Today I left Bentonville and drove to Stillwater, OK and Lake McMurtry. I’m staying in the buttoned down for the winter campground. The shower and inside plumbing are closed and conveniences are port a potties. All alone dodging a $125 fine for alcohol. Empty moonshine bottle disguised in the trash.
I enjoyed socializing while in B ville. Friday night I helped close down Peddlers Pub. Slept at Loren’s gated patch. He has a weathered 6′ high wooden fence around he says is 5 acres in the city. Off the street and away from noise.
Sat was a rest day from riding as the weather forecast called for afternoon rain which fell. I was in a local grocery store parking lot and watched a guy walk over to his rig that had a bike on it. Conversation ensued. He told me about a new trail system, Colar, just down the road. I drove down to check it out. Massive machine built flow trail park. Walton Foundation. I sat in my van.
Friday night when I pulled up to Loren’s gate and got out to open it I noticed that my left front headlight was only partially lit. I had been driving for several nights only seeing out of 1 eye so to speak. I drove to a NAPA store to buy a bulb and ask for it to be installed as my thumbs don’t work to squeeze and my shoulder wouldn’t raise my arm to get my hands to the light fitting. A guy successfully gave my vision back.
I watched football and the Zags game at Peddlers. Zags are looking very tough, nationally they are ranked 8th. i stopped at Scotch and Soda downtown beside the bike shop for a night cap. Heather was working. I sipped a smokey laphroag. She had just been given a mountain bike and wanted to ride w/ me. We made plans for Sunday noon.
Sunday she arrived almost to the minute on time at the parking lot of the bike shop. Her bike is from the past. She pedaled it w/ excitement. We wandered around Slaughter Pen. She separated from the bike just a couple of times, each time jumping up w/ a smile. She rode a big G out 3 times. Something to see a newby experiencing speed on a mountain bike. She treated me to lunch then we went our own ways.
Sunday the pedllers was closed as were several other alcohol serving football watching establishments. I wanted to watch the Seahawks, unfortunately the game was later than I wanted to hang around to watch. back at Loren’s for the night.
Monday I went to a body shop to ask for help pulling the carrier out. Very helpful. Guy hooked a chain to the carrier and the other end to a big pick up bumper. The first pull gave a little. The metal has taken a set and was not having anything with returning to per blueprint. He gave another pull that broke his power tire loose. The box is more square now.
From there I headed out to Bella Vista and Blowing Springs to ride some of the Back 40 again.
MTBP has some of the trails, no ride data for the entire loop.
Machine built. Excellent riding system. Some places massive effort was required to bench cut the trail in the steep hillside.
The trail skirted this patch of white speckled leaves. I slowed to look at it then my nose joined the solution.
Above there were many buzzards. I was not bombed.
The ride really worked me.
I drove back to Phat tire bike shop to have the dropper post cable shortened and adjusted. Mike fixed me up. A shower. Peddlers is closed on Mondays also.
I spent 1 day short of a month in Arkansas. I rode 250 miles on 19 rides.
The weather forecast calls for teens and possibly snow on Wed. I decided to leave today which brings me to the present.
I rode Lake McMurty on a previous trip. I picked it again from a small selection of OK rides and it was also a drive bike camp day. I pedaled off just after 3. Land is mostly dead flat with short steep rolls. Turning around the trees on loose leaves. Chilly clear day. I rode the red trail returning to the van with enough time to squeeze in the yellow trail before sundown. The yellow is the most tech of the system. I walked places. All hand built or ridden in.
Oklahoma is the 24th state I have ridden in this year.
I had first pick of a campsite in the empty campground. Furnace running for warmth.
Next stop is Palo Duro canyon near Amarilla, TX. Wed and Thurs call for teen temps. Friday warms back up sort of.
Turning pages of Hiaasen’s new book, Razor Girl. 10PM time to curl under the covers for more entertainment.