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Arkansas Goat Bluff Trail ~ 7.36 mile hike with 550' Sheer Cliffs and amazing views

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I was supposed to go to Tennessee for a Motorcycle event but after those who had gone in the past were unable to go this year, I debated between flying solo (which would have been fine) or going somewhere else (still solo).  I looked at a couple of maps for fun things to do and this picture, at midnight on Tuesday, secured my plan to go to Arkansas Wednesday morning bright and early (so I would get there in plenty of daylight, its only 11 hours).  Besides the photo, Goat Trail to Big Bluff hike immediately caught my attention with words like 'rugged hike', 'ledge trail', and 'not recommended if you dislike heights'.  Big Bluff, as it is accurately named, is 550 feet tall and is the tallest sheer bluff face between the Rocky Mountains and Apalachian Mountains. I HAD to see this in person.    Photo Courtesy of Aaron Bates from nps.gov  (clearly a MUCH nicer camera than my old iphone) I started early in the morning to beat the heat of the day with my backpack of go

The Country Music Awards 2022 ~ what an epic experience!

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I don't like shopping and I don't like 'things'...I live for experiences. So when life grants me a once in a lifetime opportunity - I take it! Me and a couple friends were planning a trip to Nashville to soak in the sunshine, see all kinds of live music, and drink expensive beers. Shortly after we booked the flight, we learned that the Country Music Awards (CMA's) were live in Nashville the very day we were going to fly in. One of my friends is a ticket guru- if there is a ticket, she will find it. And so she did. I didn't even know 'buying a ticket for the CMA's' was possible. It sure changed my method of packing in a hurry - after all, the CMA's are a Black Tie Affair. As we walked up to the Nashville Bridgestone Arena, the sidewalks were glowing with fanciness. There were long flowy gowns draping onto the concrete below the sparkly high heels, elegant ballgowns that made Cinderella come to life, and so many sequins. We had seats in row one of

Ghosts, Healing Springs, & History: Quirky Tourism in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

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 Arkansas is almost like a second home. I have been going there on 2 wheels since 2012 and I can never get enough of the scenery, the twisty roads, the expansive views, the down to earth people, and of course, there are always some shenanigans mixed in. This year, Bikes Blues & BBQ moved locations from Fayetteville, AR to Rogers, AR, and with it, came a new date, pushed back a couple of weeks. While I still ride a lot in October, the days get REAL short, the sunshine is mostly for looks, and the darkness creeps in much quicker - making riding around home a great option, but riding down to Arkansas a bit more of a chore (especially when I can still go earlier in the year and be WARM)! So, instead of heading down for BBBQ this year, as we always do, we decided to stick with the usual date just after mid September. Sadly, Sheila couldn't make it due to an adventure the previous week out west having an impact on her motorcycle's desire to come home and leave again so soon (clut

A 1943 Walter P38 handgun in the parking lot of the Road Kill Cafe ~ roadside adventures!

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Half of the fun of riding motorcycle is the random places we find and the interesting people we meet.  And let me just say - Stiffy and I ride together a lot - and two girls on two bikes attracts a bit of EVERYONE! Our stop at Road Kill Cafe in PA - not only was the place interesting, the older gentleman we met as we were leaving cemented the place in our memory for life!   As we started walking out of the Roadkill Cafe in Pennsylvania, an older gentleman, maybe 80-85 years old, tall, thin, dressed in black pants and a blue button down shirt with pends hanging out of the pocket, stopped Stiffy and excitedly put his hand on her shoulder and told us of how bummed his wife was going to be that she missed seeing us (Stiffy).   Stiffy kindly said that he must be mistaking her for someone else as we were not from the area, but the older gentleman was adamant that Stiffy was indeed friends with his wife, who could not come there today because she was ill. Again Stiffy said he must be mistaken