Chris' Valentines Day Ride Report Pt 1

smileyman · 02-17-2009, 02:52 PM

We picked up in Missouri off of Hwy 125 and followed Hwy 160 (a great stretch of road) towards Mirriam Woods and picked up Hwy 76 over to Cassville. A great road once again and we had a blast in the beautiful MO highways until cold and darkness enveloped us in its icy grip of misery!

Tired and stunned we did our best to warm ourselves and regroup for the final push home. Heating our hands in the Shell Station bathroom, hogging down cheese sticks and beef jerky we faced another 2 or 3 hours of dark mystery ahead.

Of course I had planned ahead choosing my KBC helmet with the smoke tinted sheild which made night flying very dangerous. I ran with it up part way but the wind chill froze my cheeks and made my eyes run. That froze my contact lenses in place, so I would have to lower the shield, turn my lights back to bright and feel my way along. My buddy led me on the Ducati and gave me a tailight to chase, but with the visor down and fogging up profusely I would have to open it again a few miles later.

Fortunately I brought my eyeglasses as a back up and was able to ditch the contacts and dodge alot of the vision issues the rest of the way home. Still we had to stop twice more to warm our extremeties and steel our nerve for the short blast down I540 and home.

We reached the warmth (relative) of my garage a full 12 hours after we had left, covering somewhere around 410-420 miles. Most of that time we spent at full chat without even getting off the bikes for gas. My tendons in my clutch hand were almost inoperable, our backs and necks suffering from the sporty hunch we had crouched in all day.

We had a blast, vowed to do it again soon in reverse (Missouri roads were that nice!) and had a wonderful Valentines supper at around 10:30 pm!

rogue · 02-17-2009, 06:53 PM

That sounds like a most excellent ride!

The ferry reminds me of the first time I rode the ferry with my bike. I went with a friend and he suggested that since I couldn't touch sitting on my bike, to stand beside (kickstand down) to make sure it didn't wobble.

He sat on his laughing at me, while some dudes in a farm truck was attempting to flirt with me...or harrass me...I never decided if them telling me I was too little for the bike since I had to stand beside it was their lame attempt at being flirty or if they were picking on me.

dReWpY · 02-17-2009, 06:58 PM

smiley what bike do you have again?

t-homo · 02-17-2009, 08:16 PM

I bet we could make a nice Springfield-Fayetteville circle.

smileyman · 02-18-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t-rock

I bet we could make a nice Springfield-Fayetteville circle.

I am game. We have a ride scheduled for the 28th in the Ozarks, Jasper and the area, but probably won't get back into MO till March/April. I would like to ride with you though and you could probably show me the "show me" state soon! I was real impressed with what little I saw...

t-homo · 02-18-2009, 10:49 PM

I haven't ridden much of this area at all actually. Just moved to the SW part of the state in August and didn't have a ton of riding time with the new school and whatnot. My bike wont be back down here for a few weeks to a month anyway. I have a bad feeling you'll be showing me the show-me state as I try to catch up with you. From what everyone says, 125 is the best road in the area, but there are a lot of other smaller ones about the same. Check out swmosportbikes.com. It's the local site that I spend a fair bit of time on now.

smileyman · 02-19-2009, 11:03 AM

Thanks man. I had a great time and am sure i will go back. I may try out your link and see "whatup?" I am definitely going to go riding more than I did last year. Most of my miles were back and forth to work

JoJoYZF · 02-17-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewpy

smiley what bike do you have again?

His is the zx6 in the pics.

smileyman · 02-18-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewpy

smiley what bike do you have again?

636 Kawi.

02-17-2009, 02:52 PM	#1
smileyman White Trash Hero Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NW Arkansas Moto: Buell 1125R Porco Rosso Edition Posts: 4,895	Pt 2 We picked up in Missouri off of Hwy 125 and followed Hwy 160 (a great stretch of road) towards Mirriam Woods and picked up Hwy 76 over to Cassville. A great road once again and we had a blast in the beautiful MO highways until cold and darkness enveloped us in its icy grip of misery! Tired and stunned we did our best to warm ourselves and regroup for the final push home. Heating our hands in the Shell Station bathroom, hogging down cheese sticks and beef jerky we faced another 2 or 3 hours of dark mystery ahead. Of course I had planned ahead choosing my KBC helmet with the smoke tinted sheild which made night flying very dangerous. I ran with it up part way but the wind chill froze my cheeks and made my eyes run. That froze my contact lenses in place, so I would have to lower the shield, turn my lights back to bright and feel my way along. My buddy led me on the Ducati and gave me a tailight to chase, but with the visor down and fogging up profusely I would have to open it again a few miles later. Fortunately I brought my eyeglasses as a back up and was able to ditch the contacts and dodge alot of the vision issues the rest of the way home. Still we had to stop twice more to warm our extremeties and steel our nerve for the short blast down I540 and home. We reached the warmth (relative) of my garage a full 12 hours after we had left, covering somewhere around 410-420 miles. Most of that time we spent at full chat without even getting off the bikes for gas. My tendons in my clutch hand were almost inoperable, our backs and necks suffering from the sporty hunch we had crouched in all day. We had a blast, vowed to do it again soon in reverse (Missouri roads were that nice!) and had a wonderful Valentines supper at around 10:30 pm! __________________ Arkriders.com To be the best you must first be willing to risk the worst!

02-19-2009, 11:03 AM	#7
smileyman White Trash Hero Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NW Arkansas Moto: Buell 1125R Porco Rosso Edition Posts: 4,895	Thanks man. I had a great time and am sure i will go back. I may try out your link and see "whatup?" I am definitely going to go riding more than I did last year. Most of my miles were back and forth to work __________________ Arkriders.com To be the best you must first be willing to risk the worst!

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02-17-2009, 08:16 PM	#4
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	I bet we could make a nice Springfield-Fayetteville circle.

02-18-2009, 10:49 PM	#6
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	I haven't ridden much of this area at all actually. Just moved to the SW part of the state in August and didn't have a ton of riding time with the new school and whatnot. My bike wont be back down here for a few weeks to a month anyway. I have a bad feeling you'll be showing me the show-me state as I try to catch up with you. From what everyone says, 125 is the best road in the area, but there are a lot of other smaller ones about the same. Check out swmosportbikes.com. It's the local site that I spend a fair bit of time on now.