Wherever the wind blows us
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Wherever the wind blows us
We have been planning a ride to Arkansas from south Texas in June to ride the Eureka springs area for a week and then head back for a total of 8 days on the road. You guys have given me a lot up great info on the Arkansas rides. But what I've got rolling around in my mind now is just ride everyday for roughly 400 miles just meandering forward and then turn around and come back home a different way. Has anyone done this or is better to have all the stops planned out? Or is it better to have the Arkansas destination and just cruise around the area for 4 days before heading home? I'm setting a 400 mile limit so if there is stuff to stop and check out we can during the ride or sight seeing after getting a place to stay for the night.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 3
From: a small country between TX and AZ
I like to have a base plan depending on the area we are riding. If we are going to be riding areas where food, gas and lodging is plentiful within a reasonable distance, we can be more carefree. When we travel Southern Utah this late Spring there are long stretches of "middle of no where" so we need to have somewhat of a plan since we motel it. Because of the sites to see along the way we are keeping our longest days to approximately 300 miles a day. I don't just want to go there, I want to see and enjoy it.
I would think that where you are going that would be less of a concern.
Have fun and be safe!
I would think that where you are going that would be less of a concern.
Have fun and be safe!
My Wife & I Jumped on our bikes and toured the USA for one year, With no more then a tent, sleeping bags, air mates & camp goods our goal was to maintaining a riding temp of 60 to 85deg. range. The local people would share there favorite spots to go in there states it was a blast. Go with the wind it grate.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
I have been touring for 47 years now and at least half the trips were done this way. And all of the best ones were. I would set a goal but after that I kind of followed the front wheel. One year the goal was to swim in the Pacific. That's it. Oh, I had a bunch of state and national parks and well known twisty roads highlighted on the atlas. But they were really spread from New Mexico to Montana and the Mississippi to the Pacific.
I let the weather and whim decide which way to turn. This was the way I discovered my favorite places, roads and campsites.
I really feel sorry for those riders who can't just let go and follow the road less traveled. When you have a calendar full of reservations it's just a road trip. From Holiday Inn the next Fridays restaurant, safe but boring.
Eat at Mom's diner, sleep at Pa's motel and stop whenever you find a beautiful campsite even if it's only 3 in the afternoon. And don't get hung up on mileage. One or two hundred miles might be fine. I like 300 at max, except when blasting the interstate to cross the Mississippi. Even then I prefer to take the BRP and the Natchez Trace slowly SW. Have fun and discover something weird every day. That's an adventure.
I let the weather and whim decide which way to turn. This was the way I discovered my favorite places, roads and campsites.
I really feel sorry for those riders who can't just let go and follow the road less traveled. When you have a calendar full of reservations it's just a road trip. From Holiday Inn the next Fridays restaurant, safe but boring.
Eat at Mom's diner, sleep at Pa's motel and stop whenever you find a beautiful campsite even if it's only 3 in the afternoon. And don't get hung up on mileage. One or two hundred miles might be fine. I like 300 at max, except when blasting the interstate to cross the Mississippi. Even then I prefer to take the BRP and the Natchez Trace slowly SW. Have fun and discover something weird every day. That's an adventure.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
Lots of great rides around Eureka Springs. The only bad experience I had was the traffic in Branson. You won't be riding 400 miles a day, but eight hours is a good ride to cover lots of ground. Goggle the Pig's Tail.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, MO
If you use Eureka Springs as a home base there are several 200 to 400 mile loops you can put together from there.
23 South to 22 to 309 to Mt. Magazine. Return North on 7, west on 16 to 21 North to 62 West into Eureka is a good example (and a full day of riding).
Just look at a map and keep the roads others have mentioned in mind. 74 between Ponca and Jasper. 7 just about anywhere south of Harrison. 123 south of Harrison. 21 south of Berryville. North to 86 (in Missouri, east to 65, north on 65 for a few miles past Branson to 160 east to 125 south will take you to a ferry crossing, you can continue south to 14 west and back to 65. Lots of good loops to be put together.
My favorites in the area include 74 between Ponca and Jasper (good place to eat in Jasper is Ozark Cafe); 123 south of Harrison to the Clarksville area (the stretch between 7 and 164 is great); 14 south of Yellville. Push Mountain Road (aka 341 - the south half was in much better condition than the north this past fall, I would ride it north until the road turns to crap and then turn around that way get the good both ways). I could go on but you have had lots of good advice and probably more suggestions than you can ride as it is. Have a good one.
23 South to 22 to 309 to Mt. Magazine. Return North on 7, west on 16 to 21 North to 62 West into Eureka is a good example (and a full day of riding).
Just look at a map and keep the roads others have mentioned in mind. 74 between Ponca and Jasper. 7 just about anywhere south of Harrison. 123 south of Harrison. 21 south of Berryville. North to 86 (in Missouri, east to 65, north on 65 for a few miles past Branson to 160 east to 125 south will take you to a ferry crossing, you can continue south to 14 west and back to 65. Lots of good loops to be put together.
My favorites in the area include 74 between Ponca and Jasper (good place to eat in Jasper is Ozark Cafe); 123 south of Harrison to the Clarksville area (the stretch between 7 and 164 is great); 14 south of Yellville. Push Mountain Road (aka 341 - the south half was in much better condition than the north this past fall, I would ride it north until the road turns to crap and then turn around that way get the good both ways). I could go on but you have had lots of good advice and probably more suggestions than you can ride as it is. Have a good one.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 3
From: a small country between TX and AZ
I have been touring for 47 years now and at least half the trips were done this way. And all of the best ones were. I would set a goal but after that I kind of followed the front wheel. One year the goal was to swim in the Pacific. That's it. Oh, I had a bunch of state and national parks and well known twisty roads highlighted on the atlas. But they were really spread from New Mexico to Montana and the Mississippi to the Pacific.
I let the weather and whim decide which way to turn. This was the way I discovered my favorite places, roads and campsites.
I really feel sorry for those riders who can't just let go and follow the road less traveled. When you have a calendar full of reservations it's just a road trip. From Holiday Inn the next Fridays restaurant, safe but boring.
Eat at Mom's diner, sleep at Pa's motel and stop whenever you find a beautiful campsite even if it's only 3 in the afternoon. And don't get hung up on mileage. One or two hundred miles might be fine. I like 300 at max, except when blasting the interstate to cross the Mississippi. Even then I prefer to take the BRP and the Natchez Trace slowly SW. Have fun and discover something weird every day. That's an adventure.
I let the weather and whim decide which way to turn. This was the way I discovered my favorite places, roads and campsites.
I really feel sorry for those riders who can't just let go and follow the road less traveled. When you have a calendar full of reservations it's just a road trip. From Holiday Inn the next Fridays restaurant, safe but boring.
Eat at Mom's diner, sleep at Pa's motel and stop whenever you find a beautiful campsite even if it's only 3 in the afternoon. And don't get hung up on mileage. One or two hundred miles might be fine. I like 300 at max, except when blasting the interstate to cross the Mississippi. Even then I prefer to take the BRP and the Natchez Trace slowly SW. Have fun and discover something weird every day. That's an adventure.
Hope it's not me you are feeling sorry for. I'm not quite to where I can just set out for a few months or a year and just free wheel it. Nor have I ever been. I work for a living out of necessity. I've been having fun on two wheels for about 47 years also (now it's three and it's just as much fun). So a loose plan makes more sense at this point. That doesn't keep me from having fun and discovering something new (weird?) every day. Weird ain't necessarily a good thing, either is new but I remain ready for either.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 23
We don't plan much other than direction and maybe something we want to see. We usually looked at a route the night before or the morning of to figure where we're going for that day. If you don't have some idea you can go right past something interesting that you'll hear about later and wish you'd known about. It's easier now with smart phones and the internet.
Harrison Arkansas/state of Arkansas has a travel brochure with recommended routes in the Harrison-Eureka Springs area.
http://harrisonarkansas.org/c_upe_view.php?id=34
Also, if you're doing a websearch for info it's "Pig Trail", not "pigs tail".
Harrison Arkansas/state of Arkansas has a travel brochure with recommended routes in the Harrison-Eureka Springs area.
http://harrisonarkansas.org/c_upe_view.php?id=34
Also, if you're doing a websearch for info it's "Pig Trail", not "pigs tail".
Last edited by Wadcutter; Jan 19, 2014 at 06:04 PM.
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