Arkansas Y’all!

Discussion in 'Free Zone' started by Mikie, Jun 8, 2021.


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  1. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    So the drive was much more than I anticipated. Left last Thursday around 7:00pm and finally arrived with our 26 foot cargo trailer in tow at around 1:00pm on Saturday. Stopped twice to get a couple hours sleep, the last was just West of the Arkansas border. Slept about 6 hours in the truck behind the wheel. Cathy is always the trooper.

    Waze brought us in from the south side on AR23… huge mistake. If’n it twernt for a Cummins I’m confident we would not have survived the steep twisty climbs. Safe to say the road construction codes are not SoCal friendly!

    So when we drove in the 1.8 mile dirt road to the new ranch we had a truck behind us that followed us all the way into the driveway. A tattooed from head to (I assume) toe ex-Hells Angel named JP jumps out of his truck. The FIRST words out of his mouth…
    “I’ll tell you what!”
    “As soon as I saw that big azz trailer, I knew it had to be you folks!”
    “Robert sez you would be showin bout this time! I’m JP and this here is my wife Cheetah, and our son Keith!”

    It just don’t get better then that!

    The place is better than we imagined! We fell in love with the ranch. NWA is experiencing a very extended rainy season so our two week vacation plan was ill timed. Non the less we are having a blast. We literally have 15 acres of white and red oak forest. Have had 6 to 10 deer in the clearing in the back almost every day. Seen Armadillos, skunk, large pond turtles (uh, don’t mess with them) and black snakes like gopher snakes but black.
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    First thing we did was replace the tattered American flag.
    D6ECB992-D67A-4E77-B0CF-26E4F4B77802.jpeg
    Then went to the DMV.
    We registered 2 vehicles, the Dodge 2500 4x and the Honda Civic, and 4 trailers… the Cargo Trailer, Dump Trailer, Tractor Flatbed Trailer, and our 34 foot 5th wheel. Total came to $201.50.

    Also bundled our Home Owners and Auto Insurance with Arkansas Farm Bureau (State Farm) and the cost cut in half compared to our Mercury Insurance of nearly 15 years!
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    Failed on the Drivers License. They don’t mess around on back up documents to verify who you are. I have a Real ID (joke) and did not have the goods to get it. Next time.

    I know why many of the folks are on the hefty side in Arkansas. The home town ma and pop restaurant’s are as addicting as well as portion misguided!
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    We have not got a chance to hit any trails yet. The house is starting to settle in some with our first load finally unloaded and put away.

    Its 5:00 o’clock somewhere… for example here…CFBB513A-397C-4243-9E2F-F7B3AB56BAB1.jpeg
    More later!
     
  2. blixet

    blixet Well-Known Member

    Location:
    San Gabriel Valley
    Name:
    Tom
    Current Bike:
    Transition Scout, TJ Ti
    Freaking awesome my man!
     
  3. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    In Buffalo they'd use the pan grease to coat the bottom of the plate for dipping. No Buffalonian would ever eat from a dry plate like that. You're still in health food country. :p

    Glad you made it unscathed!
     
  4. Obsidian

    Obsidian iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Obsidian
    Current Bike:
    27.5 Intense Tracer
    That sounds like the beginning to a bad a horror movie. :gag: :Roflmao
     
    Bluesrider, herzalot, tick and 9 others like this.
  5. hill^billy

    hill^billy iMTB Rockstah

    These sound like some exciting new chapter times for you Mikie! I'm happy for you! Doesn't look like you will be hurting for adventure there that is for sure.
    I'm in Salt Lake City right now and headed up to Idaho to see if it may be where I spend my new chapter time. :thumbsup: The house looks awesome!
     
  6. BonsaiNut

    BonsaiNut iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Troutman, NC
    Name:
    Greg P
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX1
    Plenty of room for lots of bonsai trees! Thanks for sharing!
     
  7. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    I'm gonna have to ask again for clarity.

    Is it "Ar-kan-sauce", "Ar-Kansas", or "Ar-kan-saw"?

    I've heard folks from Missouri say "Ar-Kansas".
     
  8. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Well folks from Missouri pronounce it Mizurah, so how do we move forward with them?
    I’m thinking from the folks we have spoke with it is clearly Awcansaw.
     
    ~JB~, Bluesrider, OTHRider and 5 others like this.
  9. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals

    Why yes, it is Missourah. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
     
  10. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    We’re all in trouble. Mikie has time, beer, and an internet connection. :eek:
     
  11. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Yeah he sucks...:p
     
  12. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    Ya gotta introduce them dudes to "dude" and "breh" and "hella" and "jah" and we still got the Lakers!
     
  13. Sasquatch9billion

    Sasquatch9billion iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    trinidad j. mendez
    :Roflmao

    You guys are not messing around! Although, that side of coleslaw looked a tad on the small side...
    Good for you and Mrs. Watson @Mikie!
     
    Faust29, herzalot, OTHRider and 6 others like this.
  14. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    By the time I got to the Coleslaw... I did not care about the Coleslaw.
    Until I tasted, the Coleslaw. Ohhhhhh....... Myyyyyyyyyyy........Gawd!
     
    ~JB~, Walleye, Faust29 and 11 others like this.
  15. konakc

    konakc iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    kc
    Mikie.. u Just in Fullerton..eating w grego...Arkansas..yeah right...
     
    Faust29, herzalot, Mikie and 10 others like this.
  16. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    Back the truck up here.....did I miss something? Or did @Mikie slip outta dodge under the darkness of night, never to be seen again?
     
    ~JB~, Rumpled, Faust29 and 8 others like this.
  17. Redman

    Redman iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Henderson, Nv
    Name:
    Kevin
    Current Bike:
    SC OG Hightower 29'r
    @Mikie beyond stoked for you and Kathy! Soooo jelly!
     
    Faust29, Mikie, OTHRider and 5 others like this.
  18. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    And most importantly be sure to say "the" before any highway or interstate number...

    I think he was trying to get out of town before we organized another Floop ride!
     
    Faust29, dssgaffler, herzalot and 7 others like this.
  19. MrGreedom

    MrGreedom Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Ryan
    Current Bike:
    BH Lynx6
    Wow, I have been off the forum for too long. I popped back in just in time to see our fearless leader moving! Im jealous, I love California less every year. Been talking with my girl if she would like to live a simpler life with rural problems.
     
    ~JB~, Faust29, herzalot and 9 others like this.
  20. mountaingirl sara

    mountaingirl sara iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    So Cal
    Name:
    Sara
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley
    So happy for you two! And glad that you’re not leaving just yet brother ;)
     
    Faust29, Voodoo Tom, herzalot and 4 others like this.
  21. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Congrats! I hope you and the missus find long term joy and contentment in your new home.
     
    Faust29, Voodoo Tom, Mikie and 5 others like this.
  22. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Congratulations, Mikie and Cathy! Nice push!

    Here’s to a great new beginning and lots of good times. :thumbsup:
     
  23. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    For the first time in my life - well my IMTB life anyway - I don't know what to say. Congrats to the two of you. What an awesome adventure and a whole lotta not boring.

    I hate to see you go but love to watch you leave? I dunno. Fahrk. :(
     
    OTHRider, ~JB~, SnakeCharmer and 4 others like this.
  24. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Not gone.
    Just on vacay at our vacay place until I retire.
    I’ll always just be a Hooligan, a forum away! :thumbsup:

    (but that was nice.... thanks Chris. I mean that deeply...)
     
  25. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Yup, I hear dat. I need simple in my life.
    Like Motel 6... We’ll leave a light on. :D
     
    ~JB~, Stkx66, Faust29 and 2 others like this.
  26. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    I have absolutely no idea what you are talking 'bout...:whistling:
    upload_2021-6-8_22-5-12.jpeg
    @Grego
     
  27. Dirtrider....

    Dirtrider.... Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo, CA
    Name:
    Paul
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley V4
    congratulations on the move. i miss NWA.

    careful of the snakes out there… some of the “black” ones are water moccasins which are poisonous… :cool: also not all poisonous snakes out there have rattly tails.
     
  28. UPSed

    UPSed iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Name:
    Ed
    Current Bike:
    Niner Jet 9 RDO
    So jealous but so happy for you and Cathy. Still not sure where we're going after I retire. Time to really start planning. Only a couple of years to go. We need to get together for at least one big gathering before you're gone for good. :cry::)
     
    HBkites, Obsidian, Faust29 and 5 others like this.
  29. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Paul are you from or have you spent a lot of time in NWA? What part exactly?
    I’m assuming that poisonous snakes regardless of rattles have the triangle noggin’ right?

    I hear the Copperheads which are fairly predominant in conversation are fairly docile meaning non aggressive.

    Hanging out with my propane guy Eddie he says our location is Copperhead enriched. :( Then said most folks catch a King Snake and feed him some mice and they will stick around. Says you most likely will not have a Copperhead problem anymore. Sh!t fire!
     
    Tom the Bomb, ~JB~, Danimal and 8 others like this.
  30. mtbMike

    mtbMike iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    PRESCOTT!!!
    Name:
    Mike
    Current Bike:
    Ibis HD5, Ripley & Mojo 4
    Fantastic!!! I wish Prescott was that green but w/o the rain that NWA gets, that will never happen. My friends in North Texas said they have been getting pounded for two weeks straight and are thinking about building an Ark instead of a new home. Just wait until you getting out riding. Your head will be on a swivel looking at all the beauty and before long, you'll be saying "I'm so lucky to live here" on your drive to the trailhead. It happens to me several times a week...90% of the people I ride with are from CA with a sprinkling of ex-Chicagoans, they all say the same thing.
     


As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?