This is a series of columns called the Muleshoe Chronicles. Muleshoe is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who likes to ride. He lives in Benton. Read more of his columns at mysaline.com/muleshoe.
The weather has been on-again, off-again for the last few weeks, but I have been able to hit the road several times since our last meeting. Muleshoe here, ready for the coming season of motorcycling. I always seek out the longest, most scenic, best road and finest eateries along the way kind of ride for every two-wheeled adventure. But, of course, the forecast and work define the boundaries of all things fun…and so it is with riding. I avoid starting a ride in the rain and try hard to be back in the garage before it starts. The drizzly winter months typically frame brief periods of clear sky during the midday. Three or four hours of riding are often possible if you have a pretty good handle of what is coming over the horizon. There are so many wonderful apps that offer pretty accurate weather forecasting. My favorite is an app called MyRadar. It can give current temperature and humidity at any location you set the cross hairs over. The cross hairs appear over a map that gives a constant radar sweep in the area of your choice. I have found MyRadar to be so simple to use. It offers a ton of data in a very minimal manner. It is packed but not cluttered. I can determine within just a few glances when it should start raining or how much base layer I should be wearing to stay warm.
Since most rides this time of the year fall into the “short hop” category, having a catalog of fun but shorter excursions pays off. I have gathered a few that I keep as standbys, ready to go. Many of these were rides I took when I first started riding ten years ago. At the time they seemed rather lengthy, but now serve as pretty good afternoon outings in a pinch. Most are local and there is always a fast food joint somewhere along the way. These tend to have heavy traffic during the week but are less traveled on the weekend and allow you to travel at highway speed.
My first big ride when learning to keep the bike upright, starts down Reynolds Road to Sardis Road. East towards Sardis and on-wards to East End brings you to the very bottom of Arch Street, the same Arch street that begins in Little Rock almost at the river. Turning northward, I would ride through East End to Landmark and treat myself with the fine dining at McDonald’s, often with a to-go bag of delicious cuisine and eating on the curb next to the bike. Onward up to 65th Street and a bumping crossing to South University, the ride would head to Asher and University. The weekend traffic is normally pretty light compared to any week day, but it always pays to keep in the right-hand lane and your eyes peeled for any drag strip wanna bee’s. Take a left turn onto Stage Coach and it will take you back to Reynolds Road where you began. If you’re not in a hurry this little outing can take the better part of two hours and fill the prescription for a little wind therapy.
When I became more proficient I would venture out a little further, but still keeping it around two hours. From Benton I would take off down Highway 35 to Sheridan. Highway 35 is a great road to challenge the curves. There are many many twist and turns and along the way, but none too severe, and none too scary as to make you slow down. The only portion of the ride I truly dislike is where Grant County begins. The asphalt between the county line and Sheridan is grooved with deep, wide ridges. I assume the roads are grooved in that manner to drain off water in a heavy rain. But the groves create a pretty bumpy ride. A warm stop at the Hardee’s in Sheridan is a good place for breakfast or just a cup of hot coffee. A right turn at the central intersection in town will lead you to Highway 270 and out towards Malvern. Along the way you will roll through Prattsville. If you are riding a little later in the morning you can stop at the Whippet Fish House for lunch. People from miles around make the regular trek for some of the finest catfish around. As you continue to head towards Malvern you pass through the little hamlet of Poyen. I rode there once for the dedication of a war memorial. The whole town attended to pay respects to the local fallen heroes. It was such an honor to be there and to witness a home town fulfill a nation’s obligation to those who gave the last full measure. When you round the corner at Malvern on Highway 67 it is just a easy ride back home to Benton.
Probably the most scenic short ride in the area takes you in and out of Saline, Pulaski and Perry Counties. Congo Road takes you to Salem and onward towards Avilla. Due north on Ferndale Cutoff carries you on out to Highway 10. Ferndale Cutoff is a road laid down over a 100 years ago and has only changed as they surfaced the old trail. Today it is well surfaced but still follows old property lines. Once on Highway 10 and a turn westward the road is much wider and faster. What took hours when I was little, getting to Lake Maumelle now takes only minutes. There is one point at the top of a hill where you can see the entire eastern end of the lake. At the far end of this old fishing hole, you cross the end of the lake and turn back west. About 10 or so miles from the bridge is Williams Junction, where Highways 9 and 10 meet. The gas station there has been a common stop for many bikers over the years. There is nothing more relaxing than to stop and rest for a few minutes with a cold soda. There are usually other bikers doing the same thing. Those who ride never pass up the opportunity to fellowship with other bikers. A turn south behind the gas station takes you south down Highway 9. The road back towards Highway 5 offers almost every kind terrain and view as anywhere in the state. Along the way you pass through the shell of what was once Paron. The only thing still open is the Baptist Church located at the terminal end of Kanis. Once again a road, also known as 12th street, that originates in Little Rock extends far out into neighboring Saline County. Highways 5 and 9 have both recently been re-surfaced and are today in fantastic shape. They surpass any road in the state I am aware of. Of course as time passes they will both begin to deteriorate, but the state has paid much attention to the quality of our state byways over the past several years. So I am optimistic that for the foreseeable future there will be great roads to pass under my tires.
Motorcycling is of course at the mercy of the weather. However here in Arkansas this time of year we seem to be blessed with many windows of opportunity to ride. Even during the most frigid of winters, I seem to remember a clear warmer weekend at least once a month. I know of no one in this part of the world who owns a motorized snow blower or snowmobile, so with just a little patience there will be an open door to head out and just ride. An adventure of just a couple of hours seems to work well for me. Even though I know these three routes quite well and have ridden them all many many times, I still jump at the chance to fire up the iron horse and hit the street. The benefit of the wind whistling past as you roar over the next hill ahead is the best medicine for a bad case of cabin fever Well, I am almost to Malvern so I had better close out this log. Until next time, Ride Safe. Muleshoe.
This is a series of columns called the Muleshoe Chronicles. Muleshoe is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who likes to ride. He lives in Benton. Read more of his columns at mysaline.com/muleshoe.