Ride Report Drex and Bill's 4th of July Adventure

[wswartzwel]

I had a need for some miles this weekend so I talked Drex (aka hdd3md) into riding this weekend. My original plan was to go to Asheville NC.
Trailer mine and Drex's bikes, then go ride some of the roads the boys over in NC. always talk about... But after posting on our board that I might be going that way, I didn't get any bites, or offers to meet/show us around... from anyone. So Drex and I decided to ride around Missouri... Which BTW can hold it own to most states when it comes to miles and miles of twisty pavement... With zero traffic, and minimal Police, it is like having your own playground.
I left Sat. morning to meet Drex at Alton Missouri, 200 miles from my house and about the same from His place. Alton is right in the heart of Sport bike Nirvanna. Missouri has thousands of miles of wonderful roads with a variety of rolling hills, tight technical roads with lots of blind decreasing radius turns, and mild sweeping corners. It is a great place to ride. On the way up the weather was "Mah'vehlus" 75 degrees... I stopped at the Mo/Ar stateline at Mammoth Springs State park and took a few photos.

This is the small dam that used to provide power for the community






The hydroelectric generator


Then I continued up to Alton to meet Drex. He wasn't there, so I checked my phone messages.. Couln't make out the message very well... but it was clear he was still at home. I tried to called back and left a message that I would continue north rather than waiting.. Met Drex at Jefferon City He had just pulled off the side of the road to call me and looked up as I came around the bend. We went back south to Rolla, Mo. where we talked and ate lunch at Steak and Shake... mmm yummy I already had a gigabyte of video in my camera so I uploaded it to my laptop while Drex went to Lowes in search of some new batteries for his heads up display for his radar detector... Unneccessary.... as we never saw a cop all day. We then headed south through Salem, and Bunker, and rode some really really good roads. We also went by Clearwater lake to inspect a concrete wall I hit hard back in 99... it was still there, and so were some pieces of plastic and bits of the Ducati headlamp glass.. ahh sweet memories. We rode some more good roads






Then headed toward Poplar Bluff where we planned to spend the night...
The Gal at the Holiday Inn shocked us when she said they were booked... as well as every Hotel in the region... we went to the Lounge to get a bite and try to decide what to do. After calling every major town and discovering the same thing we gave up and decided to call it quits. We left in opposite directions and I rolled into the garage at 1:15 am.. My need for miles was fulfilled

New videos at the bottom of my web page. http://users.conwaycorp.net/bswartz/
Starting with welcome to Missouri... (20 mile long roller coaster... the G forces actually press you down into the tank at speed) I should have some more videos up later today. I post these videos for the purpose of showing people what kind of riding is available...and try to compress the files as small as possible, but sometimes the quality is too bad when compressed, so I have to save them as a larger file so they show how nice the riding can be in the "show Me" state...
The whole day was spent on twisty roads with almost zero traffic in the rural areas... what a blast!!! (19 hrs. over 800 miles)

[wswartzwel]

finished loading the videos... My favorite http://photo.tcworks.net/albums/album44/HWY19.wmv

miles and miles (94.6 according to Garmin) of 45 mph turns, very little traffic reminds me of the foothills pkwy but without the rangers!!!.... it begs to be ridden at a 100.. but 80 will keep you out of jail

[Trex]

Thanks for sharing. I was on the bike from 9 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon. 260 miles bop'n around southern Lancaster County. What a great day.

[johnty288]

Thanks for this post Wswartzwel. I'm sure I have been on some of the same roads, I agree that Missouri is underrated as a great riding state. Lets keep it that way? Looking forward to my annual trip to Arkansas, enjoying Missouri going out and back.

[wswartzwel]

Better wait a couple months... the summer sauna has arrived early this year.... 42percent humidity today

[johnty288]

Yeah, end of September or early October is best.