Eureka Springs National VROC Reu

This was my first time to attend a VROC reunion. I am glad I made the trip and wish I had left a day or two earlier. I rode from Plano to Eureka Springs solo on the most direct route. Hit a few showers north of McAlester, Oklahoma, but nothing that would slow you down. Made a mistake when I turned off of US 69 onto 412 and ended up on a country highway rather than the tollroad. A few picturesque miles down the road I ended up on the tollroad anyway and was only on it for about 2 miles before hitting the tollbooth and the end of the tollroad. Took a wrong turn in Springdale, Arkansas, (bonus miles) and ended up wandering around in Fayetteville for about 20 minutes. Got onto AR 45 and onto AR 412. About 5 miles later the traffic came to a complete halt for a wreck or something that completely blocked the road. Turned around and ran into some Fayettevulle VROCers who dragged me along with them into Eureka Springs.

Fergy, who had ridden around Eureka Springs on several occasions, was our Saturday route planner and LTOR. As mush as I hate to admit it, he did a great job. I know very little about where we went and the route map is only an approximation of our ride. Fergy, Wag, Gunnar, Clutch, Mark and I rode about 350 miles. Everything went well until we hit some very tight uphill curves. When Fergy realized that Clutch, Mark and I were not behind him, he slowed down. Gunner and Wag were apparently too close or enjoying the scenery (the latter I am certain). Gunner laid his A with the new paint job down under a guard rail and Wag followed close behind. Gunnar escaped without any damage but Wag wasn't so lucky and got some scrapes on his front fender. In the meantime, Clutch had taken a 10 mph uphill curve a tad hot and ended up in a pile of rocks on the bank. She was unhurt and her bike survived quite will except the front brake lever was broken off. After getting the bike off the bank Clutch tried it out without a front brake. One good thing about BMRs is that they have antilock brakes. She decided to stay with us. A few miles further we stopped along side the road to enjoy the view and her bike started to roll down the hill when she went to start it. No front brake to grip and the bike tipped over and all but about 2 inches of the clutch lever broke off. Clutch is one hell of a gutty rider. She rode another 600 miles with no front brake and barely a clutch lever. She earned the respect of all of us guys.

We left Eureka Springs early Sunday morning for the ride back to Dallas/Ft Worth. Fergy led the way. He doesn't waste any time. We cruised home at an average speed of about 80 per and made it home in record time.

If you haven't ever been to a VROC rally or reunion you are missing out on a great biking experience. Lots of good folks, people you see posting on the VROC sites are there, everybody is glad to see everybody else and there is always a lot of good fun and many great bikes to drool over.