TAT Trip Report

[Mr. Guy]

Hi All,

Joe I'm not sure if this is the right place for this or a new thread in Trip Reports. I defer to your wisdom.;)


Just some words and pics from my part of the TAT.

I got up early Saturday and got out on the bike a little before sunrise. Started it up and I can't see the speedo, bulb out. Oh well, sun will be up soon. Not much excitement today, just lots of interstate. Crossing into Arkansas on I-40, I stopped at the Welcome Center, one of the nicest I seen.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpPmypN5yI/AAAAAAAAABo/wrBICbpCOPU/s640/PICT0007.JPG

After droning on across Arkansas, I found the campground I was to meet Trailace at, not expecting him for a couple hours, I went site seeing. Got the required new state photo.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpPpcRRmCI/AAAAAAAAAB0/mSZl3B6KOQk/s640/PICT0008.JPG

And found this park that had a road (path) that went down to the Mississippi River.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpPubWNOLI/AAAAAAAAACE/Y7YMbsGRP_o/s640/PICT0010.JPG

When I got back to the campground, Trailace was there and setting up camp, so after a hand shake, I began setting up too.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQDNvBPpI/AAAAAAAAADE/6aosNSwIX1s/s640/PICT0018.JPG

On the road the next morning, we soon found wooden bridges and mountain views.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQF3-JvfI/AAAAAAAAADM/boy_vjLu3pY/s640/PICT0022

http://lh6.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQan5dDsI/AAAAAAAAAD4/GTOfHE-qNmc/s640/PICT0027.JPG

After a long day in the saddle, we came to Long Pool Campground in the Ozark National Forest. A nice campground on Big Piney Creek, a popular canoeing creek. Lots of trees and nice showers. Did I mentions no showers last night? Yea, we NEEDED them tonight.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQgm9WRCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/rZtoPhRIcw4/s640/PICT0029.JPG

The next morning it was more mountain views and more creeks to cross, some with bridges, some without.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQwzrFVoI/AAAAAAAAAEg/MTTG5__z3_E/s640/PICT0034.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQ2qr_IQI/AAAAAAAAAEw/uINcsTvo0P8/s640/PICT0036.JPG

And riding on for a while we came to the Oark Cafe in Oark Ar. The trail goes right past this little cafe and is a popular stop for TAT riders. They serve a very good breakfast here. It is also accessible by paved road also.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpQ7xxF8HI/AAAAAAAAAFA/1r1MAw3fePs/s640/PICT0038.JPG

Another view of the trail.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpREbIx4ZI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/CqrDELj4UiY/s640/PICT0040.JPG

And this was the beginning of the end for me. To call this a road is an over statement, to call it a goat trail is kind. It is VERY steep with softball to basketball sized rocks. I don't know how I got to the bottom, but as soon as I could stop I did, I was shaking and had to pee real bad. Trailace said "wasn't that fun", If you say so.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRL3bJnSI/AAAAAAAAAFk/V91XyBOJBNQ/s640/PICT0042.JPG

A little later I found this.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRNTuwrOI/AAAAAAAAAFs/0oo84A1oLN4/s640/PICT0043.JPG

Not a big deal, a few zip ties and I was off. Later I was getting tired and when we arrived at camp and met up with Chief, Rick said I looked tired. I was, to little sleep. Next morning we loaded up and headed out. This was the first sign I had seen like this.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRVIZz4UI/AAAAAAAAAGE/Jv_Oh9GIDeY/s640/PICT0047.JPG

It didn't bode well for the day. But things went well after this. More bridges.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRbghKgNI/AAAAAAAAAGU/5h87h24Gs74/s640/PICT0049.JPG

More creeks.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRgsILLaI/AAAAAAAAAGk/LR85xEZ0uVI/s640/PICT0051.JPG

And finally the tallgrass prairie. This part of Oklahoma has changed little since before statehood. Wide Open Spaces.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRioGoYUI/AAAAAAAAAGs/yEIdBZCSk_o/s640/PICT0052.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRkp_CsoI/AAAAAAAAAG0/YGvfKWNFVXE/s640/PICT0053.JPG

And finally one last one of Rick makeing sure we know which way we're supposed to go.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mrguy001/SNpRobMNWKI/AAAAAAAAAG8/xOek-kgeqhM/s640/PICT0054.JPG

I'm really glad I went on this trip, it just turned out to be more than I thought. Trailace and Chief are great riding companions and great guys to be around, and I can't thank them enough for letting me tag along.

The rest of the pics are here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mrguy001/TAT#

Thanks Again, Guy

[Mr. Guy]

On a side note, there is one stretch of the trail I would recommend to most riders here. The stretch between Ar. SH7 and SH23 is well packed one lane gravel that travels over the ridge tops in the Ozark National Forest. Beautiful views, lots of tall pines and solitude. Lots of solitude. This part would be easily ridden on any big adventure bike or even sport-tourers and small cruisers with caution. No creek crossings that I remember, might double check with Trailace. And Long Pool Campground is near the east end of this part. All paved road to the campground.

Will try to find a map.

Guy

[Mellow]

Great report and pics Guy, I moved it to this section of the site.

[motomac]

Thanks for the pictures Guy. Kinda looks like the Dempster Highway with prairie grass instead of Tundra!!! I guess I had better start getting things ready for an assault on it next year, this one's pretty much used up. You are right about Trailace and Chief being good riding companions, I wish my schedule had worked out a little differently. I am however glad I made the descision to go the way I did.

[Trailace]

Great read Guy and I think your not being fair to yourself about your raiding skills. You sure could handle that DR 650 and never felt like your were having issue. Hope to ride with you again and next time you can lead me around. :p

[Mr. Guy]

I wasn't to worried about my skills either, I guess I just discovered it wasn't my "thing" or what ever. But I am glad I went.

Guy

[Mr. Guy]

Hi All,

I found some pics another rider took of that bad portion of War Loop Rd. and thought I'd share.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7604816&postcount=39

Rick and I didn't feel like climbing back up there to take pics.

Guy

[Trailace]

Thinking back on that road did not seem real hard but it did look harder then those pictures. I know more double!:D

[Yamifj1200]

Guy thanks for the trip report, Looks like you guys had a great time and got to have a tad of adventure while you were at it. I'm glad you got out to enjoy the TAT and let us enjoy your trip as well..
Eric:tent8: