Post by okie34 on Oct 8, 2008 7:50:05 GMT -5
Well, since I had some vacation to burn and the weather was exceptional nice, I took a little trip over to Mena Arkansas last week. No, I didn't get any fishing in, In fact I was only in Arkansas about an hour or so before coming back into Oklahoma. So why did I go? I decided to run to the Talimena Scenic Byway. (http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/). Unfortunately, this was too early in the year to view the fall colors, but it was a very impressive ride none the less!
I started out in Ponca at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Loaded down the Scooter and away I went.
I took a northerly route across Oklahoma. I stayed off of US 60 to stay away from the major traffic and took OK 20. This runs around various places including Skiatook, Pryor, and Locust Grove. Plenty of scenery around, Rolling Hills, lakes, etc. Traffic was really light. From Kansas, OK I turned south to Tahlequah. This runs along the Illinois River and with most of the Canoe Outfitters closed for the season, it was a really nice run. Plenty of twists and turns but nothing really taxing and pretty light traffic. I decided not to stop along the way through here so no Pics. Sorry!
From Tahlequah, I went on south to Robbers Cave State Park. This was my destination for the night. It was also a mistake. ALL of the tent camp sites are strewn with small boulders. Not pea gravel or even small rocks. These were chunks of sharp sandstone and granite the size of my fist! Forget trying to smooth things out. My only saving grace was that there was no one else camping and I could pick the best of the lot.
There it is, Home Sweet Home for a night. There was a little encounter with a Tarantula in the middle of the night. He wanted in my tent! Problem solved with a couple of good swats and him flying off to the trees.
I got started a little later Tuesday than I had intended. Sleeping on the rocks was not fun.
Anyway, struck camp and off to Wilburton and some coffee! From there, I pulled out the map and decided what I wanted to do. I decided to take US 270 straight over to Mena, Ar. stop there and get some gas and then off to the Drive. The picture above shows what I was heading into. US 270 run the north valley from the Talimena Drive. Some where, up in those trees was my destination.
Picked up AR 88 in Mena. This is the east end of the Talimena Drive. You would never know it from the road. Little bitty narrow road that winds up through a tunnel of trees. Get through this and you're at the top of the ridge!
Lots of twists and curves on this road. The Arkansas side is a lot of fun to ride, though a little slow due to all the curves. Don't get in a hurry on this one. Just take it and hit the different turn outs as they come along.
This is a purely scenic drive and I was never troubled by truck traffic. In fact, I was troubled by cars that weren't negotiating the turns to my liking. A couple of the turns were rather sharp and getting through them required a little bit of leaning. So much so, that I scraped my center stand a couple of times. Of course you would never be able to tell from the grin I had on my face. The suggested speed limits were not to be taken lightly!
Almost all of the various turn outs had some sort of history posted on it. Several were survey points made back in the early 1800's and were actual land boundaries. I never did figure why some poor schmuck would want to blaze a path through the scub oak and pine just to place a marker on top of a ridge though. I don't suppose the Government at the time was paying too awfully much, unless there was some future advantage when the Land Run came along.
Coming over the Oklahoma side, provided a wider and little faster road. Also coming into Oklahoma came with a warning.
Now this was already more than halfway through the Drive! Just what was one supposed to do at this point, go back??
Of course, going back had some consequences too....
Just a few yards down the road is yet another sign stating all the dire things that will happen to the lone traveler who decides to go beyond this point in certain weather conditions. Sheesh! Where were these signs when I started out? I think I would have given this joint a WIDE berth had I known. Here those Banjo strains yet?
Still, braving the Deliverance Cast was worth the view.
From here it was smooth sailing down hill. Only a few scrapes as I rode into Talihina and lunch! I did stop and Wister State Park and have decided that THEIR camp ground is much better furnished that Robbers Cave. The view was also better.
From here it was a very uneventful ride back home. Though long and actually a couple of missed turns, it was a pleasant trip. The heaviest traffic I encountered was near Shawnee where I turned north onto US 177. Four Lanes at about 4 in the afternoon. traffic was starting to get a little heavy, but everyone behaved and it was a straight run North to home at about 8:30 p.m.
If the rocks hadn't been so darned large or a little softer, I would have stayed another day and explored the area down by Broken Bow Lake. As it was, I just couldn't face another night with the Tarantulas or rocks. I would love to make this run towards the end of October when the leaves are turning colors. I still may do this.
I had a blast though. It was a lot of fun. I plan to do it again,and we are actively planning a few more trips for next year.
See ya on the next one!
JD
I started out in Ponca at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Loaded down the Scooter and away I went.
I took a northerly route across Oklahoma. I stayed off of US 60 to stay away from the major traffic and took OK 20. This runs around various places including Skiatook, Pryor, and Locust Grove. Plenty of scenery around, Rolling Hills, lakes, etc. Traffic was really light. From Kansas, OK I turned south to Tahlequah. This runs along the Illinois River and with most of the Canoe Outfitters closed for the season, it was a really nice run. Plenty of twists and turns but nothing really taxing and pretty light traffic. I decided not to stop along the way through here so no Pics. Sorry!
From Tahlequah, I went on south to Robbers Cave State Park. This was my destination for the night. It was also a mistake. ALL of the tent camp sites are strewn with small boulders. Not pea gravel or even small rocks. These were chunks of sharp sandstone and granite the size of my fist! Forget trying to smooth things out. My only saving grace was that there was no one else camping and I could pick the best of the lot.
There it is, Home Sweet Home for a night. There was a little encounter with a Tarantula in the middle of the night. He wanted in my tent! Problem solved with a couple of good swats and him flying off to the trees.
I got started a little later Tuesday than I had intended. Sleeping on the rocks was not fun.
Anyway, struck camp and off to Wilburton and some coffee! From there, I pulled out the map and decided what I wanted to do. I decided to take US 270 straight over to Mena, Ar. stop there and get some gas and then off to the Drive. The picture above shows what I was heading into. US 270 run the north valley from the Talimena Drive. Some where, up in those trees was my destination.
Picked up AR 88 in Mena. This is the east end of the Talimena Drive. You would never know it from the road. Little bitty narrow road that winds up through a tunnel of trees. Get through this and you're at the top of the ridge!
Lots of twists and curves on this road. The Arkansas side is a lot of fun to ride, though a little slow due to all the curves. Don't get in a hurry on this one. Just take it and hit the different turn outs as they come along.
This is a purely scenic drive and I was never troubled by truck traffic. In fact, I was troubled by cars that weren't negotiating the turns to my liking. A couple of the turns were rather sharp and getting through them required a little bit of leaning. So much so, that I scraped my center stand a couple of times. Of course you would never be able to tell from the grin I had on my face. The suggested speed limits were not to be taken lightly!
Almost all of the various turn outs had some sort of history posted on it. Several were survey points made back in the early 1800's and were actual land boundaries. I never did figure why some poor schmuck would want to blaze a path through the scub oak and pine just to place a marker on top of a ridge though. I don't suppose the Government at the time was paying too awfully much, unless there was some future advantage when the Land Run came along.
Coming over the Oklahoma side, provided a wider and little faster road. Also coming into Oklahoma came with a warning.
Now this was already more than halfway through the Drive! Just what was one supposed to do at this point, go back??
Of course, going back had some consequences too....
Just a few yards down the road is yet another sign stating all the dire things that will happen to the lone traveler who decides to go beyond this point in certain weather conditions. Sheesh! Where were these signs when I started out? I think I would have given this joint a WIDE berth had I known. Here those Banjo strains yet?
Still, braving the Deliverance Cast was worth the view.
From here it was smooth sailing down hill. Only a few scrapes as I rode into Talihina and lunch! I did stop and Wister State Park and have decided that THEIR camp ground is much better furnished that Robbers Cave. The view was also better.
From here it was a very uneventful ride back home. Though long and actually a couple of missed turns, it was a pleasant trip. The heaviest traffic I encountered was near Shawnee where I turned north onto US 177. Four Lanes at about 4 in the afternoon. traffic was starting to get a little heavy, but everyone behaved and it was a straight run North to home at about 8:30 p.m.
If the rocks hadn't been so darned large or a little softer, I would have stayed another day and explored the area down by Broken Bow Lake. As it was, I just couldn't face another night with the Tarantulas or rocks. I would love to make this run towards the end of October when the leaves are turning colors. I still may do this.
I had a blast though. It was a lot of fun. I plan to do it again,and we are actively planning a few more trips for next year.
See ya on the next one!
JD
