Talimena Day ride.....

[uptoblackwood]

We have had some unusual weather for Texas this spring (even by Texas standards), with snow one day and 80 degree F weather the next. Rob and I have been talking about doing a day ride from the Dallas area to the Talimena Byway http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/ for about a month and yesterday we made the ride. About 600 miles R/T from my door to door in Richardson, Tx. Richardson is the first suburb north of Dallas. We met at a Starbucks in Allen, Tx...just north of my start location, at 7 am and had a cup of coffee. We started the ride at 7:30 am.
Rob had great a great route planned that included some of the route established by R.A.T. http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2006FFRAT/RAT.html The RAT route ran along the Red River and the Texas/Oklahoma boarder. The farm land was wet, wet, wet....as we had 5-8 inches of rain two days before our ride. Temps started at 52 in the Dallas area...and DROPPED to 39 for a while when we got outside of town. brrrrr..... Glove liners came out of the bag pretty quick! By the time we were on the State line, the temps were in the low 50's. We crossed the state line and headed for Broken Bow. The lake was full and the flood gates open. We gassed in Broken Bow, OK at a Conoco next to the Indian Reservation Casino.
We cruised the byway and had lunch in the middle at the Queen Wilemina State Park Lodge. http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/ It was a traditional buffet. The day was perfect for riding. Temps on the Byway ran in the low 60's all day. The warmest it got all day was at our gas stop in Broken Bow on the way home....74 degrees F. As we turned on to Hwy 121 for the final run into Dallas, we were treated with a fantastic sunset. We arrived home at about 8 pm CST.

It's a great full day run out of Dallas. You can shorten up the day by omitting the RAT route...but it's good riding and I wouldn't want to miss those miles. Thanks to Rob for sharing the day.

Forest

 

[uptoblackwood]

More images of the Talihema day ride....

 

[uptoblackwood]

Last group of images of the Talihema day ride...

 

[JW-1300]

That is one of the best rides for scenery in the state. I have always tried to hit it in the fall when the colors are at their peak, but always seem to miss a week or so. It seems that when the colors are at their peak, the rain comes too. Good pictures.

 

[John Anthony]

Forest,

Thanks for sharing. Looks like some pretty country.

John

 

[sherob]

Nice to see that Rob got a new ST

 

[George]

The drive-in in Mena (don't recall the name) is a good place for lunch, too. Very 60s kind'a place.

I like to over-night at the campground on th east end. The lodge is a little rich for my blood. I'll prolly go thru there next month on my way east.

Thanks for the report. Don't forget to post your miles.

 

[uptoblackwood]

George,

I never stay at the lodge...but the lodge is part of the State Park system and has campsites.....and there are better places...i.e. the east end area. The lodge is just a good place to grab a tall glass of tea and do the buffet. There is another state park on the west end, Talimena State Park. There are many places for back packing and hikes in the wilderness area assocated with the Ouchita National Forest.
Rob still rides his '04......it's just got new silver skin!!

Forest

 

[uptoblackwood]

That is one of the best rides for scenery in the state. I have always tried to hit it in the fall when the colors are at their peak, but always seem to miss a week or so. It seems that when the colors are at their peak, the rain comes too. Good pictures.

Jw....you are so right about the fall color. In my current images...all the brown are hard wood trees and it's pretty incredible in the fall. I was over the byway this past fall and just missed all the color. Next year!

Forest

 

[sherob]

Rob still rides his '04......it's just got new silver skin!!

Forest

LOL!!!!

 

[uptoblackwood]

Rob....

You know that under that 'ol blue skin, was a bike without a spec of dirt, dust and in perfect operational condidtion. I think....it's newer than new!!!

 

[uptoblackwood]

The drive-in in Mena (don't recall the name) is a good place for lunch, too. Very 60s kind'a place.

I like to over-night at the campground on th east end. The lodge is a little rich for my blood. I'll prolly go thru there next month on my way east.

Thanks for the report. Don't forget to post your miles.

George,

Is this the place?

Skyline Cafe
618 Mena Street, Mena, 479-394-5152. Homestyle cooking since 1922; daily lunch specials including the biggest little salad bar around! Open 7 days a week 5:30 a.m. - 2:00 pm

Forest

 

[George]

Don't think that's it, Forest. The place I'm thinking of is a drive-in with car hops, typical burger joint from the 60s, like an old time A&W.

<edit> Found it:
Myers Cruizzers Drive-In‎Address:
409 Highway 71 N
Mena, AR 71953

It's on the east side of the highway, south end of town.

I'll try the other place next time I go thru there (maybe next month.)

 

[Coop]

Rob still rides his '04......it's just got new silver skin!!

Forest

Did Rob get a deer this time?

 

[uptoblackwood]

Well....Rob did see deer...three deer to be exact. One even jumped out in front of his bike....but we had the good fortune to avoid any physical contact with a deer of any kind.

I put him out front as the lookout. I figured if anyone in the world would see the deer first....it would be Rob! It worked!!

Forest