On December 13th, 2014 several members of the group had the honor of participating in the annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) event. We met at 6:30 a.m. at the weigh station on Interstate 49 with about fifty other bikes. The three tractor trailer rigs from Walmart and J.B. Hunt arrived shortly after and we escorted them to the Fayetteville National Cemetery.

The trucks contained enough Christmas wreaths to decorate every single gravesite of every single soldier buried there. Fayetteville National Cemetery is the only National Cemetery to have enough wreaths to ensure that 100% of the gravesites are covered with a Christmas Wreaths.

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Riding Group is one of the driving forces behind the event and we were honored to ride with them on this day.

Over 3,000 family members and volunteers were on hand for the ceremony and the laying of the wreaths. The new Director of the Cemetery, who had come from California only six weeks before, stated that he was in awe of how many people showed up for the event.

The members of STAR 464 encourage all Americans to participate in an event like this if possible. And above all....Thank a Veteran!!!!

Wonderful day of riding. Lee, Sam, Jason, Mitch and Janet met at the Harp's on 412 and then surprise...Jack's back!!! He showed up on his new Harley and then it was off to Harrison to meet the Crowley's Ridge STAR Chapter for a great day.

We met at the Yamaha dealership and then we were joined by Ed Acklin from Plano, TX. He was in the area and wanted a group to ride with so he drove up and asked if he could come with us. The more the merrier.

We left Harrison and headed down Hwy 7 to Jasper for some lunch at the Ozark Café. We then took Hwy 74 to Hwy 123 and head up the Arkansas Dragon for some twisty fun. We stopped off at Hankins Country Store for a little bit and then Mitch and Janet had to head back as they were going to celebrate her 29th birthday!!! The rest of us continued down Hwy 123 to Clarksville and then took Hwy 103 back up to Oark. We then headed west on Hwy 215 to Hwy 23 and shot down to the Turner Bend Store. After getting some new patches for those who had not been on the Dragon or the Pig Trail we headed back to Huntsville. A final fuel stop was made and then the Crowley's Ridge group and Ed headed back to Harrison and our group headed back home.

Great weather, awesome company and superb route made for an OUTSTANDING day!! We missed Doug/Mena, Lorie, Ron/Lisa and all others who ride with us.

Riding season is almost over so get in the miles while you can.

Everyone ride safe.

Ron's last ride (At least for a little while)

Today we said farewell to our friends Lisa and Ron Barthman. They are embarking on a new stage of employed life in Norman, OK. Ron is going first (tomorrow) with Lisa to follow in a little while. It was decided to send them off with a ride, better this way then the alternative of just saying good bye. We will miss them both as they are a lot of fun and have a lot of great ideas.

We met at Lucy's Diner at 8:30. Brian, Rip, Smokey and Ronda, Jason and Larke, Mitch and Janet, Le...e and Lorie, Meena and I with the guests of honor Ron and Lisa. It was also good to see Rip (he's looking good), he and the Lee/Lorie combo weren't riding today (Lee's rear wheel bearings had to be replaced and Rip isn't up to riding yet). We missed Sam and Rick and Gloria who had other commitments.

After a quick breakfast, we rolled out for our 1st stop, Roaring River. We made it thru the new road work between Avoca and Garfield then over to Seligman and on to Roaring River. Taking a break there, then on thru Eagle Rock, Holiday Island and on to Beaver. As we crossed the old wooden bridge, Meena's song in my ear changed to “London Bridge is falling down, with all the motorcyclists on it". Not quite what you want to hear as you are navigating the dried out wooden planks with protruding nails but we made it.

Stuck behind a vehicle on the back road, we then had to follow him all the way to Garfield. Finally off the road there, we indulged in the ice cream cones dispensed at “The Shortstop Grill". An overflowing mound of soft serve for $1.47, the "baby size" is enough for a 6'4" man like myself and there is no shame in admitting it. We clustered around a table and had good conversations with all of our friends before we said our goodbyes and heading of to our respective homes.

A good ride with good friends is always nice, even if there is a good bye at the end of it.
"May the roads before you be well paved with no gravel patches, fresh oil, animals, texting drivers or severe rain storms as you go thru life in OK, remember your friends back here, see us when you can and ride whenever possible. Love goes with you"

Road Rash Reports
Scribe of the Open Road

 

The Traveling Diner June Dinner Ride

     Once again we returned to the Missouri based restaurant known as "Cotton Eyed Joe's". Just past the cliffs in Noel, opposite the Elk River Golf Course, is a low ramshackle wood building with a cook who makes pretty good food.

     A very good menu that offers everything a person could want within reason, they also have a buffet that will fill you up without overloading you with too many choices.

       There were 9 of us when we started out from Wal-Mart's HQ. Jason and Larke led the way followed by Ron and Lisa. I came next with Madison, Janet, Mitch and Blake Stewart behind. Thru Bentonville over to Gravette and into Missouri, our little band of intrepid diners rolled into Noel and up to the restaurant. There we met Rick and Gloria who came over to meet us.

       For $12.95, I had beef brisket, catfish, ribs and chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and pea salad. The food was good enough that I made a return trip for more cat and chicken with a rib chaser. A berry cobbler finished off my meal although they offered a Cheesecake, banana pudding, cookies and other desserts. The food is tempting enough that it requires will power to resist over consumption. The chicken chunks especially (Go Tyson).

       We returned via 90 to 71 then down thru Jane back home. It was a nice trip but I was left feeling a little melancholy when I thought back to previous rides there. I see the faces of our friends who used to ride with us that have moved on. Clyde and Marda who told us about "Cotton Eyed Joe's", Smokie and Ronda, the senior statesman Rip Collins, Curtis and Sherry, Jack and Tracy and my oldest friends Perry and Linda. Now there will be another loss but they will have to tell you about it (not my place).

      Oh well, next month will be another ride and another tale.

 

 RIDE-EAT-WRITE
 THE TRAVELING DINER

June Dinner Ride

Tonight we had our June dinner ride to Cotton Eyed Joe's in Noel. Ron, Lisa, Mitch, Janet, Madison, Doug, Larke and Jason left from the Walmart Home Office Parking lot and headed out Hwy 72 until we turned on Hwy 59 at Gravette. Rode through Sulphur Springs and when we arrived at Cotton Eyed Joe's we got an AWESOME surprise. Rick and Gloria were waiting for us as they had been our riding during the day. It was great to see them and catch up. We all talked about wasp and scorpion stings, having snakes get in the house and fishing as we enjoyed some very good ribs, catfish and other delicious things that Cotton Eyed Joe's cooks up. After some great fellowship and food we all headed back via Hwy 90 over the mountain and through the curves until all made it back home. Missed all the rest of the group who could not come tonight. Everyone have a great Father's Day and ride safe.

Traveling Diner Memorial Day Recap

Well your Scribe of the Open Road is back with a briefing

on "Lee's Long Ride Home".  7 bikes and 9 people due to

prior obligations. We rolled out a little after 8:30 eastward

bound. Thru War Eagle, Clifty, Huntsville and Kingston, the

noble steeds rumbled. Stars, Hondas, Kawasaki and Harley,

all making time on relatively deserted roads for a holiday

weekend.

 

We didn't even have to wait to fuel up in Jasper,

that's usually a 30 minute wait and a table was waiting at the

"Ozark Café". Unfortunately, the table was waiting but the

waitress wasn't. Very poor management there as she would

ring up a sale then run off leaving customers with cash in

hand to take an order, get someone else a drink, then return

for another payer or two before she would disappear again.

The buffet is good there but they bring you a plate to the table

inside of having them at the buffet line. This results in a long

delay as she decided to take drink orders while 6 of us were

waiting to hit the chow line. Then another 20 minute delay to

get some BBQ sauce after several people had cleaned their

plates and the drinks still hadn't arrived.

Good brisket though and the roast beef had been seared prior

to roasting and immersion in a bath with potatoes. Fried shrimp

was not bad and the mashed potatoes were more than

adequate. The café has never been known for their speed(1 year

it took The TravelingDiner 45 minutes to get 1 baked potato-

microwaved) It is highly possible that next year's ride might see

us eating at 1 of the 2 other dining spots downtown.

 

We ran into some older GoldWingers from Paducah Kentucky,

who told me they had left the rest of the group in a hotel in

Harrison because the roads here were too curvy. Also 4 people

from Tupelo Ms. were in Jasper enjoying our roads so Meena

and I had a nice conversation with them.

 

After swinging thru lots of small towns we ended up at a Shell

station in Elkins/Fayetteville where we split up to head for our

individual homes. I took the scenic route up Crossover to Old

Misery, then Bethel Heights back to Rogers. A nice time with

good weather, same some of you missed it and we missed you.

 

 

Memorial Day Ride

What a beautiful day we had for a ride. Lee, Janet, Sam, Ron, Lisa, Doug, Mena, Jason and Larke left out of Rogers around 9 a.m. and headed for Huntsville. After stopping there for a quick top off of fuel for the bikes and the body (and not to mention seeing a mini van almost get hit by a big rig tractor because the drive ran a stop sign) we were off for Ponca valley.

At the pull off in Ponca we met up with some riders from Kentucky who were also enjoying the Arkansas hills. They left the other members of their group at the hotel in Harrison because the roads in Arkansas are too curvy! There was a couple there with a 2012 Gold Wing that had put over 47,000 miles on the bike in just 16 months. Now that is some serious riding.

We left Ponca Valley and headed towards Jasper. A female elk tried to race Lee but thought better of it and dove back off in the woods (thank goodness for Lee and the Elk). We arrived in Jasper and after another fuel pick up made our way to the Ozark café. After lunch we took a new route out Hwy 74 to then jump off onto Hwy 123. As always going up the Dragon is a blast and we all made it without a worry.

After sitting at the overlook for a little while we started the last leg of the route ending up at "The Sycamore Tree" in Pettigrew for a quick break then on into Elkins for our final fuel up. We parted ways shortly after and headed home.

A great day of riding with family. We missed all those who could not join us.

Sunday Memorial Day Weekend Ride

This Sunday we take our annual Memorial Day weekend ride. We will leave Rainbow Cycle in Rogers at 8:30 a.m. and head for Jasper. After lunch at the Ozark Café it is up the Arkansas Dragon (Hwy 123) and then back into Fayetteville for ice cream. Look forward to seeing everyone.

May Trash Pick Up

Part of the culture of our group is trying to give back to both individuals, families, charities and the environment. As part of this STAR 464 has adopted two miles of highway from the Pea Ridge National Military Park back west towards Rogers.

It was a cool morning as we gathered at Rainbow Cycle and made our way to the Pea Ridge National Military Park to participate in our bi-annual Adopt a Highway trash pick up. Ron, Lisa, Lee, Lorie, Bryan, Mitch, Janet, Larke and Jason all took time away from their busy schedules to help out this time.

Once at the park we gathered our gear (gloves, bags and trash pick ups) and headed out onto the road. We started out at the park entrance and part of us headed west while others headed east to the beginning of the park entrance to cover that area. Hwy 62 is being widened to four lanes so there was lots of construction barrels and flags which helped keep us safe as this highway is really busy.

We managed to fill about 20+ large contractor bags with trash before calling it quits. After loading up into Jason's truck and running back to the other vehicles we all headed to Sam's Old Tyme Hamburgers for some well deserved lunch and dessert.

It was a lot of work and everyone was tired at the end but it was a job well done and a great way to give back.

May Dinner Ride

 

          Well, the 1st dinner ride of the 2014 is in the history books. The Northern contingent met at Rainbow Honda to leave at 4:30. Jason and Larke, Mitch and Janet with Madison on her "Little Doll" and myself on the Red Mare.

        Big news though, Janet showed up on a 103 inch metal flake blue product of Milwaukee or York, Pa. Yep, she went Harley. We rolled out through the Springs (Cave and Elm), up the Tontitown/Springdale divide and then over into Fayetteville. When we struck College Avenue I pulled into the lead for the short distance to "Hawaiian Brian's" restaurant.

         Lee and Lori met us shortly thereafter and having seen what we had ordered followed promptly. The table became festooned with platters of Shoyu chicken, marinated chicken thighs, Kahlua Pork and Loco Moko (ground beef patty topped with a fried egg and gravy served on a bed of rice).

       Everything at the Fayetteville Brian's is good but in all honesty, I prefer the food and the waitress at the Springdale location. Just my preference I'm sure and other steady patrons would possibly disagree.

         After good food and a lot of conversation, we left for home. On the way through Lowell, Jason and Janet conversed and we found ourselves pulling in the DQ for ice cream before heading the rest of the way home. A nice time although we missed our friends who couldn't make it as well as those we have left.

       Next time (June) its "Cotton Eyed Joe's" in Missouri, hope to see all of you.

 

      Ride safe and eat well.

 

      The Traveling Diner

 

April Meeting/Ride

Today was our April meeting/ride day. We started out by taking the short 20 minutes ride over to War Eagle Mills and having a wonderful breakfast. After a short meeting we headed out to one of the hidden natural treasures of our state...Glory Hole Waterfall. It is a waterfall that over thousands of years has worn a hole through a 10 foot bluff top and now flows straight down through the hole of a beautiful overhang. We rode about 60 miles from War Eagle thru Huntsville and Kingston out to Hwy 16 near Fallsville. It was about a mile and a half hike (mostly downhill) to the falls. It was well worth the effort and we stayed for over an hour just exploring around. After taking some great pictures and video we headed back up the trail. The walk up was not terrible but we all had to stop a few times to catch our breath. After a rest at the top we headed back home. A wonderful day of riding, hiking, friendship and fellowship. This ride was an awesome choice by our Sgt. at Arms Bryan and he gets huge kudos for taking us all there to enjoy this beautiful area. The pictures do not do it justice and we would recommend everyone taking the time to go there at least once.