Got home OK-- only added 15 miles and 2 hours to the quickest way, and did the slower way-- and had AR 9 pretty much to myself in the sunshine all the way to Mountain View, AR.
At noon I stopped for lunch at Mammoth Springs and sat on a restaurant deck overlooking the river. Suddenly the lights dimmed, the radio music faded and a guy at the next table's pace maker shut down. I looked down at the intersection of 9 an US 63 and saw rydtym on his FJR, with its towed array of electronic equipment sucking up all the energy, at the stop sign waiting to turn. He made the turn and eventually the lights came up, the music resumed, and with a couple of thumps on the chest of the guy next to me by the waitress, all was normal again.
Ride home was no drama, except when 4 approaching squids south of Salem MO decided to show me wheelies as a salute to my gnarly adventure bike. Two of them failed to factor in the 15 to 20 mile per hour cross wind while up on one wheel until their simian brains noted the divergence in direction (as in across the yellow line into my lane), and they dropped the anchor. Naturally the front wheels came down hard (similar to a Navy aviator making a carrier landing), and one almost got to see an S-10 up close and personal. All ended well and I suspect they never realized they were in the presence of a gnarly adventure rider who can intentionally ride off road anytime he desires...... right Smitty.... right Chester ?
Ok........ nevermind.
It was a fun time with good roads, even in the rain and mostly dry counties. I hope to make it again next year.
By the way, I stopped by the Angler's Inn in Mountain View, where I did my first Hooterville in 2005, for a cup of coffee. I had to become a member to enter (for free-- no fee) as they are now a "private club" so they can serve alcohol. They really made the restaurant/ bar look nice, the menu looked good and the service was as good as ever. I can bring "guests".... maybe we should consider them and Mountain View again for a run. It was kind of cool being right there on the White River, and they are associated with the Holiday Resort across the intersection which has rooms, cabins and camp grounds. Just a thought.....
Great seeing everybody again.