Fall Color Ride to Hot Springs and the Talimena Parkway

[Ghillie]

Houdini and I were discussing a ride in Arkansas to see the leaves change. October is kind of a busy month but it does have 5 weekends and probably some of the best riding weather we see all year. So I need some feedback from interested parties.

The ride would leave early on a Sat morning, go up through Mena and across to Hot Springs. It is about 6 hours saddle time. Obviously a stop for lunch somewhere, but even with gas, food and photo ops we should roll into HS in the early evening. Time to look around, goof off, and have dinner. Sun morn we have some breakfast and head north towards Jessieville and across the top of the Ouchita National Forest, drop down and catch a piece of the parkway before coming back through Clarksville and back home.

First weekend of October is the Ride For Kids, 5th weekend of October is Flatbusted's Romp in the Swomp over towards New Orleans. I don't see anyone from DFW on the list yet but alot of the Houston group is there. 3rd weekend would traditionally be our ride weekend. We should probably schedule a Wrenchin' party to take care of any little problems or maintenance for those who want to do the ride.

Seems like some great riding opportunities.

Summarized:
October 3rd Ride For Kids
October 9-10 open
October 16-17 open
October 23-24 CMA weekend in Hot Springs
October 30-31 Romp in the Swomp

[Baldwin]

In, just say when!

[LemonDrop]

October 20-24, 2010  is CMA's weekend up there.  There will be about 2,000 bikes up there, and it is NOT a good time to be up there, with cars and that many bikes already.  Just a thought

[Ghillie]

available dates modified, that leaves 2nd and 3rd weekends and halloween weekend if no one is interested in romp in the swamp,

[RainMaker]

available dates modified, that leaves 2nd and 3rd weekends and halloween weekend if no one is interested in romp in the swamp,

Don't stomp on Romp in the Swamp!   That would be "impolite".  Had an issue a couple of years ago with a Hill Country ride and the Swamp Romp so don't want to repeat that.

[Houdini]

I don't see any reason why riders not going to the romp can't go to Arkansas.  That being said I won't be available for either activity that weekend; I'll be either trick or treating or on a Caribbean vacation.

[Ghillie]

ok that leaves 2nd and third weekends and third weekend is the weekend of the regular club ride,

How's that work for a great escape for the great escape artisit

[Patron]

I have done two "fall leaf rides" in Arkansas.  Both were the first week-end of November.  The fist one we hit the color at the peak of color and was great.  The second one we missed the color and most leaves had turned brown and a lot had already fallen; but, that year was a very dry year with a very early freeze and there wasn't much color anyway due to weather conditions.  So, mid October might be a little early.  

Elk in the hidden valley just west of Jasper, Arkansas
As you can see the leaf color was a pretty good backdrop.

[RainMaker]

I don't see any reason why riders not going to the romp can't go to Arkansas. 

There might be some who want to go to both, but then have to choose which one to attend.  With the relatively limited number of such events held each year, why schedule them at the same time?  You might have riders from outside our DFW group who would like to participate in the Arkansas ride that have already committed to the Romp.  We actually force down the pool of prospective riders by purposely scheduling the Arkansas ride the same weekend as the Romp.   It just doesn't make sense to me.   

It's one of those unwritten laws not to put such multi-day events on top of each other.  It was violated once and caused some hurt feelings.  It's just too easy not to schedule on top of the Romp when we know when it is.

Personally, I think it should be in November, a few weeks after the Romp, not the weekend before or after.  Same reasons - we cut down our prospective pool of riders by scheduling too close.

Those are my opinions and you will probably disagree.  So it goes.

[Ghillie]

The trouble with an Arkansas fall color ride is the season for color is short and sweet and highly variable.
There is generally only one weekend for great color, a week earlier you might get some color and a week later you will get mostly brown. The CMA weekend, or the Romp weekend, or the first weekend of November are really the best options to see some color. Pretty good odds that the second or third week of November will have gone mostly brown. I am getting this info from people like Patron who have done rides in years past and from the state of AR tourist board. I personally have a conflict the first weekend of Nov, therefore I didn't throw it out there. If someone else wants to take the reins for organizing the ride, my feelings will not be hurt if it gets scheduled on that weekend. Other than that, it looks like the third weekend of October is our best option, or the fourth weekend  and I can locate someplace other than Hot Springs to stay in such as Mena or a lodge in the Ouchita Forest. Third week of October is likely to have decent weather and the possibility of SOME color as the nights should already have started cooling off. Even if we miss all the color, it will still be a comfortable, beautiful, ride. There are some motorcycle friendly places to stay in the area that offer great mountain views and have BBQ grills and such. Since I expect to have a support vehicle going on the trip, I am totally open to taking up an offering hauling the necessary coolers and equipment and grilling dinner at our evening stop. We always used to handle our scuba diving trips this way.

Once again it is time for community feedback. Chuck you and I have been talking about this ride for over a year, what are your thoughts?

[godfire]

Honda Chapter 99 in Rockwall did a fall color ride for years and the window is usually larger than one weekend.
That said, it is also hit and miss in Arkansas. Some years are great for two to three weeks, other years are not so much at any time.

Hope this helps:

http://www.arkansas.com/calendar/fall_foliage_pg1.aspx

[Ghillie]

Rainmaker,

I totally agree with you. It is poor form to schedule a regional type event on top of another brother's  regional event. The only reason I was considering it at all was that no one in our area was on the list for the Romp. But you are right in that it is certainly easy enough to pick a weekend that doesn't conflict. It's really those CMA guys that are screwing with my schedule though.

[godfire]

Rainmaker,

I totally agree with you. It is poor form to schedule a regional type event on top of another brother's  regional event. The only reason I was considering it at all was that no one in our area was on the list for the Romp. But you are right in that it is certainly easy enough to pick a weekend that doesn't conflict. It's really those CMA guys that are screwing with my schedule though.

I attended the CMA event many years ago and it was centered around Mena.
Maybe we should look at what they are doing and just avoid them.......

Plenty of good roads north of Russelville and still doable in a weekend.

[Houdini]

Chuck you and I have been talking about this ride for over a year, what are your thoughts?

I'm waiting to hear back from my brother about the Caribbean so we know what week we are going to go.  Halloween is celebrated in our family so I will be taking my girls trick or treating if we are not on vacation.  The first weekend of November would probably work best for me Chris.

There might be some who want to go to both, but then have to choose which one to attend.

Such is life.  If I have no intention of going to one event I have no problem making other plans.  It's pretty much irrelevant in my mind since I will probably not be doing either event on that weekend. 

[Ghillie]

OK, Gonna wait and see what develops on Houdini's calendar and then make a decision.

The CMA is staying at Iron Mountain south of Mena. I say that although we might see a few more motorcycle on the parkway that weekend, that it would not affect getting a good rate at hotels near Hot Springs or affect our ability to have an enjoyable ride.

Based on current feedback it looks as if we are headed out either the 23-24 of Oct or the First weekend of Nov

[bigguy]

Sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind tagging along if it's on a weekend when I can. I'm in Texarkana, so I'd probably just meet you guys somewhere on your way up.

Photo gallery of our run up to Queen Wilhelmina lodge Sept. 2009

[confederatemule]

This is none of my business, but I am going to offer my thoughts anyway.

I've had many years of riding West Arkansas.

On the CMA "Changing of Colors" weekend there will be no rooms available around Mena. Other than that, I see no reason not to be able to enjoy your time in the Mena area. The CMA folks will be glad to have you around.

My experience has shone me that "normally" the last week end of October or first weekend of November are best for color. But, as mentioned above, this timing is flexible.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Mule

[RainMaker]

Welcome to the Texas Board, Mule!

This is none of my business, but I am going to offer my thoughts anyway.

That's pretty much how it works for all of us...

[Ghillie]

Look at how this topic is drawing people in. Mule has been a member since May and it took a discussion about Arkansas to get him to speak up YEEE HAW!

[Houdini]

Mary just informed me that the first Saturday in November is her birthday.  If I take her on a cruise late October I should be able to get a pass for this weekend; otherwise I am SOL and the only weekend I'll be available is Oct. 23 & 24.

Chris, I'll let you know as soon as I know.

[Ghillie]

I don't know that you should even try to get a pass, but hey it's your marriage.

[T-Roy]

Collin County Children's Advocacy Center's 18th Annual Teddy Bear Ride is November 7, 2010. (Always the first Sunday of November.)

[Baldwin]

I rode last year the same weekend as the CMA event.  We rode to Texarkana Friday night, then to Hot Springs on Saturday.  Spent all day Saturday riding around Hot Springs.  Then Sunday we rode Talimena Trail and then hooked 'em home.  We had no problem getting a hotel in Hot Springs.  Like was said before, CMA centers around Mena. 

[Patron]

The "fall leaf rides" we have made we stayed in Russellville.  It will get you far enough away from Mena and the CMA group to find good, reasonably priced motels that are accustomed to motorcycle groups.  The roads north of Russellville are outstanding; the hidden valley, pig trail, turners bend are hard to beat.  Not much farther than Mena.  Get to do the Talamena trail comming and goingl.  There is a large Honda dealer in Russellville for the "just in case" emergency; they were a life saver on one trip.

Just a suggestion to think about.

Stan

[BnB Tom]

It ALL sounds great!  Pick a weekend and I'll adjust my schedule to match up.

  Lori and I haven't ridden thru ARKANSAS so ANY ride there is going to be fantastic.   

Tom

[Ghillie]

I am saving the area north of I-40 for a spring break ride.

[oldman]

Well if you decide to make the Mena and or Hot Springs ride let us know, our Valk group has grown to five just recently and as far as I know all of us love that ride. Just depending on which weekend our Texarkana group could run any where from one to ten, might even get my buddy Mule to join us .

[Ghillie]

The ride will happen, so I will keep in mind to plan to meetup on the way.

[BnB Tom]

 Any further thoughts about the Fall Color Ride?  ???

[volvobob]

  I go every year and stay at The Hub in Marble Falls, Arkansas. The Hub will have a group up there next weekend as they usually do every weekend this time of year but they have 50 rooms available I believe.   I call them for a room before i go just to make sure and the owner Randal gives me the report on the foilage. This maybe to far north for you city riders but i leave Friday morning and come back sunday or monday evening.  See yeah in Arkansas....  The Hub 800-597-9963  No i do not own The Hub just been there a few times.  thanks  volvobob

[Ghillie]

well since my situation has changed, i cant plan to go. Houdini never gave me a clear date but i know of at least one group going the weekend of the 30th.  If there are enough interested, i would try to put a ride together for next weekend. The weekends of the 30th and the 6th are out for me.