Ouachita National Forest - April 6-8

[hattrik21]

Yeah the Broken Bow lake area has tons of trails to explore. The last time I went, we spent all day just driving around. There are some hard places and some scenic so I think we should get our share of fun out there.

 

[Wanderlusty]

If meeting time is mid-day, that would probably increase the chances of my participation. If I drop the phone off at 8, I should be able to get into OK by 11ish.

And then I could ride along for a few hours, then hit the road back. I wish I had more time to hang out.

 

[tdesanto]

If meeting time is mid-day, that would probably increase the chances of my participation. If I drop the phone off at 8, I should be able to get into OK by 11ish.

And then I could ride along for a few hours, then hit the road back. I wish I had more time to hang out.

That sounds good. I think we're all planning on meeting up sometime mid-day. I'm not too sure that the Dallas folks can get there that early unless we left before rush-hour traffic, but we can certainly try to get there by noon.

Daniel, John, Scott, what do ya'll think about meeting time? I took the day off, so I can leave whenever. From Dallas, I'm thinking we can head north on 75 and catch Hwy 380, then take that to Greenville, and then get I30 to 259. I've also taken 75 all the way to Hwy 70 in OK, but then 70 is very slow heading East with all the small towns and speed zones.

 

[2500Adventures]

John and I had planned on leaving about 830-9am Friday morning. There won't be much rush hour traffic because of the Easter holiday for schools and some places of business. (At least we think that is what the case will be). So I guesstimate that it would be about 5.5-6 hours to the Lake so I'm thinking we could plan on meeting somewhere around the lake around 3-3:30pm. Or we can plan on leaving earlier from Memphis in order for the meeting time to get moved closer to mid day. I think it takes you guys from Dallas about 3.5-4hours depending on traffic to get to the lake.

I guess now we should plan a point to meet near the lake. So either a place of interest near the entrance to the lake or a way-point given to all those involved. What do you think about that?

 

[hattrik21]

That sounds good. I think we're all planning on meeting up sometime mid-day. I'm not too sure that the Dallas folks can get there that early unless we left before rush-hour traffic, but we can certainly try to get there by noon.

Daniel, John, Scott, what do ya'll think about meeting time? I took the day off, so I can leave whenever. From Dallas, I'm thinking we can head north on 75 and catch Hwy 380, then take that to Greenville, and then get I30 to 259. I've also taken 75 all the way to Hwy 70 in OK, but then 70 is very slow heading East with all the small towns and speed zones.

Another route is to take 75 north to OK then east on 70. MS Maps n Streets puts that at a little under 4 hours and I believe going the 380 route through Greenville is about the same so it probably won't matter which route we take. I do know once you cross the border into OK, the cops are always running radar and the last time we went, one of us got a ticket on 259.

 

[hattrik21]

If we want to be there around noon, I say we probably need to meet around 7-730 and be on the road no later than 8.

 

[tdesanto]

Daniel, let's see what time John and Scott think they can get there and plan accordingly.

I've done the 75 to 70 east route--see thread. It's okay, but really slow due to all of the small towns and speed zones.

I've got a radar detector and can get us through I30 and 259. It really only shaves about 15+ mins off the trip going I30 to 259, but it's not stop and go the whole way.

I was thinking we could meet somewhere close to 75 and 380 at a specified time (TBD based on the others' schedule). Sound good?

 

[hattrik21]

Yeah that should work. I'll just need to decide if I want to take 121 all the way out to 75 or go up through denton and take 380 across.

 

[tdesanto]

Yeah that should work. I'll just need to decide if I want to take 121 all the way out to 75 or go up through denton and take 380 across.

That's kind of what I figured, that's why I chose 75/380 as the meeting spot instead of somewhere on 121 or elsewhere.

 

[2500Adventures]

I don't mind leaving earlier, say around 730-8am, but it will depend on whether John can do that or not. I was thinking of having us meet up at the junction of 259 and 70 in Broken Bow perhaps or even at the Beaver Bend State Park perhaps like we had discussed in PM Tony. Hopefully John will chime in or I'll give him a ring and find out what the scoop is with his thoughts...

Looking forward to meeting everyone!!!! Gunna be fun. And for the record I plan on bringing Hamburgers for the first night to cook up :chef: for everyone so let me know if your interested in partaking in a burger or 2 with/without cheese. Tony I might use your fire crate if my propane grill can't hold all the meat for everyone sufficiently. Please bring any other item you'd like to eat with the burger too, I'll bring condiments as well, mustard, ketchup and mayo. Unless of course you don't like that stuff.

 

[hattrik21]

Sure I'd be up for burgers w/chesse. If your taking count, put me down for 2 please. Also I can bring the buns if you want?

Would anyone want to do fajitas Sat night? I can get some nice fresh tortillas for them and I'll get the meat as well.

 

[2500Adventures]

That'll work by me, so Daniel's got buns covered and has 2 reserved Scotty Burgers. I'm down for some fajitas Saturday night, not sure what everyone else's take will be though....

 

[Wanderlusty]

You Memphis guys, if you want to come as far as Conway on thurs. night to save driving time in the AM, you are welcome to.

All I can promise is one inflatable mattress, and some concrete floors, or a nice back yard, if you want to get an early start on camping...

Though I do have access to a couple twin size mattresses too I could borrow.

Leaving Conway early in the AM and heading back to LR will get us in some traffic jams, so we could just as easily take the 'back way' that would have us through the Ouachitas for a bit and down through Hot Springs before hitting 30.

Let me know if you are interested.

I am set to go for the Friday portion if we are meeting early enough where we will see some trails before I have to head back.

I may be bringing a friend or two along with me, too, if their schedule permits.

 

[2500Adventures]

That is tempting, I'll have to talk to my friend that is riding with me and see if he'd be able to work that. Not to mention John if he'd be up for that too. He's got to be home early on Sunday for family so we'll hopefully hear what he has to say soon.

 

[tdesanto]

Well, the other thing I though of is the fact that we all have Friday off. So, why not pick an easy place to get to (I have a few spots already scoped out) that are very close to pavement and quick to get to that we could use as a meeting point for Thursday night. That would buy us an extra day there.

The point of my picking as easy/quick spot is that we would be arriving late that night.

So, any takers?