8-2-13 (Day 9 - Branson, Mo.)

Peel Ferry Ride Across Bull Shoals Lake

We had another great day of riding today.  We rode the Peel Ferry Route. This loop extends from Harrison, Arkansas to Branson, Missouri .   It is 110 miles with 378 curves plus a few more miles and curves we added to the loop.

We left around 9:30 and got back around 3.  It was a cloudy day.  We packed our rain gear and helmets.  We didn't need the rain gear, but needed  the helmets in Missouri, state law.

We saw a buck with really big horns close to the Arkansas/Missouri state line.  Luckily, he saw us coming and decided not to cross the road in front of us.

The ferry ride across Bull Shoals Lake on the Peel Ferry was fantastic. The guys running the ferry were really nice.  The ferry started after part of Arkansas Highway 125 was covered with water when the White River was dammed up to make Bull Shoals Lake.   

Our timing of the ferry was perfect.  We arrived, was the first to load, waited about 10 minutes, then departed across.  There was only one pickup truck on the ferry with us. 

We rode around Branson and Table Rock Lake.  We stopped to eat at The Great American Steak and Chicken House, home of the tallest chicken.

We had a lot more traffic to deal with today in Branson and Harrison than we usually have.  This loop was well worth dealing with the traffic.  We enjoyed the ride today, but prefer the winding country roads over the congested roads in the towns. 

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/P2siBoCTMVNM7eiA7

 

8-1-13 (Day 8 - Eureka Springs Backroads Route)

The day started overcast and a little cool.  The sun came out and the temps got in the low 80's.  Perfect motorcycle riding weather.

We road the Eureka Springs Backroads Route.  According to the brochure this loop is 132 miles with 571 curves.  It took us 6 hours to make the loop. There was a lot of pretty scenery on this route. 

We had read in the brochure that there were elk in Ponca.  I didn't think we would see them this time of year.  I was pleasantly surprised when we saw several elk in a field. 

Eureka Springs was a bigger town than I expected.  It had a lot of shops.  We saw a couple of deer in town.  We stopped at the Pig Trail Harley Davidson shop in Eureka Springs, of course, I had to have a shirt.

We had a nice picnic lunch by a creek in Berryville.  We made it back to camp and went to Wally World to buy chicken to grill tonight.

After grilling and eating  our chicken, we turned on the TV.  We found Magnum PI and watched 2 episodes.  This brought memories of when we were newlyweds.  We would watch Magnum PI while eating Pork Chops and Stove Top Stuffing in the living room at the coffee table.  I thought Stove Top Stuffing was delicious.  Lauren was not quite as enthused about it.

Unfortunately, the chance of rain goes up starting tomorrow through next Wednesday.  Hopefully, it will wait till nighttime to rain.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/wtSk8fTKBPWcPvLN6

7-31-13 (Day 7 - Time for a ride)

Bull Shoals Dam

We had planned to get an early start today.  It didn't happen.  We got up around 7:30 and started our ride at 10 o'clock.

We left the campground and headed to Mountain Home.  We left there and went to Bull Shoals.  We stopped at the Bull Shoals State Park and had our picnic lunch and continued with our travels.

We had beautifully weather today except it was hot.  We shedded our leather vest at the first stop we made.

We made a stop at Buffalo River and took a nice break.  We traveled to Jasper and back around to the campground.  The roads were CURVY with lots of pretty views.

We got back to camp around 3:30. It has been a  long day sitting still and clenching my butt going around the curves. I was so ready to get off the motorcycle today,  but can't wait to go again tomorrow.

We had white beans and rice with cornbread fritters for supper tonight. Yummy!!

We watched the lightning bugs tonight. It takes me back in time of memories of my childhood.   Awesome.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/SDvuHTnXTn29TN3k9

7-30-13 (Day 6 - Harrison, Arkansas)



Dang Cat!!!!!!

It rained off and on today.  We were not able to ride the motorcycle.  We washed clothes, ironed, and cleaned up the camper.

It was a good day to catch up on chores and play on the computers. Hopefully, tomorrow we will get out and ride.

7-29-13 (Day 5 - Move to Harrison)

We took a 2 1/2 hour ride driving 115 miles to Shady Oaks Campground in Harrison, Arkansas.  We are planning on staying here for a week.

It was an uneventful ride here.  A lot of curves and hills.  Pretty ride.  Thank goodness, it looks like the truck and camper are compatible. 

The campground is nice, quiet, shady, and tight.  We have a big pull thru that we had to manipulate the camper to get the slides out.  The owner is very friendly.

We took a ride to Walmart and got porkchops to grill.  We also bought a new coffee pot being our oldie but goodie peculator quit working a few days ago. 

The minute I put Ferny in the camper from the truck, she was ready to go out. She loves it here. This campground has the Ferny stamp of approval.

We left the Harley in the garage tonight because of the 80% chance of rain tomorrow.  Good thing we have cable TV and internet. 


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/WUTbAstELUJs39XD6

7-28-13 (Day 4 - Greers Ferry)

Fernykat decided that we needed to get up early this morning.  She pounced on me and meowed at 6:30 am.  She was wrong.  We didn't get up until 8.

We took our time getting up and about.  After my shower, I reached in the  closet to put up my robe.  I had no clue Ferny was on the shelf sleeping.  She moved, I screamed, She jumped as high as the ceiling.  I guess I got her back for waking us up.

We took a ride to Clinton.  Another pretty ride.  We saw a sign for Natural Bridge, Arkansas.  We decided to take a look.  It was the best mile we traveled today.  Nothing but switchback curves.  We loved it.  We had our picnic lunch and headed back to camp. 

We got the hiking poles and headed to Sugarloaf Mountain.  It is about a mile long round trip hike with an elevation of 690 feet.  We got to the point where we needed to shimmy up the rocks to the top.  We started up, Lauren stopped and looked back at me, and decided that we didn't need to do this.  Lauren knew if we made it to the top that he was going to have to get me down.  Smart man considering he has had to get me out of trees that I have climbed.

It looks like a ghost town in the campground tonight.  We are enjoying our nice, quiet campsite tonight.  We are heading to Harrison tomorrow.

 Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/EspEQjDqTNDpup6EA

7-27-13 (Day 3 - Ride to Mountain View)

The highs today were in the mid 80's, it felt like fall weather.  Perfect weather for riding the motorcycle.

We attempted to go to the cardboard boat races at Sandy Beach,  We changed our minds when we were only able to go a block in 10 minutes and had several more to go.

We road to Mountain View.  There was a lot of pretty scenery, but too many trees to get good pictures.  We ate our picnic lunch at the Ozark Folk Center and headed back.

We went back by Sandy Beach. The races were over but still a lot of boats to take pictures of.  It is amazing what people can do with cardboard.

We went to the visitor's center and Hiked the Mossy Bluff trail to the overlook.  The trail was 1.6 miles round trip.  At the end of the trail were 91 steps up to the overlook.  I know this because I counted each and everyone of them.  We saw a pretty view of the Greers Ferry Dam and the Little Red River.

When we returned to the motorcycle we drove the Buckeye Trail to the overlook.  A whole lot easier than the hiking trail.

We ate chili cheese burgers and fries for supper listening to our neighbors music.  Good thing we like the same kind of music.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/cLzxSTyFUhzCDUat8