Noel Missouri on the Bandit
July 24, 2003
Just in time for my weekend, which at this
time is Thursday and Friday, the motorcycle gods did see fit to cast
down a high pressure system from the north giving us a cool front
for a few days. We had been suffering in the mid 90’s but now
we would enjoy some nice low to mid 80’s with some light northerly
breezes. It was time to take the Bandit out and put her through
her paces.
I loaded the tank bag up with
my camera, maps and cell phone and headed East on highway 20. My destionation was the twisties of southwest Missouri.
I clicked off the miles quickly putting in my mirror, Claremore, Pryor
then Salina.
There is a very distinct line
at Salina between the road that merely allows one to commute from
point A and point B and the road that if you are on two wheels, becomes
the reason for the journey. This particular road, highway 20,
I have traversed many times on my Goldwings but the Bandit is a different
type of motorcycle with different pleasures.
I stopped at a convenience store in Salina and enjoyed a Mt. Dew and
a Snickers bar and a few moments to rest my hands and stretch a bit
before taking on the twisties. I resumed my ride on highway
20 heading toward Spavinaw, my next stop for some photos. Here
is the result of that stop.
Winding
through the country roads, even on the Bandit, I still really love
the scenery. One scene that always captures my attention time
and time again is the sight of an old barn. I don’t know what
it is but barns always intrigue me. Maybe its the country setting
or maybe its the link between the past and present but I like to look
at them and I have finally decided to make them appear in more of
my trip report photos.
I slipped through the southwestern
Missouri border passing through where else but Southwest City then
rode on to Noel. I looked forward to getting to Noel because
this is where again the roads take a major change. They change
from twisties, as I call them to, taking a word from the younger generation,
extreme twisties. I stopped, gassed up the Bandit, took a couple
pics and then hit highway 90 eastward out of Noel.
Now I do not claim to be a racing type, canyon
carving daredevil but this Bandit makes cornering so easy, instilling
my confidence in the bike, the tires and myself. I still try
to ride conservatively but again the nice roads and the agility of
the bike make these curves most exhilarating.
Highway 90 continues for about 40 miles or so eastward but as I crossed
highway 71, my hunger level was rising and I took advantage of my
knowledge of the area and turned south and rode through Bella Vista
and on to Bentonville, Arkansas and had lunch at one of Bentonvilles
finer restaurants. Braums.
I rode back
up to 90 again to take advantage of the twisties one more time. I rode highway 90 back to Noel enjoying once again the Bandits power
and agility. In fact I have come to the conclusion that I can
describe this motorcyle as “The bike that downshifting isn’t really
necessary”. The Bandit has the ability to “Get It” at any speed
in any gear.
I stopped
in Noel again to clean my helmet face shield and while riding through
town saw another great photo op. The Noel City Hall. It
appears to me that the now City Hall building was once the railroad
depot as the tracks run right next to it and it just has that look
about it.
At Noel I turned south again on 59 and weaved back in
to Arkansas through Sulphur Springs and then into Gravette where I
joined 72 west back to Jay, Oklahoma and then retraced my trail back
through Spavinaw and on to Salina and out of the twisties. From
there to home its just commuting.
The sun was starting
to get its second wind and was warming up Oklahoma quite nicely so
it was nice to get home. The Bandit and I did a little bonding
on this trip putting 261 miles on her odometer and 261 miles of smiles
on my face.