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Part 2:
Eventually we stopped at another location that holds a bunch of good riding memories. It is where 10 Mile Trail rejoined the road we were riding. Remember me telling you about High Top Trai? Well... once you hit the eastern end of High Top Trail, if you drop south and know where to enter the woods, you pick up 10 Mile Trail. It's super neat trail that runs on the side of the Poteau Mountain Range to come out where we're standing in the pic. (Look over at the left edge of the pic.)
Below is a better pic of the trail. What this pic DOESN'T convey is the drop you're looking at. It's going down in significant fashion.
No way in China does Honey Bun need to ride 10 Mile. Last time I rode it, it was a pretty serious trail in places. That's been years ago. Trails NEVER get smoother. Nope, she needs to stay off 10 Mile.
From there we get ready to saddle up and get ready to head for Monroe again. Sitting on my idling bike, I couldn't resist:
"Don't forget to have it in neutral!" I said with sarcasm.
She nods.
"Oh, and also, don't put it in gear with the kickstand down, or it will die!"
"I know" she responds.
"Oh? How do you know that?" I ask (knowing the answer). She looks at me with a "that's real funny you smart arse" look on her face.
"You know what? They're trying to make these bikes Idiot Proof... or have you already discovered that by personal experience?" I smirked... sarcasm definitely in evidence.
No verbal response... just one of those "you're so full of it" looks.
Confident in my cleverness, I tap my bike into gear... "sput".
Graveyard dead. I look down... the kickstand is down.
Not saying a word I quietly kick it up, fire up and head off.
By the time we arrived at Monroe, we were due a fountain drink and a short break.
Good ol' P.J's...
Sitting and looking at the bikes, I decided to snap a pic. Hmmm... notice something on the horizon?
It was here I offered Honey Buns an option:
Head for the house, OR, ride a loop of some significantly rougher (than we had been riding) old logging/access roads on the Oklahoma end of the Poteau Range.
"Let's do the loop!" she said.
Off we went. We entered at Round Mtn Road. Soon, we were making our way up a washed out and rocky road. Watching in the mirrors, Honey Buns was motoring right up. We negotiated several ups and downs, crossed some rock strewn brooks, and stopped to take us a break.
"This is great!!" she said.
I'm still amazed at how putting her on a decent bike has really snapped things around in regards to Honey Buns riding and level of enjoyment. WHERE were these good bikes back when we really needed 'em????
Here's a couple pics of our first stop. Time to lose a layer and pack it in the fanny pack...
Remember that pic up above concerning noticing something on the horizon? Look at it again. Note the sharp shadows indicating SUNNY? Note the distant horizon? Kind'a dark and forboding, isn't it? Well... that dark and forboding was moving in and moving in a hurry.
I stopped again... this time to batten down the hatches and waterproof the electronics and essentials. (Camera, cell phone, my wallet.) Gadgets and wallet safely in sealed plastic bags... it was off to the races and try to get home before what appeared to be some SERIOUS rains begin to hit.
I told Honey Buns it was going to be close IF we beat it. I also told her the backroads were
over... it was home on the hiway as far as practical. Try to beat the rain.
I snapped our last pic before weatherizing and off we went...
Sure 'nuf, soon after we came out onto blacktop, the showers begin.
We were in 65 MPH territory when it begin to rain in earnest. We weren't wearing bandanas... so it was cup our left hand just below our gogles to fend off the stinging rain drops. Not soon enough to suit us, we exited off the hiway and hit the Poteau streets to head for the house.
Fortunately, it turned out to look worse than it was, and we weren't soaked to the core.
We were home safe and sound and suprisingly dry!
In all, it was a great day to be out riding and it was indeed another ADVENTURE. Total miles for the day was 139.
The WR is working out great and Honey Buns enjoyed the rougher loop more than anything else we rode that day.
Ain't it grand being a dual sport rider????
See 'ya!
Vinduroman
Edited by Vinduroman, 13 May 2012 - 04:44 PM.
