Monday, September 04, 2006
Friday Aug 25th Oklahoma City Oklahoma - Little Rock Arkansas 715 km
We planned to do some miles on Friday so we got the alarm ringing at 06:00 and we had slowly improved in our morning routines as we were on the road already at 07:00. East from Oklahoma City the landscape was pretty flat. We took Interstate 40 East but after some 50 miles we headed South towards Tecumseh and further on Hwy 270 to McAlester. I had read from somewhere that there should be some nice roads starting from Talihina so we headed that direction.
Our Friday route with yellow:
We had also planned a meeting with Malcom McGee (aka “zaphod”) as he invited us for a beer since our route went by his home at Little Rock AR. We had a phone conversation previous night and I asked for some route suggestions between Wilhelmina Park AR and Little Rock. (Of course our cell phones died right after we left Oklahoma City…)
Well, as our Friday riding proceeded we made some changes and shortcuts. We did not go to Wilhelmina Park or Mena AR as Jouko said that “have we come here to ride or to watch trees and such”? Instead we kept on going and all of a sudden a Harley rider pulls up behind us from a house we just passed. He kinda started encouraging us to ride a bit faster and that we did, too. Unfortunately (later I realized - fortunately…) my low fuel warning light went on and I started to get worried about my fuel. We left the Harley guy behind in the twisties but he caught us on the straights as I was concerned on my fuel and of course a little bit on the local LEOs. My fuel was getting really low and I tried to locate a gas station from my GPS while keeping enough speed for the Harley rider to feel “comfortable”. Then the GPS commands me to turn left but I thought that on that road there will definitely be zero gas stations so let’s stay on this one. Ten seconds after I intentionally missed the crossing I saw an LT coming the opposite direction. I thought that what a coincidence! This is the sixth LT on the American continent and the rider waves high to us. Maybe he saw our Finnish flags flying on our flagpoles and he could be one of the LT-forum members and he just waved at us. I had already slowed down and let the Harley guy pass us and at the same time I looked to my mirrors and saw the LT making U-turn and coming after us. We stopped and there comes this very tall guy with his full face helmet and full riding gear and presents himself: Hi I’m Malcom! We thought that how on earth did you find us on this little Arkansas side road and he replied that he had planned this!
Well, if I had not been low on fuel we would have turned left just ten seconds before he came to the crossing and he would have missed us. In any case we met and Malcom led us through very nice roads towards Little Rock and on top of everything he offered us a dinner in a nice New Orleans style restaurant. What a nice guy!
He took us to our hotel and we shook hands and said goodbye and thanks! This was again one nice riding day...
Somewhere on the Ozarks. Nice roads...
...and nice scenery.
But who invited the heat here?!
This was again one of the regular +35 - +37 days.
I was very happy with my two 0,5 liter Thermos coolers in my famous cup holders+ one 0,75 liter one in my RKA bag on the rear seat. The Thermos coolers have a genious cap that enables you to drink straight from the bottle without spilling the contents all over.
Enjoying the nice dinner with Malcom McGee, the guy that spotted us in the little curvy roads of Arkansas.
Our Friday route with yellow:
We had also planned a meeting with Malcom McGee (aka “zaphod”) as he invited us for a beer since our route went by his home at Little Rock AR. We had a phone conversation previous night and I asked for some route suggestions between Wilhelmina Park AR and Little Rock. (Of course our cell phones died right after we left Oklahoma City…)
Well, as our Friday riding proceeded we made some changes and shortcuts. We did not go to Wilhelmina Park or Mena AR as Jouko said that “have we come here to ride or to watch trees and such”? Instead we kept on going and all of a sudden a Harley rider pulls up behind us from a house we just passed. He kinda started encouraging us to ride a bit faster and that we did, too. Unfortunately (later I realized - fortunately…) my low fuel warning light went on and I started to get worried about my fuel. We left the Harley guy behind in the twisties but he caught us on the straights as I was concerned on my fuel and of course a little bit on the local LEOs. My fuel was getting really low and I tried to locate a gas station from my GPS while keeping enough speed for the Harley rider to feel “comfortable”. Then the GPS commands me to turn left but I thought that on that road there will definitely be zero gas stations so let’s stay on this one. Ten seconds after I intentionally missed the crossing I saw an LT coming the opposite direction. I thought that what a coincidence! This is the sixth LT on the American continent and the rider waves high to us. Maybe he saw our Finnish flags flying on our flagpoles and he could be one of the LT-forum members and he just waved at us. I had already slowed down and let the Harley guy pass us and at the same time I looked to my mirrors and saw the LT making U-turn and coming after us. We stopped and there comes this very tall guy with his full face helmet and full riding gear and presents himself: Hi I’m Malcom! We thought that how on earth did you find us on this little Arkansas side road and he replied that he had planned this!
Well, if I had not been low on fuel we would have turned left just ten seconds before he came to the crossing and he would have missed us. In any case we met and Malcom led us through very nice roads towards Little Rock and on top of everything he offered us a dinner in a nice New Orleans style restaurant. What a nice guy!
He took us to our hotel and we shook hands and said goodbye and thanks! This was again one nice riding day...
Somewhere on the Ozarks. Nice roads...
...and nice scenery.
But who invited the heat here?!
This was again one of the regular +35 - +37 days.
I was very happy with my two 0,5 liter Thermos coolers in my famous cup holders+ one 0,75 liter one in my RKA bag on the rear seat. The Thermos coolers have a genious cap that enables you to drink straight from the bottle without spilling the contents all over.
Enjoying the nice dinner with Malcom McGee, the guy that spotted us in the little curvy roads of Arkansas.
