Talimena National Scenic Byway

Hello Interwebs!  It's been too long since I posted here.  Sorry about that.  I let life get in the way for a bit but now I feel back on track.  Anyway, here's something about a great trip I took this weekend.

This last weekend my father and I took a ride on the Talimena National Scenic Byway.  We woke up early on Saturday morning, the 29th, grabbed a snack filled the bikes with gas and began our journey.  My father is the ultimate trip planner, I'm pretty sure he's more prepared than a Boy Scout, so the route was planned long before we ever set our butts on the seats.  He filled me in on the details and we set out.  On trips involving more than one rider all involved should at least know the basics of the trip.

My Dad's Victory and my V-Star

The weather was nice.  No chance of rain with some clouds dotting the sky.  It was cool in the morning so we made sure to have our jackets and more than one layer of clothing on; it can get mighty cold if you aren't properly prepared.  It never hurts to have a spare shirt or light jacket tucked away on the bike or in a pack.

We began by heading out of Ada by traveling southeast to Coalgate then going east to Stringtown and following Highway 43 past Sardis Lake. We then rode east on Highway 271 into Talihina, OK where we stopped to top off our tanks for the ride through the Talimena National Scenic Byway to the town of Mena, AR.

This is where we got to the meat and potatoes of the trip.  The views were gorgeous.  The sixty mile trip is filled with vistas, I literally lost count how many.  Each had it's own uniquely beautiful view that could have only been enhanced by the leaves turning just a bit more.  That's what we get for going early I guess; or if a dragon was flying in the distance.

Not only were the views incredible, but the twistys and bendys aren't so bad either.  Probably not recommended for a novice but if you enjoy leaning on the curves then this will tickle your fancy a bit.  There are plenty of stops to be had along the way either to stretch your legs or make a bathroom break.  Some places even offer camping and hiking, I mean it is a National Park.

An old locomotive along the route.

It was definitely a great ride and superb quality time with my dear old Dad.  It's these moments that I will cherish long into my life.  We could have been doing anything on a Saturday morning but we chose to saddle up our mechanical steeds and ride out.  Our outing left us worn out, sore and hungry by the end of the ride but that was nothing a little grub and some rest couldn't cure.  Besides, spending time to together with someone doing something you both love is kinda awesome.

Thanks for reading, let me know if you enjoyed.  I'm not doing this for pay or anything just my enjoyment and it will give me something to look back on years down the road.