Out West Again * To Beautiful to be Bummed

Well Folks, it’s been over a week and the Jeep is still not fixed! !!! Most people would be really bummed out.
However, we have been blessed with a string of the most beautiful days. Highs in the sixties sunny, lows in the forties, and some of the most stunning scenery you’ll ever experience!
We rented a car and returned to Kansas the next day and picked up the rest of our stuff, since we had a feeling it might take longer than we were told And we were right !!!
Even thougth we have not had the Jeep, we still had our bicycles, and our motorcycles. We have ridden our bicycles down from Copper Mtn to Frisco and Dillon. Taken a couple of motorcycle rides around the area. Even went over to Vail, a short but freakin excellent ride. We were surprised to find the Go Pro Mountain Games going on. Some really cool events like rafti racing, Slack line competition, and some really great dogs leaping into the water and fetching !!
So tomorrow we are off to Salida, cool town to visit, and the next day we will ride up Pikes Peak. Can’t believe we haven’t done that !!!
Anyway, we are hoping the Jeep will be ready this week. Since we have some great friends visiting, It would be nice to have a car to pick them up at the airport. Thier luggage would not fit on our Harleys !!! Continue reading “Out West Again * To Beautiful to be Bummed”

Out West Again Trouble in Paradise

Out West Again !! Trouble in Paradise

After we got loaded up, We were able to get going the next morning. Our plan was to get about half way to Copper Mtn spend the night and drive in on Wednesday. However, our Jeep had other plans !!!

When we were trying to decide where we would stop for the night, our trusty Jeep started to ride very rough. After a few minutes later the engine light came on and started to blink ( Not Good ). Luckily there was a town not to far up the road with a Jeep dealer. We pulled in and went to the dealer to have the Jeep checked out.
After we got to the dealer we received some bad news, they could not see us until the next day ! So we decided to find a hotel and hope that our luck would change the next day. Well, the next day, the bad news got worse .
We found out that the there was a serious problem with the jeep and that it would be out of service for at least a week. No way we could stay in this small town for that long a time. Our Condo in Copper Mtn was waiting so we had to come up with a Plan B ASAP !!!
We tried to rent something that could tow our trailer but since we were in central Kansas there were no good options. What in the heck are we gonna do ?? Well, we did have our motorcycles in the trailer and had luggage to carry a enough stuff to get us through a few days in Copper Mtn. The weather looked great for the next day, so we unloaded our bikes , dropped the jeep and trailer at the dealership and left early in the morning for our Colorado destination.
It was a great ride, especially when we got up into the Rockies, more beautiful than I remember !!!!

Rode up to our condo in the late afternoon, got our keys, unloaded our bikes and just sacked out for the rest of the day.

TO BE CONTINUED ……..

Arkansas Road Trip !!

Can’t wait for this weekend ! Getting on my bike and going down to NW Arkansas for a weekend of great motorcycle riding. This part of Arkansas boasts some of the best roads for motorcycles in the US. The Pig Trail and the Arkansas Dragon, just to name a few.

For more info please see Great Rides Arkansas

Will be spending a couple of days there and will be posting more in the next few days !

See You Then !!

Roadgliding

Day 1 : A Cool Trip Down !

Well, I had planned for a nice trip down to Arkansas from KC. Drive by Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake. However, mother nature had other plans !!.

It was supposed to be a partly cloudy day in the mid 70’s. Unfortunatly, it turned out to be cloudy and and in the mid 60’s. Although the day took a turn for the worse I was determined to enjoy the ride no matter the weather.

So after a detour and turning up the tunes, the day soon turned. After I passed Branson, the Sun finally returned. Just in time to have a great ride by Table Lake and over the “Little Golden Gate Bridge of Arkansas” before arriving in Eureka Springs.

The weather looks great for tommorow and I can’t wait to hit the road.

More later,

Roadgliding

Day 2 : Great Day on the Trail of Pigs

It’s morning and after a pretty good breakfast, (for motel food) I was off for a full day of twists and curves!!

First I had to stop at the local Harley store, no bikes just tee shirts. I wanted to stop at Pig trail Harley in Rogers but they closed at 6:00 on Friday and I didn’t get in till 7:00!

I am curious why a Harley shop that is located in one of the hot spots for bikers would close so early on a weekend !! Also, I found out that they close even earlier on Saturday !!

I feel that Harley dealerships should be destinations for bikers ! So why would they not be open later on a weekend ! The laws in Arkansas would not allow them to open on Sunday so why not stay open later on Saturday !!!

Well enough of my bitching, lets get riding !!

I left Gatilnburg going south on 23 , towards the Pig trail. This is a really nice ride through some pretty country !

There seems to be alot of chicken farms that have sprung up which is Ok but they do not smell all that great.

After a great ride down 23, I finally got to the official Pig Trail. Lots of twists and curves with some great stop offs for some beautiful pictures.

There was not a whole lot of traffic for a Saturday, but that was just fine for me. It really sucks to get stuck behind a slow car that refuses to pull over and let enjoy these roads like they were supposed to be. Fast curves with the wind and a big smile on your face !!

After Pig Trail I went east on I-44 and hit 21 n at Clarksville. 21 is a cool ride on it’s own. So drove north to 16. Went east on 16 which connects to 23 so I decided, why not ride the Pig Trail again !!!

After another ride on the trail, I went west on I-44 and rode north on 71. This road rises to the top of a ridge overlooking Lake Fort Smith State Park. I paused for a picture at Artist Point before going east on 74 to Devil’s Den State park ! The ride into the park is full of tight turns and switchbacks. I really like switchbacks better when I am going downhill, luckily, this time it was down hill all the way. A pretty sweet ride !!!

After leaving the park I took 265 n to I-49 where I fiiled my tanks and belly and made plans for the final leg of my ride.

It was getting late so I jumped on I-49 n and rode to 65e in Rogers. Went past the CLOSED Harley store and jumped on 12 e. for a really great ride over Beaver Lake and through Hobbs State Park. I really like this stretch of road because of the medium level curves and rolling hills. And as an extra bonus the was very little traffic, so I was able to take this last leg at full speed. It was truly a great end to a great day of Arkansas Riding !!!!!!

Crossed back over to 23 N and headed back to Eureka just as the sun was setting !! Perfect Timing !! I returned to my room stayed in and ordered a pizza and drank some Rye Whiskey, while mapping the route back home.

I was tired from my ride and fell asleep early, but this is a good type of tired . The kind that comes from a full day of enjoying the hell out life !!!

Back Later with Day 3 ,

Roadgliding

Day 3 : A Rain Dodging Return!!

All good things must come to an end, but let’s try to make it as fun as possible !! For my return home I plotted a route that I hoped would give me a great last day of riding. And for the most part I got my wish.

I left Eureka a little late, around 11:00, no real rush to get home, and the weather looked pretty good. I took 23 N, a fun ride on it’s own and crossed the state line, where I hit 86 E to 39 N and then went east on 76.

I Planned this trip for max fun and it did not disappoint !!! The first part was really cool but when I turned on to 86 the ride jumped up to a new level. Riding through excellent country side with some cool bridges I hit 39 and went north to 76.

Along this route there are many water crossings that are part of Table Rock Lake. Nice lake homes line the shores of this really long beautiful waterway. After a few crossings I hit 76 and went east.

This is where it really gets cool !! Great hills with twists and turns that test you, but do not fail to excite ! This is looking to be a really fun stretch. However, a sunday driver has a way to turn a fast track to a slow roll !!

Well, guess what ! Right after I turned into 76E, one of our slow rollers pulled out. With a twisty road and a double yellow line, passing was not an option ! I was determined to get this last good stretch in, so what to do ??

I decided at every straightaway I would hold back to a crawl and let Fast Eddie get as far ahead as possible. Then I could take the fun parts at full speed !! It worked out great and after a while my friend decided to turn off and I was able to get in some good riding until the rain clouds started to form !!!

I was now south of Springfield Mo when I saw some big black clouds ahead. I stopped to check the weather and found out that my planned route was getting very wet. Sooo ! I spent the rest of my trip dodging raindrops but there was a silver lining to those black clouds. I backtracked on 160 and went east on MO-O to MO-A.

I had never rode these before and was just trying to beat the rain. However, this silver lining was riding gold ! Great ride ( although I had to stop twice to get directions) through rolling hills and cool curves. I rode through Hurley and made my way to 39. I was going to take 39 up almost all the way home but mother nature had other plans.

When I got to I-44, rain was again in my path north. So I jumped on 44 and went east to 97 and north to 160 where I headed east to I-49. I didn’t want to stay on the freeway the rest of the way home, so mom nature did me a favor and put a big storm right in my path. Cool !! So I jumped on 54E to 69N to complete my trip home.

A few miles to my cutoff and I was patting myself on the back for dodging all the rain, when the rain gods spit a couple of drops just to let me know who won !!!

So ends my Arkanas Roadtrip !! It was a real good attitude adjustment to get on the road for a few days with only great riding to ponder !!

So now we have about 3 weeks before we go to Colorado and Oregon for a couple of months. We will be staying for a while so we will be trailering our bikes. So please be on the lookout for updates on our trip at Roadgliding.com !!

See you Down the Road,

Roadgliding

Mr Christian I Presume !! Bora Bora Bound

Ever since I saw the movie Mutiny on the Bounty, I have wanted to visit the South Sea islands !! Plush green islands scattered on a beautiful blue liquid pallet. Small dots of paradise just waiting for me to discover and this fall I will get my chance.

My wife and I are going to be stopping off in Tahiti and Bora Bora, on our way to New Zealand and Australia, later this year. We were desperately looking for an excuse to not have to sit for 13hrs in a cramped airplane and stopping in paradise seemed like a great way to get this done.

We will be staying for about a week and most of the time will be in Bora Bora. I booked an Over the Water Bungalow for our stay !! We will also be staying in Tahiti for 2 nights waiting for our flight to New Zealand. My wife and I plan to just relax and enjoy the surroundings on the island along with some snorkeling and sightseeing.

The plans for what we do in New Zealand and Australia are only in the planning stages. I have the flights and thats about all ! If anyone has any suggestions, Please let me know as this will be our first time in the locations and would like some feedback from you on what to do.

Looking forward to hearing from you and will be updating from time to time as the trip gets closer.

Bye for now,

Roadgliding

Out West Again !

Well, it’s getting closer and closer !!

Just a few more weeks and it’s off again to Colorado and Oregon. Getting motorcycles, Jeep, and Us ready for the trip.

We are going back to the Breckenridge area but not Keystone. Keystone was a little to family oriented for us. To many kids and families for us, we are looking for a slightly older crowd that’s not so noisy.

So we will be staying in Copper Mountain resort. It’s just about 5 minutes west of Dillon, so not too far from Lake Dillon, Frisco, and Breckenridge. We like Copper Mtn resort because they have some cool events going on during the summer and we are still close to great hiking and off road jeep trails. Also, after the ski season they pile up snow at the base of the mountain and let skiers and snowboarders use it to practice tricks on during the summer months. Really fun to watch !!!

Will be in Colorado for June and then going to Bend, Oregon for the month of July. After that, we will ride over to South Dakota for a couple of weeks for The Sturgis Rally. I met my wife there and we try to make it back every year !!

I will be updating as we get closer to leaving and will continue to blog for the rest of the summer. See you soon !!!

Colorado Surprise / Motorcycle Trailering Tips

Motorcycle Trailering Tips

Colorado Surprise

It was a cold and rainy afternoon in Keystone as we pulled up to start our summer stay in beautiful Colorado. Our jeep is filled with our luggage and our trailer is loaded with our two 2015 RoadGlide CVO’s. After a long days ride, my wife and I are more than ready to unload and settle into our summer digs. As the daylight starts to fade the rain lets up we start to unload our bikes. After we rolled them out we were met with a lousy surprise. Both bikes batteries were stone cold dead. Luckily, the garage was downhill and we were able to roll them in.

That night we tried to figure out how our bike’s batteries could have discharged. They were both locked, turned off and the keyfobs inside each bike. We’ve trailered motorcycles before, and on longer trips than we had just completed. We just could not understand how those batteries could have been dead. For several days I researched our problem on the internet and through Harley service departments. I finally found out what really happened to our bikes during the trip to Colorado.

Transport Mode, something I never heard of until I started researching it. Now, it is all over the internet and it seems that everyone knew about this except me ! Transport Mode is a way to turn off the Motion Sensor on your alarm system. This will allow the other alarm functions to work, but it turns off the part of the alarm that senses any movement of the bike. If the fob is not present and the bike is moved the alarm will sound. So you could say, “Well why not just put the fob with the bike and then the motion sensor will not key the alarm”. The problem is that even with the fob present the alarm system goes through a series of searches for the fob each time the bike shifts and over a period of time these searches will drain your battery. Check this link for instructions on how to put your bike into, and out of, Transport Mode the next time you trailer your Harley.

Luckily we were able to charge our batteries back to life ! We are really excited about in the spending the summer here in Keystone and hope you will continue to follow us on our adventures here in the high country.

Later,

RoadGliding

Trailering Tips

★ If you intend to trailer your bike for more than a few hours, Make sure that bike is turned off !

★ If you own a Harley with an alarm system make sure you put it into Transport Mode !

★ Make sure you pack a charger and long extension cord !

★ Make sure you check your bike’s battery and tires before you unload

North American Total Solar Eclipse 2017

In the Shadow of the Sun

North American Total Solar Eclipse 2017

On August 21st, 2017, one of the most awesome spectacles nature has to offer will sweep from the Oregon coast to South Carolina. I am talking about a Total eclipse of the sun !! and the next one for North America will not happen again until 2024. Viewing this spectacular event should be a on any Roadglider’s List !!

A total eclipse of the sun happens when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun. The moon blocks out the disc of the sun and only the corona is visible. The area underneath is shaded into a deep twilight while the sun looks like a black disc with the corona radiating out.

The Corona, crown in spanish, is the outer layer of the sun’s atmosphere. It consists of hot ionized gas called plasma, and extends millions of miles into space. It is about as bright as the full moon, so it is hidden by the brightness of the sun and is only visible to the naked eye during an eclipse.

To view a total eclipse you must be located in the Umbra, along the Path of Totality. A point on the ground where the moon is perfectly aligned to block out the entire disc of the sun. It can be as long as 10,000 miles and only 100 miles wide.

An eclipse can be really cool but also very dangerous. Even though the sun may be covered, the rays can be damaging to the eye. Permanent damage to the eye will occur by staring at the sun even if it is 99.9% covered by the moon.

Watching the eclipse through sunglasses, binoculars, cameras, or a telescope will damage your eyes unless you are using a proper filters. There is a wide array of different glasses and filters to use. Welders Goggles with a rating of 14 and up are a very good and inexpensive way to safely view the eclipse. However, be very careful, even with the proper viewing optics, you should only look for a short time and turn away every few seconds to rest your eyes.

Another important thing to remember ! As the event reaches totality, when the eerie dark twilight descends and the sun becomes a black disc with the corona dancing around its edge. Take a minute, put down your cameras, binoculars, phones, and anything else that’s distracting you ( Please Keep on your Glasses). Look around and soak in one of nature’s most wondrous sights. No pictures or videos will match what you will be remembering forever.

Stay Tuned to RoadGliding !!! We will be keeping you up to date as this once in a lifetime event draws closer.

Great Rides – THE CHIEF AND THE BEAR

I’ve got a question for you.

WHAT MAKES FOR A GREAT SCENIC MOTORCYCLE RIDE?

Awesome Scenery

Tight Curves

Challenging Switchbacks

Unique History

Well, this route has all of these and much more !

Not only is it one of 21 routes designated as an All American Road, this scenic route has also been called ” The Most beautiful roadway in America ” by On the Road correspondent, Charles Kuralt. To top it off, It was voted the USA Today’s Top Ten Motorcycle Trips in 2016.

Rising 10,927 ft over scenic Beartooth Pass, it zig zags through 12,000 ft high peaks of the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountains before falling 5000 ft to Red Lodge Montana. You will pass Waterfalls, Glacier Lakes, Wildlife and Wide High Alpine Plateaus.

Opened in 1936, officially Beartooth Highway starts at Cooke City, Wyoming, it heads east till it meets Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

In order to start at Cooke City, you will have to pass through Yellowstone and depart from its NE Entrance. This is a very scenic route, however, I prefer starting in Cody, Montana, where you would head North on Hwy 120 and hit The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Head north and it will connect with Beartooth.

This byway is named after Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe. Chief Joseph, along with 1000 followers, were fleeing the US Calvary, who were trying to force them into a reservation. They made a valiant effort to get into Canada, but were stopped just 38 miles from the border. His last words

to his followers were “Hear me, my Chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever”.

As you continue to follow the footsteps of Chief Joseph, you will be twisting westward towards Sunlight Creek Bridge, a single span bridge, which is the highest bridge in Wyoming. Traveling west you will cross the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone river which carves a 1200 ft gorge between the Beartooth Plateau and the Absaroka mountains. To the west you will be able view Pilot and Index Peaks, that stand like guardians to the NE entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Also, at Clarks Fork, there is Painters Crossing, a great spot to take a pit stop and catch your breath before jumping on the Bear

Turn right on US 212 and you are riding the Bear. As the road rises towards the summit, make sure to stop at Lake Creek Falls and Clarks Fork Overlook. Be sure not to miss Pilot and Index Peak overlook, a paved road that offers some great views of the two guardians. After you pass Beartooth Falls and Beartooth Lake, you will be winding through glacial lakes and switchbacks that will lead you to the last pit stop on the road, The Top of the World Store.

After taking a breather, get back on the Bear and shoot for the Summit. You twist and turn as the West Summit Overlook approaches on the left. At 10,947 ft., the overlook offers fantastic 360 degree views of the Beartooth Plateau and the surrounding mountains that are not to be missed. Also, do not miss spotting “Na Piet Say“. This spire, carved by glaciation, is the namesake of the Beartooth Mountains. As you start your descent to Red Lodge, you will pass the 45th parallel, exactly halfway from the equator to the north pole.

Then comes the real fun, 7 miles of the most beautiful switchbacks this world has to offer. A twisting 5,000 ft ride down the side of Beartooth Plateau. Make sure to stop at Vista Point rest area, a great place to stop and soak in views of Rock Creek Canyon and Hellroaring Plateau.

As you near Red Lodge, stop for a minute and look back. You have just completed one of the most beautiful, challenging rides this planet has to offer. Spectacular and dangerous, the Chief and the Bear should be on every motorcycle rider’s bucket list, and You just checked them off yours.

To get to the Chief, take Hwy 120 north out of Cody, Wyoming. You will ride 16 miles past Heart Mountain and make a left on Hwy 296, now you are on the Byway. You will cross through historic Two Dot Ranch and then wind your way up to the top of Dead Indian Hill. Be sure to stop at the overlook at the summit.From your perch, check out the spectacular vista of the Sunlight Basin, Clarks Fork Canyon, and the Beartooth Plateau.

WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU TRAVEL:

Check the weather before you go, do not be surprised to see a little snow at the summit
Pack warm clothes. Heated Gloves and Jacket are a plus
Check road conditions, Beartooth closes in the winter

Great Rallies – Bikers Blues and BBQ

Bikers Blues and BBQ is an annual event held in Fayetteville Arkansas on the last weekend of September. 2016’s rally will be held on Sept 21st thru Sept 24th. BBB has been held annually since 2000 and is the largest non-profit for charity motorcycle rally in the country. This rally is also one of the fastest growing in the country with the riders coming from all over the country and the world, swelling numbers the from just 300 in 2000 to over 400,000. There are many hotels and campgrounds in the area with the Washington County Fairgrounds being the official campsite for the rally.

The heart of the rally is on W Dickson St in Fayetteville, with numerous Vendors, Bands, Poker runs, BBQ Babes contest, BBQ, Bike Giveaways, and car shows. The rally has one other area with Vendors and Multiple Manufactures Demo rides, it is just a short distance away from Dickson St at the University of Arkansas’s baseball field parking lot.

There are plenty of reasons to come to BBB. However, the riding in NW Arkansas is the main attraction. Boasting some of the best riding you will experience anywhere ! So no matter what your reason for coming, to party on Dickson St or to experience the great riding in NW Arkansas or both !! You are sure to have a great time at Biker’s Blues and BBQ !!!

Great Rides Arkansas – Dragon Tails and Pig Trails

Arkansas boasts some of the best motorcycle rides anywhere and is quickly becoming a must destination for riders looking for new and challenging roads to experience.

Pig Trail

The Pig Trail is probably one of the most famous rides in Arkansas. This historic road got its nickname because it is used as a shortcut by Razorback fans going to games in Fayetteville. It was also used very heavily in the Civil war by both the Union and Confederate troops. Like most of the excellent rides in Arkansas it is best experienced in spring for the beautiful wildflowers and in the fall for the colorful foliage. The Pig trail was also named the Top Ride in America by the USA Today Readers Poll. The official ride starts where 23 meets I-40 and goes north on 23 for 24 miles. till it intersects with 16. However, if you don’t want to stop there, the entire length of 23 from the Arkansas- Missouri border to Boonville is a must !!

Scenic 71 Loop

Start this ride south of Fayetteville taking 265 s off of 49. Take 265 through some beautiful rolling hills. Then jump on 170, which will take you through Devil’s Den. This is a really cool State Park that was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a depression era group that constructed many of the areas landmarks. As you depart the park on your way to 70. Be aware of several challenging switchbacks on your way through Winslow to 71 south. Arkansas 71 takes you over the Boston Mountains with some really sick sweeping curves and fantastic views. Ride the Boston Mountain scenic byway down to I-40 go west to Ar59 not Us59 and travel north. Take 45 to Us 62 to Fayetteville.

The Arkansas Dragon

The Arkansas Dragon is one hell of a ride ! Although the official dragon is only 19 miles, it is as challenging as any ride you will experience anywhere. I would start in Western Grove, on 65 south of Harrisonville, and go south on 123 towards the tip of the dragon’s tail in Mt Judea. South of Mt Judea you will hit the dragon’s tail. These switchbacks are intense and for experienced riders. After you twist through the tail you will ride along the dragon’s back till you arrive at the junction with 7. You just have experienced the Arkansas Dragon, but don’t stop here!! Continue on south on 7 and stay on 123 when it branches off at Sand Gap. Stay on 123 to Clarksville. Although most of this ride is after the Dragon, it is none the less a beautiful ride through N central Arkansas.

Push Mountain Road

If it’s twists, turns and dramatic elevation changes you are looking for, do not miss Push Mtn Road. With 100’s of curves and exciting elevation changes, this road dishes out all you can take.

Start off in Mountain View, take 14 north past Blanchard Springs, go a few miles past and go right on 341 aka Push Mountain Road. Take Push mountain till it dead ends into 201. The road quality is perfect and when you finish it you may stop, look back and say “ Again “ !!!

Mt. Magazine Run

Take a ride to the highest point in Arkansas, Mt Magazine. This is a beautiful ride with some great views from the top of the Mt Magazine. Make sure to stop at the Lodge and enjoy a great lunch with some excellent views of the valley below. Take 7 south out of Russellville, follow 7 till it intersects with 60 at Nimrod lake. Make sure to take a minute and stop at the Dam fro some great pictures. Go east on 60 to Plainview and go east on 28, take a right on 27 to Danville where you will go east on 10. Take 10 to 309 which will take you to the top of Mt Magazine. Again, make sure to take the road into the state park for Mt Magazine Lodge and several scenic loop roads around the top of the mountain. After your stay continue on 309 till it runs into 23 take it north across the Arkansas river where it meets I40 and starts the famous Pig Trail. If you have time to stay for a day or two around Mt Magazine, there are some great wineries to visit in the Arkansas wine country.

The summers can be very hot, so try to make your visit in the spring or fall. Spring is nice but for me the best time is in the fall, where the trees light up the day with fantastic colors not to be missed.

Can’t wait for this weekend ! Getting on my bike and going down to NW Arkansas for a weekend of great motorcycle riding. This part of Arkansas boasts some of the best roads for motorcycles in the US. The Pig Trail and the Arkansas Dragon, just to name a few.

For more info please see Great Rides Arkansas

Will be spending a couple of days there and will be posting more in the next few days !

See You Then !!

Roadgliding

Day 1 : A Cool Trip Down !

Well, I had planned for a nice trip down to Arkansas from KC. Drive by Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake. However, mother nature had other plans !!.

It was supposed to be a partly cloudy day in the mid 70’s. Unfortunatly, it turned out to be cloudy and and in the mid 60’s. Although the day took a turn for the worse I was determined to enjoy the ride no matter the weather.

So after a detour and turning up the tunes, the day soon turned. After I passed Branson, the Sun finally returned. Just in time to have a great ride by Table Lake and over the “Little Golden Gate Bridge of Arkansas” before arriving in Eureka Springs.

The weather looks great for tommorow and I can’t wait to hit the road.

More later,

Roadgliding

Day 2 : Great Day on the Trail of Pigs

It’s morning and after a pretty good breakfast, (for motel food) I was off for a full day of twists and curves!!

First I had to stop at the local Harley store, no bikes just tee shirts. I wanted to stop at Pig trail Harley in Rogers but they closed at 6:00 on Friday and I didn’t get in till 7:00!

I am curious why a Harley shop that is located in one of the hot spots for bikers would close so early on a weekend !! Also, I found out that they close even earlier on Saturday !!

I feel that Harley dealerships should be destinations for bikers ! So why would they not be open later on a weekend ! The laws in Arkansas would not allow them to open on Sunday so why not stay open later on Saturday !!!

Well enough of my bitching, lets get riding !!

I left Gatilnburg going south on 23 , towards the Pig trail. This is a really nice ride through some pretty country !

There seems to be alot of chicken farms that have sprung up which is Ok but they do not smell all that great.

After a great ride down 23, I finally got to the official Pig Trail. Lots of twists and curves with some great stop offs for some beautiful pictures.

There was not a whole lot of traffic for a Saturday, but that was just fine for me. It really sucks to get stuck behind a slow car that refuses to pull over and let enjoy these roads like they were supposed to be. Fast curves with the wind and a big smile on your face !!

After Pig Trail I went east on I-44 and hit 21 n at Clarksville. 21 is a cool ride on it’s own. So drove north to 16. Went east on 16 which connects to 23 so I decided, why not ride the Pig Trail again !!!

After leaving the park I took 265 n to I-49 where I fiiled my tanks and belly and made plans for the final leg of my ride.

Crossed back over to 23 N and headed back to Eureka just as the sun was setting !! Perfect Timing !! I returned to my room stayed in and ordered a pizza and drank some Rye Whiskey, while mapping the route back home.

I was tired from my ride and fell asleep early, but this is a good type of tired . The kind that comes from a full day of enjoying the hell out life !!!

Back Later with Day 3 ,

Roadgliding

Day 3 : A Rain Dodging Return!!

All good things must come to an end, but let’s try to make it as fun as possible !! For my return home I plotted a route that I hoped would give me a great last day of riding. And for the most part I got my wish.

I left Eureka a little late, around 11:00, no real rush to get home, and the weather looked pretty good. I took 23 N, a fun ride on it’s own and crossed the state line, where I hit 86 E to 39 N and then went east on 76.

I Planned this trip for max fun and it did not disappoint !!! The first part was really cool but when I turned on to 86 the ride jumped up to a new level. Riding through excellent country side with some cool bridges I hit 39 and went north to 76.

Along this route there are many water crossings that are part of Table Rock Lake. Nice lake homes line the shores of this really long beautiful waterway. After a few crossings I hit 76 and went east.

This is where it really gets cool !! Great hills with twists and turns that test you, but do not fail to excite ! This is looking to be a really fun stretch. However, a sunday driver has a way to turn a fast track to a slow roll !!

Well, guess what ! Right after I turned into 76E, one of our slow rollers pulled out. With a twisty road and a double yellow line, passing was not an option ! I was determined to get this last good stretch in, so what to do ??

A few miles to my cutoff and I was patting myself on the back for dodging all the rain, when the rain gods spit a couple of drops just to let me know who won !!!

So ends my Arkanas Roadtrip !! It was a real good attitude adjustment to get on the road for a few days with only great riding to ponder !!

So now we have about 3 weeks before we go to Colorado and Oregon for a couple of months. We will be staying for a while so we will be trailering our bikes. So please be on the lookout for updates on our trip at Roadgliding.com !!

See you Down the Road,

Roadgliding

Well, it’s getting closer and closer !!

Just a few more weeks and it’s off again to Colorado and Oregon. Getting motorcycles, Jeep, and Us ready for the trip.

We are going back to the Breckenridge area but not Keystone. Keystone was a little to family oriented for us. To many kids and families for us, we are looking for a slightly older crowd that’s not so noisy.

Will be in Colorado for June and then going to Bend, Oregon for the month of July. After that, we will ride over to South Dakota for a couple of weeks for The Sturgis Rally. I met my wife there and we try to make it back every year !!

I will be updating as we get closer to leaving and will continue to blog for the rest of the summer. See you soon !!!

Motorcycle Trailering Tips

Colorado Surprise

Trailering Tips

In the Shadow of the Sun

North American Total Solar Eclipse 2017

A total eclipse of the sun happens when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun. The moon blocks out the disc of the sun and only the corona is visible. The area underneath is shaded into a deep twilight while the sun looks like a black disc with the corona radiating out.

To view a total eclipse you must be located in the Umbra, along the Path of Totality. A point on the ground where the moon is perfectly aligned to block out the entire disc of the sun. It can be as long as 10,000 miles and only 100 miles wide.

An eclipse can be really cool but also very dangerous. Even though the sun may be covered, the rays can be damaging to the eye. Permanent damage to the eye will occur by staring at the sun even if it is 99.9% covered by the moon.

Stay Tuned to RoadGliding !!! We will be keeping you up to date as this once in a lifetime event draws closer.

I’ve got a question for you.

WHAT MAKES FOR A GREAT SCENIC MOTORCYCLE RIDE?

Awesome Scenery

Tight Curves

Challenging Switchbacks

Unique History

Well, this route has all of these and much more !

Not only is it one of 21 routes designated as an All American Road, this scenic route has also been called ” The Most beautiful roadway in America ” by On the Road correspondent, Charles Kuralt. To top it off, It was voted the USA Today’s Top Ten Motorcycle Trips in 2016.

Rising 10,927 ft over scenic Beartooth Pass, it zig zags through 12,000 ft high peaks of the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountains before falling 5000 ft to Red Lodge Montana. You will pass Waterfalls, Glacier Lakes, Wildlife and Wide High Alpine Plateaus.

Opened in 1936, officially Beartooth Highway starts at Cooke City, Wyoming, it heads east till it meets Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

This byway is named after Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe. Chief Joseph, along with 1000 followers, were fleeing the US Calvary, who were trying to force them into a reservation. They made a valiant effort to get into Canada, but were stopped just 38 miles from the border. His last words

to his followers were “Hear me, my Chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever”.

Then comes the real fun, 7 miles of the most beautiful switchbacks this world has to offer. A twisting 5,000 ft ride down the side of Beartooth Plateau. Make sure to stop at Vista Point rest area, a great place to stop and soak in views of Rock Creek Canyon and Hellroaring Plateau.

As you near Red Lodge, stop for a minute and look back. You have just completed one of the most beautiful, challenging rides this planet has to offer. Spectacular and dangerous, the Chief and the Bear should be on every motorcycle rider’s bucket list, and You just checked them off yours.

WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU TRAVEL:

Check the weather before you go, do not be surprised to see a little snow at the summit

Pack warm clothes. Heated Gloves and Jacket are a plus

Check road conditions, Beartooth closes in the winter

Arkansas boasts some of the best motorcycle rides anywhere and is quickly becoming a must destination for riders looking for new and challenging roads to experience.

Pig Trail

Scenic 71 Loop

The Arkansas Dragon

Push Mountain Road

Mt. Magazine Run

There are just to many great rides in Arkansas to list them all. but for any true motorcycle rider, Arkansas is a definite Bucket List must !!!.