I said goodbye to my sister and brother in law after a nice visit and ride to Utah. They take off for Florida for six months at the end of October. Their garage houses three of my motorcycles which were prepped for six months of storage as well as my truck and a few other toys.  

It was 33 degrees F (1/2 degree C) on the morning of 10 October when I walked out to start loading my GSA. The bike had been left out the night before and was covered in frost. To say I was surprised is an understatement. I gave it a few hours to warm up before heading down the highway to visit my daughter who lives in Wichita Falls, Texas.  My goal for the next few days was to take my time sticking to back roads and enjoying the scenery (more on that in a bit).

I headed south for Little Rock, Arkansas from St Louis, Missouri needing to ride a distance of just over 300 miles. It was a pleasant ride and I shed the extra layers I was wearing as it became warmer. Later in the afternoon the temperature was above 80 (26 C). The fall colors had just started so not everything was green. If I were hunting fall colors, I would give Missouri another ten days before touring.  I have remarked to my brother in law numerous times that "the trees in Missouri sure get in the way of the view".  Northern Arkansas is pretty much just flat farm land and scenic the way Kansas is. I pulled into Little Rock but felt guilty since it was too early to quit riding so I continued another 120 miles to Fort Smith, Arkansas which is on the Oklahoma/Arkansas border.

I left the hotel about 9am and headed west toward Wichita Falls. I stayed on back roads the whole way and reached the conclusion that back roads are pretty but if you want to reach your destination in the easiest amount of time, the interstate highway is the way to go. In the USA most traffic on the interstate is going 75-85 mph. Back roads average 50-55 miles an hour with traffic lights in small towns, slow traffic and delays in general. Well, you pays your money and make your choices. The ride from St Louis to Wichita Falls in less than 10 hours on the interstate. The back roads required 13 hours over two days.

I know now I have made the correct choice on which motorcycle to take at least in terms of comfort. I have owned my BMW GSA1200 for 15 years and 97000 miles. I had originally planned to use it last year for the same trip and had a mechanic go over the bike stem to stern. Up until two days before I left St Louis I had been eyeing the beast and thinking about taking it instead. Luckily I had returned the title to Anchorage a few days before so I could not go back on my decision since the title is needed to cross the border. Any mechanical device can break at any time including new machines. The 97000 miles on the BRP should be reassuring, not a sign of mechanical problems to come (I hope).

One of the hardest lessons which I am still struggling to learn on this trip is it is ok to relax and enjoy the trip itself. And one does not have to ride 8-10 hours a day to feel like it was a good day and that I have accomplished something. It is ok to ride only 100 miles while relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Hell, it is ok not to ride one mile and just relax in the hammock if that is your desire. I am slowly learning that lesson. Once I have fully absorbed learning to relax how will it affect other things in my life.  

Obviously, it is still a lesson which I have not fully mastered. Riding an extra 120 miles to Fort Smith from Little Rock shows I still need practice. It will be interesting to see what type of schedule will evolve once we cross the border. I have never met my two riding companions and we are still discussing the route south. We are all retired and don't have any commitments. Present plans are to meet in McAllen, Texas and cross the Rio Grande on Monday 16 October 2023.

Again, comments to me at ktmrider2[at]live[dot]com.