we dismounted I said that I couldnât believe our luck with the
road and traffic. Plus, we were about ten minutes early. That is a good
thing as I wanted to be there when Hank and Ted arrived to make them
feel welcome.
Ted arrived about five minutes later on his Honda VTX1300 and had
already fueled.
As I was talking to Ted I turned around and saw Hank at the pump
with his bright racing yellow Triumph Sprint ST. Hankâs bike looks
fantastic in this yellow and I still wonder why the factory never
brought this color out.
After a short discussion about where we were headed, where we will
stop, donât try to follow and keep up with anyone, riding your own pace,
and not worry about getting lost with our âStay on the road and weâll
re-group at the turn offâ we saddled up. I lead us out onto US 75/69
north toward Oklahoma.
We were riding along about 73-74 MPH and made great time all the
way to the border in mid sixty degree weather.
The Red River was really flowing this time as the heavy rains have
lead to a lot of discharging at the dam upriver. I gave the great state
of Texas my normal farewell salute as I crossed the Red River and
entered Oklahoma.
We kept the pace up on US69 and pulled into the Shell station in
Atoka where we fueled the bikes and took a short break for the rest room
and something to drink.
During this stop I repeated again our planned route and then lead
us back on 69 and north toward Stringtown.
At Stringtown we turned east on Highway 43 and after following a
truck through town we got back up to speed as we made our way toward
Lake Sardis.
Highway 43 is the first good section of road and a good primer as it
is desolate and has gentle sweepers. There are two mountain ranges on
both sides that gradually close together and meet at Lake Sardis. Both
ranges were bright green and I could feel the air being cleaner and
sweeter as we made our way deeper into the wilderness.
Bird Dawg and I were riding along at a nice pace when I noticed a
large truck close behind David. I increased the speed about five or six
clicks and we pulled slightly away from the truck. The truck however was
cooking and really hustling through the curves.
Somewhere behind the truck is Hank and Ted. I hope! Weâll see how
they handle the riding style we use and if they do Bird Dawg and I will
be sitting at Lake Sardis waiting for them.
Bird Dawg and I were stopped and just getting off the bikes when the
truck came by and turned on the dam. He was smiling and laughing and
seemed to enjoy seeing us and having someone to chase across 43.
Right behind the truck was Hank and Ted and they pulled off with us
for a short break and to see the lake and country side.
Bird Dawg lead us north across the dam, through Yanush, a right on
Highway 1, through Talihina, and out to the Talimena Parkway.
We had planned to stop at the base of the parkway for another break
but there were about thirty bikes there. Bird Dawg and I know what
happens when a large group gets in front of you so we both nodded at
each other and I lead us on the climb up the parkway. I had already told
Hank and Ted about the truth in advertising when a curve sign reads 25
MPH or 15 MPH. The others could safely be taken at a higher than posted
speed but those two really meant it and to use caution when they saw
one. In addition, sometimes a sign may say 15 MPH but you can easily go
faster and then you hit the next turn which is what the sign was about
but there wasnât room for it.
I pulled us over on the first rest stop on the left that had a nice
view for a quick break. The air was pretty humid today and the resulting
moisture lead the valley to appear smoky with humidity.
Bird Dawg lead us away from the stop and I played tail gunner to see
how they were doing. Both Hank and Ted were doing really well, riding
their own pace, and keeping in their own lanes. That is until the next
15 MPH sign. I saw it coming but there was nothing I could do as one of
them made the first turn easily but then the second one was much slower
and they crossed the middle stripe a little. Luckily he was only there
briefly and once back in our lane a truck came around the corner from
the opposite direction. I hope this was a good learning exercise as all
is well but I hope they see the danger now.
I took off to catch Bird Dawg and had Merlin in forth gear the next
thirty miles to the lodge.
I love this road as forth gear will let Merlin run up over the ton at
8-9,000 RPM and when you let off it pulls you down for the next upcoming
turn. When you are in the grove you never have to hit the brakes and
just use the rhythm as you sail along on top of the ridge. This was one
of those days and I had a smile on my face the rest of the way to the
lodge.
I slowed down before the lodge to wait for Ted and Hank and we then
turned right past the steam locomotive, stopped at the miniature train
tracks, and then pulled into the parking lot at the Queen Wilhelmina
Lodge for a break and lunch.
As they dismounted I asked what they thought of the parkway and they
both grinned and said it was a nice ride. I love to show folks these
magical roads and hope they like it enough that they want to come back
again.
Once inside we sampled the buffet for lunch and relaxed.
I told them it was another fifteen more miles across the parkway to
Mena, Arkansas and we would stop there for gas before heading north to
even more great roads.
I lead us around the lodge and back on the parkway headed east to
Mena. We had warned them about the series of turns where you can see
four or five right together sweeping right and left. They look inviting
but the last one tightens up and to be aware of getting in too hot. If
you were too hot to stay off of the brakes and just keep repeating in
your head âTrust the tires, trust the tires, trust the tiresâ and you
could ride through it safely.
Jack "Rude Dog" Hays
972-952-5065
"I'll see you on the dark side of the Moon"
_______________________________________________
Triumph Sprint ST/RS mailing list
Send list posts to ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Change your list options at www.Triumphnet.com