Road Trip Day Eight

8/17/2012

"On the outside

You’re free to roam

On the outside

We found it home

On the outside 

There’s more to see 

On the outside 

We choose to be"

~Bo Rinehart~

My adventures started at 10am this morning.  Since I once again missed a morning bike ride, I decided to find a coffee shop to write.  I visited with Tyler Lee for a little bit, then we said our goodbyes and I set out to write.  When I got back on the road I had a 3 hour drive ahead of me to get to Eureka Springs, AR for a Bluegrass festival.  The highways that connect Conway to Eureka Springs are beautiful.  Note to self:  Avoid the interstates; take the highways and backroads.  

On each leg of this journey towards home I find myself driving slower and slower.  I knew it would come to an end, but I still wish time would slow down.  I finally arrive in Eureka Springs, AR, and I drive along the historic loop through town.  The road is winding and lined with shops.  This town is adorable.  I could definitely live here.  There is so much character and culture.  

There's supposed to be a bluegrass festival in town for three days, and I was hoping to catch it on day one.  After winding through the loop I'm back on the highway and realize I'm leaving town.  I turn back and stop at a store called The Razorback.  I go in and start chatting with the young lady behind the counter.  Her grandparents bought the store 47 years ago, and it's been in the family every since.  I started telling her about my adventures, and then her sister and mother walked into the room.  I shared some more, and the mother began to tell me about Leatherback Lake here in Eureka Springs, just down the road from the shop.  She said the bike trails there were great, and we started sharing biking experiences.  I felt right at home.  Talk about good people, good conversation, and just all around good atmosphere.  What a beautiful family!  I felt a definite kinship with them as I stood there sharing stories and laughing.  

If you ever pass through Eureka Springs, AR, I definitely recommend a stop at the Razorback.  You won't be disappointed.  

After visiting for probably 30 minutes with the delightful family that runs the shop, I started perusing their merchandise more.  They have an awesome collection of metal signs that hang on walls.  It's an eclectic assortment of gifts and souvenirs.  I ended up purchasing an adorable little owl coffee mug.  My second mug purchase on this trip.  Not sure I'll have room for them when I get home,  but I'll make it work.  ;)  I could have spent the rest of my money here, I saw so many things I would have loved to buy for friends and family.  Alas, my budget is tighter here nearing the end of my trip, so I settled for the mug and some rockin' bumper stickers.

They informed me that the bluegrass fest here in town is just bands playing at a bunch of little venues along the historic loop.  Damn the luck!  I thought I was going to be attending my first bluegrass camping fest.  

They gave me a map of the town, pointing out some cool spots to hang out, and I set out for Leatherback lake to set up my tent.  Once there I see a car with Missouri plates at a site near the trail head.  There's also a bike lying near the car.  I decide to camp around the corner and meet a new friend the old-fashioned way instead of making  a new Skout friend.  Before too long I see him walking down into the meadow where the camps are, and I wave and approach.  I find out he only lives about an hour from me.  We hit it off, talking about camping and biking and such.  When I find out he's been riding for 17 years I knew our paths had crossed for good reason.  Thanks again to the family at the Razorback for directing me on a path that led me to this new friend!  

I ask if he wants to check out the town tonight and grab a bite to eat.  We agree to head out after I finish a ride on the trails.  I set out to ride, and quickly discover that these trails will be the most difficult and treacherous I have ridden on yet.  I wipe out left and right.  This terrain is rough.  Plateaus that drop off, trails that wind around ridges with sharp turns and narrow passages.  There are obstacles galore.  The trails also wind over creek beds every so often that are comprised of rocks of all shapes and sizes.  It's a rough ride, but I'm laughing the whole way.  I started riding down a winding ridge on one trail, and even as I was using my brakes the bike kept rolling, so I gripped my handlebars tight, unclipped my shoes, and alternated putting my legs down for balance as I zipped quickly around corners, knowing with each one that with one wrong move my trail ride might come to an end.  Talk about an adrenaline rush!  Many times on these trails I came upon sections of trail where I knew all I could do was grip the handlebars tight, keep pedaling, and just hope for a safe outcome.  Many times I felt elated as I wondered how the hell I made it without a crash and burn.  

When I was nearing the end of my ride I was riding off trail across large plateau rocks.  There was standing water in some places and I started to ride through one of them.  Note to self:  Moss grows on rocks under standing water.  One second I'm upright, the next I'm lying in water with my bike on top of me.  I'm still smiling as I stand up and see a guy in the distance hiking the trails.  My first crash and burn witness.  He asks me if I'm alright, and I laugh as I stand up, get back on the bike and say, "I'm alright!  It's all part of the ride!"  

I get back, shower ( they have the cutest little country bathroom here that I have ever seen), and head to town with my new friend.  We find Chelsea's, the bar/restaurant my friend's at the Razorback suggested.  Supposedly they have amazing pizza.  We almost got to find out.  We sat for at least half an hour before we were told that it would take at least 1.5 hours for the food to be ready because they were so backed up.  Disappointed, and a bit perturbed, we forfeited the $5 cover we had paid, and set out looking for food; this time starving.  We find a little spot and when they tell us they are serving for 5 more minutes we quickly grab menus and order the first thing that catches our eye.  

I also ordered some fried pickles, as my friend had never had them before.  They were a hit!  You know I'm on vacation if I'm eating food that's been fried...

We finish up and head back out to the lake.  Once there we sit and visit for at least another hour before retiring to bed.  I hope we stay in touch, as I'd love to have a new bike riding buddy; and this guy know's his stuff.

I'm getting some things together when I see some creature nosing around in the trees just feet from the entrance to my tent.  I felt kind of silly as I dove into my tent and zipped it as quickly as I could.  I had no idea what that thing was, but I didn't want to run the risk of finding out.  It was as big as a medium sized dog; and he was obviously not afraid of campers.  I'm lying here in my tent now typing, and the creature has come back to my  camp site.  It sounds like it has found a plastic bag that it's digging through.  I wonder if he's getting into my tent bag that I left lying outside the tent.  I guess when I wake up I'll find out.  I brought the mattress in the tent with me, but I was so exhausted I said screw it, and stretched it out for a ground cover, but decided there was no way I was blowing the damn thing up again; not worth the effort.  I covered it with 2 towels and a blanket.  I'm turning in now, and hoping tonight doesn't get as cold as the other night.