Happy Easter! While everyone was beginning the morning preparations, I did a silly.
After cleaning out and packing up, we said goodbye to the creepy garden gnomes and got on the road. Because this meant Brady was back in the Scion FR-S, we made an adjustment to our route. In Arkansas Motorcycling Guide, one of the guidebooks he ordered, George discovered an overland route through much of the forest.
This route through the Northwest region of Arkansas is an exciting combination of remote back-country roads, curvy state highways, and the wild, wooded trails of the Ozark National Forest.
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism.
We would have picked it up closer to Dover and traveled along it until we’d had our fill. Instead, we decided to hit I-40 and I-49 to come up toward a small dramatic section with crazy gravel switchbacks, a river, a short hike, and possible fire tower outside Chester. Seemed like a good way to seal off a great trip.
Loaded up, we headed south back toward the interstate, slowly transitioning from farm roads up to larger and more crowded highways, but it was still beauty in every direction.
I think the best present I ever got Jude was this Jeep!
Kate.
Then George had a run-in with some wildlife.
It was alarming to watch, and I’m sad that there was an oncoming vehicle that really limited his options there. But he cooked up his brakes as much as he could, and the goose he collided with was running around the roadway after he drove by. It actually tried to attack two other vehicles in our convoy, too. And thankfully, the flock of goslings were all totally unscathed.
After a quick fuel stop, we hopped on I-40 and all but Brady in the FR-S were miserable. Why would someone drive on such a flat, crowded road? I didn’t mind the pavement, but he view was gone. Then our elders started one-upping each other on the pains of geriatrics.
Kate: Have I mentioned how much I like having cruise control?
Evan: Boooooo! … Have I mentioned how glad I am to have A/C?
Kate: Well I like the wind in my hair and so does Fabio behind me!
Despite the throttle and cooling issues the Civic has been working through, it did well on the highway, too. Though I think the drive was a bit stressful for Evan. I-49 is basically uphill the whole stretch of it we drove. But soon we exited back onto some rural highways and turned onto another tree-lined dirt road and it was gorgeous. We told Brady to let us know when it was time to park the FR-S, since we’d be coming back through on the way out. But he kept up with us the whole time!
We weaved through some intense switchbacks down a valley, over the Hurricane Creek again (there were bridges this time, though), and back up to a ridge on the other side where we’d identified a place to hike around.
To make a long story short, we ended up on the wrong hike and almost died.
So instead of a leisurely stroll in the woods, we ended up walking down from Kilimanjaro which then necessitated climbing back up. It’s part of a cool trail, though:
The Ozark Highlands Trail stretches over 150 miles from one side of the forest to the other. In total, the elevation gain is 23,000 feet. Our hillside march was tree-lined and full of flowers.
After we recovered, we decided it was time to head on back. The drive back toward the interstate was fun. I’m glad we got a second crack at that road. Despite traction control and 4WD both engaged, I even got the tail out of sorts a bit in the Xterra, which is a fun feeling.
Brady: Well I’m turning my traction control back on now!
[ … ]
Taylor: Well… you can’t stop there.
Brady: I almost ended up in big trouble.
[ … a short while later … ]
Brady: Ugh, my car won’t let me have any fun in these turns.
Kate: Because you turned your traction control back on!
Brady: Yeah because I almost made myself poop!
After more a few more miles of gravel sliding switchbacks, we rejoined the paved roads, re-inflated our tires, and jumped on the interstate.
My route to Austin aligned with the Tulsa group’s for the first hour or so, during which they tried to entice me to come with them by tempting me with more boozes and dinner somewhere on Cherry Street. Between that and knowing that it was only an hour to Tulsa but 6 to Austin, after having already been in the car a lot of the day… how could I refuse?
