[ST] Ride report, April 24.

[Jack Hays <rude@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Monday, April 24.
      I woke at 5:30 again and was up, showered, dressed, and packed pretty
quick. It looked rainy so we wanted to get on the way as soon as possible.
      I took a parting shot of the Guzzi and waved good bye to Bird Dawg
and lead us to the gas station and then south on Highway 23.
      I really hated leaving my riding buddy there but there were not too
many choices.
      About three miles away at Webb I turned us left on Highway 309 and we
made the run to the north side of Mount Magazine.
      Again, there were three construction zones we had to sit through as
they prepare the road from Interstate 40 to Mount Magazine and the new
Lodge. Bummer!
      The north and south side of Mount Magazine are totally different. The
north is open while the south is tighter and I made good time climbing the
mountain and was a little cautious descending the south side with itâs
tighter turns.
      Once at Highway 10 I took us back through Danville but got on Highway
27 and rode a few miles to Rover.
      At Rover I put us on Highway 28 west to Brigsville about ten miles
away.
      We found a short fifteen mile road that just loops south of Highway
28 at Brigsville and re-joins Highway 28 at Bluffton. Itâs a marvelous
little road running through a valley beside farm land and nice turns the
entire length. At the intersection of 28 I stopped and asked Ian what he
thought and he said âGreat roadâ. Try it, youâll like it
      We headed back west on Highway 28 as it is opens with really fast
turns through a national Forest. You can really pull the trigger on Highway
28 through this section if you need to make up some time
      At the intersection I turned us south on Highway 71 to Mena where we
gassed again at the same station.
      I looked at the sky and though we would get rain across the parkway
and changed from the mesh jacket to the Motoport and Explorer gloves.
      A nice climb up the Talimena Parkway and we were off on a great run
across the top.
      This was great run as it never rained but the clouds were blowing
through the trees pushed by a thirty five to forty mph wind that moved the
bikes around and added more adventure to the ride.
      Sweeping, climbing, and falling we rode on and I grinned the whole
trip. This thing makes you feel like your running the Isle of Man nor
something and is just wonderful.
      I soon recognized the left hand turn that meant the final decent was
just around the corner. I came down to the stop sign and started planning
my next Talimena run!
      As we entered Talihina Ian dropped in at the restaurant we had been
at on Friday night to leave a forgotten tip. While he was inside I pulled
over at the VFW display to get a shot of Merlin in front of the big mobile
howitzer as I always say Iâm going to do that and never do. Now, I have!
      We then pulled into the B-B-Q restaurant on the north side of the
Highway as itâs time to chow down. When I pull up the ground is pretty
steep and after killing the motor I place the transmission in first gear to
stop any rolling backwards and the resultant expensive repair bill.
      We had pretty decent food and more nice sweet tea and then gear up
for the dash to Atoka and the final gas stop.
      I press the magic button and Merlin spins like a top but no fire!
What the heck is going on? I repeat this cycle three more times and
immediately think of Kermit the mighty Guzzi and her continued problems
including a no start a couple of trip ago. Sure glad Bird Dawg isnât here
now. I tell Ian that I donât get it since Merlin had never failed to light
right up and then remove my helmet and start checking everything I can
think of.
      First I remove the seat and check the battery leads. I donât know why
I did that since she is spinning like thereâs no tomorrow but I do. I then
reason that maybe the fuel pump fuse has blown and remove the fuse box
cover and one by one remove each fuse and give it a goof look over. I can
find no problem and button everything back up.
      I decide to give it another try and I get the same results. I then
decide to sit on the bike and hold it straight up out of desperation and
BINGO. As I lean the bike upright I look down and of course the side stand
is down as thatâs what was holding the bike up and itâs in gear to keep it
from rolling backwards. In gear with side stand down! Can you say safety
feature, and dummy in the same breath! I tell Ian I know what is wrong, put
it in neutral, pull in the clutch, push the magic button and sheâs running.
Boy would I have given Bird Dawg a rash over this type brain farkel. Iâm
good now, letâs ride.
      We rode back through Sardis Lake and headed west on Highway 43 toward
Stringtown once more.
      Ian took the front door and letâs just say we made some time. I
stopped once to take a picture of thirty four coyotes strung along a fence
and then lit her back up.
      At Highway 69 we turned south and then found all of that wonderful
traffic as we made our way closer to Atoka where we stopped for a final
refueling.
      At this point Ian and I split up as I had already had enough of the
Interstate and traffic and was determined to get off the big highway as
soon as I could while Ian was riding it all the way to highway 121 in
McKinney.
      I took a long loop home to accomplish this but was happy with my
decision immediately.
      I pulled in the garage about 4:00 PM, unloaded, and showered. The
dogs were both happy to see me and likewise so was I.
      Great trip and Iâm ready to do another one just like it again.
      Total mileage was around 1,250.

Tuesday, April 25.
      Back to work dang it!



Jack Hays
972-952-5065
"I'll see you on the dark side of the Moon"
Que Lastima
4 - 8 - 15 - 16 - 23 - 42
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