For this time of year, today in the Sunbelt was nothing less than spectacular. Partly cloudy sky, temp in the 70's... a simply gorgeous day.

Dilemma: I know the last of the nice road riding weather is nigh at hand. BUT... I wanted to do some field checking for my Coal Belt project, you know, maps, topo's, camera, tromping about some, that sort of thing. I typically take the Blazer for such outings. HOWEVER... I also didn't want to waste an opportunity to ride one more time before the crappy weather moves in. Which to choose?

Hmmm. How 'bout...

Both.

Yup. Both. Decided to do my meandering aboard my Harley and kill two birds with one stone! So, I packed my camera, maps, and whatever into my saddlebags, and I was off!

Started off by leaving Poteau headed for the Border City: Fort Smith. At Ft. Smith I wanted to check some alignments of remaining former Iron Mountain rails, as well as figure out the locations and lay of the land of some of the elements I'm seeing on the Sanborn maps.

As I motored here and there, stopping to snap a pic or do a bit of tromping, soon I ended up at Bell Point Park. The sunlight was coming in from a good angle to nicely light the restored covered wagon on display there. I now have textures for a covered wagon on hand!

Once finished at Ft. Smith, I decided to point the front wheel south and strike off for Coal Belt territory.

I always enjoy riding Arkansas Hiway 45. It twists and meanders through the hills and is a wonderful bike ride. Plus, if you know where to take side trips on an obscure roads... you can touch base with the rails of the former SLSF (now KCS) and roadbeds of the Midland Valley and SLSF.

Passing through Bonanza, Arkansas, I took a side trip and again verified the location of the wye and spur of a coal branch that headed east out of Bonanza.

From there I passed through (made a stop, actually) Hackett, Arkansas. Coming into Hackett I crossed the roadbed of the Frisco, and leaving Hackett I crossed the MV roadbed. From Hackett it was twisties to near Midland, where I took the Montreal Cutoff road. As I headed east on Montreal Cutoff... I espied MV road bed and some evidence of coal mining. At Montreal, I was a bit melancholy as I paused to look at the empty and (almost completely gone) roadbed of the Frisco. Was it as recently as 1976 that I shot pictures of Frisco GP7's switching the coal just north of this remote crossing? Wow... that was over THIRTY years ago.

Next it was back to Hiway 45 and south to Midland. Sure enough, the old MV's roadbed can still be discerned through Midland. In addition, it has visible portions between Midland and Hartford.

Once at Hartford I poked around to refresh my memory as to where some of the railroad features were located. In so doing, I also paused at the old CRIP crossing at the south edge of Hartford.

From Hartford, it was time to head for Mansfield.

Mansfield was the terminus of the Frisco's Mansfield Branch. It was there it connected with the CRIP.

When I first moved to the Mansfield area in 1969, you could still see the Frisco's roadbed coming into town. Shoot... you could still see railheads in the blacktop, and the CRIP was still hammering through town several times a day! As close as I can tell, the Frisco pulled up the rails between Mansfield and Huntington in 1957. The CRIP shut down in 1980 and the rails pulled shortly thereafter.

I decided to take a side trip out of Mansfield to Blackjack Mountain. You see, that's where I lived when we moved from KC to the Mansfield area. Once up on top of Blackjack, I could see the old homeplace is still there. Hard to recognize it from the improvements over the decades... but it was all hauntingly familar. Great memories at that place.

From Blackjack Mountain is was back to Mansfield where I dined on a tasty hamburger at a ma & pa cafe. Next it was off to Greenwood to trace the Midland Valley from Greenwood back to Midland.

From Midland, it was back up to Hackett... then over to Maney Jct (now a community called "Rock Island"), crossing the rails of the former Frisco to boot!

I bid adieu to that portion of the Coal Belt and split the wind at the legal back to Poteau.

A great day. Relaxing, lots of mental "time travels"... just an overall good time.

Below, you'll find a quick pic I snapped while soaking up the ambiance just south of Midland, Arkansas. The MV roadbed is behind me... some 100 yards or so.

Have fun!

Something tells me that wasn't you that decided to blaze down Garrison Ave this afternoon (about 2-ish) in a pack of straight pipe'd Harley's. Them boys/gals were making it clear they weren't on rice rockets. Haven put some miles under the bike without the baffles, I think I'll pass on the straight pipe life. Remembering a saying from the timeless past (related to loud music) "if it's too loud, your too old"...maybe I'm too old. Never thought I'd make that comment, but to me there is a difference between pipes talking to you...and screaming in your ear. Yes sir, it was a beautiful day to ride my friend.

While I thoroughly enjoy the sound of the V&H Big Shots on my Deuce... I also learned loooong ago with dirt bikes that: "Less sound = more ground". That is, the less obtrusive you can be around folks... the better your chances of not having discriminatory laws passed, aimed directly at your hobby segment. The dirt bike world didn't learn this quickly enough... and we lost access to staggering amounts of riding areas. The "cruiser crowd" is headed the same direction. More and more towns are implementing "noise ordinance" laws aimed directly at, and enforced primarily with, bikes.

So: The baffles will always be in place in my exhaust system. Further, when I'm in populated areas, you will NOT hear me accelerate loudly away. Neither will you hear me revving the engine. I will keep as low a sound profile as practical. You like bikes, Zack, and yet you noticed the squids on the loud V twins. It's irritating, isn't it? Same here. Hence, I try to keep a very low profile among the populace.

Now... once I'm in a situation that allows (an on-ramp to a super slab, for example) and I'm in the mood. Then yup, I'll twist on it and get up to the legal pronto... with a stupid smile on my face as I do. Gotta' love the sound of a big V twin humpin' to please.

However, it's not always the Deuce I'll get out and enjoy... here's a pic of the Mrs from 2 or 3 weeks ago out in the middle of the Ozarks aboard our dirt bikes. THAT was a superb day, also. We caught the foliage showing some really nice color in places.

Dear Andre,

Brings back memories of motorcycle riding. It's been over ten years since I've had a bike, it was fun, and an adventure even when it wasn't fun.

Yours truly,
Leland

Hi Leland:

Get you another one! Ride it! Enjoy it! We only have so many days on God's creation to enjoy the gift of life and His handiwork... better get to it!

Or not.

Up to you.

Just when we thought Andre couldn't get any cooler...

You da man.

Hi Mike! (aka Spin!)

Well... me an' bikes go back a loooong time. In fact, sometime this past summer marks the 40th year I've been on bikes. Most of my enjoyment has been out in the woods/moutains on dirt bikes, but have also added road riding to my list of things two-wheel I enjoy. Dirt riding and road riding are "sort of" similar in that you're on two wheels, but each has its very unique set of "fun factors".

BTW:

I have not been able to login at the new OVS forum. Am I still registered as "Coonskin" over there?

Harleys, old ROW's and MSTS! Now after a tale like that, it makes me want to high-tail it to the Ozarks, rent some wheels and follow you around. I swear we were separated at birth ...

BTW. here's something you could appreciate: a railfan posted this over on Youtube of some throttle time I was having last Saturday, the 7th:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtO41F8hBXI

No it's a completely new forum. We tried getting the old database imported to a forum at the new hosting service, and gave up.

So you'll need to register again.

Spin:

Thanks. I'll re-register tonight.

Steve:

Nice job! Each time it looks like you brought 'em in stretched with a bit of air... and not a bit of slack could be discerned. Your passengers shouldn't have felt a thing.

Man, that is some NICE equipment you guys have. The Strasburg looks to be a very classy act.

As for the Ozarks:

Yup. Next ridin' season... let me know in advance and I can take a weekend and introduce you to the Ozarks. Then your choice to continue exploring on your own for some more days... or ???

You can't imagine the roads and sights to be seen in such a compact area as the Ozark Mountains.

Edit:

Forgot to add:

I can also show you the remaining roadbed of the Black Mountain & Eastern as well as some of the towns along the old Frisco's St. Paul Branch, both PROMINENT players in the creation of the Ozark Northern. The Black Mountain & Eastern had 5-6% double switchbacks, and when the rails were in place, had the highest rail pass between the Mississippi River and the Rockies. Some hiking would be involved in the BM&E roadbed.

When I purchased my scooter it had a set of V&H on it (not sure on the model) and the previous owner (PO) had pulled the baffles out of it. Thankfully everything was included when the bike swapped hands (baffles, OEM exhaust system, owner's manual, etc). I rode it to Waldron and back twice before I decided the baffles had to go back in. Don't get me wrong, it sounded great at idle, or low rpm. But riding down the highway my ears would hurt 20 minutes into an hour ride. With the baffles in...wrap the throttle around getting on the fast roads and she'll make some noise, but in general around town I blend in with all of the Mustangs and Corvettes with their "flowmaster" exhaust equipped with mufflers. This same line of thinking could be applied to my diesel-power truck (pick-ups) brothers/sisters as well professional steering wheel holders. There is a reason why all of little communities have "No Jake Brake" signs up when you come into town; and I know a couple of guys that citations that set them back $200 for disturbing the peace. I don't know about ya'll, but that still some serous cash to me.

We try hard - lot's of elbow grease around here ...


This sounds like quite the territory to explore. Now, I'll just have to find the closest dealer who rents big twins ...

Wonder and thou shall receive....

Pigtrail HD

I thought Old Fort had rentals as well, but I was mistaken...that's my mistake for the week; and it happened on Monday, going to be a though week.

Thanks, Zack!

Steve:

Arkansas is slowly being discovered by motorcycling enthusiasts as one of the premier states to tour.

Here's a link to the state-sponsored Arkansas Motorcycling web page. Be sure to check out the video!

http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/Motorcycling/