Fantastic roads, incredible weather, and wonderful friends - what else could one possibly wish for?
This event is consistently fantastic, and this year was no exception. The weather in Southern Missouri during this season is unpredictable. It can be scorching hot, or windy and rainy, but rarely cool. However, this year we were fortunate. It was the most ideal weather I have experienced at any Bull Shoals event. Mark arrived on his BMW 750GS on Thursday and spent the night at the house. The idea was to wake up early on Friday and leisurely ride to the event. Jamie planned to join us in the Jeep after work, bringing along all the camping equipment. Mark reached town, and we had a relaxed dinner, followed by watching football and going to bed. We were eager for the ride the following day. It would be my 4th Bull Shoals rally, but Mark's first, so we were looking forward to it.
We got on the bikes and headed to breakfast at the lodge at Roaring River State Park. After that we took the backroads, following all of those twisty roads that Missouri and Arkansas offer. We met up with Bob, John, Kristin and David at the Friends Cafe in Lead Hill AR. It is always fun seeing friends and it is even better when you are getting to have some two wheeled fun together. We jumped over to Peels Ferry and then headed to the Lodge & Marina at Theodosia. After grabbing some adult beverages for camp, we finally reached the Marina and were all eager for a cold one. We hung out at Bob & David's place since Jamie was bringing the jeep and camping gear later in the evening. Mark was set to sleep in our Roof Top Tent while we opted for our Gazelle. Once Jamie arrived, we set up camp and joined the yearly hot dog cookout. It was a blast chatting with everyone and soaking up the lively atmosphere with all the motorcycles around. Exciting times were in store for us at this MSTA rally!
Upon waking up, we were greeted by temperatures in the low 50s. Following a swift breakfast at Cookies, we set off on our bikes. Our initial destination was the 341 Market on Push Mountain. Although Push Mountain had been recently resurfaced with chip and seal, the road was in good condition, allowing us to have an enjoyable ride down the hill. This region of the Ozarks boasts numerous fantastic roads. We spent a couple of hours navigating twists and turns before making our way to Anglers for a meal of catfish. The weather was exceptionally pleasant.
Following lunch, we quickly rode up to Melbourne, AR to refuel. If you haven't experienced riding on AR 9, you're truly missing out. The road surface was impeccable, and there was minimal traffic. It was such a great ride that we decided to return right after refueling. We arrived back at the Lodge by around 3:30 PM. We then relaxed with a few more cold beverages, chatting about everyone's day on the road. Kicking tires after a good day of riding is always a HIGHLIGHT for me. It is one of the reasons, I love attending these rallies.
As we strolled around, the smiles on the faces of all the riders served as a heartwarming reminder of my passion for motorcycle riding. It was inspiring to witness a diverse group of riders from different regions coming together, wholeheartedly relishing each other's company and tales. The connection forged by two wheels is truly indescribable.
We opted to have dinner at the restaurant before moving to the rally courtyard for dessert and further conversation. Late on Saturday, it's always a bit melancholic as we're aware that the event is coming to a close, and we'll all be heading home on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, we were welcomed by temperatures in the mid 40s, which felt unusually cold in the Ozarks. We leisurely packed up our camp and then went for breakfast. Following a meal with friends, we prepared for our journey back. While I planned to take a detour to capture photos for the MSTA photo challenge, David and Bob intended to take a leisurely route back to Hot Springs AR. Mark faced the longest journey, needing to return to the Oklahoma City area promptly due to commitments on Monday.
I got a couple of bridge photos for the challenge and still rolled into the garage in Bella Vista around noon. It was a fantastic weekend and I wanted to share my thoughts, while the rally was fresh in my mind. A special shout out to the gang that put on this amazing event. It was a wonderful weekend and we will be marking it our ride schedule for next year. If you have any pictures you would like to share, head over to the MSTA upload link for this event. We can't wait to see all of the pictures. https://msta.smugmug.com/upload/hJFcV6/2024BSR
That is it for now. You can see all of the pictures I took here: https://lonestarlobos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Road-Trips/2024-Road-Trips/Bull-Shoals-MSTA--Rally Until next time everyone, Ride safe and Be Kind!
Awesome write-up and great photos!
Awesome write up !