Today’s ride can probably best be described as – How to turn 170 miles into over 400.  it was really foggy this morning in Tulsa; the kind of fog that requires windshield wipers.  So yea, I was getting wet for the first half hour or so, but after that, the fog started to lift and the road ahead was visible once more.

Welcome to Arkansas.  That reminds me of a joke.  One guy asks another, “You’re from Arkansas huh.  Isn’t that where they -”  You know, maybe this isn’t the time for that joke.  Remind me and I’ll tell ya later.  Arkansas has some beautiful country – and today I spent most of my time in the Ozarks.  I was wearing out the sides of my tires for sure.  I must have ridden through over 1,000 turns today.

The fun started as soon as I got into Arkansas but really stepped it up a notch when I turned north off Interstate 40; it was like 300 miles of Malibu Canyon road.  I wanted roads with more turns though – Careful what you wish for……

Absolutely no problem filling up here.  I thought the gas in Oklahoma was cheap at just over $2.00 per gallon.  In California it’s over $3.00 per gallon AND they are about to add another 12 cents per gallon tax on gasoline and 20 cents per gallon for diesel.  On top of that, DMV registrations are going to go up AGAIN.  But, that’s a rabbit hole we don’t want to go down.  Besides – California isn’t going to be my problem for much longer.

This country is not flat at all but there aren’t really any “mountains” either.  When there is a spectacular view it looks like this.  A nice place to look around and more importantly, walk around and stretch your legs.

Near the end of the day, just as I rode through another turn and up over a rise this guy was right in the middle of the road (roughly the size of a half inflated basketball).  THAT would make you have a bad day for sure, not to mention what it would mean for the turtle.  He was alive but not very interested in moving.  I’m sure the roadway was warm and the traffic here is pretty much nonexistent so he doesn’t have too much to worry about.  Besides, even a car would be wise to steer clear of this guy.

Not too much to write about today.  Just a full day riding with tons of turns.  The Black Hills of South Dakota have nothing on the Ozarks.  If you are ever in the area and want to go play in the hills – this is the place.