Made it back home today in one piece and ready to kick back and relax.
For those not familiar with the Twisty Butt Association it is a group that certifies riders have completed 500 miles of twisty roads in less than 12 hours. Not to be confused with Iron Butts that complete 1000 miles in 24 hours. In my opinion the Twisty Butt is much better in that your miles are on more challenging roads and a greater level of concentration is involved.
In Arkansas the 500 mile course is called the Arkansas All Day.
My Friend Dave joined me for the trip and we decided to leave early Friday the 2nd. The forecast called for thunderstorms and the wind was gusting up to 40 mph, luckily we ran just ahead of the storms all the way to Clinton Arkansas with just a few sprinkles.
When we arrived at the hotel most of the group attempting the 500 had already arrived, and after an hour or so of getting to know each other we had dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. The group of riders are good people from as far as northern Illinois, northern Iowa, southern Florida Texas, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas. The guy from Florida on an FJR has just completed a Twisty Butt in Georgia last week and drove here this week to do another! I can't say enough about how the guys that put this thing together, they are professional, friendly and
RIDERS. The forecast held true and by the time we were done eating the rain had caught up with us. Back to the hotel and get some sleep 4:30 wake up.
Saturday morning and I'm up before the alarm goes off ready to go and anxious about the weather, a quick check out the window and I see the rain has stopped. Dave and I gear up and go to check in. First thing we notice is that a thick layer of fog has settled in.
riders getting ready to leave
The first 100 miles of the ride are surreal leaving Clinton on tight roads climbing into the mountains with 100 feet a visibility at the best. I had one hand off the bars wiping off my visor until I just lifted it and rode open faced. everyone gets separated or into small groups in the fog until we hit the first check point. I'm in such a hurry to wipe my shield down that I forget to snap a pic.
The sun coming up doesn't help with the fog but it is starting to clear on the hilltops. By the second stop I have gotten separated with about half in front of me and half behind, but have gathered my wits enough to remember to snap a pic at the second POP.
Fallsville jump off next to a couple of Hondas snap a pic then I'm off.
I start making up time on the next section as it is my neck of the woods, Oark and The Pig Trail. I meet three other riders at the next stop in Oark but have to get fuel and have a granola bar. I snap a pic and the girl at the store comes out and offers to take one of me.
Finally I catch up a couple of riders in front of me running a good pace, follow them to Jasper for fuel end up riding with these two the rest of the day. When we leave Jasper we head to AR 123 my buddy in the lead can't find the turn because his GPS is freaking out over Arkansas roads. So I volunteer to take the lead as I know where the turn off is. Unfortunately just as the pace gets spirited I had the opportunity to meet one of our state employees and he gave me a performance award. (the wife was not impressed) I did get a pic of the next POP my favorite sign in the state.
Nothing like riding thru thick fog in the dark with a tinted shield.
