Biker and I made a super-quick trip to Arkansas and Missouri this Memorial Day weekend to scout locations/narrow down the options for a future property purchase. Unfortunately, due to weather, the only riding day we got was Sunday. But it was glorious!

We arrived at a cabin on Lake Taneycomo just east of Branson on Saturday early afternoon.  The forecast called for severe storms early evening and the sky looked a bit threatening so we decided to take the truck out and about for the afternoon. We wandered over to Kimberling City to check out Tablerock Lake. Such a beautiful setting!
Then we headed east toward Bull Shoals Lake. All of the flooding southern Missouri experienced the past weeks is on full display, with rivers out of their banks and bridges closed. As the skies darkened, we headed back to the cabin to cuddle up with a movie and a bottle of wine.

Sunday morning dawned clear and beautiful, and we loaded up on the bike and headed out about mid-morning. After a frustrating stop to get our helmets talking to each other – let’s just say there were a few angry words exchanged! — we turned south and headed into Arkansas.  For all you Arkansas motorcycle fiends, here are the roads we took –Highway 86 to Blue Eye, 311 to Forest Green, 103 south to 21, then north to 221 (road to nowhere), and over to Eureka for lunch. We ate at a Mexican restaurant there (pic of Biker attached). Yummy food but no margaritas – responsible riding!  Our waiter, Jade, was a wealth of information about the area and a heck of a nice guy.  After lunch, we headed south on 23 and turned off on a side road to take a peek at Beaver Lake. So pretty, see pic!  Then off for more riding – north on 23 to 62 (for 10-15 miles north of Eureka a seriously great road), took at side turn onto 187 but the bridge was flooded out so had to backtrack, then swung north of Beaver Lake on 62 over to Rogers, and east on 12 (great road just east of bridge for about 5-10 miles).  South on 23 to Huntsville, where we stopped for a snack, then 74 east and 21 north then back into Branson.  Biker wants me to add that he is impressed with the new front and rear suspension on the bike and proclaimed it a great success.

All in all, a beautiful day of riding and were able to rule out a few places – north and northeast side of Tablerock Lake is too steep and way too populated so it’s out. We know we want waterfront and there are plenty of options. Right now, leaning toward Beaver Lake or a major river like the White. Still more places to consider and lots of time to make a decision.
Back to the cabin for another movie, more wine and couch cuddling. Awwww!

Headed home now and it’s another beautiful day in northwest Arkansas.  The truck just doesn’t take the curves like the bike!