Bikes Blues and BBQ Arkansas - Ride Report 2012

[Oklahoma_Valk]

 O

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

O

That was a short report.........you could have included pics 

[Rams]

It was either, too good to talk about (you know, one of those, what happens here, stays here things), it was one of those events that we simply don't have a need to know or, it was not worth discussing.  I don't know but prefer to believe it is being kept secret so as to not attract the attention of those not worthy of such things.  Who knows, I assure you, I don't.   If I did, I couldn't tell ya. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Wish I could say ....Nice ride report  ???

[wdvalk]

Did he buy a vowel

[Gary]

Always wanted to make one of those, especially while I was living in western OK, guess I wasn't missing much... 

[R J]

Hey Bro, dat was one hell of a good ride report.   I felt like I was riding right along with ya.    Pictures were great also.

Relax Grasshopper, you'll get it right on the next attempt.

[Blues]

I was there... or here that is.  BB&Q happens every fall here in my hometown.  It's exciting as it slowly starts to build.  Vendors come in and start setting up shop.  Due to the numbers, they have had to expand into several venues all over town and the region.  The main run is the Dickson Street entertainment district... another is the UofA Baseball complex and its large parking areas (This is where Harley had their huge new setup showcasing bikes, training new riders, HOG lounges, bike tryout areas, etc.).  There is also the county fairgrounds, Parsons Rodeo Arena for cyclocross, and rides to Eureka Springs and throughout the Ozarks.  Vendors, stages, food trucks and wagons take these areas over... including ultimately the whole town. 
I live on a hill overlooking the town so for me it slowly begins with the sounds of motorcycles throughout the valley. It sounds good at first but by the time the week is over, I am so sick of loud obnoxious V-twinkies... and the ever present LOUD radios playing unrecognizable music... that I can't stand it.  By Friday and Saturday, there were several hundred thousand bikers in the area.  It is impossible to ride in this traffic... its all stop and go, mostly stop!  During the peaks in the evening, it's foot traffic only... and even that's dangerous. 
Actually a great and fantastic time... just difficult to live with 24/7. Luckily, there were very few accidents and conflicts... everyone seemed to get along great.  The crowd this event attracts seems to be a bit older, more affluent... a bit different that what you might see at Sturgis, Laconia or Daytona.
Sorry I didn't get any pics but here are a couple of local links:
http://www.bikesbluesandbbq.org/rally-info/photos/
http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2012/09/28/2012-bikes-blues-bbq-rally-continues-through-saturday/
Plan to come next year.  i would love to see a few more Valks in this mess!

[Oklahoma_Valk]

Oops. Sorry fellers. I hit the wrong key right at the end.  Man I had a great report typed up too.

Anywho....it was tons of fun. ~400 miles round trip from central Oklahoma. Embassy suites in Rogers, AK was awesome.



mom and dad














pre-flight







new face gear hehe


you know the feeling?






More pics to come. Loved the Rally Highly reccomend!! 

[Oklahoma_Valk]

I was there... or here that is.  BB&Q happens every fall here in my hometown.  It's exciting as it slowly starts to build.  Vendors come in and start setting up shop.  Due to the numbers, they have had to expand into several venues all over town and the region.  The main run is the Dickson Street entertainment district... another is the UofA Baseball complex and its large parking areas (This is where Harley had their huge new setup showcasing bikes, training new riders, HOG lounges, bike tryout areas, etc.).  There is also the county fairgrounds, Parsons Rodeo Arena for cyclocross, and rides to Eureka Springs and throughout the Ozarks.  Vendors, stages, food trucks and wagons take these areas over... including ultimately the whole town. 
I live on a hill overlooking the town so for me it slowly begins with the sounds of motorcycles throughout the valley. It sounds good at first but by the time the week is over, I am so sick of loud obnoxious V-twinkies... and the ever present LOUD radios playing unrecognizable music... that I can't stand it.  By Friday and Saturday, there were several hundred thousand bikers in the area.  It is impossible to ride in this traffic... its all stop and go, mostly stop!  During the peaks in the evening, it's foot traffic only... and even that's dangerous. 
Actually a great and fantastic time... just difficult to live with 24/7. Luckily, there were very few accidents and conflicts... everyone seemed to get along great.  The crowd this event attracts seems to be a bit older, more affluent... a bit different that what you might see at Sturgis, Laconia or Daytona.
Sorry I didn't get any pics but here are a couple of local links:
http://www.bikesbluesandbbq.org/rally-info/photos/
http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2012/09/28/2012-bikes-blues-bbq-rally-continues-through-saturday/
Plan to come next year.  i would love to see a few more Valks in this mess!

Hey I think I saw your bike there. Were you parked on Dickson, right across from AquaFire?

[Willow]

... Embassy suites in Rogers, AK was awesome. 

You rode to Alaska!?   

[Mike in AR]

Willow, I was wondering the same thing.

[rare_gem4u]

i was there and a part of the festivities. we always camp on mulberry mt on the pig trail away from all the crowds. love camping there and love that part of the country. its true, very few valks in the mix but  actually makes me feel kinda special to ride through on one, almost like i know the secret that very few know...lol...

[Blues]

i was there and a part of the festivities. we always camp on mulberry mt on the pig trail away from all the crowds. love camping there and love that part of the country.

What a place... in the middle of some great country.  Although it's a bit far from the center of festivities, you probably have to go that far to get away from the crowds!  And what a great ride there and back!  The Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Fest is just around the corner...

its true, very few valks in the mix but  actually makes me feel kinda special to ride through on one, almost like i know the secret that very few know...lol...

I know just how you feel.  I always feel the same way.  I try not to be smug but when surrounded by so many Harleys, it's hard not to.

Hey I think I saw your bike there. Were you parked on Dickson, right across from AquaFire?

At one point I was parked in that area... mainly on Wednesday or Thursday, maybe Friday.  After the big crowds started coming in, I decided to ride elsewhere.  Out of 2 or 3 hundred thousand bikers, you've gotta figure that at least half of them don't know how to ride.  The remaining percentages don't give me confidence.  I spend all my time as it is looking out for cages... tough when you have to add bikes into the mix.

Hopefully we will get an estimate on the actual attendance pretty soon.  I'll pass that on as soon as I hear.

[Oklahoma_Valk]

Blues- you aint kidding about the "so many harleys" part. Holy cow! I've never seen so many harleys in all of my life. Never seen so many bikes in all of my life. I really thought I'd see more variety in the crowd than I did. I think 80% of all bikes there were HD.

some snubbed, others awed at the fat lady. Admittedly I had to do a couple of big burnouts while cruising down Dickson street. Had to prove that I could do more than just make loud noises. HAHA!

Do pass the numbers along. I'd love to hear how many were in attendance.


-James