Stay tuned, I have better mobile internet access than ever, so might be even more annoying updates. The DFW crew is rendezvousing in Paris, TX for lunch tomorrow. We'll then start heading North in-mass finishing the day off with the mountain top Talimena Trail sleeping in Mena, AR. Not exact timing, but… Paris, TX 11:30-1:00 PM Wednesday Talihena, OK (start of Talimena Trail) 3:30 PM Wednesday Mena, AR 6 PM Wednesday to 10 AM Thursday Ozark, AR 12-1 PM Thursday
Wednesday 9/9/09 - Report #1 Location: Southlake, Texas Miles Driven (since last report): 0 Miles Driven (total): 0 --- Left the house at 10 AM. We had been shooting for 9:30 AM, but last person to tighten valve caps over torqued them. They are the long 1.5 inch types and the entire rubber stem would turn when trying to loosen the cap. Finally just took knife and screwdriver to lock the rubber stem so you could loosen the cap. Set the pressures and we were off. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wednesday 9/9/09 - Report #2 Location: Paris, Texas Miles Driven (since last report): 131 Miles Driven (total): 131 --- Arrived at the Depot Bar & Grill 25 minutes late at 11:55 AM. Rippes and Cohens were already there. We had lunch and then all off together straight up 271. Jennie is driving right now as Im posting this. Looking forward to the Talimena trail. Started to rain on us at Clayton, OK. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wednesday 9/9/09 - Report #3 Location: Talihena, Oklahoma Miles Driven (since last report): 120 Miles Driven (total): 251 --- The weather worked out great for the Talimena trail. Road was a little damp from sprinkles. No fog and very little traffic on it. We drove it very hard with a couple scenic turnoff shots. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wednesday 9/9/09 - Report #4 Location: Mena, Arkansas Miles Driven (since last report): 58 Miles Driven (total): 309 --- Made it in by 4:30 PM, perfect timing to enjoy some wine, cheese, and duck salami (actually shot by Ron and I) before supper. Stephanie is making Quail and Jalapeno grits. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Not fair!. You guys are already having fun. This is where we stand at the moment. All ready and loaded for the trip. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'm happy to see the annoying updates. Really enjoy the pictures of everyone, but you could sneak in one or two of Mia just to make my day! Have a great time!
the end of another 18 hour day...! Gotta get up in 5 hours and get ready to leave Kansas City. Everything is packed, Dana and I are still speaking, so that is a good sign! Weather is not perfect but I get to be with my friends for 4 days, so a few rain drops won't hurt me or the car! See you in Eureka! Chris Parr
Keep the annoying updates coming. I look forward to them each year! My daughter and I are planning to meet and greet the owners and cars at War Eagle on Saturday morning, since its very close to our home. Drive safe!
Thursday 9/10/09 - Report #5 Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas Miles Driven (since last report): 180 Miles Driven (total): 489 --- We made it! Slept in waking up to a nice cool foggy morning. Packed up and hit coffee shop and breakfast close to the old Mena rail station. After fill up headed straight up 71 and then to 23 ending up in Ozark for lunch at Jodie's. We then started the pig trail with a quick stop at Turner Bend before making Eureka Springs about 4:30. Toured the cars and enjoyed the reception before closing the night off in Baker's Lounge. Need a good nights sleep before almost 300 miles of hard twisty roads tomorrow! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great pics! Looks like you're having a ball. Seeing those pics makes me yearn for some pie and coffee from Mud Street Cafe.
At least i will have a vicarious experience if not the real thing. my 550 is still at the Dr. office, three months now. New employees on board at last, no felons so far.
Sorry I haven't been able to update. Since Friday morning has been non-stop. Dallas gang is on the road now, I did first 3 hour stint and after lunch Jennie is now driving. All Crescent days were 100% dry, but we've had rain all the way back today. Another incredible weekend. Starting tonight I will do 1-2 posts a day about rest of the weekend.
Friday 9/11/09 - Report #6 Location: Mount Magazine, Arkansas Miles Driven (since last report): 121 Miles Driven (total): 610 --- OK, most of us are Type A and competitive, so bear with me a second while I brag about the Crescent Classic driving. So your local morning club rallies are typically 80-150 miles. Your cross country rallies might do 800-1000 miles in a day, but all on the Interstate. Crescent Classic on Friday did 290 miles where 95% of the roads were twisty in the mountains. Without exaggeration no straight aways longer than a mile, most less than a quarter mile and turns that ranged from warning signs of 15-25 MPH all the way to sweepers you could take at triple digits. We hit these roads hard! The only thing I can compare it to is the few racing enduros I’ve done with 90-120 minute stints. The racing might give you more rest as I remember more double yellow flags than traffic we had to wait behind on this route. Some of these roads get busy on the weekends, but great we get the hard core driving in on Friday when you can run 20 miles hard without coming on a single car. So route down followed the famous Pig Trail and then over to Mount Magazine, which is the highest point in Arkansas. We had a BBQ lunch on the mountain and then a tour of the lodge. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
nice shirt hippie at least it's racing-related that's the great thing about that region, stay away from Springfield/Branson and Fayetteville/Bentonville/Rogers and you pretty much have the roads to yourself! and what great, scenic roads they are...
Steve, That P4 is amazing. It looks great and I'm glad it's getting some exercise. Great purchase. Enjoy it, Ron
You know, Rob. Every time I see a pic of you and Jennie, I have to wonder. What caused her to marry down? Wish I had been there. Maybe someday. Maybe someday further up the road. Dale
