The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Ride Reports and Event Reviews => Topic started by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on May 22, 2008, 10:06:30 PM
-
Good trip.
I left last Thursday morning at about 9am. Overcast and cool. Nice, I didn't need sunglasses. I had a tailwind, and 470 miles of interstate highway to get me to Springfield, MO for the first night.
I stayed with Ron & Teresa Moss, who would be riding their Concours on Friday. I had just a little bit of light rain after St. Louis (past midpoint), and it quit before I arrived.
Friday, I let Ron lead and I just followed and enjoyed the new scenery. We followed two-lane as much as we could, but NW Arkansas is getting built-up, and the quickest way through it is usually expressway.
We arrived about 5pm. I quickly met Raygun, and his son, Elijah, who was piloting a Bronco Brown '79 R65!
Elijah was also getting ready to celebrate his 16th birthday on the Monday after the rally!
I gave him an Indy 500 cap that I picked up to bring to the rally. Sort of a Youngest Rider Award (slightly off topic, but relevant for me...)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F97433034%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=b54e2ae8f6be56e03eea31db18de805fd530f2bb) (http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/image/97433034/large)(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F97433037%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=f398d8c37f6ba1efb87f07b0c4a8f846ec1d88b8)
click for larger Elijah and proud Dad
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F97433014%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=2af4e6d56da41496843be4747d27c2513ad63994) (http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/image/97433014/large)(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F97433017%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=ce8b92ba4487321c8e27df1db6750414478db0aa)
Raygun's R1150 Cruiser in the background Two Bronco Brown '79's
Brad Belk was at the rally, as well. Apparently Brad knows how to lay out and lead a fun ride, from what I heard. I didn't go out riding all weekend.
But Brad's son is an amazing guitarist/vocalist/writer! He entertained us on guitars that our host, Ken, has made. Raygun made some pretty good videos of the music. I'm sure he will post them. If he doesn't...
I hung around until Monday morning, and took the small roads home. The first day's highlights were the Pigs Tail Highway (http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/ar23.html) going north, and then before I reached Missouri, I turned east on 412/62. Before Mountain Home, I stopped and had lunch. A very good hamburger! A nice little restaurant between a busy two-lane highway in town, and a flowing creek, with lots of shade trees in the parking lot!
A little bit after Mtn. Home, I turned north again, and headed into Missouri, destination: Big Spring Motel in Van Buren.
I got there with little drama, but I stupidly parked my bike on the sidestand in rough gravel... of course it fell over, and it seems the brunt of the force was felt by the top of the GPS recever (http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/image/97433142/medium)... :'(
It does, amazingly, still function. There is enough of the screen unaffected that I can see two small data fields in the corner to give me my speedometer and my tripmeter. But I don't think it is very waterproof.
Day two coming home started off with a nice road through Missouri forests on highway 34 over to Cape Girardeau.
Without my GPS to point me the way to Grassroots BMW, in the heart of town, I decided not to stop (and hunt for it). It is a nice, airhead friendly shop.
As it was, a stop would have made me later getting home than I wanted.
I crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois and went up to the first major small road headed due east and took it.
That took me into Vienna, Illinois, for a hamburger at Dottie's that was even better than Mondays! It pays to shop around! I will remember that place. ;)
Then it was a NE highway up to Vincennes, Indiana, where I crossed the Wabash River and was "back home, again"...
Of course the last 3 hours are always the longest...
Even with the pain, it was worth it. The only thing that makes it hard is leaving my cat at home. I am all she has, and she may be a dumb animal, but I know that she wants me there every day when she expects it... I am going to check with my neighbor for the Gathering of the Clans. He is a pretty nice guy, and is right there.
My seat did well. I would say on par with a new one of the day. I gave away my beaded seat-cover at Boxerworks. Too painful.
I also was happy to remove the Butt Buffer (https://commerce.vertex.net/buttbuffer/purchase.asp). But I rode long hours on slower (and less windy) roads with few stops. Just once for lunch and a little at the gas pumps.
I'm looking forward to June 13th!
-
Hi Rob -
Nice trip report ! Sorry that your Legend GPS received the special new crinkly finish treatment - I am amazed that the electronics
were still working - I believe that the antenna for that unit is a "stamp" antenna at the top, inside of the cover (which it appears took
the brunt of the impact). anyhow, glad that you are home safe and sound.
What a coincidence - ANOTHER bronco R65 ! Did you get your rear wheel bearings looked at ?
I may be going to check out a 1979 R65 that is for sale here in NH sometime next week.. wanna wager whether or not it is a Bronco
Brown model ?
P.S.. Boy, I tell you - that Paris Hilton sure seems to get around alot.
-
Hey Rob! You made it! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Sounds like you had a great time and a nice ride all around. I don't know that area at all, so I'm going to have to look at a map. Good story. But too bad you mushed your GPS. :( I think parking lots are dangerous!
I did look at yor pictures. What nice sunset pictures. Looks like a really beautiful place.
Thanks for your story Rob!
-
Sounds like a good trip overall Rob, and I'm glad.
Cats? How do I put this... I wish they missed us as much as we think they do when we're gone, but I doubt they do. I think if they have food, water, and a warm place to bunk, they are fine.
But who will they follow around and spy upon while we're gone?
-
nhmaf: Yes, we replaced my wheel bearings. They really didn't need it, but I am pretty sure they were original, and I had the new ones sitting there, so I decided to go ahead with it. It was really nice to have the advice and tools of a few different people that had been there before. I could collect opinions and average them out!
Ed: Unlike you, I only have the one cat, and she really likes it that way. I also live by myself, so when I am gone, that is it for her.
She also relishes the time when I am at home, because I leave the back door open and she can come and go inside and out as she pleases.
It pleases me to please another.
-
Yay! Great trip report! I love successful R65 road stories. ;D
Riding the Blueberry to Ken's could happen some day... *sigh*
I am SO glad the new seat is working out for you. That is FAB!