Ferry Ride and great roads, not a bad day!

Day 2
Eureka Springs – Bull Shoals and Missouri roads. (233M)

Last night my phone rang as I was just about to turn in. It was Larry. I have never met him, but I posted on the Two Wheeled Only board that we would be in Eureka Springs and if anyone else was up there and wanted to join us or stop by and have a beer, they were welcome. Larry e-mailed me earlier in the week and said they would be staying at our hotel and that he and his wife Lynda would like to join us. Larry rides a BMW 1200LT so he would fit right in with the rest of the beemers in our group. He was calling to say that he would be in later that evening, as they had been caught in the rain.

I woke up Saturday morning ready to go explore some of the Northern Arkansas and Missouri roads. I noticed that Larry’s BMW was in the parking lot, so they must have made it in late last night. I gave them a call and told them we were headed over to Pancakes for breakfast. It is a nice small place right across the street from the INN. The B-fast buffet is good and the coffee is great so it works out well. We walked over and were joined later by Linda & Larry. We introduced ourselves and it all seemed right. Larry and his wife were going to fit in nicely.

The bikes all ready for a great Saturday

The route took us thru the Northern Arkansas landscape, over to Bull Shoals where we would wait and take a ferry ride into Missouri. I had planned this ferry crossing a number of times I the past, but for many reasons had never pulled it off. Today we were going to do it and I was excited. If anyone wants to routes that we took, I will attach them to this ride report. We had a very nice ride in the morning. The Arkansas country side is beautiful and the temperature was very pleasant. It was made for riding. I am always amazed at how good the pavement is in Arkansas. The roads are like racetracks. It is very nice. We jump onto a couple of country roads, which were very narrow but beautiful. It is so cool riding out in the middle of nowhere. The rest of the world seems miles away. We reached the ferry and had to wait about 25 minutes for it to come and get us. I have to say it was very cool. Yes I know I am easily amused. Hehehe.

I was pretty excited about the Ferry Crossing

The gang all lined up waiting for the ferry

Jackie looks excited as well.

Larry and his big LT waiting to load up

Unloading the ferry on our side as we wait to load

The gang all loaded up

Lynda enjoying the trip, I got the best side of Larry as well.

Trophy Art ?

Jackie taking my picture as I take his.

The group on the other side waiting for us to unload.

After the ferry ride, we rode a little and decided that we needed to get some fuel and eat. It seems like on these trips, all we do is ride, eat, sleep and repeat! Not a bad gig if I do say so myself. We headed into Kirbyville and ate at a little place called Danna’s. The food was good the service great and it was a very nice place to stop. We were about 10 miles outside of Branson and that was as close as we wanted to get. The traffic around the area was really light and very nice.

Danna’s BBQ.

BBQ Diva, the staff was so friendly

Rob enjoying his lunch

Rob praying to the BBQ God! Jackie and Herman look happy.

Rob did not get enough of the leaning while riding so he is practicing.

We rode some wonderful roads after lunch, nice and twisty and a few had some nice elevation changes. I really missed having Jamie around on the ride. I miss the fun we have and the way that she gets some great pictures. It is hard to snap away when you are riding hard and having some fun. We stopped at some lake, I don’t remember the name. We took it easy heading back to the Springs. Just made a few stops and was back in the room around 4PM.

Rob’s GT looking good getting some shade at the lake

The group getting some rest by the lake

The Trophy hanging out and enjoying the day

We got back and took it easy, trying to cool off. We showered and headed over to the local Pizza Hut. I wanted to get back to the INN to catch the UNM Lobo football game later that evening. We enjoyed our dinner, had some more cobbler and headed back to the room. We chatted bikes and watched the game, well I watched as it was not very pretty. However the day was good and the riding was excellent and I also got to do the ferry crossing so life was good.

We stopped at the Dam outside the springs, they banished the Trophy as not to ruin the BMW area of the picture.