I had a great autumn. It was colorful after all and my wife and I became grandparents for the first time. James M. "Mac" Bell greeted the world on October 16 and between his uncle (my brother) and I, he's going to enjoy floating white water rivers and carving corners on motorcycles.
Regardless, the winter is winding down and I'm ready for summer and the heart of riding season. I'm wondering how much the oil companies are going to stick it to us for gas this summer. What the heck. I'm still going to Cruise the Ozarks and maybe take a ride to Montana for a week at my brothers cabin, twenty miles from the eastern slope of the Rockies.
At left, AR 327 runs north down into Parthenon on an overcast, rainy "last day of the Summer of 2011." Autumn last year was great... in spite of the dry summer. We ended up having some good color after all. We had rain at just the right time to save the autumn.
Ozark Road Photography
Why should riders on the Dragon get all the great shots of themselves carving the corners. The Dragon has Killboy (Darryl Cannon) and Arkansas has Joe at RidePics. He works on US 62 Seven miles west of Eureka Springs. Go to his site at www.ridepics.net and look up the date your roared by and order a picture. Help Joe keep out there doing what he loves to do. Also Lauri harris at Aponi Studios sets up at various locations in the Ozarks. Check out her website, www.shotbyaponi.com for her location shedule.
Traffic Trouble
I don't think we have too many real speed traps in the Ozarks, but do be careful in small towns. They may get you if you speed. But we need to be courtious riders and be careful around these small burgs where people live, work, play and routinely go back and forth across the highway. It's just right to be considerate. BUT, sometimes some places may take advantage of visitors who come to the area and their officers try to squeeze a little more out of their pockets by unreasonably ticketing, not just riders, but cagers, too. If you've had an experience where you feel your were the victim of a genuine speed trap, email me and I'll post what I can. Please don't use this as an opportunity to rant and vent. Let's keep it civil and to the point.
Speaking of Highway Trouble...
Part of Highway 62 west of Eureka Springs plunged down the mountain side. It's still under reconstruction and there's a little jog in the road. Watch for some uneveness in the road surface. Not a place for knee-dragging. As far as I know there are still two lanes open. Just exercise a little caution.
Anyone encountered any other construction issues we should share? Email me.