The ol' homestead

3 day bike run

   We have made it back from our 3 day excursion and enjoyed every minute of it. We decided since rain would be traveling up from the East, that that would be the direction we would travel (there is no reasoning in this) We dropped down in the state and tried to tour the Amish community but because of road construction on a bridge and an unexpected detour, we did not get to tour that area and just enjoyed the surrounding views instead. On that first day the weather was beautiful and we felt one with the land. We rode for many many miles, just soaking up the scenery. As we passed through McAlester, we stopped in for supper at a little famous italian eating place called Pete's Place. It sure was good food (but we DID NOT try the lamb fries) We rode most of the day and stopped in Talihina for the night. As the ground was damp and cold (as we thought it would be) we opted to rent a little cabin and cranked up some heat because we ran into a little rain towards the end of the first day and we were gettin' chilly. Warmth -Oh Heaven!

On day 2, we saddled up and rode into the vast unknown. Okay, we really didn't, but we did start off on the Talimena drive on a warm misty morning -all for about 15 minutes, and then rain set in, for ALL DAY. The Ouchita Mountains were absolutly wonderful and I managed to get several pictures taken before the clouds and rain moved in. So we rode about 100 miles that day in rain, but was able to get rain gear and that helped alot too. Looking out at the valley's and mountains just makes you want to pack your stuff and become a mountain man I'm telling you. On day 3 we packed and left for home. Rode all day but it was really warm and we stopped for rest quite often, as riding 3 days straight was starting to wear on us a little. We loved it though and did much better than we thought we might.

Starting out on the Talimena Drive...

It started out very warm and sunny....

Beautiful clouds washed over us..

Soon clouds and mist moved in....

This "cloud" dropped a couple inches of rain on us

Everyone's got a story if you just ask. The story of this bride was that she was waiting in a lodge bathroom when I came upon her and we visited and she was telling me about her gown she sewed and worked on for 7 years -before she ever met the man she would marry.
Awesome story!

On one stop, I visited with a troop of Boy Scouts who had just hiked back up from the valley where they spent the night. They were on a 25 mile hike. Every young boys dream.

Frontier Man shakin' off the cold and suckin up the mountains.... he is a frontier man after all.

Because of rain, we used better judgement and rented this little cabin -SWEET!

Many, many miles from my view...

Yes, we are as cold as we look as we had just rode in 50 miles of rain ... but it was so worth it. On this stop we met a biker from Tyler Tx, who had a 2009 BMW bike that he had already put 32,000 miles on it!

On day 3, packing the bike the morning we left for home

Yes, the famous Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner, never seen a hateful hussy though!

We had some rain, met good people, ate great food and we had a blast. We can't wait for the next 8 years is here so we can do it again!

Untitled Comment

10:31, Thursday, May 28, 2009 .. Posted by HeartsandHugs

Oh what a ride huh? I so love getting on our harley and doing the same thing.The pictures are so awesome.I live in Florida and we have sun and sand {which I love} but I grew up in the mountains and love them as well.To look at them and live here especially in the winter time.We were going to Georgia and had reservations at Amicolola Falls but had to cancel because of all the rain.Were going to surprise my husbands family...But, we will do that after all this rain so we can take the bike:) Thanks for the journey and so glad you all had a good time!