DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'

[DK Custom Products]

DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'

When Mary and I started planning our Big Trip for 2018 we decided we wanted to ride as many spectacular roads and visit as many scenic locations as we could.

We have around 43 days, and a bunch of family, and a few friends to visit. They are all west of the Mississippi river.

So we began our list….

Bearthooth Pass

Yellowstone

Northern California Coast

High Sierra’s

Ozarks

Mountain Passes in Colorado

Redwoods

Million Dollar Highway

Highway 12 in Idaho

National Parks in Utah

We began working with the calendar, the list above, plus the visits to friends and family, hammering out an itinerary.

Turns out there is a Trike Talk Get Together in Eureka Springs (Ozarks) that matches up with our calendar for a great start to this trip.

We’ll be posting photo’s as we go. Upon our return, there will be a few videos.

Couple of photo's of what we're looking forward to...

Beartooth Pass in June, and...

...time on the Open Road.

It looks like it will be around an 8k-9k mile trip. Not a lot of miles, but certainly some of the best riding roads and most scenic views west of the Mississippi.

The TG is ready, new tires, brakes, fluids, and a thorough going over.

Avon front tire-

Time for a wash...

...annual wax on....

...wax coming off.

Paint looks great in bright light...wish it always looked like this.

Packing everything we need for riding in 100+ degree temps and below freezing temps is always a challenge. We’ll be doing a test pack later today.

Just 1 more days at the shop before we take off!

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Have a GREAT and safe ride

 

[DK Custom Products]

Have a GREAT and safe ride

Thanks man!

Kevin

 

[ol' school]

Yes, you all have a safe, enjoyable trip. Looking forward to seeing Mary's awesome pics and videos of the wonderful scenery as you travel!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Mary and I have ants in our pants to get out on the road! lol

We just finished test packing....it's been two years since we've been on a long trip, so I wanted to make sure we were good.

Oh, here's a photo of the new Comfortred rear tires we're running. Got about 600 miles on them and they feel good, been in some light rain, we're sure to hit some heavy rain on this trip, maybe some snow, so we'll see how they do.

So, here is most of the stuff we are taking...a few small odds and ends not in the pile.

It all fits, with quite a bit of room left over...

...only thing on the rack is the cooler.

Short day at the shop tomorrow, then Wednesday morning we hit the road til the first week of July!

​​​​​​​Plenty of pics coming.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

We discussed it...up until we leave Idaho we should not need one. I just have to exercise a little self-discipline and not wait til the last minute to fill up. lol

In Idaho we'll pick up a 2 gallon "can". There are some part of Oregon where the fuel stops are few and far between...and there are a few other places between there and home where some extra fuel may be nice.

Kevin

 

[Dave59]

Looking forward to the pics Kevin, have a safe trip!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Looking forward to the pics Kevin, have a safe trip!

Thank you! Hope you enjoy!


Yeah, we'll see how it works out. I hate stopping for gas. :laugh:

No doubt it rides infinitely better than new, runs better too. Looks...well it is a bit beat up, not horrible, but not new.

See ya soon!

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Kevin, are you going thru Spearfish Canyon? If you are, stop @ Cheyenne Crossing for a cold drink

http://www.cheyennecrossing.org/

 

[Jack Klarich]

Taco Tuesday I love to stop there when I am @ Sturgis event

 

[PosseRider]

Have been on all of those roads you mentioned. Great rides.

 

[paws]

AND... "they're on the road again!" :band:

 

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin, are you going thru Spearfish Canyon? If you are, stop @ Cheyenne Crossing for a cold drink

http://www.cheyennecrossing.org/

The Black Hills is one of the great riding locales that we are not going to see on this trip.

Have been on all of those roads you mentioned. Great rides.

Yes! Great having dinner with you tonight!

AND... "they're on the road again!" :band:

WHOOHOOO!!! It's been too long, and could not come soon enough!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Our plans were to leave on our trip tomorrow morning. This plan has been in place for over 2 months.

BUT...this afternoon, around 4:30, we looked at each other and said....why not leave now?

So we did....we left out at 5:30 this afternoon...just to get out on the road.

Almost forgot to get a pic before leaving....Mary with her new WHITE helmet.

It had just finished raining at the house when we left. It's pretty warm, that is steam coming up off the road up ahead.

...we figured we could miss most of the rain between here and Jonesboro. Even if we did hit some, the forecast for tomorrow is also rain.

After taking about 30 miles of backroads, we ended up on the interstate and crossing into Tennessee.

We did not spend long in Tennessee before getting on the bridge to cross the Mississippi River into Arkansas.

We are finally on the road!!! Even though it takes 3-4 days before settling into road life...we got started, and it feels good knowing we're out traveling for the next 40+ days!

Rain to the left of us...lots of lightening, but it's a ways off.

Mary in the mirror....we are taking a slight detour here, to get around a pretty big storm we were headed straight into...

...rode thru a lot of Arkansas farmland on some back roads, they had seen some heavy rain right before we got there...

...we threaded the needle a few times, missing the heavy rain and....

...just riding thru a little light rain here and there.

Those of you that have read our previous Ride Reports know that Mary likes Cloud Pics....here's one as we get close to Jonesboro, Arkansas, around 7:30 pm.

More coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day-2

Leaving out of Jonesboro, heading to Eureka Springs for the Trike Talk Get Together.* Sunny, blue skies and more farmland!

We weren't on the road long until we happened upon an 18 wheeler that had left the road...the utility company was already there, working on the power lines the truck had taken out...and the wreckers were working on getting it back on the road to be towed away.* You can see the sheet metal at the front of the trailer had all been peeled away.* We sat there about 20 minutes until they started letting traffic pass through.

Back rolling....On the left a coupe pulling a trailer, on the right (right above the windshield) a crop duster at work.

Another pic of a crop-duster.* We saw quite a few today...some quite close coming over the road....sorta difficult to get a clear photo.

Starting to climb into the foothills before the Ozarks....lots of nice sweepers.

A cloud pic....when the clouds were still being nice.* lol

We stopped for gas in Mountain Home.* We saw there was some rain off in the direction we were headed...lightening too.* Looked at the weather app and it showed ONE LITTLE Spot of rain between us and Eureka Springs.

So we decided to put on our rain jackets, but that we would not need our rain pants....anything that got wet would dry out long before reaching Eureka Springs.

Well, that was a mistake.* lol* We spent over half the time in heavy rain...like so heavy that I was slowing down quite a bit and putting on my flashers.* Here's a photo of some of the not so heavy rain when Mary had the camera out.

Every now and then it would stop raining and we would see a little blue sky.

In the Ozarks now, and having a little fun on the roads going into Eureka Springs.

We're here!* This is just a few the the Trikes, will get more pics tomorrow.

Had a great time visiting with some fellow trikers, and looking forward to riding the Ozarks and visiting more over the next couple of days.

Kevin

 

[MDO]

Great pics Kevin, thanks for posting. You & Mary have a great time on the road, have fun & be safe.orag:

 

[ultrafxr]

Have a great trip Kevin and Mary. Really enjoy your postings and photos. I'll have to up my game to stay in league with you guys! Ride safe. Looking forward to comparing notes of our trips when you get back home.

 

[TGCarol]

Yay :clapping: So happy. I just love your ride reports Kevin and Mary. Be safe out there and have a great time.

 

[Gone2Three]

Thank you for sharing your pictures with us Kevin, and Mary I appreciate the cloud pictures. Our son likes to take them when we travel as well.

Really nice to finally see a picture from the TT gathering in Eureka Springs...they must be camera shy. :Shrug:

Enjoy your trip and I'll be watching for your amazing adventure updates :clapping:

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3-

Our first full day in Eureka Springs, headed out in the morning on the 302....

...ES is all about the twisties, and riding them with friends...

...we're on the 221 now.* One of Mary's cloud pics.* We knew it was going to be a short day, sometime this afternoon thunderstorms are supposed to roll thru, but right now it's perfect!

Headed toward some curving roads that wander thru some hills and hollers...

...with a river every now and then.

Back in some curves now....

and more curves as we get on the 311.

The 311 heads up into Missouri....

It has sweepers, tight turns, hills and great views of the countryside.

Today is the first day to sorta stretch our legs and enjoy the twists, turns, hills, and views.

​​​​​​​More in next post....

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3-

The 311 is a great road, full of a little of everything...

...there was very little traffic, finally getting out and just riding for the pure pleasure of seeing what's over the next hill....

...and around the next curve.

One of the lakes we passed by.

Only once in my life did I have my fill of curves in a day....today is not that day, we're thoroughly enjoying the ride!

Crossing into Missouri, at the town of Blue Eye.

It wasn't much of a town, but they had a Hillbiilly Glass Shack and a Hillbilly Squat Pot. lol

We stopped for gas and took a look at the radar. EEEKKKK, there is a huge green, yellow and red mass just outside of Eureka Springs...headed straight for the motel.

We hightailed it out of there, with Zammy leading the way. It looks perfectly fine, 35 miles away...

...but as we get closer (we're still 15 miles out here), it is not looking so good.

We have rain suits, and we don't mind riding in the rain...but this is a pretty heavy thunderstorm, as seen in this pic.

We rolled into the motel parking lot, right as some big drops were starting to fall. Can't get any more perfect ride and timing than that.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent swapping stories with other Trike Talk Members. Good times!

Kevin

 

[Trail Blazer]

Eureka Springs

Darlene and I had a great time, the rides was good, the food was good, and the visiting was great. A great group of folks. meet some old friends and made some new one.

we got home Friday about 7:00 pm. and almost bet the rain, got wet the last 75 miles.

Hope all get home safe

Jr. & Darlene

 

[DK Custom Products]

Great pics Kevin, thanks for posting. You & Mary have a great time on the road, have fun & be safe.orag:

Thank you, glad you enjoy, lots more to come, we're just getting started.

Have a great trip Kevin and Mary. Really enjoy your postings and photos. I'll have to up my game to stay in league with you guys! Ride safe. Looking forward to comparing notes of our trips when you get back home.

Thank you. Looking forward to it!

Yay :clapping: So happy. I just love your ride reports Kevin and Mary. Be safe out there and have a great time.

Thank you! Good to hear you enjoy!!!

Thank you for sharing your pictures with us Kevin, and Mary I appreciate the cloud pictures. Our son likes to take them when we travel as well.

Really nice to finally see a picture from the TT gathering in Eureka Springs...they must be camera shy. :Shrug:

Enjoy your trip and I'll be watching for your amazing adventure updates :clapping:

Yeah, I'm sure there will be many more cloud pics.

Thank you! I'll be trying to update every day, or at least every few days.

Darlene and I had a great time, the rides was good, the food was good, and the visiting was great. A great group of folks. meet some old friends and made some new one.

we got home Friday about 7:00 pm. and almost bet the rain, got wet the last 75 miles.

Hope all get home safe

Jr. & Darlene

Hey Jr., was great spending some time with you and Darlene, really enjoyed it. Glad you got home with minimal rain. We rode with no rain today...last 5 hours was in 93-97* temps....no clouds.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 4 Part I-

Today we rode the A23/Pigs Trail, had lunch in Oark, paid respects to Larry Weaver.

Before leaving out...photo of one side of the Regency Inn-

and the other side-

Ok, here we go...

...a lot of folks rate this as one of the best rides in the USA. We certainly enjoyed it.

Morning clouds that have not burned off yet.

The road is in good condition, rolling curves, lots of elevation change, riding thru the woods (some of my favorite)...

...fantastic scenery.

There was very little traffic, letting us roll at our desired speed. We only had to pass a few vehicles in over 150 miles riding....one was this big load of ****...we were happy to get that smell behind us. lol

I have no idea what kind of acrobatics Mary is doing back there to get pics like this.

My favorite kind of road, curves running thru the woods with the trees making a canopy over the road.

Gary & JoAnn running the trail with us.

Mary took over 300 pics, having a hard time choosing which to post. Will post another 10-20, when time allows.

Kevin

 

[bikerbillone]

Team Kev and Mary, almost like being there, thanks much for taking the time and sharing. Gotta be difficult picking the pics and doing the captions, great job. I see a few Canam Spyders parked at the hotel, maybe getting a bit more popular. I don't ride one, but curious. I'm subscribed, keep on doing this for the next 40 days or so, if it don't rain you out for pics.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Great ride and pics

Almost like being there