Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

A welcome shout-out to the followers of Jack Riepe of Twisted Roads fame. Jack is an accomplished author, comedian, and (albeit a little known fact) a babe magnet from way back. One can only hope that when they grow up, they can attain such status. Welcome and I hope Thunder Road becomes a frequest stop for you all.

It is said that absence makes the heart grows fonder. As such, this winter has been absolute HELL on bikers. Whether it is the repeated episodes of Snowmageden in the Northeast or unseasonably wet and cool temps across the South and Midwest, Mother Nature has not been very accommodating to those longing to feel the wind in their hair and bugs in their teeth.

Like many on a budget, I used my portion of the Christmas budget to fund this year’s "wish list" - new rain suits for my bride and myself, faring mirrors, and a new bag made to fit the tour-pak rack. I used the winter garage time to install said gifts, perform needed maintenance, and give the bike a general deep clean. In the evenings, I would find myself cruising virtually - surfing the Internet for cool places to visit, reading biker-related stories, and sharing route ideas. In short, I'm anxious for some serious road time.

This year, my goal is to put 12K miles in the saddle through a combination of three or four multi-day trips and regular weekend excursions. One trip will be to explore new roads and sights in Louisiana and the Piney Woods of East Texas, while another will be into the lush mountains of Northwest Arkansas. And if the work schedule allows, perhaps a return trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway for our 30-year anniversary. I suspect the rainy season is going to continue into the spring, so it will be early May before we do the big rides.

The Grand Central Hotel - Eureka Springs

Photo compliments of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission

I’m most excited about returning to Eureka Springs in Northwest Arkansas. It is said that one-third of the nation’s population lives within a day’s drive of Eureka Springs and it remains a favorite tourist destination today. A step back in time, this Victorian village was founded in 1879 as a spa town when natural hot springs were discovered. By the 1890’s the town had grown into a full-blown resort town built on the mystic healing powers of the springs.

Downtown Eureka Springs is approximately two square miles and is built vertically into the mountain sides. The eclectic collection of vintage homes and commercial buildings remain today, as does the steam train that carries tourists through the valley. The downtown area is also known for its narrow roads that were originally built to handle horse and wagon traffic. While the Historic Loop can handle normal automobile traffic, many of the neighboring residential streets can barely handle two motorcycles passing mirror-to-mirror today.

US Route 62, the early days

Photo compliments of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotions Commission 

With the introduction of Henry Ford’s Model T, the number of cross-country drivers began to grow exponentially, despite the fact that most roads were dirt or gravel, at best. In 1916, the US government introduced the national highway system and Route 62 (US-62) runs from Niagara Falls, New York to El Paso, Texas via Eureka Springs. This portion of the highway was constructed in the 1930’s and considering it was during the Great Depression era, it came just in time to help revive Eureka Springs as a tourist destination. When first completed, the highway was known as the Ozark Skyway and Ozark Trail.

Coupled with AR-23 (the Pig Trail Scenic Byway), the roads in and around Eureka Springs make it a top motorcycle destination. Perhaps the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotions Commission sums it up best, “Eureka Springs is fortunate to be one of the few places in America that still has the mid-century roadside culture intact to tell this part of our history – The Auto Age.” All of this history, and even today there is still not a single traffic light in the town.

One of the many biker draws for Eureka Springs is the number of options to entertain visitors. The town actually has three-faces – the historic downtown district, the entertainment highway, and Beaver Lake.

Spring Street at Night

Photo provided by the Eureka Springs Tourist Center

The historic downtown district has a wealth of art galleries, local shops, museums, and restaurants for evening entertainment or as an alternative distraction for spouses or significant others who have tired of riding. The City Auditorium was built in 1928, opening to John Phillip Sousa and his 67-member orchestra. Since then, many first-rate acts have continued the show - Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Dwight Yoakum, Mavis Staples, and Bill Cosby, just to name a few. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the Historic Downtown area is via the trolley that stops at most hotels located along Route 62 ($5 all-day fare).

The highway (Route 62) hosts most of the hotels, motels, and roadside eateries, as well as the world famous The Great Passion Play, the Pine Mountain Jamboree, and the Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down Music Theater. For lodging, the Rodeway Inn Swiss Holiday Resort caters to biker and car club needs and interests. Joe “Mr. Big” McClung (owner) and Ray “Ray-Ray” Beber (manager) are riders themselves, with Joe having ridden the roads of NW Arkansas for over 40-years. If you’re interested in a guided historical or scenic tour, give them a call a few days prior and they will deliver an unforgettable experience. Another must-stop is the Rockin’ Pig Saloon, the Rowdy Beaver, and Bubba’s BBQ.

A short drive northwest of Eureka Springs, the White River flows into Beaver Lake. This pristine lake is tucked into the Ozark Mountains, boasting 600 miles of shoreline and 30’ visibility that is the perfect setting for great fishing, water sports, hiking, and day recreation. The area also offers fantastic motorcycle touring. One of the must-ride roads is AR-187 that loops off of Route 62 and includes the Beaver Bridge (915’ in length), reportedly the first suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River and only remaining suspension bridge in Arkansas.

Beaver Suspension Bridge on AR-187

Photo by John A. Weeks III

If you haven’t been to Eureka Springs before, make the trip. If you haven’t been there recently, come back soon – as the area is truly a unique biker experience. It's enough to make the heart grow fonder...

© 2010 Twisted Road Motorcycle Company, LLC

The Biker

Ran across this on the Harley Davidson Forum tonight (author unknown) and it really struck a cord with me...hope it does with you as well.
--------------------
The Biker

I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the collection outside the store as I walked in.

I saw you; pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you , roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by.
But, you didn't see me, riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you, frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you, stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves.
But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.

I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me, cry as my children were born and have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.

I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car.
But, you didn't see me, pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But, you didn't see me, squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you, race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But, you didn't see me, trying to turn right.

I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
But, you didn't see me, leave the road.

I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you, go home to your family.
But, you didn't see me. Because, I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family.
But, you didn't see me.

Send this around in hopes that people will understand the biker community. If you don't re-send this, all I can say is it sucks to be you. I hope you never lose someone that rides.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE US, RESPECT OUR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT WE CHOOSE AND TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT IN 'YOUR' WAY.

LIVE TO RIDE . . . RIDE TO LIVE

And the Survey Says...

I want to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed to the lodging survey and especially those who shared the survey with others in your personal riding group.

We had contributions from all over the USA, Asia, and Western Europe, the latter thanks to Gary France who posted the link on his USA Tour on a Harley Davidson blog. Gary is a retiring Brit planning a 14,000 mile tour of the United States that begins on June 22 (or 22 June, depending on which side of the ocean you call home). Ahhhh, the open road...that's what it's all about!

Actually, it's journeys like Gary's that created the calling for Thunder Road. Whether it's a lifelong dream or a mid-life medical crisis that makes one Live Like You Were Dyin', as Tim McGraw so aptly put it, a multi-day motorcycle tour has a way of cleansing the soul like no other.   

So what did we learn from the survey?

I'm pleased to note that the survey confirms many of the business tenants on which we are building Thunder Road - a preference for lodging that supplements the journey experience, value for your hard-earned money, and a clean, comfortable private space in which to relax and refresh after a long day's ride. Amenities are important, but you're not looking for a spa experience.

We also confirmed that you are passionate bikers, with the vast majority of respondants taking multiple trips per year, most of which are 2-5 days in duration and involve group rides. And we validated that the touring locales we are targeting are the places you want to go...or go again. I'm eager to introduce the concept to the Europe market, as our family across the pond is equally as passionate!  I will continue to let the survey run through the remainder of the 30-day open period, but I believe the trends provide a good indication of what you expect when making your travel plans.

What's next?

We're in the funding stage and have entered into preliminary negotiations for properties in several of the target markets. As things progress, one of them will emerge as the right opportunity for the flagship property. Stay tuned, as the announcements will be shared here first!

Meanwhile, if you need route or accomodations ideas, drop us a note and we'll provide some ideas. As an example, here is a route from Ashville, North Carolina to the Texas Hill Country that I recently shared with a member of the Harley Davidson Forum. 

See you on the Road!

© 2010 TRHG Holdings LLC

What's This About a Motorcycle Lodge?

Over the last six months, I have shared some tales of the Road and provided insight into what the Thunder Road Motorcycle Lodge concept is all about, hopefully providing a few interesting stories along the way.

Now I need your help.

It’s time to “Road” test some of the concepts we have envisioned. I need your feedback so that I can refine the concept, select the site for the flagship property, and put the final plan into action. Not only do I want your feedback, I want the feedback of at least 10 bikers with whom you regularly ride….and even more feedback from 10 of their riding buddies. So if you find the Thunder Road Motorcycle Lodge concept compelling, help get the message out. After all, Thunder Road is all about building a community among those who share a passion for the road.

To help collect the information, I have added some survey questions in the sidebar to the right. Vote once, vote often – I want to tap into your passion for the Road. I also encourage your comments to this blog entry - tell me more about what you want, need, and expect while touring. 

So here goes…

Cruisin' the Backroads

Most bikers take one or two multi-day rides per year. If you are among the few who make time for more, consider yourself blessed. What are your favorite overnight destinations?

When taking a multi-day ride, do you prefer to ride alone, with your significant other, or with a group?

Candidate Property

Piney Woods of East Texas

I envision Thunder Road Motorcycle Lodge to be a rustic lodge setting with amenities that cater to the biker crowd. For example, the lodge will offer a restaurant with food like Mom used the make, a bar that Pops would be proud to call his own, and an entertainment venue for small live performances (after all, who wants a dead performance). It will have a large outdoor patio with a fire pit that we can sit around while smoking our cigars and tellin’ lies about the roads we’ve traveled…while sippin’ tequila or your favorite cold one. We'll also have an outdoor entertainment venue for hosting concerts and rallies for up to 5,000 people. Are you in?

The Great Room

Patio view of the lake

55 acre spring fed lake

Now, for the important stuff.

We all know we need to make Momma happy. To that end, we'll have over 50 cabins that cater to the biker and your significant other. The log or stone cabins will be tucked away in the woods overlooking a mountain view or lake; and include covered parking for your most prized possession; a king-size bed for, well, you know; a storage area for your leathers and gear; a boot and glove dryer for those days when you couldn’t get to the bar soon enough; free internet access; and in-room entertainment to help put you to sleep. What are we missing?

2-Bedroom Cabin - Exterior

2-Bedroom Cabin - Interior

We’re all on a budget these days, so when selecting lodging, what most drives your decision – price, ammenities, location, safety of your bike, internet access? When traveling with other couples, would you prefer 2-bedroom cabin so that you can share with another couple? When travelling without a significant other, do you prefer to stay in your own room or do you bunk up with a friend?  

Oh, and one more thing. To make it truly Thunder Roadworthy, would you prefer a chocolate mint on your pillow or an ice cold beer at check-in?

© 2010 TRHG Holdings LLC

Tour de Arkansas - Vol 2

Still recovering from our night in Ozark, our goal for Day 2 was to work our way to Branson, Missouri, then circle Table Rock Lake, ending the day somewhere between Eureka Springs and Harrison. We headed north on AR-23, which is also known as the Pig Trail Scenic Byway as it rolls through the Ozark National Forest.

The byway gets its name from the wild pigs that carved trails out of the mountainside. The trails were then adopted by travelers and later became cleared paths for local commerce. Apparently, these particular pigs have excellent skills in highway engineering, as the path is a biker’s dream.

Tunnel of leaves and switchbacks along the
Pig Trail Scenic Byway.
Photo courtesy of http://www.byways.org/

The road meanders along stream beds, traversing the mountains, and sweeping across open fields offering majestic views with every mile. The Pig Trail officially ends about half-way between Brashears and Delany, just outside of the Ozark National Forest, but AR-23 continues to offer beautiful views all the way through Eureka Springs and all the way up to the Missouri state line.

Winding roads along the Pig Trail Scenic Byway.
Photo courtesy of http://www.byways.org/

We cruised Eureka Springs, but quickly grew tired of the mid-morning traffic that was choking the quaint village setting. Expecting to swing back through later in the day, we continued on the journey, taking US-62 east to Berryville, then north on AR-21 to Blue Eye, which sits on the Missouri state line, where the road changes to MO-86 and turns east. Just as you pop over the last hill, the road opens-up to a long, sweeping run down the hill and over the bridge spanning the southeast finger of Table Rock Lake.

Table Rock Lake is massive, extending 79 miles upstream along the White River, with small finger coves all up and down the lake creating over 745 miles of shore line. Construction on the dam began in October 1954 with the first two (of four) power generation plants coming online in June 1959. The dam is 6,423 feet long and rises 252 feet above the riverbed. An integral part of the Branson resort area, the lake offers a variety of wet and dry recreation opportunities.

One interesting option is the 60’ pontoon houseboat rentals from the marina in the Long Creek Recreation Area, but we'll save that for another day. If you’re looking for lodging or a great meal in this area, the Big Cedar Lodge is a top-notch resort with a variety of accommodations, from traditional hotel rooms to cabins and cottages for one or a group.

Cruising through Branson in 90+ degree weather is not highly recommended – unless stop and go traffic through a tourist trap destination makes your engine rev. But we felt like we had to do it to get the t-shirt, so we ran the main road, traffic and all. Never again. Next time, I’ll take the Hwy (Loop) 265 around the southwest corner. Branson was our turn-around point for the day and the fun was just about to begin.

Sometimes the Road throws you a bone. And one of the best bones I’ve ever ridden is MO-76, which runs east/west across the northern edge of Table Rock Lake. From Reeds Springs to Bates Corner, the road is a 20-mile roller coaster ride full of foothill terrain and twisties through canopied tunnels and farm land. If you have the time, take it both ways, twice. With the temperature approaching 95 degrees, we stopped at Cape Fair Park for a mid-day swim break and a cold beverage. We continued the roller coaster ride around the west side of the lake and back into Eureka Springs, then on to Harrison for the night.

Day 2 – Waypoints 15-37.

Map created using Microsoft
Streets and Trips 2009
©Microsoft Corporation

Between the many scenic, nutrition, biology, and swim stops, we had a 12 hour day, but only racked up 243 miles...this place is a serious playground for big kids on bikes.

© 2009 Twisted Road Motorcycle Company, LLC

Tour de Arkansas - Vol 1

With the brutal North Texas winter approaching (we're likely to be under 50 degrees for 2-3 weeks!), it's time to face the reality that we'll only have a couple of weekends a month to get in some decent riding.

One ride that most everyone turns-out for is The Big Texas Toy Run on December 20. This charity event regularly draws over 60,000 bikes come rain or shine. The event benefits Mental Health-Mental Retardation (MHMR) of Tarrant County, Metrocare Services (the MHMR in Dallas County), and other children's charities in the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The toys are distributed to thousands of underprivileged and challenged children all over the Metroplex. Every time I have participated, they have filled up at least one 53' trailer with gifts and toys, often times more. This year, over 500,000 toys were donated.

I snuck-in a quick ride today, ran a few errands, then hit the back roads on the way home. As I looked through trees with their leaves on the ground, my mind started to think of journeys past and planning for new ones to come. A couple of the most beautiful destinations that came to mind are the Quachita and Ozark Mountains regions in central and northwest Arkansas.

A few years back, Scott (of Mercy Rider fame) and I planned the perfect mancation - a 1,400 mile, 4-day run over the Talimena Scenic Drive in southeast Oklahoma, a zig-zag across Arkansas with a loop around Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, then over to the Mississippi River delta region. Memphis (technically Tunica, Mississippi) was the outbound turnaround point and the perfect destination for partaking in the pleasures of the riverboat casinos.

I refer to this run as the Tour de Arkansas and the plan was simple - ride till our nads were sore, then eat and drink till it didn't matter anymore.

Talimena Scenic Drive, Southeast Oklahoma
Source of photo: Public Domain

We made it to Ozark, Arkansas on Day 1, a respectable 325 miles for the day. Ozark is a scenic little town of 3,500 friendly folks located about 40 miles east of Fort Smith, on the banks of the Arkansas River. It is also the former residence of Bill Dees who wrote Oh! Pretty Woman that was made famous by Roy Orbison. According to Wikipedia, a Bugs Bunny cartoon entitled Hillbilly Hare (Warner Brothers, 1950) featured the silly wabbit vacationing in Ozark and in the premier season of the reality TV series The Simple Life (2003), Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie worked at the Sonic Drive-In located in Ozark.

We arrived just about the time the sun was setting over the mountains. Parched and hungry, we stopped-in at the bar next door to Rivertowne BBQ for an ice cold adult beverage. There is nothing like the smell of a well-established bar - that slight musty bouquet of spilled beer, coupled with cigar and cigarette smoke, and an occasional whiff of some sweet thangs' Wal-Mart perfume when she walks by. The crowd was light when we pulled-up a stool, folks were just now getting off work. Little did we know we were about to become part of one of those dinner plays where the diners unknowingly become part of the cast.

At the helm that night was Cindy, the local lady barkeep who seemed to know everyone that walked through the door and, if she didn't know you, could size you up pretty quick. Bud owned the place, but there is no doubt Cindy ran it. We ordered our beers and after a few witty comments (for which we are famous, I might add) about our mancation quest, we seemed to pass the admittance test. Cindy was friendly and seemed quite adept at carrying-on separate conversations with each of the patrons, while also being able to bring everyone into a single conversation on occasion.

At one end of the large horseshoe shaped bar was a threesome of retired locals who pretty much kept to themselves. Mack and Bob used to drive timber haulers, while John was a mechanic at the same trucking company. By the sounds of it, I'd guess they'd been raising hell together for well over 50 years and Bud probably had those stools bronzed in their honor.

Betty and Marvin arrived and she took the seat to my left, with Marvin taking the one just around the corner so she could keep an eye on him. They looked like they had come straight from the Early Bird Special at the Denny's over on I-40. It didn't take long before I realized that Betty was the Matriarch of Franklin County. She was a gruff lady in her autumn years who seemed to know everybody, and had a strong opinion on everything.

That said, Betty put forth a friendly face when talking to strangers, just as any proper Southern lady would. She asked us enough questions to make sure we weren't drug dealers or escaped convicts, then just settled in to oversee her subjects while sipping her rum and Diet Coke. Marvin nursed his bottle of beer, flinching every time Betty raised her hand to slap the bar as she spoke. I think she regularly abused poor ole' Marvin, because he didn't say ten words all night and when he did, most of the time it was, "Yes, Dear."

We ordered-up another round.

On one side of the bar was a pool table with a couple of guys playing a game of 8-ball while a third watched over. They would rotate with the loser buying beers and the challenger plugging in more quarters to release the balls for another game. After a while, a friend joined them, bringing his own pool stick.

"You practicin' for the tournament next weekend?" Cindy blurted out.

"Nah, just need some beer money," Joe Bob replied, which got the other guys talking some trash too. Each of the men then proceeded to put a $5 bill on the rail. A fool and his money...

On the other side of the bar was a shuffleboard table where Ben and Darlene, both in their early 30's, were playing a pick-up game...literally. Ben was teaching Darlene how to play, leaning across her back while gliding her hand in a slow, seductive, sweeping motion that appeared to include a little extra hip action. Ben obviously wanted to clear the table and do Darlene right then and there, but she was playing hard to get, which made him even more annoying...and horny.

"Get a damn room!" Betty yelled out. "You're in the Bible Belt and Darlene's married for God sakes!"

"I'm separated!" Darlene quips back as if to say, 'I ain't no slut. I got needs!'

Busted for his obvious public transgression, Ben looks for a way to divert the attention. "What kind of cigar you smokin'?" he yelled across the room at Scott and me.

"Tonight, we're smoking Padron's." I replied. "And you?" I really didn't give a shit, but was trying to be friendly with our charming host.

He reaches in his jacket and pulls out a leather cigar holder. "I have a La Flor Dominicana Ligero Oscuro Carajos. It's a Dominican blend with an Ecuadorian wrapper," he replies loud enough so everyone can hear. "I read about them in Cigar Aficionado last month and ordered a whole box online."

Great, I thought, here we are in Ozark, Arkansas and we've met The Ladies Man in the flesh. Somebody, get the camera! About that time, Betty leans over and tells me softly, "Don't pay him no mind, he comes from a wealthy family and never really made much of himself. He recently went back to school and thinks he gonna become a lawyer."

"What grade is he in?" I replied without hesitation.

Betty about wet herself right then and there. I immediately became her new best friend and we continued to make fun of Ben and his awkward moves on the increasingly drunk Darlene. "What grade's he in, that was damn funny!" she kept saying in-between fits of laughter.

Approaching intermission, Scott and I decided this was the place to be for the night, so we ordered BBQ to-go from Rivertowne and brought it back so as not to miss the rest of the show. Cindy rounded out the dining experience with more ice cold beverages.

About that time, Curtis walked in. "Oh, shit!" Betty immediately says under her breadth with a hint of disgust.

"Hey, Curtis. It's been a while. I thought you were still in jail!" Cindy said as if it were her regular welcome greeting to Curtis.

"Nah, I've been out a while. Been working over in Russellville haulin' gravel." he replied in his loud, twangy voice. Scott and I traded glances, is he for real? Curtis ordered a beer and, not knowing us or wanting to cross Betty, he went down to harass the old timers at the end of the bar. You could hear him telling stories, occasionally getting so loud that everyone in the bar would glance over. When the old timers began to ignore him, he decided to take the seat next to Scott and proceeded to tell us his life story.

Seems he grew up in the area and had volunteered for the Army in the early 1990's. He experienced a head injury during Operation Desert Storm that resulted in him receiving a medical discharge. "Got a metal plate in my head!" he exclaimed while tapping the side of his head with his beer bottle. He claimed it affected his personality and that he had to go to the VA Hospital in Hot Springs on a regular basis for a psych evaluation so he could renew is prescriptions. It was pretty clear this guy was certified.

About that time, Cindy took pity on us. "Curtis, how's your Mamma and Grandma?"

"Awe, hell! Those fuckin' whores?" he yelled back. "They're the ones who got me arrested. I hope they're dead!"

Betty explained that our new best friend Curtis had an unfortunate experience with the law when, in the course of a meds lapse, he allegedly threatened his (I'm sure lovely) mother and grandmother with violence...again. Said family then proceeded to file charges against their once precious son/grandson.

It wasn't too much longer and Curtis was tanked-up pretty good. Being from out of town and apparently estranged from his family, he announced he was going to go down to find him a whore and bed-up at the Hillbilly Inn (the reviews of this full-service establishment are classics). Not sure if that meant he was going to swing by Mom's place first or not, but I immediately struck the Hillbilly Inn from our list of lodging options for the night.

By now, there was a friendly card game starting on the round table behind us. Bud, Betty, Marvin, and the old-timers joined in for a low-stakes game of poker. They offered to let Scott and me in, but having been properly fed and watered, we figured it was time to head to the hotel.

Yet another reminder that it’s the journey that makes these trips priceless. While I have fun sharing our Real People of Arkansas stories, by no means do I mean to disparage them. The folks we encountered along the way were fun and very accommodating, and I can only hope we made their day as well.

© 2009 TRHG Holdings LLC

Cabin Fever

As the winter weather spreads across the country, we all look for the little windows of opportunity where we can get out for a ride. In fact, if the skies are forecast to be clear, I often wear my riding boots in the event the window opens, even if only for a moment.

Last night, the wife yelled at me for walking through the house with my boots on again, so I decided to jump on the bike and go for a quick spin to cool down...

Source of photo - unknown

I'll be sending out a forwarding address for my regular mail as soon as I find an apartment, but my phone and email contact information are expected to remain the same.