I hit the superslab out of OKC. My GPS said to follow I-40 way out west, then turn south. But what fun was that? I have been to Mangum many times, both in my airplane and by car, so this time I cut south at El Reno towards Union City, then followed Highway ?? west. It paralleled I-40 most of the way but was WAY more interesting than the Interstate, which I have traveled many, many times.

Following State Highway 152 west takes you through Binger, home of one of baseball’s all time greats, Johnny Bench. I searched around the town on my bike looking for some type of statue, but no luck. For the life of my I can’t figure out why a baseball town like Binger, with such a world famous athlete, would not have a statue of him on their Main Street. Oh well. Maybe it was stolen.

The morning had started a brisk 51 degrees F but was now warming quite nicely. I pulled off my heated vest, opened the vents on my jacket and continued west at a nice clip. Before long a flag on my GPS informed me that one of my plotted Oklahoma Ghost Towns was nearby. I decided to detour to Cloud Chief to see what was there. Nice stop.

Heading south I saw the town of Gotebo my GPS. I have been to Gotebo before, but who can resist going through this famous town one more time? Not much there, but now I have pictures and can ask others “have you been to Gotebo?”

Finally after 180 miles on my uber-comfortable BMW R1200GSA, I pulled into Mangum. There were portable signs warning of a slowdown in traffic. I understand they were expecting upwards of 30,000 people to attend the weekend festivities. I didn’t run into any traffic, but once I got to downtown Mangum I saw the roads blocked off and quite a few people there. My first bit of trepidation was reading the welcome sign hanging across the street. “Welcome to Mangum Rattlesnake Roundup and Swap Meet”. Uh oh, I didn’t really want to ride 180 miles one way for a swap meet.

Fried rattlesnake anyone?

On Main Street there was at least a kids carnival and food tents set up – kind of like a poor man’s State Fair. In the middle of the town square a trailer was set up with cages full of rattlesnakes. Cool! But it seems rattlesnakes just like to lay there in the heat of the day (it was now 87 degrees) and rattle their tail when anyone approaches. No attacking, no spitting venom, no eating little kids. I didn’t see any emergency personnel running around hauling snake bitten souls to the hospital. I had half hoped to see someone swallow a live rattlesnake, but no luck. I could have paid $5 to go into a tent and watch snake handlers educate people about snakes. Or $6 and a hot bus ride would have taken me to an old abandoned rattlesnake den, where the handlers would toss a couple of live snakes on the ground and let me photograph them. Maybe if someone was going to do a barefoot rain dance in a snake pit, now that might have gotten me fired up. But it seems a rattlesnake rodeo is really not a rodeo at all – just a bunch of penned up snakes in cages, surrounded by Ferris wheels, kids rides, a midway and junk booths.

I think this should have been named “Mangum Swap Meet/Midway Show with Live Caged Rattlesnakes”. The snakes should get second billing.

Oh well, I can’t always be so lucky. Next week is the Pawnee Steam Engine Show. I have been to that before and it is WAY more interesting than the Mangum Rattlesnake Roundup.

Gotta love Oklahoma. Tons of toy guns for the kids.

This local brought his dog to the Rattlesnake Roundup. Was he planning to feed the dog to the snakes? Or maybe the other way around.

Snakes in cages. Just laying there rattling. I guess it is better than snakes in a plane.

This was basically a carnival with a box of snakes.

I didn’t know they hauled snakes that way.

Check out or Ride Calendar for more details.

Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet – Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum – Warwick

The highlight of the weekend is the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum Vintage Swap Meet in Warwick. There should be a huge number of vintage motorcycles there, plus you can pick up some parts for your own build while there.

Pawnee Steam Engine Show

While not necessarily a motorcycle event, this is a great place to ride your bike and spend the day, whether you are coming from Tulsa or OKC or anywhere in northern Oklahoma.  You get to see live working steam engines, tractors and threshers in action, plus a carnival atmosphere, swap meet and craft show.  Well worth the ride to Pawnee.

OCCRA Cross Country Charity Race – Guthrie

If you would prefer to ride off-road, head to Guthrie for the “Make Promises Happen” off road charity race.  Don’t race?  They have classes for people who just want to trail ride and enjoy the track and scenery.  This is a great charity event with all proceeds going to the charity.

Tumbleweeds mini-bike race – Stillwater

Want some wild and wooly action by tipsy grown men riding mini-bikes and duking it out on a dirt track?  Head to Tumbleweeds Bar in Stillwater to watch the hilarious action, do a bit of dancing and flirt with the gals – or guys.

Poker Runs

There are a number of poker runs across Oklahoma this weekend, too many to mention. Check out our calendar page and pick the one you want to ride.

Riding dirt roads in Arkansas.

Good friends Kay Pratt and Connie Hamilton pause for a break.

Our Friday ride crew, including two local boys who showed us lots of double track trails and water crossings.

Kay and I visited Pivot Rock just outside of Eureka Springs.

Me

Kay Pratt shopping in downtown Eureka Springs.

Kay and Connie listening to Hillbilly Dual Sport Ride founder Uncle Dave telling a tall riding tale.

The OKC group eats at a local Pizza Hut after a fun day of riding.

Kay Pratt dropped her bike – while it was standing still!

Kay Pratt on her Honda CRF-230L

Our Friday ride group contemplating a wide river crossing.

The girls from our Friday ride.

Meet Mr Wheelie King. This guy can ride a wheelie like nobody’s business. Standing up, backwards, for miles at a time. Amazing.

Our local host showed us lots of cool riding trails.

Me again.

Kay and Connie geared up to ride.

Ed and Cindy Jones smooching during a break in the action.

Dozens of Oklahoman’s made the trip to Eureka Springs on April 4-7 for the 10th annual Hillbilly Dual Sport motorcycle ride.  Originally started by our riding friend from Kansas, Uncle Dave, it has morphed into a mutli-state event that attracts riders from Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri.  Primarily a street and dirt road ride, this fun event usually features beautiful scenery, easy rides, and sometimes cold and wet weather.

This year we were lucky.  The weather was a bit cool on Thursday, but the remainder of the weekend was clear, sunny, and warm. Dozens of riders showed up on everything from KTM 525′s to KLR’s to Triumph Tigers. Various groups went out for a ride each day, exploring the back roads in and around Eureka Springs.  Our group ran into a local pair on 250 dirt bikes and had fun following them on local 2-track trails.

Classes are scheduled for April 20 in Edmond at the city’s regional fire training site, located at I-35 and Covell at Fire Station 5. It will be held May 11 in Ponca City, and plans are being finalized for a June 1 class in Stillwater.

Edmond Police Officers demonstrate motorcycles skills on their Harley Davidson motorcycles at Thunder Run.

Check it out!

Ride Oklahoma Motorcycle Events Calendar

Earlier this week I needed to go to Claremore to photograph some electrical utility lineman for Oklahoma Living Magazine. Like many motorcyclists, I prefer to ride than drive if all possible. It seemed like a nice day and I made my first mistake – I didn’t check the weather forecast. April 1 is can still be pretty nippy in the morning, but it looked like sunshine and I expected the weather to warm up quite nicely.

I got to my office and started to fire up my BMW R1200GS but WHAT? The battery was completely dead. No clicks, no lights, no electronics – nothing. I had just ridden it the previous week but looks like I left my key on and the battery was completely drained. I didn’t have time to charge it and I knew a bump start wouldn’t be enough to start and then run a high tech electronic bike like the GS with zero power. Still wanting to ride, I one of my favorite rides, my Suzuki DRZ-400S. It is a dirt bike mostly but I have rigged it for street use with a hand made pannier rack and some soft luggage. I tossed a camera and some lighting strobes in the saddle bags, threw on my helmet and jacket, and away I went.

I rode my Suzuki DRZ 400S to Claremore and back. It was supposed to be a nice day and get warmer, but it got colder and started raining instead. No heated grips or vest and no wind protection made for a cold ride. I went down dirt roads near Cushing to bypass rain.

The weather was a bit cold to start but not bad, plus I expected it to warm up as the sun rose. Not a cloud in the sky – a perfect day for a ride. I like to ride back roads and even dirt roads when I can, so I started out the back way from Edmond along mostly paved but secondary county roads, out through Wellston. Knowing I needed get moving to get to my photo shoot on time, and not wanting to ride the Turner Turnpike with its 75 mph speed limit on a DRZ, I jumped on the always fun Route 66. I have been down that road so many times I know it like the back of my hand. It was an enjoyable ride, even on the DRZ with a board hard dirt bike seat, no wind protection, no heated grips or vest.

About the time I got to Tulsa I noticed the weather had not gotten warmer – it had gotten COLDER! Dang, this was looking less like fun and I wasn’t dressed for cold weather riding. I had a great KLIM Lattitude jacket on but just jeans, boots, gloves and a thin riding shirt on under my jacket. Luckily I had chosen my full faced helmet instead of my open face that I often ride my DRZ with (the better to take pictures without removing your helmet).

I finally made it to Claremore but the temps were now hovering around 55 degrees – about 10 degrees colder than when I started. I got my work done – they were surprised to see a photographer show up on a dirt bike. I was done by 2:30 pm and ran back to Claremore to top off with gas (total fuel usage for entire trip = 6 gallons, about $21 round trip Edmond-Claremore-Edmond) and grab some food. My plan was to enjoy the ride back along dirt and gravel roads, secondary county roads, stop and take pictures along the way, and just enjoy the day riding.

Mr. Cold Weather joins me

But by now my friends had joined me. It seemed the temps were really dropping and the constant wind of 45-55 mph on a bike with zero wind protection was starting to drop my core temps. I stopped at Kohl’s and purchased an oversized fleece jacket on markdown for $5 to go under my riding jacket. That helped tremendously. But after a while your core body temp starts dropping and you get chilled and just can’t get warm again soon. I stopped a few spots along the way and took pictures of things and places that interested me, but now my mind was becoming more focused on how darn cold I was than one how much fun I was having. Those friends were getting close and comfortable now, making my back and neck ache, my body shiver, and carrying the fun away from the party.

Now Mr. Rain tags along

Just east of Cushing on Highway 33 I saw rain clouds ahead. Humm. That was going to suck. I could see clear skies to the south along what looked like the Turner Turnpike corridor. And it was just starting to get dark. So I pointed the DRZ south along a dirt road, bypassing Cushing and hoping to bypass the rain.

No luck. The cold rain caught up with me. Luckily not a downpour, but just steady rain that ranged from light to moderate. Of course on a bike even a light rain can get you wet pretty quick. I didn’t have any rain gear but luckily my KLIM jacket is totally waterproof. It kept my torso dry but my hands and legs go pretty wet.

Now imagine riding a dirt bike at speed at night in 48 degree temps – in the rain, on a dirt road, at dusk.

My friends cold, wet and uncomfortable were in full party mode!

I kept a steady lookout for deer. Those four legged creatures can ruin a nice bike ride real quick. I finally got past the rain and made it to Highway 18, which then led me south to Chandler, where I could catch 66 home to Edmond. By now it was fully good and dark and by the way, the light on a DRZ dirt bike really kind of sucks, especially on low beam. I shivered and shuddered the rest of the way home, mulling over in my brain the age old question they write country songs about – “what was I thinking?”

But still, riding my bike all day was fun. It was a challenge and was not comfortable for much of the day, but that comes with the territory at times when riding a motorcycle. You need to be ready to NOT have fun. But the pleasure and freedom of riding a motorcycle more than makes up for the not fun part.

I eventually made it home safe and sound. It took me a long hot shower and 4 hours under an electric blanket on high power to finally warm up and stop my teeth from chattering. A small price to pay for the freedom and fun of riding a motorcycle.

I was riding my DRZ motorcycle home from a job in Claremore and bypassed south of Cushing to get around a rain storm. Came upon this drilling rig at sunset with storm clouds in the background.

Flying G ranch just west of Sand Springs.

Flowering redbud trees in an empty forest always remind me of spring in Oklahoma.

I ran across this odd looking house in far west Tulsa. There is an underground portion below the tower. Looks like a control tower. It is up on a hill and has an awesome view of downtown Tulsa about 15 miles away.

Registration starts at 9:30 am and the poker run begins at 10 am. Pit bike race at 1 pm and drawings are at 1:30.

LOCATION: CrossTimbers Riding Area
TIME: 10:00 AM April 14, 2013

Story on News6

It is good to remember as a motorcyclists that you can do everything right, the other person can be in the wrong, but you are still the one injured. Dress appropriately. We always suggest you wear a helmet, a heavy jacket, boots and gloves.

http://newsok.com/edmond-police-want-to-switch-to-bmw-motorcycles/article/3763837

Edmond Police Officers demonstrate motorcycles skills on their Harley Davidson motorcycles at Thunder Run.