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In Dual Sport

Clayton Lake Dual Sport Ride Report 2015

October 13, 2015 No Comments

The thirteenth annual Clayton Lake Dual Sport Ride is in the books, and what a great weekend. The weather was darn near perfect except for the dust from dry conditions. Mornings were cool, afternoons were warm, and the skies offered enough clouds to keep the late afternoon sun at bay.

Friday Day 1

Kay and I showed up late Thursday afternoon and set up camp. Several folks were already there and had already been out for a ride. Friday morning we hit the trails around 11 am, riding a very nice loop south out of Nashoba, crossing the Little River at a bridge that has been washed out for years, then looping east and then north for about a 45 mile fun ride. I was on my good friend Bill Dragoo’s Beta 525, since I had left the key of my DRZ-400 in the on position overnight and had drained the battery. Luckily Bill had loaned me his Beta as a backup so I plugged my much loved DRZ into a charger and jumped on Bill’s much more nimble and powerful “Red Devil”. We headed out with Kay on her Honda CRF230L, me on the Beta, our daughter Emily Mathews on her Honda CRF-250L, Connie Hamilton on her Kawasaki KLX-130, and Jim Finley on his Suzuki DR-650.

On our Friday ride We encountered two water crossings. On the first crossing our friend Jim took his girlfriend Connie Hamilton’s Kawasaki KLX-130 through the deep part of the crossing. The water washed over the seat and the bike died mid-stream, filling Jim’s boots with water for the remainder of the day. He pushed the little Kawi out of the water and we proceeded to drain the exhaust pipe and intake. Luckily no water had made it into the cylinder or engine cases so after 30 minutes of trailside work we had Connie’s bike running again.

Jim Finley drained the water from Connie Hamilton's Kawasaki after it went underwater during a creek crossing south of Nashoba. — Jim Finley drained the water from Connie Hamilton’s Kawasaki after it went underwater during a creek crossing south of Nashoba.

My wife Kay Pratt crossing the bridge out over a creek just north of Nashoba while Jim Finley stands by to help if needed. — My wife Kay Pratt crossing the bridge out over a creek just south of Nashoba while Jim Finley stands by to help if needed.

Once across the small bridge out just south of Nashoba, we meandered south and east into the Honobia wildlife management area. This requires a permit ($10 for 3 days for in-state riders, $80 for an annual pass for out-of-state riders). This area is the size of Rhode Island and crisscrossed with logging trails. Since southeast Oklahoma had been dry since July, I decided to try crossing the Little River at what is termed the “bridge out” waypoint. Little River is a pretty major river that divides this riding area and several bridges span the river. This bridge has been washed out since at least 2002 and probably longer, but during late summers with low water, the river can be crossed – with a bit of difficulty. Riders must travel downstream along the banks of the river, then cross the actual riverbed which is strewn with large boulders. Top level riders on light weight dirt bikes can make the crossing generally without putting a foot down, but it is a challenge. Most riders end up stalling their bike in the boulders or even falling over and need help getting across. This day we all got across with a bit of pushing, shoving, lifting and sweating.

This bridge over the Little River south of Nashoba has been out for years. During low water in the late summer/early fall we can cross the river here.

I went first on Bill Dragoo's Beta 525 - made it without putting a foot down - not an easy task. We actually cross downstream about 100 yards. — I went first on Bill Dragoo’s Beta 525 – made it without putting a foot down – not an easy task. We actually cross downstream about 100 yards.

This is a picture from Day 2 crossing the Little River. You can see part of the boulder-strewn river bottom, although I didn't get the most difficult part in this picture. Only a handful of riders make it across without at least a foot down. I was 1 for 2 on my crossings, putting my foot down a few times on my DRZ. — This is a picture from Day 2 crossing the Little River. You can see part of the boulder-strewn river bottom, although I didn’t get the most difficult part in this picture. Only a handful of riders make it across without at least a foot down. I was 1 for 2 on my crossings, putting my foot down a few times on my DRZ.

The remainder of our Day 1 ride was fairly easy compared to the river crossing. We hit some great trails that had seen very little traffic so the trail was not ground into dust. Some of the trails were very rough and rocky but fun as we dodged tree limbs and clambered up and down craggy washed-out trails. Late in the day we ran across a small pony and his mule sidekick. The pony, which we promptly named “Rusty” was fond of our peanut butter crackers, while his mule friend watched warily from a distance.

My daughter Emily Mathews feeding our new friend "Rusty" who we found along a trail way back in the woods. — My daughter Emily Mathews feeding our new friend “Rusty” who we found along a trail way back in the woods.

Towards the end of our ride we got back on pavement to cross Little River again, this time westbound. The fall colors were just beginning to show and the river crossing was stunningly beautiful. While taking a few pictures a lady in an SUV with a couple of girls stopped to say “hi”. Her girls were interested in riding and we let the sit on our bikes.

The fall colors were just beginning to show along the Little River south of Nashoba.

We stopped for pictures over the Little River. From left - Kay Pratt (wife), Connie Hamilton (friend) and Emily Mathews (daughter). — We stopped for pictures over the Little River. From left – Kay Pratt (wife), Connie Hamilton (friend) and Emily Mathews (daughter).

Our good friends Jim Finley and Connie Hamilton were along for the ride.

I was getting a little sugar from my wife as a reward for leading the day's ride. — I was getting a little sugar from my wife as a reward for leading the day’s ride.

My two favorite gals - Emily Mathews and Kay Pratt. — My two favorite gals – Emily Mathews and Kay Pratt.

A lady with two little girls stopped to chat with us while we were taking pictures. Her girls were excited to see women on motorcycles. Emily put them up on Connie's little Kawasaki for a picture. — A lady with two little girls stopped to chat with us while we were taking pictures. Her girls were excited to see women on motorcycles. Emily put them up on Connie’s little Kawasaki for a picture.

Below is a GPX file of our route. You can download this route and load it into your own GPS and follow our trip.

Nashoba River Run loop

Saturday Day 2

Quite a few people joined us for our second ride of the weekend. After charging overnight, my Suzuki DRZ-400 was ready to roll. Once again we pulled out around 11 am with about 15 riders in the group. Since we had such a fun ride the first day, our plan was to start with our Friday route and see how things ended up. We made the creek crossing at Nashoba without incident and the river crossing at Little River without anyone hurt. In fact we rolled up on another group of riders from camp at the river crossing and we all joined in to get the bikes across.

During a stop on the trail we talked about control position - brakes in particular. Phil Templeton adjusted the rear brake lever on several motorcycles to make it easier to apply the rear brake while standing. — During a stop on the trail we talked about control position – brakes in particular. Phil Templeton adjusted the rear brake lever on several motorcycles to make it easier to apply the rear brake while standing. Here he is straightening Kay’s gear shift lever after it had been bent in the river crossing.

One of the riders in our group crossing the Little River stream bed. The damaged bridge is in the background.

Later in the day we stopped at Battiest for lunch and gas. There we met a 14 year old young man on his Honda C-70 moped who joined us in the shade of the store. He inherited his C-70 from his grandpa and used it as transportation around the farm and to town. Connie made friends and asked plenty of questions, which he was willing and eager to answer.

A local 14 year old stopped by to get gas for his Honda C-70 and stopped to talk to us while we ate lunch.

Connie Hamilton makes friends with our Honda C-70 visitor.

Kay and I split off on the ride home. I wanted to find a quicker way home from Battiest, since we often end up there late in the day and need a fun yet quick way back to Clayton.

Clayton to Battiest Loop 2015

Day 3 – Clayton to Choctaw Nation Capitol

On Sunday most riders left early. Kay, Emily, her husband Dirk and I decided to take a short dual sport ride north of Clayton to the Choctaw Nation Capitol in Tuskahoma. Most of our route was paved, with one easy and optional river crossing thrown in. It was interesting to visit the Choctaw Nation Capitol, where they feature a replica Choctaw town from before the Removal.

Dirk Mathews rides his Suzuki DRZ-400 through a nearby river north of Tuskahoma.

We stopped and explored the Choctaw Nation Capitol on the last day of our ride.

Clayton to Choctaw Nation Capitol Loop

In Destinations

Elmer McCurdy and Bill Doolin Outlaw Gravestones

August 1, 2015 No Comments

A picture of Elmer McCurdy in his coffin

A nice little side trip while you are riding near Guthrie is a stop by the Boot Hill section of Summit View Cemetery to see Elmer McCurdy and Bill Doolin‘s gravestone. Both are well known Oklahoma outlaws, although Elmer became famous for his travels AFTER he died. The location is accessible by both dual sport and any street bike.

McCurdy was a low level outlaw who liked to use his skills with nitroglycerin to blow up safes and trains. He wasn’t all that bright however and would often pick the wrong train, or use too much nitro, or just make a mess of things. Finally three Oklahoma lawmen caught up with him, a shootout ensued, and Elmer was killed. His body was taken to a funeral home in Pawhuska where he was embalmed. Nobody claimed the body so the funeral home owner eventually propped Elmer up in front of the funeral home with a rifle and called him various names like “Oklahoma Outlaw”. He would charge a nickel for people to take a picture.

Eventually Elmer drew the attention of circus and freak show operators, who offered the funeral home owner money for the body. The owner refused. Eventually a couple of guys showed up claiming to be Elmer’s long lost brother, claimed the body, and promptly placed it in a traveling wax museum called “The Museum of Crime”. Elmer’s body made the circuit and eventually made his way to places such as Mt Rushmore and Long Beach, Ca. His body deteriorated so much that operators no longer would show it, and the corpse ended up being stored in a warehouse in California. In 1976 the body was used as a prop in an episode of the Six Million Dollar Man. After body parts fell off during filming, it was determined that Elmer was an actual person, not a wax museum leftover, and attempts were made to discover who he was and have his body properly buried. Eventually it was determined he was the Oklahoma outlaw Elmer McCurdy and he was returned to Guthrie for burial.

GPS Coordinates: N35 53.8880, W 97 24.2130

It took Kay and I several trips to find Elmer McCurdy's grave in the huge Summit View Cemetery. — It took Kay and I several trips to find Elmer McCurdy’s grave in the huge Summit View Cemetery.

The Boot Hill section of Summit View Cemetery is located just northeast of the maintenance shed along the north fence of Summit View Cemetery.

Boot Hill is where outlaws were buried after nobody would claim their bodies.

In Destinations

Off the Beaten Path – Sedan, Oklahoma

July 21, 2015 No Comments

I was traveling back roads in Oklahoma on my way home from an assignment in Altus when I ran across an old rock gasoline station that caught my eye. The architecture of this building is similar to structures in Medicine Park, using the rounded stone and concrete mortar. I stopped to photograph this abandoned building and noticed the pipes leading to now empty gasoline storage tanks. A small water cistern sits nearby – for drinking or just water for the automobiles?

Across the street is a sign for the Hancock Ranch, listed as one of the Oklahoma Centennial farms. I drove down the road to the south and did not notice anything unusual. Across the street is a modern metal building for the “Sedan Volunteer Fire Department”.

If you are in southwestern Oklahoma and like to explore, follow these GPS coordinates to see an unusual Oklahoma location.

I was in my truck on the way back from Altus and stopped to take a picture with my large format 4x5 view camera. — I was in my truck on the way back from Altus and stopped to take a picture with my large format 4×5 view camera.

The Sedan Volunteer Fire Station is across the street from the rock gas station.

The Hancock Ranch is located near Sedan.

In Destinations

OKC – Grand Boulevard Loop

June 29, 2015 1 Comment

Many in Oklahoma City are familiar with Grand Boulevard. There is even an exit for it off I-35 between SE 29th and SE 44th street. And they may drive it when touring the opulent homes in Nichols Hills. Or jog along its path in south OKC. Or follow it to Trosper Park in Del City, or Lincoln Park on northeast Oklahoma City.

Wait, what?

How can one road be seen in so many places in Oklahoma City? Doesn’t this cause confusion?

Way back in 1910 – shortly after statehood and only a few years after Oklahoma City was founded – the Oklahoma City Council hired W. H. Dunn, then Superintendent of Parks in Kansas City, to develop the first Oklahoma City Parks Plan. As part of that plan, Dunn developed the Grand Boulevard Loop. It wasn’t until 1930 that the City of OKC incorporated the Grand Boulevard Loop into a formal document – The City Plan for Oklahoma City. Much of the right of way for the boulevard was acquired, and a significant portion of the loop was constructed.

Download original plan here —-> 1910 Oklahoma City Parks Plan by WH Dunn

Download GPS tracks here —-> Grand Boulevard GPS Tracks

This plan from 1910 is the basis for many of the parks we see in Oklahoma City today – Trosper Park, Lincoln Park, and Woodson Park being the most prominent. This “Grand Boulevard” was designed to loop around the outskirts of Oklahoma City and provide a plan for not only parks and a road, but for zoning and long term development of Oklahoma City.

The plan wasn’t formally adopted by the City Council until 1930 and of course by then a few things had changed, but the basics of the plan was still in place. The right-of-way for the loop and parks was acquired and construction began. The loop was never officially completed until the construction of the Interstate system was developed, using much of the right-of-way acquired for the Grand Boulevard loop. That is why you see many of the access roads around I-44 and I-35 labeled “Grand Boulevard”.

I decided to retrace this route with my dual sport bike several years ago. It is a challenge trying to piece the route together without actually driving on the Interstate. My goal was to travel as many roads labeled “Grand Boulevard” as possible while sticking to the original route yet staying off the Interstate. This way I thought the route could be ridden by any motorcycle or even bicycle. Recently I rode this route again and logged it with my GPS so I could share with others. It took me and my daughter Emily Mathews exactly 2 hours to ride the route with a couple of short stops along the way. You have to really pay attention to the route in certain places. For example, near I-44 and Kelly, if you take the wrong turn it can lead you onto the Interstate, while if you turn just 20 yards further, it takes you along the I-44 access road – i.e. Grand Boulevard.

My daughter Emily and I stopped at Tombo Racing on our trip around the Grand Boulevard Loop.

You can find signs for Grand Boulevard all around Oklahoma City.

Emily and I rode our dual sport motorcycles on the Grand Boulevard loop. Any streetbike can easily make the loop.

There are several interesting stops along the way and I only included a few in my GPS file. Tombo Racing, a long time Oklahoma City motorcycle speed shop, is located right on south Grand Boulevard just east of I-35. You will also pass Capitol Hill High School, and of course Trosper Park and Lincoln Park. The Railway Museum is marked near Lincoln Park, and the route takes you right in front of the OKC Zoo and Remington Park.

You can download the route by clicking “download” beneath the map. This will download GPX waypoints, which you can then load into most any GPS unit. Then follow the tracks for a tour around the “Outer Loop” of Oklahoma City!

For those of you without a GPS. you can click the Google Map below and follow the route on your phone:

Below are many beautifully hand drawn maps from the original 1910 plan.

Below is a map of Oklahoma when it was still Indian Territory. Oklahoma City was nothing more than a stage stop along the route.

Here is an artist rendering of Oklahoma City circa 1890.

The two images below are from the Oklahoma Historical Society and are scans of a tourist handbill about Oklahoma City.

Finally, here are a few newspaper articles from years past you can download to read about Oklahoma City’s “Grand Boulevard”.

Harvard 1911 Municipal Engineering report

How Oklahoma City Secured Its Park and Boulevard System

1909 Story about The Park System of Oklahoma City

In Destinations

Skeleton Creek Ranch – Enid

June 21, 2015 No Comments

My wife Kay and I were driving in our Jeep north of Enid, Oklahoma and saw a sign that pointed to “Skeleton Creek Ranch”. Thinking this was some type of cool dude ranch or something, we followed the signs to see something. Eventually one small sign pointed down a cow path in an empty field. Huh? We looked around and could see no “ranch” in site, so turned down the cow path. It looked like it was going towards and oil field tank, but then another little sign with just an arrow pointed down an even smaller cow path. Double humm.

Now the going got a bit rough in our Jeep but never requiring 4WD – just bumpy and uneven. A couple of times we had to drive over into the grass to bypass a mud hole. This was now getting quite interesting.

Finally we came to a small clearing overlooking more of a depression than a creek, but with the grain elevators of Enid clearly visible in the background. The only thing around was this marker explaining Skeleton Creek Ranch and how it came to be named.

“The Skeleton Trail Ranch was located at this site overlooking Skeleton Creek. Like other trail ranches, it provided a location where the cattle herds could be contained and provided basic amenities to the drovers.

The creek and ranch got its name from a disaster experienced by members of the Wichita drive following the civil war. The tribe had relocated to present day Wichita, KS during the Civil War from an area along the Wichita River near present day Anadarko, Oklahoma. With the war over the tribe was attempting to return to their former home when they caught cholera from Army troops. Devastated by the disease, they managed to get as far as this creek when they could no longer travel. So many died that those remaining alive could not bury their dead, and for many years skeletal remains lay scattered over the area.”

This is a perfect dual sport side trip if you are in the area, and an easy 10 minute jaunt from downtown Enid. Approach from the north and look for the small road signs.

GPS waypoint: N36 25.700 W97 50.899

Kay reads the marker for Skeleton Creek Ranch.

The marker is basically in the middle of a field north of Enid. Approach from the road to the north.

This is the permanent marker at the site.

A detailed marker with information about the site.

Getting here requires a bit of off road riding. A pickup truck or any motorcycle can make it pretty easily.

The grain elevators of Enid are visible in the background.

In Dual Sport

Bill Dragoo teaching Adventure Bike Class in Lexington

March 26, 2015 1 Comment

Adventurer Bill Dragoo will be teaching a two day class in Lexington, OK on how to ride big dual sport bikes off-road. Slotted for April 21-22 2015, this class will focus on helping aspiring adventure riders learn to manage big, heavy dual sport motorcycles over rough terrain safely and efficiently.

Bill Dragoo launching out of deep sand at the 2008 BMW GS Trophy competition in Spartanburg, SC.

Skill training will include but not be limited to:

Balance and control
Proper body position
Proper use of brakes where traction is marginal
Skid turns
Obstacle Crossing
Tight turns
Hill Fail Turnaround
Towing
Trailside Emergency Including Flat Repair (time permitting)
Negotiating Deep Sand
Sand Extraction
Group Ride Trail Etiquette
Riding Gear Selection (What works and what to avoid)

Bill is an experienced off-road racer and rider. He won the 2009 Adventure Rider Challenge in California, was runner-up on the BMW GS Trophy Team in 2008, and was a member of the BMW GS Trophy Team in 2010, where he competed in South Africa against teams from all over the world. Bill has ridden dual sport motorcycles in far off places such as Africa, South America, the American southwest, and many other places. Bill is an MSF advanced rider instructor and teaches beginning and advanced street riding courses in Oklahoma City.

If you always wanted to ride your big dual sport off-road but was nervous on how to handle such a challenge, or you just want to sharpen your existing off-road skills and learn a few tricks on riding big bikes off-road, this class is for you.

Cost is $235 for the two day class and will be held at Sundog Trails ORV area in Lexington.

Listen to the podcast to hear Bill talk about what is needed for the class and the skills that will be learned during the class.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

In Dual Sport

Sod Town in the Oklahoma Panhandle

February 12, 2015 1 Comment

Sod Town is a ghost town in the eastern portion of the Oklahoma Panhandle. There is nothing there now except the remains of an old roadbed and I had to drive well over a mile into an open field just to find those remains. A bit about Sod Town from John Morris’ excellent “Ghost Towns of Oklahoma” book:

Sod Town was unique among the early settlements of the Panhandle. It was the first town to be built in the eastern part of No Man’s Land, and all the buildings were constructed of blue creek sod. The village has been described as “standing irregularly and nakedly on the prairie.” It had one store, a blacksmith shop, two saloons with pool halls, a restaurant, and a shack that served as a school. Doors and windowsills were unpainted and often broken, refuse littered the space between the buildings, and building interiors were little more than dark, bad-smelling rooms.

The town was noted for the characters – horse thieves and badmen – who loafed around the saloons. Most of the Chitwood gang, notorious horse thieves who lived nearby and frequented the saloons, were eventually hanged by vigilantes. In general, however, thieves would not steal from neighbors who treated them in a friendly manner. Harry Parker, who as a pioneer youngster attended school in Sod Town, stated: “I do not recall the name of my first teacher in No Man’s Land, but I do remember that two or three of the older students carried six-shooters to school. They would remove them and hang them on the wall by their hats.”

Sod Town, spawned in poverty and crime, has passed into oblivion. the land where the town stood has been cultivated for a number of years, but the ruins of old sod buildings have left ridges that can still be seen from the road east of it.

Below are pictures from Ghost Towns of Oklahoma.

Sod Town, ca. 1885. Sod house with a curved roof. Rocks were placed on top to hold the roof in place.

Sod Town, ca. 1885. A sketch of the "Outlaw Town" by Halley Roberts. (From History of Beaver County) — Sod Town, ca. 1885. A sketch of the “Outlaw Town” by Halley Roberts. (From History of Beaver County)

On a return trip from Guymon in January 2015, I decided to try and find Sod Town. It was difficult to find since it ended up being right in the middle of a rancher’s field. After attempting to approach it from the north and west with no luck, I finally came in from the east side and had some luck. In the end I drove down an old oil field access road, then down a two track trail that eventually turned into a barely discernible trail through the grass. I never saw the mounds left by the sod buildings, but I did follow and old wagon trail leading to Sod Town.

Below are three videos I took with my iPhone while trying to locate Sod Town.

I finally found signs of Sod Town.

This old washed out wagon trail is all the remains of Sod Town that I could find.

Here is a map showing the location of Sod Town in the Oklahoma Panhandle. You can download the GPS coordinates or type them in: N36° 32.198′ W100° 14.116′. (Zoom out to see more details of the roads leading to Sod Town.)

In Dual Sport

Ouachita Mountain dual sport loop

December 8, 2014 5 Comments

This is a challenging dual sport ride that includes part of the famous (or infamous, depending on your off-road skill level) K-Trail. If you haven’t ridden the K-Trail out of Clayton to Mena, AR, you should be aware that it can be quite challenging on a big dual sport. KLR’s can make it but they are a lot of work unless you are an expert rider. This loop is best done on a good dual sported dirt bike like a Suzuki DRZ, KTM, or Yamaha WR. Most of the trail is great dual sport riding, but the west end of the K-Trail coming out of Clayton can be quite a challenge on anything bigger than a 450cc dual sport. I have seen expert riders on BMW GS’s make the ride, but most people will not want to take a big bike on the K-Trail.

This loop is 178 miles long. You MIGHT make it in a day but plan for at least two days. There are two great primitive campgrounds nearby, or you can stay at our favorite motorcycle campsite, Clayton Lake State Park.

The K-Trail winds across the spine of the Ouachita Mountains from Clayton, OK to Mena, AR. Many dual sport riders call it the dirt version of the Talimena Drive. While most of the trail is fairly easy, some parts are quite a challenge on anything bigger than a dirt bike.

The K-trail is made up of rocks, big water puddles (not mud, just deep puddles) and more rocks. Most of the K-Trail can be ridden on a KLR but it can be work when fully loaded. We have seen BMW GS's ride the K-trail but you should be an expert rider before tackling parts of the K-Trail on a big dual sport. It is great fun on a 450cc and smaller dirt bike. — The K-trail is made up of rocks, big water puddles (not mud, just deep puddles) and more rocks. Most of the K-Trail can be ridden on a KLR but it can be work when fully loaded. We have seen BMW GS’s ride the K-trail but you should be an expert rider before tackling parts of the K-Trail on a big dual sport. It is great fun on a 450cc and smaller dirt bike.

In Dual Sport

McAlester to Clayton dual sport loop

December 7, 2014 No Comments

Here is a nice easy dual sport ride from McAlester down to one of our favorite places, Clayton, Oklahoma. Grab lunch at a cafe just southeast of town (skip the Kiamichi Kitchen) or at Simple Simon’s Pizza in town, then take a different route back home to McAlester. If you are looking to camp overnight, be sure and stay at Clayton Lake State Park. As soon as you turn off into the park, make an immediate left down to the lower campgrounds – stay just east of the ranger station, going downhill. Great camping and good pay showers. This is one of our favorite campgrounds in the USA.

Click on the download link below the map to download the GPX tracks for this ride.

Great motorcycle camping is available at Clayton Lake State Park, 5 miles southeast of Clayton.

In Dual Sport

Dual Sport trails south of Talihina

December 6, 2014 No Comments

We just ran across what seems like a 33 mile dual sport trail south of Talihina. It incorporates part of the K-trail. We haven’t ridden this route yet but it looks like fun. Someone ride it and let us know how it rides and send some pictures.

Click on the download link below the map to download the GPX tracks for this ride.