Here's some tentative details on our route...

We'll be getting from TX to Arkadelphia via I-30 out of Texarkana. This group is not used to long hauls. In fact the 375miles from Houston to Arkadelphia is quite a stretch for us in one day. We'll spend the night in Arkadelphia and head out for the good ride the next morning and just make a big loop back to Arkadelphia for another night stay before heading home.

The loop I'm considering is Hwy 7 north to US270. Take 270 eastbound to US71 southbound... 71 to 88/59, dogleg east over to Hwy 8 that heads southwest back to Arkadelphia. It's about 205miles which is about the limit of what a couple of the passengers can take in a day. It really depends on how long we stretch it out time-wise. These lightweights will be following us up to Arkadelphia in a car. Otherwise, they can't do it. The limitation is saddle-time & a bad back. We've ridden the 3-sisters out of Kerrville, TX which is a little over 200 miles of quite technical roads in the hill country with no problems. So, we're looking to kick it up a notch before we try the Dragon next year.

I know there are many smaller roads in the Nat'l Forest, but I'm not sure which ones are paved all the way, etc. So, I figure the more major roads are a better bet unless someone here can point something out to me on the smaller roads. (We're always looking for the best backroads we can find.) I'd also like any input on the roads I've mentioned as far as current conditions, construction, attendances, etc. Some pointers on food stops that we should not pass up.