8-5-13 (Day 12 - Queen Wilhelmina)

It took a while to maneuver the truck and camper out of the tight spot at Shady Oak Campground this morning.  Thankfully, we didn't tear up anything getting out.

Lauren has wanted an upgrade for our camera for about a year now.  Guess what, he got his wish.  I accidently dropped the camera on the pavement at a Wal-Mart in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  The camera we have had for 4 years is done.  OUCH!!!!!!!

It is the camera that I took pics through Stugis, Mount Rishmore, Cody, etc.

This camera also took our pictures at Yellowstone, Glacier National Park. etc.

Not to mention, it is the camera of OUR Alaska adventure.

We were broken hearted when we realized that this camera was DONE!!!

We saw a Best Buy and pulled in.  Lauren told the sales girl that we needed a new camera because we were on vacation and His wife broke ours.  She laughed. Thought he was kidding.  He wasn't.  Unfortunately.....

Before we went into Best Buy we decided to put Fernykat in the camper so she wouldn't be hot.  She decided to play hide and seek.  We couldn't find her when we got back.  She climbed under our bed, that is usually slid out.  Lauren had his flashlight and tools to dismantle the bed.  Thankfully, her highness decided to make her appearance before Lauren dismantled the camper .

We made it to the campground at Queen Wilhelmina State Park after about 5 1/2 hours.  It was a long ride.  It is very nice park,

Fernykat loves it.  If  Fernykat is happy, everybody is happy!!!!

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/T8iVCmaL8WnDSYho6

8-4-13 (Day 11 - Rained Out)

Rain early

 

Fernykat had enough of us sleeping this morning.  She jumped on me and meowed as loud as she could.  Glad she did. It was almost 8 o'clock.

It was really humid this morning.  We decided to wait and see what the rain was going to do before taking off on the motorcycle. We didn't ride.   It started raining around 1 pm. 

We washed clothes, stocked up at Wal-Mart, and loaded the Harley in the garage.  We stopped at McDonald's on the way back from Wal-Mart.  I had a dip cone and Lauren had a caramel shake.  It wasn't the dip cone that Zesto makes, but it was okay.

We took advantage of the cooler temps and built a wonderful campfire tonight. 

We are heading toward the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line tomorrow for a few days.  We are planning on riding the Talimena Scenic Drive. Fortunately, the prediction is for a lower chance of rain.   Unfortunately, the prediction is for the high temperature of around 102 degrees.

It has only been in the 90's and hot one day during the last week.  Most days, the temps have been staying in the low 80's.  Today it was in the mid 70's.  We are going to melt!

I hope our Fernykat alarm clock for the next few days goes off early enough to beat the heat.

campfire at the end of the day

8-3-13 (Day 10 - Ozark Moonshine Run)

 Grand Canyon Of the Ozarks

When we heard thunder at 6 a.m., we thought we were in for the day.  We weren't.  It cleared up around 1:30 and off we went.

We went around curve, after curve, after curve.......  Another pretty ride on some pretty curvy roads, on a pretty day, in Arkansas.

We looked up and saw a hawk flying above us with a snake in his claws.   Needless to say, there is no picture. I was too busy praying that he wouldn't drop it. 

We might get another ride in tomorrow if Mother Nature will let us.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/TfG9pw5xoyhTumZcA

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.